You can currently receive a 30% transfer bonus when you transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to British Airways Avios. Normally you can transfer 1,000 MR points and receive 1,000 Avios, during this promotion you’ll receive 1,300
The Fine Print
Valid until August 31, 2023
Our Verdict
Not as good as the 40% transfer bonus last year. Full list of previous transfer bonuses below:
April 2 – unknown end date, 022: 40%
June 10th – unknown end date, 2019: 40-50% (YMMV)
September 16th -November 15th, 2018: 40%
July 17th – September 17th, 2017: 40%
July 13th, 2017: Transfer rate restored to 1:1
August 10th – October 10th, 2016: 50%
December 15th, 2014 – January 31st, 2015: 40%
October 1st, 2015: Transfer rate decreased from 1:1 to 250:200
October 15th – December 31st, 2013: 20%
April 22nd, 2013 – June 7th, 2013: 35%
December 3, 2012 – January 14, 2013: 30%
August 28th, 2012 – September 27th, 2012: 40%
March 15, 2012 – May 31, 2012: 50%
March 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012: 50%
November 28, 2011 – January 31, 2012: 30%
June 1, 2011 – July 31, 2011: 50%
February 2, 2011 – March 31, 2011: 40%
November 2, 2010 – December 31, 2010: 30%
April 1 – June 30, 2010: 20% (only for Platinum & Centurion cardholders)
You can find a complete list of transfer bonuses by clicking here.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Virgin Atlantic has a great new offer to save thousands of points on your next redemption.
Virgin has discounted the cost of all redemptions between the U.S. and the U.K. by 30% for travel from now until Sep. 30. The carrier is following the lead of Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue Promo Rewards and Singapore Airlines’ Spontaneous Escapes,
The offer isn’t quite as generous as the “redemption deal of the year” we saw in 2022, which offered a 50% reduction in the Virgin points required for redemptions to almost all destinations. This new offer is only 30% off the cost of a standard redemption. However, all classes of service are included, and there are no blackout dates this summer.
The 30% off applies to Virgin Atlantic flights between London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) and:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Virgin Atlantic’s routes from New York, Atlanta and Orlando to Manchester Airport (MAN) are also included — as is the nonstop flight from Orlando to Edinburgh Airport (EDI).
The discounts apply to flights in either direction, in any cabin with award availability. This offer is available for redemptions, upgrades and companion tickets. Virgin Atlantic must operate the flights to qualify for the promotion.
Related: Video alert! TPG reviews all cabins on Virgin Atlantic’s brand-new Airbus A330-900neo
Even for peak summer travel, round-trip redemptions start from just 28,000 Virgin points from the East Coast or 35,000 from the West Coast. You’ll see the points discount applied when booking online.
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VIRGINATLANTIC.COM
Unfortunately, the full fees, taxes and substantial surcharges are payable on all routes in all cabins. Unlike British Airways, there is no way to reduce the carrier-imposed surcharges by redeeming more points. Even in economy, you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars extra; in business class, the total is more than $1,000 round trip. These surcharges remain the biggest frustration with the Flying Club program.
Related: Is Virgin Atlantic premium economy worth it on the A330-900neo?
To take advantage of this great offer, you must book by July 24 and complete travel by Sep. 30. Unfortunately, the discount does not apply to existing bookings. You may consider canceling and rebooking if your existing flight falls within the eligibility window. However, availability is not guaranteed.
If you need to earn Virgin points for one of these awards, you can transfer them from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou. All of these transfers process at a 1:1 ratio and should post instantaneously to your Virgin account.
This is a great initiative from Flying Club, and it is generous, given it covers peak summer travel across the Atlantic in all classes. Just be mindful of those pesky surcharges when booking.
A comparison between two standout travel credit cards, the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express, is the rare case where it’s hard to pick a clear winner. If you’re more interested in the perks, the Platinum is a dream for the high roller who wants to travel in style. But the Gold is a better earner and worthy travel companion, too, offering 4x points on dining worldwide (and at U.S. supermarkets). Terms apply.
Here’s a guide to help you decide what card to get — and when it makes sense to get both.
American Express® Gold Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual fee
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
4x points at restaurants worldwide.
4x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases.
3x points on airfare on a scheduled flight charged directly with passenger airlines and charged directly with amextravel.com.
1x points on everything else.
Terms apply.
5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
1x points on everything else.
Terms apply.
Extra perks
$120 dining credit, up to $10 per month at select restaurants. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash credit, up to $10 per month.
Terms apply.
$200 hotel credit.
$240 digital entertainment credit. Enrollment required.
$200 Uber Cash credit; $10 per month plus a $20 bonus in Dec.
$300 Equinox credit.
$189 CLEAR Plus credit.
Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credit; $50 semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$100 Global Entry credit.
$300 SoulCycle at-home bike credit. Enrollment required.
Terms apply.
