{"id":3583,"date":"2012-12-30T22:36:43","date_gmt":"2012-12-31T05:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?p=3583"},"modified":"2014-04-14T13:28:14","modified_gmt":"2014-04-14T19:28:14","slug":"how-amex-membership-rewards-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?p=3583","title":{"rendered":"How American Express Membership Rewards Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again, the secret to free travel is flexibility – flexibility in your schedule to go and in your means of payment. \u00a0A good secret to point-hoarding is to get them when you can, where you can… worry about using them later. \u00a0What that means is that if you have a good opportunity to seize on a promotion, take it. \u00a0Of all forms of travel reward points, the bank program points tend to be the most flexible – and thus, potentially the most valuable. \u00a0American Express’ point program is termed “Membership Rewards,” and is similar in scope to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program which we’ve extolled on this site often.<\/p>\n

Before I talk about the Membership Rewards, though, I just have to give you an example of how and why flexibility is the key to cheap travel. \u00a0It’s because flexibility is the key to cheap everything. \u00a0Let me break it down for you. \u00a0My wife sent me to the grocery store to get some Farr’s \u00a0Mint Chip ice cream. \u00a0But my mind doesn’t think in terms of necessity of brand and\/or flavor. \u00a0My mind thinks in terms of value. \u00a0When I get to the grocery store, I see that they do have the Farr’s Mint Chip, and that it would cost me $4.59. That’s the kind of number that it just stings to see. \u00a0I like the bright orange super-sale tags, so my eyes are drawn to the Breyer’s Cookies and Cream, which has been marked down to $2.99. \u00a0I do what every man would do – ignore my wife’s demands and opt for the cheaper ice cream. \u00a0I’m whistling about the $1.60 I saved until I get home and find that Nicole’s not happy with the ice cream I selected. \u00a0She wanted the Farr’s mint chip. \u00a0When I tried to make the value explanation, she wasn’t buying it, but the reality was, the Breyer’s was some really good ice cream and we enjoyed it nonetheless.<\/p>\n

Just as demanding the perfect brand and flavor of ice cream will often cost you money, so also will demanding the perfect time and location of your vacation cost you more. \u00a0If you insist on Hawaii on January 3rd to 15th, you might pay a mega-premium over what you’d pay to go somewhere with a beach in the spring… but I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed in whatever you pick. \u00a0Give yourself that flexibility and the open-mindedness to do whatever makes the most sense, and you’ll not only save money, you’ll also see and do things you may never have otherwise seen and done.<\/p>\n

AMEX Membership Rewards<\/h2>\n

Now, as we’ve discussed bank points like the AMEX Membership Rewards can be 1) spent like cash to purchase flights through an online booking tool, 2) Spent on travel gift cards and certificates, 3) Transferred to airline partner programs, or 4) Transferred to hotel partner programs. \u00a0These partner programs will vary from time to time, but here are the major ones at the moment.<\/p>\n

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See our post about a tour through Alpine Europe<\/p><\/div>\n

Airline Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n