12 Best Ways To Use 150,000 Amex Platinum Card Points [2026]

This page is for travelers who have earned 150,000 Membership Rewards points from the Platinum Card^® from American Express welcome offer and want to know the best ways to use them.

American Express points transfer to more than 20 airline and hotel partners at fixed ratios, making them one of the most flexible rewards currencies available. This guide covers 12 specific redemptions, each with exact mileage costs and transfer partners. The comparison table below offers a quick reference across all 12.

Quick Overview: Best Ways To Use 150,000 Amex Platinum Points

Most Amex transfer partners accept points at a 1:1 ratio, with 2 notable exceptions: Aeromexico Rewards at 1:1.6 and Hilton Honors at 1:2. The strongest flight redemptions by retail value are ANA first class round-trip from the U.S. to Japan via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (145,000 points from the West Coast or 170,000 from the East Coast and Central U.S., with a retail price over $20,000), Etihad first class from Washington, D.C. (IAD), to Abu Dhabi (AUH) via Air Canada Aeroplan (120,000 points, costing over $10,000), and Singapore Airlines business class from New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) via KrisFlyer (117,000 points, costing $7,000 one-way).

Qatar Airways Qsuites round-trip from the U.S. to Doha (DOH) is also bookable for 140,000 Avios via Qatar Airways Privilege Club, with a retail value of $10,000 to $15,000. For hotel stays, 150,000 Membership Rewards points transfer to 300,000 Hilton Honors points at the 1:2 ratio, covering 3 nights at some premium properties.

Amex periodically offers transfer bonuses to some partners. Check for active bonuses before transferring, as these can reduce the total points required.

Best Ways To Use 150,000 Amex Platinum Points Right Now

1. ANA first class round-trip via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 145,000 points (West Coast) or 170,000 points (East or Central U.S.) for a round-trip to Tokyo. Tickets retail for $22,000 or more, translating to over 16 cents per point in some scenarios.
2. Etihad first class one-way via Air Canada Aeroplan: 120,000 points for Washington, D.C. (IAD), to Abu Dhabi (AUH). The $12,500 retail value yields approximately 10.4 cents per point.
3. Qatar Airways Qsuites round-trip via Qatar Airways Privilege Club: 140,000 points for a round-trip from the U.S. to Doha. The retail value ranges from $10,000 to $15,000.
4. Singapore Airlines business class one-way via KrisFlyer: 117,000 points for New York (JFK)-Frankfurt (FRA)-Singapore (SIN). Tickets retail for approximately $7,000, or nearly 6 cents per point.
5. Iberia business class to Spain via Iberia Plus: 40,500 points per one-way ticket to Madrid on off-peak dates. Up to 3 tickets can be booked for 121,500 points total.

Best Uses of 150,000 Amex Platinum Points: At a Glance

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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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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.

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• 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!
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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 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 Business Class From New York to Singapore

Singapore Airlines business class between New York and Singapore is available by transferring Amex points to KrisFlyer and booking at the Saver award level.

The one-way routing passes through Frankfurt (FRA) on Singapore Airlines metal, covering both segments on a single award ticket. Saver pricing for this itinerary is 117,000 KrisFlyer miles plus approximately $28 in taxes and fees. Stopovers are not permitted on Saver one-way tickets — that is limited to higher-priced Advantage fares. Singapore Airlines devalued its KrisFlyer award chart in November 2025, with increases across most cabins, so confirm current Saver pricing before transferring.

Example redemptions:

• New York (JFK)-Frankfurt (FRA)-Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 117,000 KrisFlyer miles plus about $28 in taxes and fees

Value: These tickets retail for approximately $7,000 one-way, translating to nearly 6 cents per point at Saver pricing.

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

ANA first class between the U.S. and Japan can be booked by transferring Amex points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Example routes:

• 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

Value: Retail prices range from $22,000 to $27,400. At the higher end, this translates to 16 or more cents per point across up to 28 hours in ANA first class.

Hot Tip:

Read our review of ANA’s new The Suite first class and why one of our writers thinks it’s worth the cost to book these awards.

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

Delta One business class between the U.S. and Europe (excluding the U.K.) can be booked through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Off-peak, one-way pricing from the East Coast and Central U.S. is 47,500 Virgin Points; peak dates cost 57,500 points. West Coast departures carry higher point requirements. Note that Virgin Atlantic now applies substantial carrier surcharges to Delta One partner awards. Fees can exceed $1,000 per ticket on some itineraries, which materially affects the total cost of this redemption. Verify current fees before transferring. Partner-level award space on Delta business class flights to Europe is limited and requires flexibility on dates and routing.

