Our “Famous Card Explorer”

On average, the prices for regular (non-Basic) awards rose 20-25%. You can get much better deals via JAL on Air France, though Amex does not transfer to JAL (you would need Citi, Bilt, Capital One, or Rove miles – per our Transfer Partner Matrix.

This bonus basically gets you breakeven on a “normal” award from just a couple of months ago.

Flying Blue is the lowest tax way to book Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, though dynamic pricing means comparing the two programs before booking.

Also, while Flying Blue miles expire, it’s a reasonable 24 months and any activity (such as a simple 1,000 point transfer in) will extend it. They used to have archaic rules where flight activity miles weren’t extended with other activity but they came to their senses a few months ago and it’s now simplified with all miles in one pool and all extended by any activity.

Normally, you get 1.6 Aeromexico points for 1 Membership Rewards points so that bumps to 1,920 Aeromexico for 1,000 Amex under this promotion –  almost 2:1.

Aeromexico uses a range of redemption options including standard fixed awards and flexible awards – and you’ll see what’s available by searching and that does not require an account.

You can search here (use Google Translate in your browser if available as it’s in Spanish) to check possible redemptions.

Importantly, note the Aeromexico Rewards cancellation policy which is that, well, you can’t cancel it. You can change it, though.

Award Ticket may not be cancelled or reimbursed. If the Member decides not to use the Award Ticket and does not have a flight date scheduled, their Award Ticket will be open for a future flight on the same route, season and cabin.

The Award Ticket will be open for 1 (one) year after the original issuing date, so the trip must be completed within said validity period. Route or cabin changes are not applicable to new Award Tickets. However, there might be a tax and Premier Point difference between the original Award Ticket and the new one. Said difference must be covered when the new Award Ticket is issued. The issuing of the new Award Ticket is subject to seat availability on the desired flight.

Luckily, Aeromexico miles don’t expire.

On average, the prices for regular (non-Basic) awards rose 20-25%. You can get much better deals via JAL on Air France, though Amex does not transfer to JAL (you would need Citi, Bilt, Capital One, or Rove miles – per our Transfer Partner Matrix.

This bonus basically gets you breakeven on a “normal” award from just a couple of months ago.

Flying Blue is the lowest tax way to book Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, though dynamic pricing means comparing the two programs before booking.

Also, while Flying Blue miles expire, it’s a reasonable 24 months and any activity (such as a simple 1,000 point transfer in) will extend it. They used to have archaic rules where flight activity miles weren’t extended with other activity but they came to their senses a few months ago and it’s now simplified with all miles in one pool and all extended by any activity.

Normally, you get 1.6 Aeromexico points for 1 Membership Rewards points so that bumps to 1,920 Aeromexico for 1,000 Amex under this promotion –  almost 2:1.

Aeromexico uses a range of redemption options including standard fixed awards and flexible awards – and you’ll see what’s available by searching and that does not require an account.

You can search here (use Google Translate in your browser if available as it’s in Spanish) to check possible redemptions.

Importantly, note the Aeromexico Rewards cancellation policy which is that, well, you can’t cancel it. You can change it, though.

Award Ticket may not be cancelled or reimbursed. If the Member decides not to use the Award Ticket and does not have a flight date scheduled, their Award Ticket will be open for a future flight on the same route, season and cabin.

The Award Ticket will be open for 1 (one) year after the original issuing date, so the trip must be completed within said validity period. Route or cabin changes are not applicable to new Award Tickets. However, there might be a tax and Premier Point difference between the original Award Ticket and the new one. Said difference must be covered when the new Award Ticket is issued. The issuing of the new Award Ticket is subject to seat availability on the desired flight.

Luckily, Aeromexico miles don’t expire.

British Airways Avios used to be best for shorthaul flights on Oneworld carriers but recent changes have killed that. Where a flight from New York to Toronto (under 650 miles) used to be as little as 4,500 miles in years past, it’s now 12,000 miles. I mention this as some people may not realize this has all changed.

However, you can still transfer these miles over to Qatar Airways Avios where that same flight would be 6,000 miles as they price those like this: 0–650 miles: 6,000 Avios (Economy) / 12,500 Avios (Business). And the restrictions that Qatar had introduced on booking for others has been eliminated although you still confusingly need to add them to one of two lists (based on if they have or don’t have a Qatar account already).

And that’s the thing – you can transfer these Avios to any other Avios program airline.

Also – outside of the US, BA still prices flights under 650 miles (i.e. SYD-MEL on Qantas) at 6,000 miles in Economy and only 12,500 miles in Business – hello, sweet spot!

BA does have a very favorable lap infant policy – 10% of the miles paid for the adult fare.

But beware their draconian surcharges on long haul awards.

Advanced Mode: Transfer to Finnair’s Avios program which has sweet spots like 62,500 Avios and less than $200 from the US to Finland on Finnair and, (available only by phone or chat) amazing deals on AA transcons. If you can find JFK-LAX/SFO with an available Saver seat in 3-Cabin First (Z class), it’s yours for just 40,000 Finnair Avios. AA is phasing out F on those planes, but you can still book Business on the new AA planes.

Traveling within the EU in business class (yes, the standard economy seat with the middle blocked, but premium services) is also a steal on Finnair.

