Amex (Non Surpass/Aspire) Platinum & Business CC

[Zenichiro]

*Consider pointsyeah (Thx to @Zenichiro ) or other portals to look up good redemption opportunities (& best use via UR/MR?TY pts etc from Chase/Amex/Citi resp). (AmEx gives you free access to Point.me for seeing best use case for MR pts also)

* I xfr'd my Amex MR pts to HA---> AS, which was phenomenal value; I use AS pts for short-haul AA metal flights; much cheaper than booking via AA, esp Biz. (That backdoor closed in June this year unfort).

Still good redemptions; may ask your fav AI tool to come up with good use case or spend a few minutes on 10x travel or award travel or TPG etc to see best use case, for your use case..
TY!

Pointsyeah and maxfhr are crazy good.

 

[mountainboy]

What I'm trying to figure out is how people use AMEX points in the real world.

Also can xfr AmEx MR to BA Avios (& then can link those to AY Avios)
AA nonstop from PHX to HI in Economy (KOA, OGG or LIH or HNL) is usually 22.5k pts o/w = 45k RT
Costs 20k BA Avios o/w (40k RT), but only 15k AY Avios o/w (=30k RT)
If buying 4 RT tickets, booking direct on AA is using up 4x45k= 180k precious AA pts
Same with AY Avios = 120k AY Avios (= MR pts from AmEx); saving 60k precious pts (+ burning your AmEx pts).
If these is a 30% bonus xfr (as is currently with Chase UR, but those are more valuable for me for Hyatt, so I won't burn them here), then that would only cost you 90k AmEx MR pts, 1/2 of the direct pts via AA, so significant savings.

(Similar from other AA hubs)
Obviously everyone's use case is different & so redemptions may vary; many go for aspirational redemptions in F or J but I am happy with Y (with more trips)...
But shows that these MR pts can be very valuable. I paid for several RTs to HI with my AmEx & Cap 1 pts (xfr'd to AY for booking AA metal flights; all free except $5.60 tax per person each way nonstop to HI)...

Hope this helps some!

 

[vacation dreaming]

Also can xfr AmEx MR to BA Avios (& then can link those to AY Avios)
AA nonstop from PHX to HI in Economy (KOA, OGG or LIH or HNL) is usually 22.5k pts o/w = 45k RT
Costs 20k BA Avios o/w (40k RT), but only 15k AY Avios o/w (=30k RT)
If buying 4 RT tickets, booking direct on AA is using up 4x45k= 180k precious AA pts
Same with AY Avios = 120k AY Avios (= MR pts from AmEx); saving 60k precious pts (+ burning your AmEx pts).
If these is a 30% bonus xfr (as is currently with Chase UR, but those are more valuable for me for Hyatt, so I won't burn them here), then that would only cost you 90k AmEx MR pts, 1/2 of the direct pts via AA, so significant savings.

(Similar from other AA hubs)
Obviously everyone's use case is different & so redemptions may vary; many go for aspirational redemptions in F or J but I am happy with Y (with more trips)...
But shows that these MR pts can be very valuable. I paid for several RTs to HI with my AmEx & Cap 1 pts (xfr'd to AY for booking AA metal flights; all free except $5.60 tax per person each way nonstop to HI)...

Hope this helps some!

I need a little more help with the acronyms. You are finding ways to fly american using amex points and I am interested. What is AY Avios? BA Avios must be British Airways, but AY used less points? Do you only see coach seats on American with the Avios points? Thanks!

 

[vacation dreaming]

Pointsyeah and maxfhr are crazy good.

Is Maxfhr similar to pointsyeah but specifically for fhr bookings? The interface looks similar to amex, is it a separate company?

 

[vacation dreaming]

Is Maxfhr similar to pointsyeah but specifically for fhr bookings? The interface looks similar to amex, is it a separate company?

And how is maxfhr more useful over just searching on the amex site?

 

[mountainboy]

I need a little more help with the acronyms. You are finding ways to fly american using amex points and I am interested. What is AY Avios? BA Avios must be British Airways, but AY used less points? Do you only see coach seats on American with the Avios points? Thanks!

I only book Y but looks like one may book premium cabin using Avios (AY or BA) etc but I haven't done it, sorry...

 

[mountainboy]

Is Maxfhr similar to pointsyeah but specifically for fhr bookings? The interface looks similar to amex, is it a separate company?

separate; not amex...
Easier to see the whole month(s) prices vs searching each day on AmEx travel website..

 

[Zenichiro]

Is Maxfhr similar to pointsyeah but specifically for fhr bookings? The interface looks similar to amex, is it a separate company?

Try Pointsyeah Daydream Explorer for broad searches. You can look up flights from the United States to Europe, for example, to find the cheapest options, then narrow it down by state or city.

MaxFHR works similarly but is a separate company. It lets you search for the lowest-priced hotels within the Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection programs, helping you get the most value from your Platinum Card’s $300 credit.

 

[mountainboy]

*11/8 Rakuten 15x, for Lulu.
(If you haven't used your Q4 Lulu credit on Amex Plat & use Rakuten: good use. I don't use Rakuten/browser extensions, so no good for me but hope it helps many).

Rakuten: Lululemon 15% Back (15x Per Dollar)

Rakuten is offering 15x rewards or 15% cashback on Lululemon purchases. Perfect for using the AmEX Platinum $75 credit

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[Zenichiro]

Rumor has it Lululemon will be 15X/15% on Rakuten on 11/8.

Edit someone beat me to it.