Example routes:

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

4. Book 5 One-Way Economy Tickets on Singapore Airlines to Europe

Singapore Airlines operates a fifth-freedom route between New York (JFK) and Frankfurt (FRA), bookable with KrisFlyer miles at economy Saver pricing.

Each one-way ticket costs 27,500 KrisFlyer miles plus minimal taxes and fees. With 150,000 Amex points transferred to KrisFlyer at 1:1, you’d have enough miles for 5 one-way tickets on this route. Singapore Airlines devalued its KrisFlyer award chart in November 2025, so confirm current economy Saver pricing before transferring.

Example redemption:

• New York (JFK)-Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Singapore Airlines economy class for 27,500 KrisFlyer miles plus about $6 in taxes and fees

Value: 5 one-way tickets at this route’s current retail pricing would cost approximately $3,000, making this a strong option for travelers prioritizing economy travel on a premium carrier.

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

Iberia business class between the U.S. East Coast and Madrid (MAD) is available through Iberia Plus at 40,500 Avios per one-way ticket on off-peak dates.

Iberia’s off-peak award pricing for this tier applies to routes between 3,001 and 4,000 miles. Award availability is reasonably accessible, particularly when you’re booking further in advance. Note that in March 2026, Iberia raised the Chicago (ORD)-Madrid (MAD) award price to 50,500 Avios off-peak, as that route exceeds the 4,000-mile distance threshold for this pricing tier. Other East Coast routes to Madrid remain eligible at 40,500 Avios off-peak.

Example routes:

• Boston (BOS)-Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 40,500 Iberia Avios and around $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

Value: Three one-way tickets require 121,500 Avios total. Comparable business class fares to Spain can reach $5,000 to $7,500 per ticket at retail, netting substantial value across 3 bookings.

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

Qatar Airways Qsuites round-trip between the U.S. and Doha (DOH) can be booked by transferring Amex points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

Nonstop flights between the U.S. and Doha cost 70,000 Qatar Airways Avios each way in business class or 140,000 Avios for a round-trip flight. Award availability on Qatar nonstop routes tends to be accessible well in advance. On peak dates, pricing may rise, so confirm current rates before transferring.

Example routes:

• Boston (BOS)-Doha (DOH) round-trip in Qatar Airways Qsuites business class for 140,000 Qatar 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 Qatar 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 Qatar 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 Qatar Airways Avios plus $245 in taxes and fees per person

Value: Round-trip Qsuites tickets typically retail for $10,000 to $15,000, making this one of the stronger business class redemptions available with Amex points.

7. Book Emirates Business Class One-Way to Europe

Emirates business class on some fifth-freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe is available by transferring Amex points to Emirates Skywards at 1:1.

These fifth-freedom routes operate via Dubai (DXB), with Emirates flying U.S. cities to certain European destinations on its own metal. One-way pricing is 102,000 Emirates Skywards miles, and Emirates does not impose heavy fuel surcharges on these itineraries. Taxes come to approximately $102 one-way.

Note that booking Emirates first class (as distinct from business class) now requires Skywards Silver, Gold, or Platinum elite status. Silver status can be obtained with the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard^® or Gold status with the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard^®. Alternatively, business class award tickets can sometimes be upgraded to first class using additional miles.

Example routes:

• 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

Value: These tickets retail for over $6,000 one-way.

8. Book 5 One-Way Tickets in Air Canada Signature Class

Air Canada business class (Signature Class) on some transcontinental North American routes is available through Air Canada Aeroplan starting at 25,000 points per one-way ticket.

Aeroplan uses variable award pricing, with Signature Class tickets on North American transcontinental routes starting at 25,000 points one-way. With 140,000 Amex points transferred to Aeroplan at 1:1, up to 5 one-way tickets are possible at the minimum rate. Taxes and fees cost roughly $40 to $60 per ticket depending on the route. This pricing applies to certain routes on wide-body aircraft (A330, Boeing 787, or Boeing 777) with lie-flat business class seating; the same routes may also operate with recliner-style seats on narrow-body equipment.

Example routes:

• 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:

Many of these routes operate multiple daily frequencies. Verify the aircraft type before booking — lie-flat business class is only available on A330, 787, or 777-operated flights.

