Amex rewards, Avios points, or Nectar points as store of value?

[Rocket]

Hello,

Fairly new to collecting points – at least new to paying attention to ways to maximise points collecting.

For the last few years I have been accumulating some Amex membership reward points and some Nectar points. I’ve just opened an Avios Barclaycard so will now be collecting Avios as well. I’m accumulating with no real goal in mind – just to get something back when I spend.

I’m aware that I can convert Amex to Nectar and the best route for this is to go via Avios.
Am also aware I can convert back and forth between Nectar and Avios.

I’m not a frequent traveller and I tend not to plan trips far in advance which makes me think I’m unlikely to redeem Avios. I suspect I’m most likely to redeem points via Nectar. Given Nectar is currently my most likely mode of redeeming points does it make sense for me to convert everything to Nectar (including my Amex points) and use that as my long term store of value? My thinking here is that whilst the route to converting Amex points and Avios points to Nectar is currently available, it might not be available in the future.

Thanks

• This topic was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .

[memesweeper]

Theee things I’d point out:

– Avios can be very useful for late-notice bookings — sometimes drastically cheaper than cash
— if you are cashing out Amex membership rewards, it’s best to go ‘via’ Avios as the effective rate is higher
– If you are keeping an MR earning card with Amex there’s no need to store the value elsewhere — keep the MRs until ready to spend

[Rocket]

Thanks for reply

I always had the impression that avios points for flights were only useful if you were able to book about a year in advance, and for cabin upgrades. So interesting to hear they can be useful for late bookings.

Regarding 3rd point – when point conversion schemes (e.g. MR/Avios, Avios/Nectar) are ended do you usually get notice enabling you time to do a final transfer? Or do they usually get cancelled with no notice (at same time as announcement)?

Completely unrelated question – does this forum have an option whereby you can get notified by email when someone replies to one of your posts? I can’t find such an option.

[AJA]

I think it is better to keep collected points separate unless you have a specific redemption in mind, rather like it is better to spread cash around several bank accounts. I don’t see any of the three schemes disappearing any time soon. The Avios / Nectar tie up was only introduced last year. That said if there is an end to a scheme there is usually at least a couple of months notice to give people the chance to spend their points.

No you don’t get notification of replies to posts. You just have to check back here. It is easier with the forum as you can search for your posts, the old chat threads were much more difficult and it’s interesting that the daily chat threads are getting much less use as time goes on.

[Rob]

You are best keeping points into Amex MR because of flexibility. Flexibility to move elsewhere but also as protection in case anything bad happens to Avios redemption rates.

Given that Amex transfers are usually overnight (instant for Emirates, Virgin, Marriott) there is even less at risk by keeping them with Amex.

Avios and Nectar are equivalent, I can’t imagine an overnight devaluation. However …. due to the 10 day lag in moving from Avios to Nectar, ARGUABLY it does no harm in keeping a decent Nectar balance. If a great Nectar redemption comes up which is only valid for a few days – or even a week – you wouldn’t be able to take advantage if all your points were in Avios.

[memesweeper]

Rob Burgess wrote:

You are best keeping points into Amex MR because of flexibility. Flexibility to move elsewhere but also as protection in case anything bad happens to Avios redemption rates.

Given that Amex transfers are usually overnight (instant for Emirates, Virgin, Marriott) there is even less at risk by keeping them in Amex.

Avios and Nectar are equivalent, I can’t imagine an overnight devaluation. However …. due to the 10 day lag in moving from Avios to Nectar, ARGUABLY it does no harm in keeping a decent Nectar balance. If a great Nectar redemption comes up which is only valid for a few days – or even a week – you wouldn’t be able to take advantage if all your points were in Avios.

I keep:
– my Amex MRs where they are unless I’m ready to spend them
– a decent Avios balance, accrued from flying, Avios earning cards and bonuses
– a Nectar balance, accrued from shopping, Nectar earning cards and bonuses, a balance which I could transfer back to Avios in it’s entirety in one month if required

Most months I send a few thousand Avios over to Nectar to keep that topped up as I spend at eBay and Sainsburys. I’ve not needed to send any MRs to Avios in the last few years, but when I run low, I will.

[Rocket]

@AJA @Rob @memesweeper thanks for advice and comments