Amex points, how to spend??

[Raindancer101]

How do you all spend your points outside of flights?

I have about 250k amex points that I have accumulated over the years. I don't know if this is a good amount as I've never redeemed any but I've decided to switch to another reward card so I need to get rid. Everything I've read seems to point to airlines being the best bang for your buck but we only fly short haul from local airports and tbh, the cost of travel to London and the taxes and fees on reward flights means we'd save nothing compared to using low cost airlines like we usually do. So that doesn't work.

Apparently statement credit is the very worse value for points but I'm struggling to see what else I can do with them, have I missed something?

I’d look at reward flights with Avios, I often get flights for £1 for short haul European destinations with Avios.

I use statement credits to cover the annual cost of the card (platinum). We never used to use them otherwise

Also did you know that you can fly long haul from regional airports via London for no extra cost? So you could get a connecting flight from Manchester

But I think the OPs point is that there are very few flights from Northern England that they can be used for. We can travel all over Europe using Ryanair, easyjet and Jet2 for less than it costs us to get to London so we could use these free flights that Avios can be used for.

OP do you know what the points will buy? I'm thinking if they'll pay for something amazing like return flights to Japan or Hawaii then they'll be worth using like that, otherwise might be just worth using against your statement.

No vouchers that you could use them for, to spend in a shop you do use?

Yes that was exactly my point.

We're a family of 4 and I've never come across flights in school holidays where using points has worked out to be a significant enough saving for it not to feel like a waste of points. Plus, for a short haul flight I loathe to double my travel time to just to get to London to save myself a very tiny amount of money. I'd rather just fly TUI/Jet2 etc. and save myself ear ache from grouchy kids.

When I got the credit card I was child free and travelled long haul often. So the plan was to save them up and go somewhere amazing but then the kids came and here we are. Obviously the best option would be to flight somewhere long haul alone but sadly I think that may not be realistic 😂

@Bjorkdidit Can you convert them into vouchers do you know? I've been looking for this tonight but can't seem to see the option.

I don't know, I was just asking if it was possible.

I'm usually all over credit card freebies but I've stayed clear of Avios and Amex because I can't see how they'd be worthwhile to someone who can't easily access BA flights and also rarely books more than a few weeks ahead - I imagine you have to book months in advance to get the free flights.

You can spend them on https://thewineflyer.co.uk/ - I can refer you for extra points if you want (which kind of defeats the object!)

You can pay for car hire, experiences, wine and hotels too. You can also switch to aer lingus or Vueling for local flights - we do this with ours.

It feels like it should be possible doesn't it.

I've had the same realisation. I spend almost everything on my amex and clear it in full monthly "for the points"...that I never use and can't really use on anything I particularly want. I blame the children for frying my brain 😂

You have enough for the 4 of you to fly to somewhere like New York - do you not fancy something like that?

www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/rewards/membership-rewards/

Looks like you can spend on Amazon or gift cards?

Oh fgs there is LOADS on that list! I have just spent ages looking through my amex app and obviously in the wrong place 🙈 Thank you for this link @OneFrenchEgg I am clearly a fool although I am glad I did post before I applied the statement credit thinking that was the only option😳

Oh this is interesting! We have avoided a points Amex and instead got a cashback Amex (even tho you get less in cashback than in points), thinking the points were basically only good for Avios. But now realise there is loads to spend them on.

you are welcome! Fresh eyes and all that. Hope you enjoy spending them x

I usually convert mine to nectar points, and they pay for a tank of fuel every couple of months. However the conversion rate has slowly gone from 1 avios for 4 nectar points, to just this month 1 to 1, which is really annoying!