13 Best Ways To Use 150,000 Amex Platinum Card Points [2025]

Here at Upgraded Points, we’re obsessed with getting the best value from credit card rewards. And a trend we’ve noticed over the years is that credit card bonuses seem to be increasing.

One thing that has stayed constant, however, is the appeal of Amex Membership Rewards points, which are among the most valuable types of points. They can be used for statement credits, gift cards, charitable donations, online shopping, and, most importantly, luxury travel. In fact, the best way to get tremendous value from those Amex points is by transferring them to airline and hotel partners.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is an undeniably impressive card. With one of the largest welcome bonus offers in the business and seemingly endless value offered to its members, it’s probably not a surprise that it’s so popular.

Card Benefits Snapshot

The Amex Platinum card earns up to 5x Membership Rewards points:

• 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar earned on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year)
• 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1x Membership Rewards points per dollar on all other purchases

Keep in mind that earning 5x points is equivalent to a return on spending of more than 11%, which is a huge bonus multiplier.

It gets better — the Amex Platinum card gets you access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, elite status with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Leaders Club (enrollment is required), access to Platinum Nights by Resy, rental car perks with Avis, Hertz, and National, and access to Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection.

Also, you can expect to get more than $1,600 worth of value from the Amex Platinum card’s statement credits (enrollment is required on some benefits):

• Up to $200 in airline fee credits every year
• Up to $600 in prepaid hotel credits every year
• Up to $300 in digital entertainment credits every year
• Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits every year
• Up to $400 in Resy credits every year
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash every year
• Up to $120 in Uber One credits every year
• Up to $300 in Equinox credits every year
• Up to $300 in lululemon credits every year
• Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits every year
• Up to $200 in Oura Ring credits every year
• Up to $209 in CLEAR^® Plus credits every year
• Up to $120 in Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fee credits every 4 to 4.5 years

Even better, the Amex Platinum card comes with amazing travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees), purchase protection, extended warranty, return protection, cell phone protection insurance, and no preset spending limit.

No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

Amex Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

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Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

These days, the Amex Platinum card’s welcome bonus offer seems to be getting larger periodically. So what if you happen to find yourself earning a bonus of 150,000 Amex points from the Amex Platinum card?

Let’s take a look at some of our favorite ways to use 150,000 Amex points!

International Flights

1. Book Singapore Airlines First Class Suites From New York to Singapore

Flying on Singapore Airlines Suites, especially on the A380, is perhaps the pinnacle of commercial aviation.

If sipping Dom or Krug Champagne while 35,000 feet in the air and enjoying your double bed in first class is your style, it could be worth booking this product using points.

Luckily, American Express partners with Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer program, KrisFlyer, which can help you access these first class flights for free (almost).

One fantastic sweet spot with 150,000 Amex points is to transfer 149,000 Amex points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer to book the coveted Suites product from New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) with a layover in Frankfurt (FRA).

148,500 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles are required for this flight, but Amex requires transfer increments of 1,000 points, which is why you need to transfer 149,000 points.

Here’s the exact route we’re talking about:

• New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines A380 Suites for 149,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles plus around $28 in taxes and fees

Stopovers are not allowed on these tickets because the price above is strictly for Saver-level tickets (only higher-priced Advantage tickets are eligible for stopovers on one-way tickets).

These tickets routinely sell for $11,000 one-way, which would net you a return of nearly 8 cents per point!

2. Fly ANA First Class Round-Trip From the U.S. to Japan

Our second favorite way to get incredible value from your Amex points is to book ANA first class round-trip between the U.S. and Japan by transferring points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

This is a classic sweet spot in the world of award travel that still rates among the best: If you can find award availability on ANA first class between the U.S. and Japan, you can book a one-way flight for as few as 85,000 points.

From the West Coast, you must redeem 72,500 points, and from the Central U.S. or East Coast, you redeem 60,000 points one-way. Since a round-trip costs twice as much as a one-way ticket, a round-trip ticket from and to the West Coast can be booked for as few as 145,000 points.

Hot Tip: Since Virgin Atlantic Flying Club prices ANA flights by segment, you can only fly to and from Tokyo at this price.

It’s easier said than done since ANA doesn’t release award availability often, but here are some fantastic routes to consider booking:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 170,000 Virgin points plus about $761 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 170,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 145,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 170,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (HND, NRT) round-trip in ANA first class for 145,000 Virgin points plus $761 in taxes and fees

These tickets usually retail for $22,000 to nearly $27,400. At the latter price, you’d net a redemption value of 16+ cents per point and up to 28 hours in a top-notch first class product!

