TIP: Redeeming Amex points for flights

[sunbeamrapier]

I have a platinum amex credit card which gives me 1.5 points for every dollar i spend. 180,000 points equates to a spend of $120,000 and i transfer the points to Virgin Atlantic for an Upper Class return to London via Hong Kong. The lounge in HK is fabulous and you can eat dinner in the lounge before you board, sleep all the way (ignoring breakfast) on a comfy FLAT bed and then head to the Virgin Atlantic arrivals lounge for a shower, a massage and a cooked breakfast before starting your day in London. I never fly Qantas these days - too many accountant CEOs have ruined the airline.

 

[k3nnis]

It is now 200000 miles for SYD-HKG-LHR return in Upper Class

I have a platinum amex credit card which gives me 1.5 points for every dollar i spend. 180,000 points equates to a spend of $120,000 and i transfer the points to Virgin Atlantic for an Upper Class return to London via Hong Kong. The lounge in HK is fabulous and you can eat dinner in the lounge before you board, sleep all the way (ignoring breakfast) on a comfy FLAT bed and then head to the Virgin Atlantic arrivals lounge for a shower, a massage and a cooked breakfast before starting your day in London. I never fly Qantas these days - too many accountant CEOs have ruined the airline.

 

[TheFergus]

Qantas First return to London is $13k or 384k QFF or Amex points I think. Value 3.4¢ per point or about 3.4% (or 5.1% @ 1.5pts/$) of every dollar I spend on my amex.

Who can find better?

 

[Ricardo]

I have a platinum amex credit card which gives me 1.5 points for every dollar i spend. 180,000 points equates to a spend of $120,000 and i transfer the points to Virgin Atlantic for an Upper Class return to London via Hong Kong. The lounge in HK is fabulous and you can eat dinner in the lounge before you board, sleep all the way (ignoring breakfast) on a comfy FLAT bed and then head to the Virgin Atlantic arrivals lounge for a shower, a massage and a cooked breakfast before starting your day in London. I never fly Qantas these days - too many accountant CEOs have ruined the airline.

Good point about Qantas and the bean counters. Might have to investigate the VA option and go to HK rather than SIN.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Qantas First return to London is $13k or 384k QFF or Amex points I think. Value 34¢ per point or about 3.4% of every dollar I spend on my amex.

Who can find better?

SQ return in F post Apr 1 MEL-SIN-LHR ret 225,250 KF pts I think = 150,167 spend on AMEX @ 1.5 = I think that beats QF if my calculations are correct.

 

[sunbeamrapier]

Yes, you are quite correct... I haven't looked since last year. The flight cost is A$7381 depending on dates, so still not a bad return on your points. I never use points on domestic flights - if you do a $ per point comparison international business/upper is usually much better value as long as you like to fly in comfort on a long flight...

Oh, and Virgin Atlantic is offering a 30% bonus for Amex transfers at the moment...

 

[Favfern]

medhead, I have finally succumbed to the temptation and looked up the translation of Quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur. You got me, as I am sure you have got many others! The only Latin I remember from the gentle ministrations of the Christian Brothers in 1960 is "amo, amas, amat", which if my memory serves me, means "I love , You love, we love".

Sorry if this post is off topic!

 

[TheFergus]

Nearly doubles it!

Emirates will go close to that @ 4.9¢/pt. A spend of $180k on Emirates Mastercard @ 1.5pt/$. (Sadly, can no longer transfer Amex points to Emirates via Virgin)

Still more than VA but bang for buck, I'd reckon the champagne might be bubblier on Emirates.

 

[sunbeamrapier]

4.8cents per $, and only 200,000 points (virgin atlantic points) for upper class on virgin atlantic via hong kong if you transfer now and receive 30% bonus points. Would require 153,846 amex points. Its a great airline and a great deal...

 

[angusburns]

Something for all the FASA flyers out there... bis vivit qui bene vivit!

