Best redemptions for 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards for Business Class Travel
Using American Express Membership Rewards points for business class travel can offer tremendous value, especially when you transfer these points to the right airline loyalty programs. Here are ten of the best value redemptions, considering the cost in points, availability, and fuel surcharges:
ANA (All Nippon Airways) via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- **Route:** U.S. to Tokyo
- **Points Needed:** 45,000-47,500 Virgin Points one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- ANA offers one of the best business class products.
- Virgin Atlantic charges significantly fewer points for ANA flights than other programs.
- Minimal fuel surcharges for flights to/from Japan.
What else is in this post?
- ANA (All Nippon Airways) via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Aeroplan (Air Canada) for Star Alliance Flights
- Avianca LifeMiles for Star Alliance Flights
- British Airways Executive Club
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Delta SkyMiles via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) Promo Awards
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Iberia Plus
Aeroplan (Air Canada) for Star Alliance Flights
- **Route:** U.S. to Western Europe
- **Points Needed:** 60,000 Aeroplan points one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Competitive points pricing for business class to Europe.
- Aeroplan includes all partner airlines in Star Alliance, like Lufthansa, Swiss, and United.
- Reasonable taxes and minimal fuel surcharges on most partners.
Avianca LifeMiles for Star Alliance Flights
- **Route:** U.S. to Europe
- **Points Needed:** 63,000 LifeMiles one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- No fuel surcharges on any tickets.
- Good availability and direct booking online.
- Regular promotions on buying or transferring miles can provide even better value.
British Airways Executive Club
- **Route:** U.S. East Coast to Ireland (Aer Lingus)
- **Points Needed:** 50,000 Avios one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Aer Lingus offers good business class availability and service.
- Redeeming through British Airways for Aer Lingus flights typically incurs lower taxes and fees than other transatlantic options.
- Aer Lingus charges lower fuel surcharges compared to other transatlantic carriers.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- **Route:** U.S. to Frankfurt/Singapore
- **Points Needed:** 92,000 KrisFlyer miles one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Access to high-quality Singapore Airlines business class.
- Direct flights available from several U.S. cities.
- KrisFlyer has moderate fuel surcharges, but the product quality justifies it.
Delta SkyMiles via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- **Route:** U.S. to Europe
- **Points Needed:** 50,000 Virgin Points one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Virgin Atlantic has lower redemption rates for Delta flights than Delta's own SkyMiles program.
- Avoids high fuel surcharges that Delta charges when booking through its own program.
- Good availability for Delta One suites.
Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) Promo Awards
- **Route:** Select U.S. cities to Europe
- **Points Needed:** Starting at 55,000 miles one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Promotional awards can offer significant discounts on the usual mileage requirements.
- Charges fuel surcharges, but the reduced mileage cost can offset this.
- Flying Blue has dynamic pricing, so deals vary but can be excellent.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- **Route:** U.S. to Asia
- **Points Needed:** 70,000 miles one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Access to Cathay Pacific’s excellent business class.
- Reasonable fuel surcharges compared to direct competitors.
- Good availability and allows stopovers in Hong Kong.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
- **Route:** U.S. to Australia
- **Points Needed:** 108,400 points one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Although high in points, it's a direct route with a top-quality product.
- Qantas charges moderate fuel surcharges.
- Better availability when booking far in advance or last minute.
Iberia Plus
- **Route:** U.S. East Coast to Madrid
- **Points Needed:** 34,000 Avios off-peak one-way
- **Why It’s Great:**
- Exceptionally low mileage requirement for transatlantic business class.
- Low taxes and fees when flying from the U.S. to Europe.
- Iberia's off-peak calendar offers many dates, making it easier to find good value.
Tips for Maximizing Value:
- **Book Early or Last Minute:** Award availability is often best far in advance or at the last minute.
- **Watch for Transfer Bonuses:** American Express periodically offers bonuses