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long time ozbargainer, first time poster ;)
This is really a bit of a tricky process, but essentially what we're doing is combining the ability to buy AMEX points for redemption, with the Malaysia Enrich program which is having a sale (http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/content/dam/mas/master/en/pd…). Although they say the sale is ending in July, I've bought two sets of flights at this "price" over the last 6 months, so it's anybody's guess when it will actually end. The value comes from the fact that Malaysia Airlines equates 1 AMEX point to 1 Enrich Mile, so you're looking at about AUD $4000 when it's all said and done.
Steps:
Step 0: Find a business class Malaysia Airlines flight that you like and take note of the tax and surcharges.
- Sign up for Enrich if you don't already have an account.
- Login, go into flight redemption and have a browse. You'll notice that for many trips to Europe, it's only 51,000 points each way most of the time (even if you're booking at the last minute). If you're satisfied with the amount of tax + surcharges you have to pay (you can't get out of paying tax! You know the old saying..), then proceed to 3.
- Call the number on the back of your AMEX card to purchase the required number of points (it's $25 for 1000) - they may require the points to be used for some purpose rather than just putting them in your account - in this case, you're going to transfer them to your Malaysia Enrich Account. NOTE: It is necessary that your Enrich account is in the same name as your AMEX. So it should cost you $2550 for all the necessary points plus
- As I've said earlier, you'll also have to pay whatever that tax and surcharges figure above was.
- When your points come through, you simply go into flight redemption in the Enrich website, and redeem the points for flights, + pay by debit/credit card for the additional tax/surcharge amount.
- Travel in style.
I did a quick example:
STANDARD PURCHASE — SYD->LHR DEPART 15/08, RETURN 17/09 = ~$7700
AMEX METHOD — $2550 + Surcharges: $751.80 + Taxes: $502.87 = $3804.67
Big Saving!
Just beware:
* All of this is subject to change, whenever, as you know. I can't guarantee this will continue to work.
* It's entirely possible Malaysia Airlines will stop doing their promo in the time it takes for you to buy points and transfer them to Enrich - that's an unavoidable risk.
* Seats on the particular date you're looking at might sell out in that time
* The only part I haven't personally tried is purchasing points from AMEX… but I have spoken to an AMEX rep previously about this, and had it confirmed as possible.
* No refunds/flight changes/stopovers at all (as far as I can tell).
I have no reason to suspect why AMS would be any different, but I haven't personally booked to AMS, so I left it out. I have it feeling it might be run by codeshare with KLM. Other than that, I'd definitely recommend LHR and CDG anyway, since Malaysia runs A380s along these routes now, meaning fully flat beds. In my experience you will always end up on an A330 of some kind for the AUS->KUL leg, and these tend not to have the fully flat beds, but hey, for this price I'm not complaining :).
Please put ex SYD. In title.