Why you’d want The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum is a bonafide premium travel credit card for the bonafide traveler. Its annual fee is among the highest compared to cards in its class, but in exchange, cardholders receive several superior travel perks that make flights, stays and car rentals a luxe experience.
Airport lounge access
Don’t want to wait at the gate with the masses? The Platinum Card® from American Express has you covered. Cardholders can enjoy complimentary snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi and even a hot shower with access to more than 1,400 airport lounges around the world. That includes the exclusive American Express Centurion lounges, which only Platinum and Black card holders can enter. The American Express® Gold Card, on the other hand, won’t grant entry into any lounge.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Unlike the American Express Gold Card, the The Platinum Card® from American Express offers cell phone protection up to $800 per claim, or $1,600 (two claims) per 12-month period when you charge the bill on your card and pay a $50 deductible. (Insurance is underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply.)
Automatic status
Nothing says traveling in luxury like room upgrades, VIP treatment and the ability to skip the line. The Platinum Card® from American Express gives its cardholders these automatic status boosts:
Concierge services
Help scoring tickets to world-class sporting events, reservations at posh restaurants and seats at the hottest concerts can be yours with The Platinum Card® from American Express. Just call the number on the back of your card to connect with a Platinum Concierge, who can help with everything from sending flowers to navigating travel disruptions. Access to such in-demand experiences pairs nicely with the card’s Platinum Travel Service that can create custom trip itineraries.
Why you’d want the American Express® Gold Card
Smaller annual fee
The American Express® Gold Card costs about $400 less in annual fees than The Platinum Card® from American Express, a significant difference. Sure, the Gold still isn’t cheap, but it can pack tremendous value.
Both cards have Uber Cash credits, too. The Gold’s is worth up to $120 (doled out in monthly increments of $10) while the Platinum’s is up to $200. But, if you’re able to get the full value of the American Express® Gold Card Uber credit — which you can do pretty easily by calling an Uber or ordering from Uber Eats every month — you’ll nearly cut the Gold’s annual fee in half.
To get the credits, the AmEx Gold Card must be added as a payment method in the Uber app, and credits are only awarded for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders. Terms apply.
Superior rewards-earnings
The American Express® Gold Card is a rewards powerhouse — not just compared to The Platinum Card® from American Express, which earns a paltry 1x points on most purchases, but compared to many other rewards cards. It boasts a whopping 4x rewards rates on the popular spending categories of restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year; 1x thereafter). It ranks on NerdWallet’s lists of best credit cards for groceries and restaurants. Terms apply.
If your household spends $12,000 a year on groceries and dining, you’d earn 48,000 Membership Rewards by putting all of those expenses on the Gold card. If you’re willing to put in a little effort to transfer and redeem points with travel partners rather than with AmEx directly, you can reap outsized value. NerdWallet values American Express Membership Rewards at 2 cents each when transferred to partners to book travel.
Why you’d get both
If you can afford two high annual fees, consider getting the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express. For the dedicated traveler, they make a perfect pairing. You’ll get all of the travel perks from the Platinum and big rewards rates on everyday spending categories with the Gold. Ultimately, the Gold can help you rack up Membership Rewards to pay for travel, while the Platinum can make the actual travel experience more enjoyable.
With 22 airline redemption partners, you might not realize how valuable Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points can be.
TPG values Virgin points at 1.5 cents each, which is fairly average for the value of airline miles. (American AAdvantage miles are higher at 1.77 cents each, while Delta SkyMiles are lower at 1.41 cents each.)
Today, we’ll review Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club partners at a high level.
Virgin Atlantic’s existing award partners
The Flying Club program has traditionally had a quirky mix of airline redemption options, including:
Virgin Atlantic.
Air France-KLM (SkyTeam).
Air New Zealand (Star Alliance).
ANA (Star Alliance).
Delta Air Lines (SkyTeam).
Hawaiian Airlines.
Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance).
South African Airways (Star Alliance).
Virgin Australia.
Of particular value has been the ability to redeem Virgin Points for ANA’s business and first-class products. This remains one of the best sweet spots in the points and miles game, even after a recent devaluation of the first-class pricing.
But did you know that since Virgin Atlantic joined the SkyTeam alliance in March this year, you can now redeem Virgin Points on these SkyTeam airlines, too?
Related: When and how to book Delta awards with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic’s new SkyTeam award partners
Here’s a list of the partners Virgin Atlantic added when it joined SkyTeam.
Aerolineas Argentinas.
Aeromexico.
Air Europa.
China Airlines.
Czech Airlines.
Garuda Indonesia.
Kenya Airways.
Korean Air.
Middle East Airlines.
Saudia.
TAROM.
Vietnam Airlines.
Xiamen Air.
When you add it all up, that’s 22 different airlines, from Africa to Europe to Asia.
