Spring Break 2013! A Proposed 26,000 Mile Journey

As many of you may know, I am a college student by day and the amusing, yet mystical, Bengali Miles Guru by night. After traveling almost 100,000 miles since January, I knew that my upcoming spring break trip would have to be amazing.

How to Save Thousands of Miles Booking United Flights: Use Membership Rewards on ANA

American Express Membership Rewards are valuable because of their ability to be transferred to dozens of partners. But they have a glaring weakness: they don't have a top-tier Star Alliance transfer partner--US Airways or United.

Membership Rewards can be transferred to Singapore, which is great because this is the only way to get into Singapore business or first class.

Membership Rewards can also be transferred to Aeroplan and ANA.

Fantasy Becomes Reality: Singapore Suites From Singapore to Los Angeles

Pack your bags folks. Today, we're going on one of the most coveted First Class products out there. It's so luxurious that it's not even called First Class.

Singapore Airlines Suites were introduced in 2008 exclusively on their flagship A380-800. Ever since then, people have been hoarding their points for a chance to fly this room in the sky. For years, Singapore Suites could only be booked by using KrisFlyer points at an astounding 1 million miles roundtrip!

At the end of 2012, Singapore released their Suites product to saver availability on KrisFlyer.

100k Membership Rewards American Express Platinum

Lucky has the details. I don't have much to add.

This is the best credit card offer out there by far. I assume it will be available only briefly, so consider getting it now.

The $450 annual fee should not deter you. You can get $200 in airline gift certificates for free today. And you can get $200 more next January before you pay the next annual fee.

Here's a definitive list Bill made of the airline gift certificates that are reimbursed under this benefit.

If you don't yet have Global Entry, the $100 fee is reimbursed.

Hotel News Roundup-Membership Rewards Transfers, Elite Status Increases, and More

Hilton HHonors-33% Bonus on Membership Rewards Transfers

Per this thread on FlyerTalk, Hilton is offering a 33% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards into Hilton HHonors points. This offer is good for transfers through January 31st. Transfers must be made in increments of 1,000 Membership Rewards points.

Avios 30% Transfer Bonus from Membership Rewards

Through January 14, you can transfer 1,000 Membership Rewards to 1,300 Avios. The transfer are hard-coded into the Membership Rewards transfer page, meaning you don't have to know any special codes.

All my posts about Avios are contained here: milevalue.com/category/avios.

Iberia 25% Off Transatlantic Awards and Low Surcharges

British Airways is offering a 25% discount on its longhaul awards--flown by BA or Iberia. That would be great except British Airways charges humungous surcharges that make any redemptions an awful deal in my mind. To wit, British Airways business class from New York to London:
As the screen shot indicates, this is normally a 40,000 Avios award, so there is a 10,000 Avios, or 25%, discount. But the taxes and fees of $438 oneway make this an award I would not purchase.

What to Do with an American Express Annual Fee Coming Up and Unused Membership Rewards

Samir asks:
Hi Scott,
     I discovered your blog recently and am loving it. Your miles-related knowledge is pretty impressive and I most definitely appreciate the tips/advice I have gotten from your site so far. Needless to say, I have started reading your site daily. 
     Anyway, I have an issue that I was hoping you could help me out with. Last summer, I signed up for the AMEX Premier Rewards Gold card when it had a nice signup bonus at the time.

British Airways Not Showing Up as a Membership Rewards Transfer Partner

Edit: Thanks to the commenters who checked the Membership Rewards site ad found that the ability to transfer between MR and Avios has returned at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Just now at 10:40 AM Paris time, 4:40 AM ET, and 1:40 AM PT, I logged into Membership Rewards to see if the 50% transfer bonus between Membership Rewards and Avios had really ended.