Maximizing airline travel value using American Express Membership reward points

You work hard on earning your reward points. You either earned them through signup bonuses, spending bonuses or referral bonuses. So what do you do now? Here are a few general rules that will give you more value. For your points.

Never transfer your points out of your membership reward program to a partner airline or hotel until you are ready to use them. Amex has, from time to time transfer bonus promotions that will give you a percentage increase on the points you are transferring out. Amex points don’t expire so keep the points in your account as most point transfers take less than 2 days.

Know the airline alliances. Once you know the affiliations of airlines with each other, such as Star Alliance you have more flexibility on where to transfer your points. Your redemption flying options grow exponentially.

Never use points to pay for a flight directly through the Amex online booking service unless you have an endless stream of points, have no other options, and you can replenish your inventory immediately rnDon’t buy airline vouchers, "2nd person free" type promotions with amex membership rewards, as you are always better transferring into the airline loyalty program directly and booking a reward ticket.

Study the reward charts get an expert to help you, and know the alternatives. There are more options than are immediately obvious. Options that can have you using less point through dates, stopovers, class of service and airlines.

Remember points are a currency. Be smart and you will reap the benefits.