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While China Eastern and ITA Airways are also SkyTeam members, you cannot currently redeem Virgin Points on these two airlines; this is supposed to be coming later this year when the number of redemption partners will grow to 24 airlines.
You can also earn Virgin points — but not redeem them — with partners SAS, IndiGo and LATAM.
Related: Unlock incredible value with Virgin Atlantic points
Redeeming Virgin Atlantic points on SkyTeam partners
Redemptions on SkyTeam airlines are distance-based, and you will need the following Virgin points, each way, per person on all dates (no peak/off-peak pricing):
Flight distance (miles)
Economy
Premium economy
Business
0-500.
5,500.
9,000.
14,500.
501-1,000.
7,000.
12,500.
15,500.
1,001-1,500.
10,000.
16,000.
21,500.
1,501-2,250.
11,500.
22,000.
35,000.
2,251-3,000.
15,500.
26,500.
40,000.
3,001-4,000.
20,500.
37,500.
60,000.
4,001-5,000.
25,500.
47,500.
75,000.
5,001-6,000.
31,000.
57,500.
85,000.
6,001-7,000.
37,000.
70,000.
100,000.
7,001-12,000.
50,000.
95,000.
140,000.
Each nonSkyTeam partner has a different award chart. Some are distance-based, while others are zone-based. Each airline can have different terms and conditions. You must call Virgin Atlantic at 1 (800) 365-9500 to book award tickets for carriers that do not appear online.
You can still search for availability on other websites, however. For example, the United Airlines website is excellent for finding available seats on Star Alliance carriers like ANA or South African Airways. Once you find what you want, note the travel dates and flight numbers. Then call Virgin Atlantic and provide that information to the customer service representative.
Likewise, the Air-France KLM website is good for searching for SkyTeam availability.
Remember, Virgin charges per segment, not per journey. So, when redeeming on SkyTeam Airlines, aim for direct flights and minimize connections to save points.
Related: Your complete guide to SkyTeam alliance benefits
Bottom line
With its impressive list of alliance and nonalliance partners, it’s easy to overlook the value of Virgin Atlantic points.
If you need to top up your Flying Club account for a redemption, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One at a 1:1 ratio.
Editor’s note: This story includes references to some credit card offers that are no longer available. You can view our current offers here.
Today I want to share a story from TPG reader Matthew Orchant, who used seven credit card bonuses and hotel free night certificates to book an epic honeymoon trip to Japan.
The Orchants opened seven credit cards in eight months, earning around half a million points to make this dream trip a reality.
Saving points on airfare to Japan
Rather than splurging on premium cabin airfare (which is also generally harder to find), the Orchants decided to book economy flights with their rewards. This gave them more points to use in Japan.
To fund their flights, the Orchants both opened The Platinum Card® from American Express with targeted welcome bonuses through CardMatch (subject to change at any time).
They booked round-trip, nonstop airfare from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) for 100,000 Aeroplan points per ticket. For reference, Air Canada Aeroplan doesn’t have the lowest award rates on this route. When X (Star Alliance economy award) fare is available, here’s the round-trip cost per person using these programs, all of which are transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards:
Regardless, the Orchants transferred 200,000 Amex Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan to book the ANA flight (which we’re told would have been around $5,000 for two tickets using cash), leaving them with 100,000 leftover Membership Rewards points from their two welcome bonuses. They’ll use those points for a future trip.
Related: The best ways to travel to Japan with points and miles
Luxury Hyatt stays in Japan
For their time in Tokyo, the Orchants booked the 52-floor Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, which is steps away from some of the city’s top attractions, including the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower.
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Modern Japanese-inspired rooms and suites that sit in a prime location and come outfitted with luxurious Aesop bath amenities don’t come cheap. For their dates, rooms were going for around $1,100 per night. So, their 120,000 World of Hyatt points saved them around $4,400.
In Kyoto, the Orchants spent two nights at the Park Hyatt Kyoto. Rather than pay with cash, which would’ve cost them $4,000 for the entire stay, they redeemed 35,000 points per night for their stay.
To get their World of Hyatt accounts to 190,000 points, the Orchants both signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Each of their card offers included an 80,000-point sign-up bonus at the time (which has since expired). They also each opened the World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in their first three months from account opening.
Because you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio, the Orchants were able to transfer most of the points they earned from signing up for their cards toward their Hyatt stays.
Related: 5 easy ways to maximize Hyatt award redemptions
Maximizing Marriott certificates
The last part of the Orchants’ trip took them to Osaka, where they made great use of free night certificates for their final three nights. Their property of choice? The brand-new W Osaka.
When they were planning their trip, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offered a sign-up bonus of three free night awards (up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night). This offer has also expired. Since each night was just 44,000 points, they didn’t have to use points to top off their certificates.
Had the Orchants decided to pay cash, they would’ve spent just over $1,100 for the three-night stay.
