Finest methods to make use of Amex Membership Rewards factors

It is no secret that American Specific Membership Rewards is considered one of our favourite factors and miles currencies.

TPG’s Might 2025 valuations give Membership Rewards factors a price of two cents per level. Nonetheless, leveraging the suitable switch companions makes it straightforward to get much more worth out of your factors. And with American Specific having 18 airline companions and three resort companions, you could have some ways to maximise your factors.

To show this worth, we’ll take a look at a number of the finest methods to redeem your Membership Rewards factors on this article. From high-end business-class redemptions to home flights across the U.S., there are a number of methods to stretch your factors for the absolute best journey expertise.

Tips on how to earn Membership Rewards factors

One of the best ways to earn Membership Rewards factors shortly is to earn welcome affords on Amex’s high playing cards. Listed below are a few of our favorites:

• The Platinum Card® from American Specific: Earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Nonetheless, some readers have been focused for as much as a 100,000-point bonus utilizing the CardMatch device (supply topic to alter at any time). Phrases apply.
• American Specific® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Nonetheless, some readers have been focused for a good greater welcome supply utilizing the CardMatch device (supply topic to alter at any time). Phrases apply.
• The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $500 assertion credit score after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked immediately with airways or by way of American Specific Journey within the first three months of card membership. You’ll be able to earn one or each of those affords, which finish June 30.

Tips on how to use your Membership Rewards factors

You are prone to get essentially the most worth out of your Amex factors by transferring them to companion applications. Membership Rewards companions with 18 completely different airways, together with Air Canada, JetBlue and British Airways. You even have the choice to switch your factors to a few resort chains: Hilton, Marriott and Selection.

You’ll be able to e-book flights or resorts immediately by way of American Specific Journey, however redeeming factors with a switch companion normally leads to a greater redemption worth. It is because Amex Journey solely allows you to redeem at a set 1 cent per level worth for flights, whereas transfers can yield a a lot greater worth.

Most Membership Rewards transfers course of immediately, whereas others can take as much as 48 hours. For extra data, see our information to Membership Rewards switch occasions.

Listed below are a number of the finest methods to redeem your Membership Rewards by transferring them to companions.

Fly Air France or KLM enterprise class to Europe for 60,000 miles

If you wish to journey to Europe comfortably, take into account transferring your Membership Rewards factors to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. This system costs award tickets dynamically, so on peak dates, you will be charged greater than 100,000 miles for a flight to Europe. Nonetheless, this system standardized saver-level pricing for one-way business-class flights between the U.S. and Europe, that means you possibly can redeem as few as 60,000 miles (with minimal taxes and costs).

Earlier than transferring Membership Rewards factors to Flying Blue to e-book this candy spot, verify award availability by trying to find your most well-liked dates on Air France’s web site or by utilizing an award journey device like Seats.aero.

Taxes and gasoline surcharges normally add $350 to $450 per particular person to a round-trip Flying Blue reward in enterprise class. Regardless, round-trip business-class flights from the U.S. to Europe on Air France and KLM usually value over $3,000, so you are still saving amount of money by transferring Membership Rewards factors to Flying Blue.

Flying Blue’s month-to-month Promo Rewards are additionally price trying out as they will supply a limited-time 25% low cost on award tickets in all lessons of service. Flying Blue refreshes this sale each month, switching up which cities are eligible for a reduction.

Associated: Is KLM premium economic system price it on the 787 Dreamliner?

E book Delta One and All Nippon Airways premium cabins by way of Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership costs as little as 47,000 factors (so 47,000 Amex factors) for flights from the East Coast to Europe in Delta One enterprise class.

That is considerably cheaper than transferring factors to Delta SkyMiles for a similar award ticket. With that program, 375,000 miles for a flight to Europe in enterprise class will not be unusual. That stated, Virgin Atlantic costs over $1,000 in taxes and costs for these nonstop tickets. However if you happen to’re pressed for Amex factors, reserving Delta One this manner could possibly be a worthy trade-off.

Associated: Dynamic airline award pricing is uncontrolled — listed here are some methods to beat it

Availability will be laborious to come back by, however you will usually have higher luck reserving on the final minute. Chances are you’ll take into account subscribing to an award search device like Seats.aero to make discovering these awards simpler. This program has a helpful Delta One Finder device that exhibits you routes bookable by way of Virgin Atlantic.

Moreover, Virgin Atlantic’s award chart for All Nippon Airways could also be top-of-the-line candy spot redemptions within the factors and miles world. The chart beneath exhibits one-way costs.

This implies you possibly can fly one-way from West Coast airports to Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) in ANA top quality for less than 72,500 factors or in enterprise class for 52,500 factors. ANA first-class tickets usually value $16,000 or extra, so that is a straightforward strategy to get greater than 10 cents per level in worth.

That stated, reserving ANA flights by way of Virgin Atlantic will be difficult since these flights aren’t bookable on Virgin’s web site. To e-book them, use a Star Alliance companion website like united.com to seek out ANA award availability first. Then, name Virgin Atlantic to e-book your award ticket.

Fly to Hawaii on United Airways or Alaska Airways by way of Singapore KrisFlyer

From the nice metropolis of Honolulu to the huge seashores of Maui and the Massive Island, the Hawaiian Islands really have every part. You’ll be able to e-book flights to the islands on United Airways and Alaska Airways by transferring your Membership Rewards factors to Singapore Airways KrisFlyer.

You will pay 13,500 KrisFlyer miles for a one-way economic system flight from California, Oregon or Washington state to any Hawaiian island on Alaska Airways. Nonetheless, word that Singapore Airways would not allow you to e-book Alaska Airways flights with stops, so that you’re restricted to reserving flights from one of many latter’s numerous hubs. You additionally have to name in to e-book these awards.