3. Book 3 One-Way Business Class Tickets in Delta One to Europe

Another amazing way to redeem 150,000 Amex points is to book 3 one-way business class flights in Delta One between the U.S. and Europe.

In short, Virgin Atlantic boasts an awesome partnership with Delta Air Lines. As long as you’re not flying to or from the United Kingdom, you can redeem as few as 47,500 points for a one-way Delta One business class ticket between the U.S. East Coast and Europe. The same award will cost 57,000 points one-way during peak travel season.

Also, Virgin Atlantic doesn’t make passengers pay any fuel surcharges that Delta may levy, which saves you around $700 per one-way ticket!

That said, finding partner-level award availability on Delta business class flights to Europe is pretty challenging, so searching for flights will likely involve more work.

Here are some great example flights to consider booking:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Delta One business class for 47,500 Virgin Points plus about $6 in taxes and fees during off-peak dates
• Boston (BOS) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in Delta One business class for 47,500 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees during off-peak dates
• Cincinnati (CVG) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One business class for 47,500 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees during off-peak dates
• Detroit (DTW) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Delta One business class for 57,500 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees during peak dates
• New York (JFK) – Prague (PRG) one-way in Delta One business class for 47,500 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees during peak dates
• New York (JFK) – Venice (VCE) one-way in Delta One business class for 57,500 Virgin Points plus $6 in taxes and fees during peak dates

4. Book 6 One-Way Economy Tickets on Singapore Airlines to Europe

Not everyone minds hobnobbing with the hoi polloi, so let’s pivot to economy tickets.

More specifically, if you don’t have the desire to fly in business or first class but still want to get to Europe while flying on an acclaimed airline, this redemption method could be for you.

Simply put, Singapore Airlines charges 25,000 KrisFlyer miles for one-way flights between the central and eastern U.S. and Europe.

Luckily, Singapore Airlines operates 2 fifth-freedom flights, enabling you to get around $3,000 of value by booking 6 one-way tickets in economy using 150,000 Amex points.

Here are the 2 redemptions we’re talking about:

• Houston (IAH) – Manchester (MAN) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 25,000 KrisFlyer miles plus around $6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 25,000 KrisFlyer miles plus about $6 in taxes and fees

Instead of spending $3,000 for 6 one-way tickets, doesn’t it sound much better to spend less than $35?

5. Book 3 One-Way Business Class Tickets on Iberia to Spain

You can do a lot with 150,000 Amex points — in fact, one of the best ways to use these points would be to transfer a total of 136,000 points to Club Iberia Plus for 3 one-way business class tickets to Spain.

There’s a little-known sweet spot that honestly seems like a typo: during off-peak dates, you can redeem 40,500 Iberia Avios plus about $125 in taxes and fees for a one-way business class flight to Spain.

Best of all, award availability isn’t too hard to find, especially if you plan further in advance.

Almost all of Iberia’s flights involve Madrid (MAD), so you’d probably fly there. To take advantage of the 40,500 Avios price, you need to keep your flight between 3,001 and 4,000 miles in flight distance.

Here are flights we recommend:

• Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 40,500 Iberia Avios and around $125 in taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 40,500 Iberia Avios plus $125 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 40,500 Iberia Avios plus $125 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 40,500 Iberia Avios plus $125 in taxes and fees

With 150,000 Amex points, you can comfortably book 3 of these one-way tickets (or 1 round-trip ticket) with lots of points to spare, netting you at least $7,500 in value. More realistically, though, 3 of these flights can retail for up to around $15,000.

6. Book Round-Trip Business Class to the Middle East on Qatar Airways Qsuites

Qatar Airways Qsuites is one of the best business class products in the world. And if you’re traveling to the Middle East or Africa, you definitely want to consider flying Qsuites.

With Qsuites, your vacation starts a bit earlier, and you can access convenient schedules onward to your final destination.

We like Qatar Airways Qsuites, though, because award availability is pretty generous far in advance, and you can transfer Amex points to The British Airways Club to book these flights at an attractive rate.

The British Airways Club charges 70,000 points each way in business class from the U.S. to Qatar Airways’s hub in Doha (DOH).