Related: Ouch: It’s not just you, Marriott stays now cost more points
Bottom line
The Orchants are about to leave on an unforgettable honeymoon trip. They earned nearly half a million points by opening seven credit cards, which funded their air travel and lodging in Japan. They’ll be taking a convenient nonstop flight from Washington, D.C., while staying at some of Japan’s most prestigious hotels during the nine-night trip.
If they had paid cash for their travels, the trip would have set them back roughly $14,500.
Now, it’s worth noting that such a strategy takes time to implement thanks to the various application restrictions from the major card issuers — most notably Chase’s 5/24 rule. Nevertheless, this story shows how planning in advance can unlock incredible value when you put your rewards to use.
Congratulations to the Orchants, and safe travels to Japan.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
From paid ticket sales to redemption promotions, there are endless opportunities to book travel at a discount.
However, few sales are as reliable as the Promo Rewards we see each month from Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
These deals regularly appear on the Flying Blue website and offer discounts on flights to and from select cities or region pairs. All discounts are only bookable through the end of the month, and there’s a set travel window.
This month, there are one-way economy flights to various European cities for less than 12,000 miles. This is a fraction of what many competing programs charge for the same award tickets. It can be an excellent deal if you’re looking for a summer or fall trip to Europe.
Deal basics
Airline: Air France and KLM. Routes: Economy awards between Europe and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Miami International Airport (MIA), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Business-class awards are available from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ). Cost: Varies by the airport, with economy-class awards starting at 11,250 miles. Travel dates: Travel from June 1 through Nov. 30. You must book by June 30.
Related: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming with Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Promo Rewards between North America and Europe
The cheapest awards are from Detroit and Newark.
There’s also award space for 12,750 miles from Miami.
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As you can see from this calendar search, economy-class award space from Houston to Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) is plentiful:
We also found some business-class award space from 41,250 miles from Amsterdam to Toronto:
Related: The best ways to get to Europe using points and miles
How to book
Book Promo Rewards tickets on the Air France or KLM website. Log in to your account and click the “Book with Miles” button on the home screen. Then, enter your desired itinerary and click the “Search flights” button.
Now, select the flight you’d like to book and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your booking.
If you plan to transfer points to book this award, find award space first and then transfer your points; you never want to transfer points without concrete dates in mind.
If you want to add a free stopover at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) or Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to an eligible itinerary, you’ll need to call Flying Blue to book your itinerary.
Related: When should I transfer points to airline and hotel partners?
Earning Flying Blue miles
Boosting your Flying Blue balance is easy since the program partners with all major transferable points currencies.
You can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer.
Based on our tests, Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Citi transfers should post almost instantly. However, that wasn’t the case with our test transfer from Marriott, which took three days to arrive in our Flying Blue account. Because of this, credit card points are your best bet if you hope to book right away, although Flying Blue generally allows three-day holds on award tickets when you call.
Related: Use Flying Blue miles to fly to Hawaii for just 35,000 miles round-trip
Maximize your purchase
Use a card that earns additional points on airfare purchases to pay taxes and fees on your award ticket.
Some of the best cards include The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Citi Premier® Card (3 points per dollar on air travel; see rates and fees), the Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar on travel), the American Express® Gold Card (3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar on travel).
Bottom line
Few sales are as reliable as the Promo Rewards we see each month from Air France-KLM Flying Blue. Boosting your Flying Blue balance is easy since the program partners with all major transferable points currencies. Book Promo Rewards tickets on the Air France or KLM website.
Related reading:
Additional reporting by Ehsan Haque, Clint Henderson, Andrew Kunesh and Benji Stawski.
One important distinction between advanced award travelers and those newer to the world of points and miles is how each group searches for award space.
Those with experience earning and burning points and miles will carefully study various partner award charts, looking at where to transfer their flexible points and what sweet spots they can utilize. Meanwhile, beginners may log into their United MileagePlus or American Airlines AAdvantage account, search for the destination they want to visit and book the first award they see regardless of price or convenience.
While anyone can accrue a good amount of points by earning welcome bonuses on top travel credit cards, this difference in redemption strategies is huge. Using the right partner program to book your award could save you as much as 50%, depending on the carrier and route.
With major programs switching to dynamic pricing and 500,000 miles for one-way business-class flights to Europe becoming increasingly common, it’s more important than ever to know the best ways to maximize your points and miles.
Today, we’ll look at some of the best value sweet spot award redemptions. While this list is not exhaustive, if you plan to travel to one of these destinations and have points at your disposal, these are surefire ways to get an excellent redemption value every time. If you’re new to the world of points and miles and any of these destinations interest you, you can use this as a road map to instant success.
ANA premium cabins to Japan with Virgin Atlantic points
Virgin Atlantic’s partner award chart for ANA is one of the best sweet spots out there. While availability can be hard to come by, and the first-class rates recently increased, this remains an incredible use of Virgin points.
