I was just browsing around the American Express Membership Reward site and saw that you can not redeem your points for Delta Airline gift cards. I have no idea how long this option has been around for, but I’ve never seen it before and actually do not recall reading about it on any other blogs.
Regardless, the redemption value is HORRIBLE! For all three purchasing options, you are getting 0.7 cents per point. The minimum you should ever redeem your Amex points for is 1 cent per point and even that I am not keen on. For example, while still not the “best” value, you can redeem Amex points for Hyatt gift cards at 1 cent per point ($50 Hyatt gift card = 5,000 points).
Now, if you are keen on using your points for a Delta flight you have two other options:
- Book a Delta flight through AmexTravel.com. You are able to use your points to pay for many travel related flights, hotels, cruises, etc. With this option, 1 dollar = 1 point. So a $250 ticket will require 25,000 points, giving you 1 cent per point redemption value. And, with this option, you will still earn Delta miles on your flight.
- Transfer your points to Delta. With this option 1 American Express Membership Reward point = 1 Delta mile, so while it is a 1:1 transfer, you’ll still need to ensure you are getting a good value when actually redeeming those miles for a free flight award. Also keep in mind that you will need to pay a surcharge when transferring your Membership Reward points to Delta and that when you go to redeem for a free flight with Delta, you will most likely be paying taxes and fees on the award ticket. These taxes and fees vary on routing, but for international flights can definitely be quite expensive at times. You also wont earn Delta miles on your flight.
Overall… Although this is being advertised as a “new” redemption option on the American Express Membership Reward site, it is not a good option! This is also a reminder to ensure you are getting the best value when redeeming your points and to see if there is another similar option available that will get you more bang for your buck.
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how many membership rewards points does it cost to buy a Hilton GC? I’m trying to see the rates but I don’t have a MR earning card yet. Could you go through the same process but instead see the MR redemption tier when purchasing Amex Hilton-brand GCs? TIA
how many MR for Hilton gift cards?