Reminder: We now maintain an incredibly comprehensive Transfer Partner Matrix that tracks not just where every currency transfers but also notes any current transfer bonuses.

British Airways Avios used to be best for shorthaul flights on Oneworld carriers but recent changes have killed that. Where a flight from New York to Toronto (under 650 miles) used to be as little as 4,500 miles in years past, it’s now 12,000 miles. I mention this as some people may not realize this has all changed.

However, you can still transfer these miles over to Qatar Airways Avios where that same flight would be 6,000 miles as they price those like this: 0–650 miles: 6,000 Avios (Economy) / 12,500 Avios (Business). And the restrictions that Qatar had introduced on booking for others has been eliminated although you still confusingly need to add them to one of two lists (based on if they have or don’t have a Qatar account already).

And that’s the thing – you can transfer these Avios to any other Avios program airline.

Also – outside of the US, BA still prices flights under 650 miles (i.e. SYD-MEL on Qantas) at 6,000 miles in Economy and only 12,500 miles in Business – hello, sweet spot!

BA does have a very favorable lap infant policy – 10% of the miles paid for the adult fare.

But beware their draconian surcharges on long haul awards.

Advanced Mode: Transfer to Finnair’s Avios program which has sweet spots like 62,500 Avios and less than $200 from the US to Finland on Finnair and, (available only by phone or chat) amazing deals on AA transcons. If you can find JFK-LAX/SFO with an available Saver seat in 3-Cabin First (Z class), it’s yours for just 40,000 Finnair Avios. AA is phasing out F on those planes, but you can still book Business on the new AA planes.

Traveling within the EU in business class (yes, the standard economy seat with the middle blocked, but premium services) is also a steal on Finnair.

Reminder: We now maintain an incredibly comprehensive Transfer Partner Matrix that tracks not just where every currency transfers but also notes any current transfer bonuses.

British Airways Avios used to be best for shorthaul flights on Oneworld carriers but recent changes have killed that. Where a flight from New York to Toronto (under 650 miles) used to be as little as 4,500 miles in years past, it’s now 12,000 miles. I mention this as some people may not realize this has all changed.

However, you can still transfer these miles over to Qatar Airways Avios where that same flight would be 6,000 miles as they price those like this: 0–650 miles: 6,000 Avios (Economy) / 12,500 Avios (Business). And the restrictions that Qatar had introduced on booking for others has been eliminated although you still confusingly need to add them to one of two lists (based on if they have or don’t have a Qatar account already).

And that’s the thing – you can transfer these Avios to any other Avios program airline.

Also – outside of the US, BA still prices flights under 650 miles (i.e. SYD-MEL on Qantas) at 6,000 miles in Economy and only 12,500 miles in Business – hello, sweet spot!

BA does have a very favorable lap infant policy – 10% of the miles paid for the adult fare.

But beware their draconian surcharges on long haul awards.

Advanced Mode: Transfer to Finnair’s Avios program which has sweet spots like 62,500 Avios and less than $200 from the US to Finland on Finnair and, (available only by phone or chat) amazing deals on AA transcons. If you can find JFK-LAX/SFO with an available Saver seat in 3-Cabin First (Z class), it’s yours for just 40,000 Finnair Avios. AA is phasing out F on those planes, but you can still book Business on the new AA planes.

Traveling within the EU in business class (yes, the standard economy seat with the middle blocked, but premium services) is also a steal on Finnair.

Reminder: We now maintain an incredibly comprehensive Transfer Partner Matrix that tracks not just where every currency transfers but also notes any current transfer bonuses.

British Airways Avios used to be best for shorthaul flights on Oneworld carriers but recent changes have killed that. Where a flight from New York to Toronto (under 650 miles) used to be as little as 4,500 miles in years past, it’s now 12,000 miles. I mention this as some people may not realize this has all changed.

However, you can still transfer these miles over to Qatar Airways Avios where that same flight would be 6,000 miles as they price those like this: 0–650 miles: 6,000 Avios (Economy) / 12,500 Avios (Business). And the restrictions that Qatar had introduced on booking for others has been eliminated although you still confusingly need to add them to one of two lists (based on if they have or don’t have a Qatar account already).

And that’s the thing – you can transfer these Avios to any other Avios program airline.

Also – outside of the US, BA still prices flights under 650 miles (i.e. SYD-MEL on Qantas) at 6,000 miles in Economy and only 12,500 miles in Business – hello, sweet spot!

BA does have a very favorable lap infant policy – 10% of the miles paid for the adult fare.

But beware their draconian surcharges on long haul awards.

Advanced Mode: Transfer to Finnair’s Avios program which has sweet spots like 62,500 Avios and less than $200 from the US to Finland on Finnair and, (available only by phone or chat) amazing deals on AA transcons. If you can find JFK-LAX/SFO with an available Saver seat in 3-Cabin First (Z class), it’s yours for just 40,000 Finnair Avios. AA is phasing out F on those planes, but you can still book Business on the new AA planes.

Traveling within the EU in business class (yes, the standard economy seat with the middle blocked, but premium services) is also a steal on Finnair.

Reminder: We now maintain an incredibly comprehensive Transfer Partner Matrix that tracks not just where every currency transfers but also notes any current transfer bonuses.