 

[sparoz]

Something for all the FASA flyers out there... bis vivit qui bene vivit!

How often can you find a FASA fair? Any tips on finding one like 3/4 weeks out?

 

[sunbeamrapier]

Nearly doubles it!

Emirates will go close to that @ 4.9¢/pt. A spend of $180k on Emirates Mastercard @ 1.5pt/$. (Sadly, can no longer transfer Amex points to Emirates via Virgin)

Still more than VA but bang for buck, I'd reckon the champagne might be bubblier on Emirates.

No Emirates, but Amex have Etihad transfers now... Bubblier champagne? I wonder if the bubbly will be bubblier on the 787 Dreamliner with the lower cabin pressure? heh heh... I haven't flown Emirates, but unless they have an arrivals lounge at Heathrow I wouldn't trade the VA option for anything... The Hong Kong to London flight gives you more than 8 hours of sleep and you arrive at 6-6:30am at Heathrow allowing a good couple of hours in the arrivals lounge for a shower, change of clothes and a decent brekky. And if you don't want to catch the tube you can pay the extra and be chauffeured to your destination...

 

[prozac]

.........you arrive at 6-6:30am at Heathrow allowing a good couple of hours in the arrivals lounge for a shower, change of clothes and a decent brekky. And if you don't want to catch the tube you can pay the extra and be chauffeured to your destination...

Is chauffeur part of the J fare? How much extra for that?

 

[sunbeamrapier]

SQ return in F post Apr 1 MEL-SIN-LHR ret 225,250 KF pts I think = 150,167 spend on AMEX @ 1.5 = I think that beats QF if my calculations are correct.

VA has a one-for-one redemption for Amex points. Is the redemption higher for KF points from Amex then?

Transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic instead before the end of March: 200,000 VA points / 153,846 Amex points plus the 30% bonus points equates to just $102,564 spend @ 1.5 and fly VA partner SQ via Singapore. This is a great deal if you want to fly SQ - not sure if you get to use the VA arrivals lounge though if you have a SQ boarding pass...

NB: It has been pointed out that you cannot redeem VS points for the SQ flight in J class for some reason, but you won't be slumming it in VS Upper Class, and its a great deal... ;-)

 

[sunbeamrapier]

"Prozac: Is chauffeur part of the J fare? How much extra for that?"

Its an option when booking. If you buy your Upper Class flight the chauffeur service at both ends costs $2,100!

 

[prozac]

"Prozac: Is chauffeur part of the J fare? How much extra for that?"

Its an option when booking. If you buy your Upper Class flight the chauffeur service at both ends costs $2,100!

Cough..... I'd be flying Y if I had to pay for that. Lol

 

[k3nnis]

You can only redeem for Y with SQ using VS miles...

VA has a one-for-one redemption for Amex points. Is the redemption higher for KF points from Amex then?

Transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic instead before the end of March: 200,000 VA points / 153,846 Amex points plus the 30% bonus points equates to just $102,564 spend @ 1.5 and fly VA partner SQ via Singapore. This is a great deal if you want to fly SQ - not sure if you get to use the VA arrivals lounge though if you have a SQ boarding pass...

 

[straitman]

How often can you find a FASA fair? Any tips on finding one like 3/4 weeks out?

I am not sure how to say it any more nicely.

My tip is don't waste your time :!:

 

[Bunty]

Just in case you missed it, Amex is offering MR point transfers with a 25% bonus and now a Transfer rate of 1:1 (prevously 1:3 I believe). That's a whopping 325% increase in value till the end of this month!

Thai and Cathay have also increased their transfer rate to 1:1 (no bonus though).

 

[k3nnis]

Thai has 10% bonus.

Just in case you missed it, Amex is offering MR point transfers with a 25% bonus and now a Transfer rate of 1:1 (prevously 1:3 I believe). That's a whopping 325% increase in value till the end of this month!

Thai and Cathay have also increased their transfer rate to 1:1 (no bonus though).