That means you can comfortably book a round-trip business class ticket with less than 150,000 Amex points!

Here are some example redemptions we recommend:

• Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus around $245 in taxes and fees per person
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus $245 in taxes and fees per person
• Philadelphia (PHL)  – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus $245 in taxes and fees per person
• San Francisco (SFO)  – Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 British Airways Avios plus $245 in taxes and fees per person

Round-trip business class flights usually retail for $10,000 to $15,000, making it an absolutely killer redemption. You can always split this up into 2 one-way tickets, as well.

7. Book Emirates Business Class One-Way to Europe

Emirates operates a handful of first class routes between the U.S. and Dubai, and these tickets can be booked for around 163,500-186,000 miles one-way. However, flights to Europe are much more affordable at 102,000 miles each way.

These fifth freedom flights can be booked for just 102,000 Skywards miles each way. These tickets can retail for over $6,000 each, so the value proposition here is incredible. Best of all, Emirates doesn’t impose heavy fuel surcharges on these flights, with taxes coming up to just $102 one-way.

The down side? Emirates first class is only available to  Skywards Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite members. You can obtain Silver status with the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard^®, or Gold status with the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard^®. The other workaround is to book a business class award, then upgrade to first class using miles.

Here are some of the Emirates routes you can book to Europe:

• New York (JFK) – Milan (MXP) one-way in Emirates business class for 102,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $102 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH) one-way in Emirates business class for 102,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus $102 in taxes and fees

8. Book an Epic Round-the-World SkyTeam Trip in Economy Class

Are you interested in traveling the world on an epic, complex itinerary using 150,000 Amex points? You can easily make this happen thanks to Amex’s transfer partnership with Aeromexico!

Amex maintains an enhanced transfer ratio of 1:1.6 with Aeromexico’s Rewards frequent flyer program.

And since Aeromexico only charges 224,000 points for a SkyTeam round-the-world award trip in economy, you can transfer 140,000 Amex points to earn enough points for one of these trips!

This is an insane deal because you’re allowed up to 15 stopovers. The only significant restriction is your travel can only be in 1 direction — no backtracking is allowed.

Here is an epic sample itinerary you can book with 140,000 Amex points transferred to Aeromexico Rewards:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX) in Aeromexico economy class
• Mexico City (MEX) – Santiago (SCL) in Aeromexico economy class
• Santiago (SCL) – Buenos Aires (EZE) in KLM economy class
• Buenos Aires (EZE) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) in Aerolineas Argentinas economy class
• Rio de Janeiro (GIG) – Paris (CDG) in Air France economy class
• Paris (CDG) – Amsterdam (AMS) in Air France economy class
• Amsterdam (AMS) – Cape Town (CPT) in KLM economy class
• Cape Town (CPT) – Victoria Falls (VFA) in Kenya Airways economy class
• Victoria Falls (VFA) – Nairobi (NBO) in Kenya Airways economy class
• Nairobi (NBO) – Jeddah (JED) in Kenya Airways economy class
• Jeddah (JED) – Bangkok (BKK) in Saudia economy class
• Bangkok (BKK) – Jakarta (CGK) in Garuda Indonesia economy class
• Jakarta (CGK) – Hanoi (HAN) in Vietnam Airlines economy class
• Hanoi (HAN) – Seoul (ICN) in Korean Air economy class
• Seoul (ICN) – Los Angeles (LAX) in Korean Air economy class

We’re not even going to go into how much this itinerary would cost if you purchased it — the value proposition is incredible!

9. Book 4 Transcontinental One-Way Tickets in Air Canada Signature Class

Interested in flying to Canada? On specific flights, you can access an excellent lie-flat product on select North American transcontinental flights.

Air Canada Aeroplan employs a variable award pricing structure, and business class tickets can be had for as few as 25,000 points each way.

With 140,000 Amex points, you have enough to book 5 one-way Air Canada Signature class tickets at the lowest possible rate. It’ll take some digging to find these flights, but it’s oh-so worth it.

Expect to get excellent redemption values. Taxes and fees total around $60 or more per ticket.

Here are some good routes to book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 25,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $60 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 25,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $40 in taxes and fees
• Vancouver (YVR) – Montréal (YUL) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 25,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $40 in taxes and fees
• Vancouver (YVR) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class from 25,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $40 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: Because many of these routes have multiple daily frequencies, be sure to check if your flight is operated by an A330, 787, or 777. All of these flights have lie-flat business class seats, which are far superior to the standard recliner seats.