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

Etihad first class between Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi is available through Air Canada Aeroplan and typically offers more accessible award space than comparable Emirates first class routes.

Washington Dulles (IAD) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) is the only Etihad route to the U.S. with a first class cabin. Aeroplan pricing for this one-way redemption starts at 120,000 points plus approximately $30 in taxes and fees. Pricing on this route is dynamic, so rates may be higher depending on when the search is conducted.

Example redemption:

• 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

Value: Etihad first class on this route retails for approximately $12,500, yielding a redemption value of around 10.4 cents per point.

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

LATAM business class round-trip between the U.S. and South America can be booked by transferring Amex points to Cathay Pacific at 1:1.

Cathay prices LATAM long-haul round-trip business class starting from 126,000 miles for some routes (such as JFK-GRU and LAX-LIM). Taxes and fees are generally low: approximately $80 to $110 depending on the routing. LATAM’s long-haul business class features lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration on its new and retrofitted aircraft, though a 2-2-2 layout is still on some older aircraft.

Example routes:

• 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

Value: Business class fares to South America at retail can reach several thousand dollars per round-trip, depending on the route and travel dates.

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

Lufthansa first class between the U.S. and Johannesburg (JNB), South Africa — with an optional stopover in Frankfurt, Germany — is available through Air Canada Aeroplan.

Aeroplan pricing for this routing starts at 135,000 points from East Coast gateways (BOS and JFK) and 145,000 from Houston (IAH )and Miami (MIA). A stopover in Frankfurt can be added for an additional 5,000 points on eligible itineraries. Taxes and fees are approximately $40 one-way. Finding confirmed Lufthansa first class availability on 2 segments in the same itinerary (U.S.-FRA and FRA-JNB) is among the more difficult award searches available and requires significant lead time and flexibility.

Hot Tip:

Learn how to use airline stopover programs to get 2 vacations for the price of 1.

Example routes:

• 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

Availability is the primary constraint on this redemption. Searching early and remaining flexible on travel dates is necessary to find confirmed space on both segments.

Hotel Breaks

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

Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, meaning 150,000 Amex points become 300,000 Hilton Honors points.

With 300,000 Hilton Honors points, 3 nights are covered at properties priced at approximately 95,000 to 100,000 points per night. Hilton has expanded its use of dynamic pricing, and its top properties are as high as 250,000 points per night, so point costs at specific properties can vary greatly. Transferring the minimum points needed — rather than the full 150,000 — preserves any remaining Amex balance for other uses.

Example redemptions:

• 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

Value: Returns are over 1 cent per Hilton Honors point at some properties — equivalent to 2 cents per Amex point at the 1:2 transfer ratio. Hilton Honors points are generally valued at lower rates than airline miles, so this option works best when cash rates at the target property are high.

Hot Tip:

Confirm current award pricing at specific properties before transferring, as dynamic pricing means point costs can vary by season and availability.

Before You Transfer Your Amex Points

Search for award availability before initiating any transfer. Amex point transfers are irreversible — once points move to a partner program, they cannot be returned. Only transfer after confirming that the specific seats, dates, and routing needed are available.

Taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges vary significantly across programs and routings. Some redemptions — particularly Delta One via Virgin Atlantic — now carry surcharges that can exceed $1,000 per ticket, which materially changes the total cost of the redemption.

Amex periodically offers transfer bonuses to certain partners, temporarily increasing the number of partner miles you receive per point transferred. Checking for active bonuses before transferring can reduce the total points required for a given redemption.

How We Selected the Best Ways To Use 150,000 Amex Platinum Points

We evaluated the 12 redemptions on this page on estimated retail value, cents-per-point return, award availability, and total cost including taxes and fees, covering a range of travel goals from aspirational first class bookings to multiple-ticket economy strategies. Each option reflects publicly available award pricing at the time of writing, and rates are subject to change. For a full explanation of how Upgraded Points evaluates credit card rewards and redemptions, see the Upgraded Points rating methodology.

Final Thoughts

ANA first class via Virgin Atlantic (16 or more cents per point) and Singapore Airlines business class via KrisFlyer (nearly 6 cents per point) offer the strongest flight redemption values. For multiple one-way business class tickets to Europe, Iberia Avios via Iberia Plus is the most efficient option. Hilton Honors transfers at 1:2, making it the strongest hotel transfer available with Amex points. Confirm award availability and verify transfer ratios before transferring.