Time is running out on a lucrative 40% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards to British Airways Executive Club.
If you have not yet moved over any points, check out my earlier post, which outlines why you may wish to consider prospectively moving over some points. The transfer bonus sale ends on 15 November 2018.
> Read More: How To Maximize The 40% Transfer Bonus From AMEX To British Airways
Based upon my projections, I needed 156,000 British Airways Avios for the following redemptions:
- 8 one-way shorthaul journeys in business class – 9K miles each
- 1 Air Italy business class ticket from MXP to JFK – 75K miles
With the transfer bonus, 112,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points equated to 156,800 BA Avios.
While I don’t have any specific uses yet for the shorthaul business class redemptions, those routinely come in handy on British Airways or Iberia.
Although my mantra is usually that longhaul redemptions are to avoided using British Airways Avios due to uncompetitive costs, sometimes exceptions must be made.
It’s not like I relish paying 75,000 miles for a transatlantic flight to the East Coast. But I’ve been wanting to review Air Italy for the blog and the Qatar-backed carrier only has a limited number of partners. So while Air Italy is offering round-trip business class tickets from Milan to Bangkok for under 1,000EUR, a Milan to New York trip is just much more helpful. At about 54K AMEX points, I can stomach that.
I want to do the trip from Milan to New York instead of the other direction for four reasons.
- The fuel surcharge is roughly half departing Italy than departing New York
- Daytime flights photograph better
- Departing from MXP will allow me to try catering from Air Italy’s hub
- The lack of lie-flat beds will not be as detrimental on a daytime flight
CONCLUSION
British Airways transfer bonuses often come around once per year. Even so, I’m going to stock up now so that whenever I need a last-minute shorthaul award, I’m covered. I also look forward to trying Air Italy in the months ahead.
image: British Airways
For the miles you say you need, isn’ tit 147,000? 8 x 9,000 = 72,000 and 72,000+75,000=147,000
I fly on ZED fares a lot since I am now an airline employee. Amazing how I can fly Lufthansa from Germany to Florida in business class for $200 but British airways ZED fate is $270 for coach. No thanks! They always have the highest taxes and surcharges.