The Amex Pay With Points Trap
The 0.7-cent problem
Amex Pay With Points and similar checkout redemptions value Membership Rewards at roughly 0.7 cents each, sometimes a touch more or less. Membership Rewards is one of the most valuable transferable currencies, with deep airline and hotel partners, so cashing it out at 0.7 cents is among the worst things you can do with it. See what points are worth.
What the points could do
Transferred to partners like ANA, Virgin Atlantic, or Flying Blue, Membership Rewards can return several cents per point on premium-cabin awards. Even a modest hotel transfer beats 0.7 cents. The checkout convenience costs you most of the value. See transferable points explained.
What to do instead
Hold Membership Rewards for transfers, and pay for online purchases with the card itself to earn more points, not by burning points at a fraction of a cent. If you want to offset a charge cheaply, use a fixed-value cash-back card instead. See Amex Membership Rewards guide.
Stop guessing at point values. Look up the real award price and live availability for a specific trip before you transfer.
Search award flights on seats.aero →Frequently asked questions
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