The sweet spot
For this sweet spot, it’s important to know that the prices differ if you’re flying from the West Coast versus the central and eastern U.S. You can also book one-way flights for half the round-trip prices noted below.
ANA’s new business class is called “The Room,” and its new first class is referred to as “The Suite.” Both are excellent products that we are big fans of here at TPG — and flying in either means you can visit the always-popular Japan.
You’re allowed an open-jaw routing as long as you stay within the same region of the U.S. (West or Central/East). This means you can mix and match airports wherever you find award space.
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For example, flying from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and then returning from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) would be a valid itinerary, costing only 95,000 points in business or 170,000 points in first class.
Availability can be scarce — you will have the best luck booking 12 months in advance (as soon as the seats are loaded) or last minute (less than 14 days before departure when unsold seats are often loaded for awards). Your best bet for finding availability is to search for it using the United MileagePlus website and call Virgin’s Flying Club to book.
Related: Feels like first class: Flying ANA The Room business class from LA-Tokyo
Earning Virgin Atlantic miles
Virgin Atlantic miles are among the easiest to earn. You can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to Flying Club. Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses from Amex or Citi that could drop your costs even further.
Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value
Iberia business class to Spain with Avios
Iberia Avios can unlock one of the cheapest ways to fly to Europe in business class.
The sweet spot
The key to this sweet spot is to fly a nonstop, Iberia-operated flight of 3,001 to 4,000 miles on off-peak dates (check Iberia’s peak and off-peak calendar). This is because Iberia uses a distance-based award chart for its flights.
Iberia operates several transatlantic flights that fall into the 3,001- to 4,000-mile distance band. As such, you can book Iberia flights between the following city pairs for just 34,000 Avios, plus modest taxes and fees:
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD).
BOS to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
JFK to MAD.
JFK to BCN.
IAD to MAD.
While flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to MAD are slightly outside this range, they also price at 34,000 Avios one-way in business class.
Earning Avios
There are three primary ways for U.S.-based travelers to earn Iberia Avios:
Related: 4 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Iberia and British Airways
Qatar Airways Qsuite business class to the Middle East or Africa with AAdvantage miles
Qatar Airways has won numerous awards for its innovative Qsuite business-class product, regarded as one of the world’s best business-class experiences.
The sweet spot
If you don’t live near a Qatar Airways gateway, you may be able to find an itinerary that allows you to connect domestically in the U.S. for the same cost.
You can search for award availability online, even if you don’t have the necessary miles. Just note that award space may be difficult to come by, so check back regularly if you can’t find flights on your desired route.
Earning AAdvantage miles
There are a few American Airlines cobranded cards you can use to quickly accrue AAdvantage miles.
The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage at a 3:1 transfer ratio. Additionally, if you pay your rent with Bilt Rewards or spend on the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), you can transfer your points 1:1 to AAdvantage. Points transfer from Bilt to AAdvantage instantly.
Related: Best uses of American Airlines miles
Cathay Pacific business class to Asia or Africa with Alaska miles
The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan used to be one of our favorite airline programs, as the program once offered some incredible award flight sweet spots. Sadly, Alaska has removed many of its award deals, but Cathay Pacific is one of the remaining Mileage Plan sweet spots that you should book before it disappears.
The sweet spot
Flying with Cathay Pacific from the West Coast to its Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) hub will cost 30,000 miles each way in economy. If you can find available seats in premium cabins (which is difficult), you’ll pay 50,000 miles per person in business class and 70,000 miles per person in first class.
You can also continue on to several points in Asia, such as various destinations in India and Dubai International Airport (DXB), paying just 50,000 miles per person for a one-way flight in economy. Expect to pay 62,500 miles for a one-way business-class ticket and 70,000 miles for a first-class ticket.
Unfortunately, Cathay Pacific’s premium cabin seats are extremely tough to find. If you find availability, we recommend booking immediately. If you need to cancel your ticket later, Alaska will redeposit the miles and refund the taxes and fees without penalty.
Earning Alaska miles
Alaska miles aren’t the easiest to earn, as they are not linked to any major transferable program. Thankfully, Alaska’s broad list of airline partners means you can earn when flying with many different airlines.
Alaska Airlines also has two cobranded credit cards with Bank of America.
Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card: Get a $100 statement credit, 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card: Get 50,000 bonus miles, a $100 statement credit and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Related: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?
Short-haul flights on British Airways with Avios
With dynamic pricing in some programs showing up to 100,000 miles for a single flight in economy, British Airways is a good alternative. The Executive Club program offers low prices on short flights.
The sweet spot
British Airways only charges 4,750 Avios each way for off-peak flights it operates from London to destinations up to 600 miles away. This includes destinations in Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria and Italy. Taxes will set you back just $31 (this can vary depending on current exchange rates), though you also have the option to reduce this to $1 by redeeming 9,250 Avios.
Award flights include full-size cabin baggage and checked baggage.
