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I have a healthy stash of virgin points and Avios and hence my building MR balance (160k or so currently) I was thinking to convert to Emirates in the future. Mainly to capitalise on low tax opportunities in J and F around Asia and also a one way to the UK isn’t too bad for taxes (£300ish). Having read the conversion rate is reducing by 25% next month is making me think about risking a conversion even though I won’t be taking any flights for quite a while.
Am I right in saying that the airline conversions with MR are better than converting to hotel schemes? Mainly as the value you can get per point converted is a lot better?
Is Emirates a particularly good or average option for converting MR or am I missing out on a more lucrative opportunity?
There are very few ways to earn emirates points in the uk hence this was my preferred route amongst other reasons.
I’m also curious as to what people’s experiences have been with hotel schemes. From what I’ve seen and read about, long haul business or first class tickets net you the most value regularly if you can book them. Hotel schemes are the second in line in terms of value, as during peak dates, you can net higher values, especially if you can benefit from the 5th night being free on some programs.
I was mostly thinking that it’d be better for me to get airline redemption. Might be better off to buy points for hotels when they’re on sale…
Most people here would advise not to convert to an airline without having a redemption in mind.
For Emirates, you’d need to book a return to get J for 54k each way to/from London, as a one way is 87k. I think the taxes for a return would be something like £800-£850. If you’re willing to spend 87k for a one way from Dubai, you might want to consider spending a bit more and flying F instead, as you can sometimes get F for 102k, and I think the taxes are the same.
@Maples, I’ve recently made a redemption transferring my MR to HH, for my first Hilton redemption since getting a Platinum card (and as such Hilton Gold). 150k MR = 300k HH for 6 nights in WB Curio, Abu Dhabi, where a cash room on the same dates (with breakfast) was around £2k when I booked. So still getting great value for my MR.Considering the email just received stating the following, you may want to reconsider timings or usage.
Emirates Skywards
From 19 August 2024 the points transfer ratio for the Emirates Skywards loyalty programme will be changed from: “1 Membership Rewards® point = 1 Skywards mile” to “4 Membership Rewards points = 3 Skywards miles”. As continued, a minimum of 1,000 Membership Rewards points is required to transfer, increasing in increments of 500 points. A maximum limit of 999,000 points applies to each transfer to Skywards Miles.
Your Membership Rewards points will continue to be transferred to your Emirates Skywards account within 48 hours upon your request. Please visit here for more information.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can now transfer Membership Rewards points into Qatar Airways Avios at a rate of 1 Membership Rewards point equaling 1 Qatar Avios. A minimum of 500 Membership Rewards points is required to transfer, increasing in increments of 500 points. A maximum limit of 799,500 points applies to each transfer.
Your Membership Rewards points should be transferred to Qatar Airways Privilege Club instantly [upon your request], but please allow 48-hours for completion. Please visit here for terms and conditions of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Redeemed rewards are not refundable, exchangeable, replaceable or transferable for cash or credit.
Am I right in saying that the airline conversions with MR are better than converting to hotel schemes? Mainly as the value you can get per point converted is a lot better?
I’ve managed good value with Marriott when converting from MR. If you are spending heavily enough, you might just want to get the Bonvoy card in addition to ARCC/Gold/Platinum, as the earning rate is better than the transfer rate. Marriott points can be converted, at a small loss, to a huge number of airlines including Emirates. If you send in 60k ‘lumps’ you will get a 5k bonus for most of them, 10k for United.
I’d be more confident I could spend my way through a few hundred thousand Hilton or Marriott points quickly than any airline scheme.
Is Emirates a particularly good or average option for converting MR or am I missing out on a more lucrative opportunity?
One other scheme with a less-than-1:1 rate from MR is Singapore Kris. Despite the superficially poor conversion rate from MR, the airline is good, there is good availability on United (if flying west) and — crucially — there is good availability on Singapore when flying east.
Emirates and Singapore both have horrible points expiry policies. So don’t transfer speculatively if you can help it.
Is there an Emirates CC release likely?
Thanks. I didn’t realise the redemption rates weren’t halved for a one way so that changes things. I’ll still get decent value vs cash process but actually Marriott does look like a good option especially with the 5 for 4 nights redemption. Will think a bit more about what to do rather than the speculative Emirates transfer. Stupidly a premium economy redemption is the same as business which makes no sense at all.
Is there an Emirates CC release likely?
Maybe. https://www.headforpoints.com/2024/01/14/emirates-is-planning-a-new-uk-credit-card/
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