New Amex redemption rates for SQ/EK; adding transfers to QR/HA

[Human]

Does the bonus apply for AU Amex to QR? I made a transfer earlier today but didn't receive any bonus.

No, Australian AmEx Membership Rewards points are not part of the current Qatar bonus promotion.

Always pays to read the fine print before transferring...!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Just a data point. Found a QF reward that I wanted and in seeking to reduce my AMEX balance to close the card in the coming months tried avios for the first time. Instead of directly burning QFF (fairly equivalent number required on this occasion - 82k QFF vs 77250 avios, though saved about $90 in fees via BA).

Was instant to QR. Then logged in to BA and was able to convert the avios to my BA account. This took about 10 minutes to sync across as the balance would show differing amounts across different parts of the BA website. Once this happened, booked and ticketed without issue. Smooth experience.

 

[Ken1]

Just a data point. Found a QF reward that I wanted and in seeking to reduce my AMEX balance to close the card in the coming months tried avios for the first time. Instead of directly burning QFF (fairly equivalent number required on this occasion - 82k QFF vs 77250 avios, though saved about $90 in fees via BA).

Was instant to QR. Then logged in to BA and was able to convert the avios to my BA account. This took about 10 minutes to sync across as the balance would show differing amounts across different parts of the BA website. Once this happened, booked and ticketed without issue. Smooth experience.

Thanks for posting this Must....Fly! I've been looking for a J Award BA LHR-VCE flight for next October. Using QFF points the only flights available are BA flights departing LHR at 1720 and 1905 for 30,000 points + £52 each. After reading your post I logged in to my BA account and they had flights on the same date departing at 1035, 1325 and 1415 for 20,000 Avios + $A91.64 each so much better times than the flights BA released to QFF. I transferred 40,000 from Amex to Qatar and then across to BA - the first time I've done this. I've now booked the 1035 flight for us both and it was 40,000 Avios but only $A2 for both of us, so only $1 each! It definitely showed the $91.64 each when I checked several times earlier.

When I check again now it shows for one passenger: 20,000 Avios + $1.00 AUD
When I click on "More pricing options" now it shows for one passenger:
19,250 Avios + $9.00 AUD
15,000 Avios + $30.00 AUD
13,500 Avios + $56.00 AUD
10,000 Avios + $123.00 AUD
8,000 Avios + $159.00 AUD.

When I first tried to book it I was getting a message that there are not enough Avios points and like you I had to wait until the balance synced across different parts of the BA website. If I had realised I could use say 27,000 Avios for both of us and pay $112 I would have done that and kept more points in Amex but I'm happy I was able to book a better timed flight so we arrive at VCE at 1345 rather than 2030 if I had booked with QFF points.

Looking at my e-ticket it shows the Passenger Service Charge per passenger as: United Kingdom as AUD 41.20 and Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom as AUD 48.70 for a total of AUD 89.90 so close to the AUD 91.64 I saw earlier today that I thought I would be paying.

Hope this helps others who may want to check the BA website for award flights if they are searching for flights to or from the UK nad don't se emuch on the QFF website.

 

[VanguardZulu]

As most of my AMEX points are earned through moving large BAS and PAYG tax payments for staff through AMEX to the ATO (at 1:1 dollaroints ratio), and being SingAir was my primary usage, this actually makes it cheaper to just buy the tickets vs the 1.45% fees paid. It was already getting borderline sometimes.

Sad news indeed.

 

[blacksultan]

As most of my AMEX points are earned through moving large BAS and PAYG tax payments for staff through AMEX to the ATO (at 1:1 dollaroints ratio), and being SingAir was my primary usage, this actually makes it cheaper to just buy the tickets vs the 1.45% fees paid. It was already getting borderline sometimes.

Sad news indeed.

Get a US Amex and transfer your MR points across .

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

As most of my AMEX points are earned through moving large BAS and PAYG tax payments for staff through AMEX to the ATO (at 1:1 dollaroints ratio), and being SingAir was my primary usage, this actually makes it cheaper to just buy the tickets vs the 1.45% fees paid. It was already getting borderline sometimes.

Sad news indeed.

I gave up Amex a few months ago, however the fee paid for
using Amex in my business was claimed as a tax deduction as it increased the cost of goods.

I also found that when using points ,as well as becoming difficult, the avaliable flights were nearly always with poor connections
in Singapore and long layovers.

Further considerations were the cost of extra nights if the flights
that were avaliable were a few days away from the desired dates
and extra car rental days etc.

Being a loyal fan of SIA and Amex ( Platinum with both ) for many years I now feel "let down " by the "enhancements" over the last few years. However I now have come to grips with the fact that loyalty in the travel business is very much one sided.

I am now free to book with any airline I choose at the date I choose at the time that suits me. If I fly business I retain nearly
all the benefits the "high" status offers and if I don't for any reason
book a flight or hotel or etc within the time limit of points my cash doesn't expire !