Newbie question using Amex points for a BA flight upgrade

[Professor Calculus]

Hi Everyone ,

Can you help I am new I have just over £100k of Amex points on my Plat card , was wanting to use it to upgrade flights from economy to business /first class on up and coming trip to Paris this year and possible NY next year .

Totally confused how to redeem the points I believe I have to convert them to Avios’ points to get better value.

I have signed up on the BA website in order to link but not sure what I should be doing any savvy people out there that can guide me ? Thanks

[roger]

Use Amex website to link your BAEC account.
Send MR points across to BAEC.

I would first check availability though before sending Avios to BAEC from AMEX MR account.

[Peter K]

Hi. Sounds like you need to do quite a bit of reading up. I suggest you start with reading this:

https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/10/03/what-can-you-do-with-american-express-membership-rewards-points-3/

But in answer your question, to use them on British Airways you need to turn them into avios first. You need to do some reading up on the program however, for example you can’t do a double upgrade on BA. If you book a long haul economy ticket you can only upgrade to premium economy (and only certain economy tickets can be upgraded). To upgrade to business you need to book premium economy. To first you need to book business. There also needs to be redemption availability in the class you are trying to upgrade into.

Virgin will allow a double upgrade, but again only certain economy tickets can be upgraded.

A less value wise way to buy any ticket is to pay cash on the plat card then use the points for a statement credit. This is poor value however.

As I said, you need to do a bit a reading up. We can help, but you need a bit of knowledge first to understand the help better.

[Erico1875]

Most of your questions will be answered at
https://www.headforpoints.com/the-beginners-guide-to-collecting-avios-points/

[Peter K]

Another thing to consider is what you mean when you say “£100k worth of points”. If you mean 100k membership rewards points, then that is not a great deal of Avios for a transatlantic flight. You might well be better off getting a BA premium amex to earn the 2-4-1 voucher to maximise value before redeeming them.