A BONUS NEVER SEEN BEFORE: 200k points to fly first class for free
The worst of the pandemic seems behind us, at least for tourism we are beginning to see light at the end of the [...]
The worst of the pandemic seems to be behind us, at least for tourism we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, and there may be a very unique way to celebrate the return to the world of intercontinental travel, to treat yourself to an incredible trip thanks to the most generous welcome bonus ever seen in the way of serial accumulators of points and miles.
In this article:
What is the welcome bonus
It is a reward that, for a minimum spend, American Express gives to all new customers. Depending on whether you decide to sign up for the green card, i.e., the basic card, going up to the Platinum you will receive a nice little bundle of Membership Rewards points for free..
What are Membership Rewards points
On this site we have written Dozens and dozens of articles explaining how to use the points that you earn every time you use your credit card. Typically you receive one point for every euro you spend; there are cards that allow you to earn up to 3 points when you spend in certain categories of stores.
These points can be converted into "cash" as a real cashback that turns 1000 points into 4 euros or, much more conveniently, at points of airlines or hotel chains to treat themselves to a flight or stay without spending anything, or at most a few tens of euros.
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
Since I got into this world, it has become a real disease for me, allowing me to fly all over the world for free, to sleep in many hotels without paying anything, and to get VIP treatment, even though I am but a humble serial accumulator of points and miles.
How to get 200k MR points
The bonus reserved for those who decide to become holders of the most exclusive of American Express cards is something NEVER seen before. Especially when you consider that in order to get the prize, you will only need to spend 3,000 with your credit card in 3 months.
The rewards will be huge: 200k points can easily be exchanged for a week-long stay at one of the Maldives' most beautiful resorts for the whole family or, if you're single, a ticket to fly around the world in business class.
We explained how to use the points if you are a couple, such as two tickets to fly to New York in business class with Emirates. Or how to turn points into an incredible stay at Disneyworld in Tokyo as soon as the borders reopen.
There are so many ways to use them, but as any practitioner of the reward travel game knows, the best thing is to accomplish your goal, no matter what it is.
The benefits of the card beyond points
It should not be forgotten that the Amex Platinum is much more than just a credit card. It is total travel insurance for the whole family, even for Covid-related problems. It gives elite status in the world's top hotel chains, which translates into room upgrades, free breakfasts, and many other benefits when traveling.
5 ideas for using 200k points
MR points never expire, or rather they expire the moment you are no longer an American Express credit cardholder participating in the Rewards program. This means, for example, that if after 10 months you do not want to keep the Platinum card but want to downgrade to the Green card, you will not lose the points you have accumulated up to that point and will continue to accumulate new ones.
That said, then, one solution might be to. Apply for Amex Platinum today and use the points when it is easier to travel, but if you want to turn the points into a vacation immediately, here are 5 ideas on how to use them
#1 Two business class tickets to go to Christmas in New York.
At the moment the borders are still closed, but hopefully things will be different come Christmas.
Flying business class with Emirates from Milan to the city that never sleeps costs from 90k Skywards points. Turning 200k MR allows you to accumulate 160k points in the Dubai-based company's program. Taking advantage of the new Skywards+ program will result in a 20% discount on award ticket bookings, thus bringing the cost from 180k to 154k points.
#2 A free week at a resort in the Maldives
MR points can also be transformed into points of the Hilton Honors Programs e Marriott Bonvoy, this means that you can book free stays in hotels all over the world.
The idea might be to use the points to unplug and fly to the heat to enjoy a week at one of the most exclusive resorts Maldives such as the brand new Le Meridien Maldives. The property is located on Lhaviyani Atoll, about 30 minutes by seaplane from Male. It has about 150 rooms, from beachfront rooms to overwater bungalows.
The Bonvoy program is a partner of American Express. Transfer points Membership Rewards in Bonvoy Points it's a matter of minutes, and because of the 5:4 conversion rate, it's super easy to turn points into a free stay in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
#3 A First Class Ticket with Lufthansa
Is your dream to fly on a 747, the iconic plane of the Jumbo era? The opportunities are fewer and fewer, but it is still possible.
Lufthansa is the world's leading operator of the latest version of the Queen of the Skies, namely the 800 variant-the largest one ever built. Thanks to MR points you will be able to sit on the nose of the plane (and in front of the pilot) after passing through Frankfurt's exclusive First Class terminal.
Lufthansa 747s fly all over the world, from the United States to South America, from Asia to the Middle East. Finding seats is not easy, but it is a real experience worth the points it costs.
#4 Showering at an altitude of 30 thousand feet while drinking Dom Perignon
If 747s are disappearing, A380s are now a dying breed. Emirates will be the last company to ground the double-decker giant made in Europe.
There are many ways to book a first class ticket, our advice of course is to Choose a route operated with the A380 and not the 777, the other aircraft in the EK fleet. This is the only way to experience the bar, the suite, and especially showering in the small SPA dedicated to the 6 passengers in Emirates' most exclusive cabin.
Mixing cabins by flying one leg in business and one leg in first allows you to save money on your final bill, in which case booking First Class on a flight out of Dubai is a must to get the full service: free limousines anywhere in the Emirates, access to the dedicated terminal and lounge for First passengers only, and finally the pleasure of enjoying the flight in one of the best seats in the skies.
#5 Experience the world's best business class
The last of our suggestions, but there could be many more, is to use the points earned from the welcome bonus by turning them into Avios points to book a seat in Qatar Airways' QSuite.
The seat was voted the best business class in the world again this year. The Doha-based airline rivals Emirates, but stands out for the quality of its business class cabin, which for many rivals even Emirates' First offering.
Bonus idea (but need a handful of extra points) a ticket to go around the world
Round The World is one of the most complicated award tickets to book, but we are talking about an authentic life experience, one of those things to tell to make friends die of envy or impress a new flame.
