AmEx MR FF Business Class to Europe

knobbs on 30/01/2017 - 12:51

Hello Ozb,

I am looking for a little help on booking some flights to Europe from BNE. My partner and I are getting married in August and both just got approved for the AMEX Explorer (110k AMEX MR points once we spend $1500). So am looking to fly to Europe (London/Rome) in the week of the 14th of August, close to the 14th the better.

With those points I have been looking at going Singapore Air which just cuts in with enough points to fly with their 15% online discount and business saver tickets. My problem is most of those flights are either now on wait list or only have 1 seat available. Seeing as it is my honeymoon I guess we should be on the same flight. I have heard they usually don't open seats to the wait list 1-2 weeks out which if we are planning a month of other activities based on that I would rather not leave to that late.

So my question to the all knowing bargain finders, is there a better way, should I be looking at other airlines is there a trick I need to do to be able to find 2 seats on business saver?

Travel

Comments

  • djkelly69 on 30/01/2017 - 13:02
    +1

    Have you tried looking at Asia Miles (Cathay)? I believe their taxes are usually quite a lot less than Singapore.

    A bit more complicated, but I believe PointHacks has articles discussing getting Amex points across to AA via Starwood or something similar. Might open some options there. You can also purchase AA points fairly regularly, so might be able to do that if you don't have enough points.

    Also the more flexible you can be with dates, the better results you will find.

    • knobbs on 30/01/2017 - 13:15

      Thanks for the reply, I was looking at Cathay initially because going through Asia Miles (correct Cathay) was 110,000 points for business class flights one way. AMEX transfer to Cathay at 4:3 so I would only get 82,500 points.

      As for the dates, my partner works for QLD health which are atrocious for getting any time off. She was lucky to get the month she did.

      EDIT. I looked up AA as per your suggestion. (this assumes transferring both our MR points 240k, to the same account)

      • 85k business class one way
      • MR -> Starwood = 2:1 (120k starwood points)
      • Starwood -> AA 1:1 with bonus 5k per 20k transfer (150k AA miles)
      • Still need another 20k miles
      • Can purchase for around $500 USD
      • Catch 22, AA have a cap of 150k points per year being put into an account which includes points bought
      • Would it be worth getting 2 AA accounts, would we even be seated together?

      Whyyyyyy am I finding this so difficult lol.

      • djkelly69 on 30/01/2017 - 17:23

        Sorry I haven't tried the AA thing, only read about it briefly so not sure on finer details. Champagne Mile or someone else may be able to chime in.

        Other suggestions - clutching at straws but:
        - Take out an Amex Platinum Charge card as well ($1200 annual fee, need $100k income, but includes $300 travel credit plus lounge access to Virgin domestic and Delta & Amex internationally plus elite status with a few hotels). Amex Rewards account should then get changed/upgraded to Ascent Premium, meaning you can transfer to airline partners at 1:1, plus you should get another 100k bonus points. Can also then transfer to Qantas.
        - If that is too exxy, you could look at taking out an Amex Platinum Edge and hoping Amex Rewards account gets changed to Ascent, so can transfer at 1:1 to airline partners (but no Qantas) and should get some bonus points as well. (Again, I have only read about this on AFF, so try at your own risk and do your own reading).
        - Do some referrals for Amexs, can get up to 20k points per referral. Did you and your partner refer each other?
        - Have you tried Malaysian?
        - Economy to HK/Singapore then business to Europe?

        Are you only looking to get business class tickets one way?

  • points4life on 30/01/2017 - 14:03
    +2

    Rule #1 booking reward flights: be flexible. Book either really far in advance or wing it and book a few days before departure.
    It's going to be tough to find award flights for August i think.

  • vocadata on 30/01/2017 - 14:21

    I've found Thai Airways to be quite economical for redeeming AmEx MR points (although I usually fly to Bangkok and not on to Europe). You're looking at 170,000 points per person for return business class seats to Europe, plus taxes which I am guessing will be in the vicinity of $800-$1,000.
    http://www.thaiairways.com/en_TH/rop/Redeeming/Redeeming_Awa…

    • knobbs on 30/01/2017 - 14:26

      @ceejay I was looking at them as well but only one way. Looks to be 118,000 points per person. AMEX transfer is 4:3 so only 82.5k points in THAI so that is a no go

  • donbot on 31/01/2017 - 10:33
    +2

    Search SQ in this manner:

    • BNE-SIN (or SYD-SIN, MEL-SIN, ADL-SIN, PER-SIN) - you may need to buy a positioning flight to obtain business. Once you can obtain something suitable in Saver, write down the arrival time in SIN.

    • THEN search SIN-Every Port in Europe, and make sure your departure time is after your arrival time in SIN.

    If you find two sectors with SQ that marry up, but cant book online - call their call centre. They are very helpful and request the 15% discount cos you couldnt do it online - they are very good with this in my experience.

    Flexibility is key to booking… either flexible in dates, or flexible with positioning. The only way to get both is to book well in advance or be lucky.

    FYI - In about 3 minutes i found a MEL-LHR very close to your dates. had a 20hr stopover in SIN though - but was a business class saver fare.

    • knobbs on 31/01/2017 - 10:36

      @tizey Awesome stuff mate, thanks for the tip. Will give it a go at lunchtime!

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