Earning British Airways Avios
The easiest way to earn a meaningful number of Avios for everyday spending is by applying for the British Airways Visa Signature Card. You’ll earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Avios at 1.5 cents each, making the full bonus worth $1,125.
The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per dollar spent.
British Airways is also a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn.
Points transfer from Capital One, Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you’ll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
Related: 5 reasons why you should care about British Airways Avios
Air France-KLM Flying Blue promo awards
From paid ticket sales to redemption promotions, there are endless opportunities to book travel at a discount. However, few sales are as reliable as the Promo Rewards we see each month from Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
With Flying Blue adopting dynamic pricing with highly variable rates in all classes, this monthly offer is an excellent way to save on award travel.
The sweet spot
These monthly Promo Rewards regularly appear on the Flying Blue website and offer discounts on flights to and from select cities or region pairs. All discounts are only bookable through the end of the month, and there’s a set travel window.
Each month, the destinations, discounts and classes change, so keep an eye out for what is currently available. In the past, we have seen deals like:
39,000 miles in business class from Miami International Airport (MIA) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), flying KLM.
22,500 miles in premium economy class from IAD to Munich Airport (MUC), flying Air France.
11,250 miles in economy from ORD to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), flying Air France.
Earning Flying Blue miles
Boosting your Flying Blue balance is easy since the program partners with all major transferable points currencies.
You can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer.
Based on our tests, Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Citi transfers should post almost instantly. However, that wasn’t the case with our test transfer from Marriott, which took three days to arrive in our Flying Blue account.
Related: Is KLM premium economy worth it on the 787 Dreamliner?
Domestic United flights with Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles
United’s dynamic pricing means you won’t find a set price for flights booked via the MileagePlus program. However, when there is saver-level inventory (the X fare class for economy or the I fare class for business), Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles becomes one of the best options available.
The sweet spot
For any domestic flight in the U.S., including to or from Hawaii, Turkish requires just 7,500 miles each way in economy. If you’re lucky enough to find domestic first class, those award tickets only cost 12,500 miles each way.
For example, we found a round-trip ticket in economy from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hawaii’s Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) that only requires 15,000 Turkish miles plus $11.20 in taxes and fees.
This exact same flight would be 25,800 United miles.
The key to this sweet spot is finding saver-level inventory. You can search for these fares on United.com, though note that award tickets in any fare class other than X for economy and I for business class are not bookable through partner programs.
Earning Turkish miles
Miles&Smiles partners with a trio of programs: Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Bilt Rewards. You can transfer rewards from any of these programs at a 1:1 ratio, and our tests indicate that transfers should process instantly.
Related: The ultimate guide to Citi ThankYou Rewards
Bottom line
When it comes to making award reservations, you need certain stars to align. A little bit of flexibility is required to make the process run smoothly, and that might mean changing the dates of your trip a bit or opting for a destination with more plentiful award space. If these three things fall into place, you’ll have a solid award flight.
However, there’s a fourth element to the equation: value. If you can score one of the above sweet spots, you’re essentially guaranteed to get incredible value from your redemption.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh and Ethan Steinberg.
Update 5/24/23: Deal is back through December 31st. There’s now a public landing page. Hopefully this offer now works for everyone, let us know. (ht Thomas)
The Offer
American Express business cardholders – check your emails for the following offer (subject: Welcome offer enclosed. <your name>, American Express Global Pay is now available)
Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards points after you make at least $5,000 equivalent of foreign exchange payments within 90 days of being approved for American Express Global Pay.
You’ll also get 1 point per $30 sent on an ongoing basis.
The Fine Print
You can earn 30,000 Membership Rewards points after you make at least $5,000 equivalent of foreign exchange payments within 90 days of being approved for American Express Global Pay. To be eligible for this offer, your application for American Express Global Pay must be received by December 31, 2022. This offer is only valid for foreign exchange payments for goods or services. It is not valid for same currency transactions (e.g., U.S. Dollar to U.S. Dollar). For example, if you order a payment in the amount of EURO 4,200 within 90 days of being approved for American Express Global Pay, and if we charge you USD $5,000 for those EUROS, then you will be eligible to receive the one-time bonus award of 30,000 points. This exchange rate is for illustration purposes only.
American Express will award one (1) Membership Rewards point for every USD $30 equivalent of foreign exchange payments that your business sends using American Express Global Pay. The maximum award per payment is 4,000 Membership Rewards points. This offer is only valid for foreign exchange payments. It is not valid for same currency transactions (e.g. U.S. Dollar to U.S. Dollar), and it is not valid for any other products. For example, if you order a payment in the amount of EURO 10,000, and if we charge you USD $11,000 for those EUROS, then we will award 367 Membership Rewards points (11,000 divided by 30 = 367 points). This exchange rate is for illustration purposes only.