These primarily based elsewhere within the nation can e-book nonstop or connecting flights with United Airways. A one-way economic system ticket prices 19,500 KrisFlyer miles, whereas a business-class ticket will set you again 39,000 KrisFlyer miles. That is usually cheaper than what United costs by way of its United MileagePlus loyalty program.

Associated: Get monetary savings: How one can e-book flights to Hawaii utilizing factors and miles

Benefit from the world’s longest nonstop flight to Singapore in consolation

Singapore Airways operates two of the world’s longest flights: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) and New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK).

You most likely do not need to spend 18 hours in an uncomfortable seat, so use your Membership Rewards factors to fly enterprise class. Each routes value 111,500 KrisFlyer miles plus taxes and costs one-way for a saver award — a small value to pay for consolation on such an extended flight.

E book Iberia flights to Madrid beginning at 17,000 Avios

Reserving premium cabin award flights to Europe could be a difficult and costly endeavor, however Amex’s switch companion, Membership Iberia Plus, makes use of a distance-based award chart. This is among the finest choices to contemplate when trying to find nonstop flights to Spain.

Listed below are the one-way award costs:

Off-peak business-class flights supply one of the best deal. You’ll be able to fly one-way from JFK, ORD or BOS to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for simply 17,000 Avios in economic system, 25,500 Avios in premium economic system and 34,000 Avios in enterprise class. Off-peak dates span a lot of the calendar yr, excluding holidays and the summer time months.

Associated: 5 variations of Avios: When to make use of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways

Lock in stays at Selection resorts all over the world

The Selection Privileges program will not be as nicely often known as these from bigger resort teams like Marriott and Hilton, nevertheless it’s nonetheless price a glance. You will get respectable worth by transferring Membership Rewards factors to Selection Privileges due to its affordable redemption charges.

For instance, you need to use 15,000 factors per night time to e-book a keep on the Consolation Inn Gurnee close to Six Flags in Illinois. This could be a good possibility for a staycation close to Chicago or a cease on an extended highway journey.

Issues get extra thrilling whenever you journey overseas. A handful of properties in Tokyo will be booked for simply 10,000 factors per night time. The centrally situated Consolation Lodge Tokyo Higashi Nihombashi is considered one of them. The rooms look strong and are inside strolling distance of public transit.

Associated: Finest resort rewards applications on this planet: Which one is best for you?

E book home short-haul flights by way of British Airways

You do not have to jet midway all over the world to get a terrific redemption.

British Airways Membership is one of the best ways to e-book home flights operated by American Airways and Alaska Airways. This system makes use of an unpublished distance-based award chart, so you will pay extra Avios for longer flights. Quick-haul home flights are the award chart’s candy spots for Oneworld flyers.

Home economic system flights which can be 1,151 miles or shorter will be booked for 16,000 Avios. In the meantime, flights as much as 650 miles in size value simply 12,000 Avios. This can be a strong method to make use of your factors if money fares are in any other case costly, resembling throughout peak journey occasions like holidays, conferences and faculty breaks.

One factor to notice about Avios: It costs award tickets per leg. This implies you will pay extra for connecting flights, as every flight is charged individually.

Associated: 5 the explanation why it’s best to care about British Airways Avios

Fly Qatar Airways Qsuite to the Center East for 70,000 Avios

Top-of-the-line methods to make use of Amex factors is to switch them to Qatar Airways Privilege Membership to e-book the world-renowned Qsuite business-class seat. By transferring 70,000 Amex factors to Qatar Airways, you possibly can fly from any considered one of its U.S. gateways to its hub at Doha’s Hamad Worldwide Airport (DOH).

Qsuite modified the business-class panorama by being the primary to supply a personal suite with a door and in an optimum 1-2-1 configuration for excellent privateness and direct aisle entry. Seats within the center will be laid flat to kind a double mattress, which is a wonderful perk for {couples} and households touring with a baby. You too can count on wonderful inflight eating with Western and Arabic choices.

Better of all, when reserving a business-class award ticket by way of Doha to pick locations within the Center East, you possibly can entry top-of-the-line first-class lounges on this planet, Al Safwa First Lounge. Qatar Airways markets business-class flights throughout the Center East as top quality. Because of this, for instance, an award ticket from LAX to Cairo Worldwide Airport (CAI) offers you entry to Al Safwa throughout your connection.

Associated: Qatar Airways Qsuite evaluation: Nonetheless setting the usual for enterprise class (and a mileage candy spot)

Journey to London by way of Virgin Atlantic for as few as 6,000 factors

Factors and miles fanatics are not any followers of dynamic pricing on airline award tickets, however there’s one exception: Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.

The loyalty program launched dynamic pricing by itself flights in October 2024. After the change, the price of award tickets decreased on most off-peak dates, with flights from the East Coast being the most cost effective.

You’ll be able to fly between JFK and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) or Manchester Airport (MAN) within the U.Okay. for as few as 6,000 Virgin factors in economic system. Even higher, you possibly can usually discover one-way premium economic system awards for below 15,000 factors and business-class awards for as little as 29,000 factors. Taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges are additionally dynamic, however count on to pay between $100 and $400 per one-way ticket.

These are wonderful redemption charges, however if you happen to mix them with a switch bonus, they’re much more wonderful. Up to now, we have seen as much as a 40% switch bonus from Amex Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.

Associated: Bringing the enjoyable again to flying: Virgin Atlantic A350 Higher Class evaluation

Backside line

Whether or not you are on the lookout for first-class airfare, an economic system flight house for the vacations or a highway journey resort, you need to use Membership Rewards factors to cowl all of it. Use these examples as inspiration on your subsequent massive journey. Not solely will you could have an upgraded expertise, however you will spend considerably much less out of pocket.