10. Book Etihad First Class One-Way to the Middle East

If you’re looking for an incredible way to visit the Middle East in first class without worrying about Emirates’ lack of availability (particularly if you’re traveling with a companion), Etihad first class can be extremely helpful.

Etihad first class is a lavish experience comparable to Emirates first class, and its first class seats aren’t difficult to find. Also, thanks to a handy partnership between Air Canada and Etihad, you can redeem fewer than 150,000 Amex points for a one-way flight to the Middle East. Just keep in mind that pricing is dynamic, so you may find rates significantly higher than this.

Even though Etihad has a smaller network of routes than Emirates, there’s still 1 route equipped with a first class cabin to or from the U.S.:

• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad first class from 120,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $30 or so in taxes and fees

Etihad first class retails for around $12,500 each way, giving you a redemption value of 10.41 cents per point!

11. Fly LATAM Business Class Round-Trip From the U.S. to South America

One of the best ways to use Amex points for business class flights to South America is on LATAM.

This airline offers an excellent business class experience, complete with lie-flat seats and reasonable redemption rates.

Transferring your points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles allows you to book round-trip business class flights on LATAM’s long-haul routes for as few as 122,000 Amex points.

From there, expect to pay minimal taxes and fees.

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Lima (LIM) round-trip in LATAM business class for 126,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus about $80 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Santiago (SCL) round-trip in LATAM business class for 170,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus around $90 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Lima (LIM) round-trip in LATAM business class for 178,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus about $110 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – São Paulo (GRU) round-trip in LATAM business class for 126,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus $80 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Santiago (SCL) round-trip in LATAM business class for 170,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles plus $90 in taxes and fees

12. Fly Lufthansa First Class From the U.S. to South Africa With a Stopover in Frankfurt

If you’re looking to aim high for a fantastic, aspirational redemption to Africa, Lufthansa first class is an incredibly difficult flight to book to South Africa.

If you’re lucky enough, you can even book a stopover in Frankfurt (FRA) before continuing to Johannesburg (JNB) by redeeming an extra 5,000 Amex points.

Expect to transfer 135,000 Amex points to Air Canada Aeroplan to book one of these flights. Here are some great redemption ideas:

• Boston (BOS) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 135,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus around $40 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 145,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $40 in taxes and fees
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 145,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $40 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class with a stopover in Frankfurt for 135,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus about $40 in taxes and fees

Just keep in mind that finding 2 segments of Lufthansa first class availability is one of the tallest orders in all of award travel!

Hotel Breaks

13. Book 3 Nights at a High-End Hilton Property

The last redemption we’ll discuss is transferring Amex points at a 1:2 ratio to Hilton Honors.

At select properties worldwide, getting more than 1 cent per value from each Hilton Honors point is possible. That equals a redemption value of 2 cents per Amex point, which could be worth it. (We generally value Amex Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents per point.)

So, with 150,000 Amex points, you can earn 300,000 Hilton Honors points.

In general, Hilton prices standard rooms at one of these rates:

• 200,000 points per night
• 120,000 points per night
• 95,000 points per night
• 80,000 points per night

And so on.

We’ve found that the sweet spot is to book 3 nights at a property charging 95,000 points per night with 150,000 Amex points, as it allows you to transfer 143,000 Amex points for 3 nights.

Here are some of our favorite ways to redeem 150,000 Amex points for Hilton stays:

• 3 nights at Conrad Koh Samui for 150,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa for 135,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Hilton Lake Como for 135,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, for 120,000 Amex points
• 3 nights at Conrad Hong Kong for 112,500 Amex points

Final Thoughts

You have plenty of ways to maximize 150,000 Amex points earned with the targeted welcome bonus offer on the Amex Platinum card. Most of Amex’s transfer partners maintain a 1:1 ratio, although some exceptions apply, including Aeromexico (1:1.6) and Hilton Honors (1:2).

Whether booking first class or coach, you can get incredible value from your Amex points.

In this guide, we showed you how to book some of the most aspirational flights using points, including Lufthansa first class, Emirates business class, Singapore Airlines first class, Etihad first class, and Qatar Airways Qsuites.

You can even redeem Amex points for excellent value at certain luxury properties in Hilton’s portfolio!

How will you redeem 150,000 Amex points?

For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefits of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.