In order to benefit from this offer, your business must first designate an existing American Express Card that is enrolled in the Membership Rewards program to which we will award the Membership Rewards points. The Card must be linked to the same User ID as your American Express Global Pay account. Once we award points to the Card Member’s Membership Rewards program, the Card Member decides how to redeem those points, not you. It is your responsibility as well as the designated Card Member’s responsibility, to find out if you are, or the designated Card Member is, liable for any federal, state or local taxes as a result of receiving or using points. You are also responsible for tax information reporting, if any, that is required in connection with the receipt or use of points by the designated Card Member.
In order to benefit from this offer, your American Express Global Pay account and the designated American Express Card must be in good standing at all times, including the time of points fulfillment. No Membership Rewards points will be awarded for payments made through American Express Global Pay before we complete the processing of your request to designate an American Express Card to receive the points. In the event a designated American Express Card is canceled for any reason before we award the 30,000 bonus points, we may allow you to designate a different American Express Card to receive the bonus points. This offer cannot be combined with any other Membership Rewards related offer. If we find that you have abused this offer, we may cancel this offer and any points awarded pursuant to this offer.
Our Verdict
I got an email with this offer, not sure how widely it’s been sent out. The ongoing earn rate is probably dwarfed by the fees. The initial welcome bonus looks interesting, though. It looks like fees are waived for the first 90 days, so this might be an easy-ish way of netting 30,000+ Membership Rewards points if you have a foreign vendor to pay. Let us know how this works out, in practice, if you try.
The American Express® Green Card, with valuable bonus categories and a strong collection of benefits, now has the highest welcome offer we’ve seen publicly available.
This is a great card for those who spend a lot on travel and dining and want to earn American Express Membership Rewards points.
Keep reading for more details on the card and how to access the offer.
Amex Green current welcome offer
New cardholders will earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of cardmembership. They’ll also earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in the first six months (up to $200 back).
The usual offer sits between 40,000 and 45,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, so now is a great time to apply to earn 60,000 points.
The fact that you can take six months to earn the bonus — instead of the usual three months that most cards require — means this is an easy offer to access, including for those on lower incomes. You need to spend just $500 each month for six months to earn the bonus.
Furthermore, you’ll maximize the $200 back if you spend $1,000 on travel and transit purchases in the first six months.
To put the bonus in perspective, 60,000 American Membership Rewards points transferred to one of their many transfer partners can usually get you a one-way business-class flight to Europe.
Amex Green card benefits
With the Amex Green Card, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on travel, restaurants and transit.
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They’re very broad categories, with travel and transit including everything from the usual flights, hotels and car rentals to cruises, tours, ride-hailing and parking. The restaurant category includes dining establishments worldwide, and takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Cardholders also receive an up to $189 annual credit when they use their American Express Green Card to purchase a CLEAR Plus membership (fully covering a membership) and another up to $100 annual credit for LoungeBuddy access, all for a $150 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Other perks include trip delay insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, access to the Global Assist Hotline, baggage insurance, purchase protection and no foreign exchange fees.
Bottom line
Although this card is built primarily for points and miles beginners, this is also a good choice for experienced points and miles gurus to pair with another Amex card to earn points on non-flight purchases, restaurant spending and transit. 60,000 Membership Rewards points is a solid bonus and one the highest we’ve seen on the card, and can be maximized by taking advantage of one of Amex’s frequent transfer bonus promotions.
Learn more in our full review of the Amex Green card.
Official application link: American Express Green Card with a 60,000-point bonus and 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases (up to $200 back) in your first six months.
For rates and fees for the Amex Green, click here.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is the brand’s no-annual-fee (see rates and fees), entry-level product. Featuring 7 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, the card is a solid option for new cardholders loyal to the hotel chain or those looking to avoid annual fees. However, other travel cards offer more points flexibility and bigger perks. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Hilton Honors program covers over 7,000 hotels in more than 120 countries, providing plenty of chances to earn and redeem points.
If you’re a beginner looking for a credit card with some Hilton perks, you may want to look at the Hilton Honors American Express Card. It has no annual fee and comes with a nice welcome offer, generous category bonuses and travel and purchase protections, making it a great option for travelers looking to get started with Hilton Honors.
Here’s everything you need to decide if the card is right for your wallet.
Related: Choosing the best Hilton credit card for you
Hilton Honors Amex welcome offer
New applicants for the Amex Hilton Honors card can earn 70,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a free night reward after spending $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends July 19.
TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents apiece, which means this bonus is worth $420 (excluding the free night), all for no annual fee and just a $1,000 spending threshold.
Earning points on the Hilton Honors Amex
With the Hilton Honors Amex, you’ll earn 7 Hilton Honors points per dollar on stays at Hilton hotels and resorts (including paying for your room and on-site spending at restaurants and spas), 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), 5 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, and 3 points per dollar on other purchases.
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Given TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents apiece, you’ll earn a 1.8% return on daily purchases and 4.2% return at Hilton hotels — though you’ll get an extra 12 points per dollar from your Hilton Honors Silver elite status, bumping your return to 11.4%.
Related: Points of View: Which credit card should you use for Hilton stays?
If you’re looking for higher earning opportunities covering a wider swath of travel purchases, including flights and rental cars, you won’t get that with this card.
Redeeming points on the Hilton Honors Amex
You’ll get the best value for your Hilton points when using them for hotel and resort stays, even with the chain’s lack of published award charts. How many points you need for a hotel room fluctuates, so you won’t know the final price until you go to make a reservation. The Points Explorer tool can show you what other guests have paid recently.
You can also transfer your Hilton Honors points to over 40 global airline loyalty programs and Amtrak. However, unless you need to transfer Honors points to top off an airline account for a specific award, using them for this purpose isn’t a good idea. The transfer ratio is normally terrible, losing thousands of points.
Our advice? Stick to hotel room redemptions to get the best value for your rewards.
Related: 10 Hilton properties I can’t wait to redeem Hilton Honors points for
You’ll do even better when you redeem points for a stay of five nights or longer. That’s because you get a fifth night free on stays using points.
This hotel near Niagara Falls charges 29,000 points, but you’ll see in the image that the fifth night is free — resulting in a final price of 116,000 points for five nights.
To learn more about redeeming Hilton points (and doing so at a great value), read the following guides:
Hilton Honors Amex benefits
The Hilton Honors Amex features a few notable perks and benefits beyond the welcome bonus. Here’s an overview of what this card has to offer.
Elite status
The card comes with automatic Hilton Honors Silver elite status, which provides member discounts, a 20% points bonus on paid stays, no resort fees on award stays, a fifth night free on award stays and free bottled water. If you spend $20,000 on the card in a calendar year, you can upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status, which TPG values at $1,220.
However, it’s worth pointing out that other Hilton credit cards offer Gold status automatically, meaning spending $20,000 to get there isn’t a good value.
Entertainment
Get exclusive access to ticket presales and cardmember-only events, along with Broadway shows, concert tours, sporting events and more through the American Express Experiences program.
Free shipping
ShopRunner gives you free two-day shipping on eligible items at a network of more than 100 online stores after signing up at shoprunner.com/americanexpress. Enrollment is required in advance.
Extended warranty
The card comes with an extended warranty that adds up to one year to an original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less.
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Purchase protection
Purchase protection covers items accidentally damaged, stolen or lost if you paid for them with your card. This benefit covers purchases for up to 90 days and covers up to $1,000 per item — up to $50,000 per calendar year.
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you use the card to reserve and pay for a car rental and decline the rental company’s insurance, you’re covered against damage and theft — up to $50,000. This benefit is secondary coverage to your own auto insurance and doesn’t include liability.
Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Dedicated help
The Global Assist Hotline helps with medical, legal, financial or other emergency services when traveling more than 100 miles from home.
Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details.Cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Which cards compete with the Hilton Honors Amex?
The Amex Hilton Honors card has natural competitors with “Hilton” in their names, but a general travel credit card also may do better in your wallet. Here are options you should consider.
If you like Hilton but want more perks: The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns an improved 12 points per dollar at Hilton hotels, provides automatic Gold status, and you can earn a free night reward by spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year. You’ll also get 10 Priority Pass airport lounge visits per year, and the card has a low $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). For more information, read our full review of the Amex Hilton Surpass card.
If you want flexible rewards with no annual fee: The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card earns 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 of purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar) and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. You can use these points with Hilton and over a dozen airline and hotel programs. You won’t get any benefits with Hilton but will have options with your points while still not paying an annual fee (see rates and fees). For more information, read our full review of the Amex EveryDay card.
If you want a hotel card without an annual fee, regardless of brand: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is an option if you want a hotel credit card without an annual fee and aren’t tied to Hilton. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy properties, receive complimentary Silver Elite status (and 15 elite night credits to help you reach higher status levels with Marriott), plus other travel and shopping protections. For more information, read our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card.
The information for the Amex EveryDay card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For additional options, see our list of the best hotel credit cards and American Express cards.
Related: The best no-annual-fee credit cards
Is the Hilton Honors Amex worth it?
You might assume the Amex Hilton card is worth it by default since it has no annual fee. It depends on what you’re looking for, though. If entry-level elite status, a good welcome bonus and fair earning categories are sufficient, you’ll like this card. If you’re looking for flexible rewards or more Hilton perks, go for one with an annual fee.
Bottom line
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a good starter card for those looking to maximize the benefits of Hilton’s loyalty program without paying an annual fee — especially with the increased welcome bonus. It may not be the right card for everyone, though it may be the right card for you if that’s what you seek.
Apply here: Hilton Honors Amex with 70,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a free night reward after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon and Madison Blancaflor.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card, click here.