Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...

Dear Ohad...
I’ve been saving up American Express Membership Rewards points for a dream trip to Japan, but now I’m overwhelmed with options. Should I transfer them to an airline, book through Amex Travel, or cash out for something else?

First of all—good job holding onto Amex points! They’re one of the most valuable currencies in award travel because of their flexible transfer partners. Now, let’s break this down:

• Avoid cashing out unless you’re in financial trouble. The redemption value for statement credits or gift cards is terrible—usually only 0.6 to 1 cent per point. Booking through Amex Travel isn’t great either because, unless you have the Business Platinum with the 35% rebate on points, you’re getting a max of 1 cent per point.
• Best bet: Transfer to an airline. Japan is a dream destination, and luckily, you have excellent transfer options.
  • ANA (All Nippon Airways) – 110,000–120,000 points for round-trip business class from the U.S. (but round-trip only, and booking takes patience).
  • Virgin Atlantic (for ANA flights) – Even better value than ANA itself—just 45,000 points one-way in business class! Downside? It’s tricky to find availability.
  • Singapore Airlines – Good for flexibility, but taxes/fees can be higher.
  • Delta – Overpriced most of the time, but if you find a deal, it’s worth considering.

🔹 Pro Tip 1: If you're flexible, use Point.me or AwardLogic to search for availability before transferring your points. Transfers are irreversible, so don’t move them until you confirm an award seat is available.

🛟 Pro Tip 2: If you are tired of searching and need help... ohad@upnonstop.com

Dear Ohad...
What’s the best airline to earn elite status with in 2025 if I want complimentary upgrades and lounge access but don’t fly every week?

This is a fantastic question because elite status is getting harder to earn. If you want meaningful benefits—like upgrades and lounge access—without being a road warrior, here are your top picks:

1. Alaska Airlines MVP Gold – If you live on the West Coast or fly Alaska partners (American, Qatar, Japan Airlines), their MVP Gold 75K status gets unlimited upgrades, lounge discounts, and the best companion certificate in the business. You can also qualify with a mix of flying and credit card spend.
2. American Airlines Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum (via Loyalty Points) – American’s elite program is now spend-based, meaning credit card spending counts toward status. You can earn Platinum Pro (which gets upgrades and OneWorld Emerald lounge access) with just a mix of flying and spending on the AA card—one of the few ways to get status without tons of flights.
3. Delta Platinum or Diamond Medallion (but…be warned) – Delta’s Medallion status is great, but in 2024, they made it incredibly difficult to earn unless you spend heavily on their Amex cards. If you have a Delta Reserve or Platinum Amex and can rack up Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs), you can get there without excessive flying. But it’s no longer a great option for casual flyers.

🧭 Pro Tip: If you mostly fly internationally, OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald status (through Alaska or American) is your best bet for premium lounges worldwide—even when flying economy.

Dear Ohad...
What’s your most underrated award travel redemption that people are sleeping on?

One of the absolute best redemptions that doesn’t get enough love: Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles for domestic U.S. flights on United.

• Why? You can book ANY United flight within the U.S. for 7,500 miles one-way in economy or 12,500 miles in first class. No joke. That includes cross-country flights that would cost 25,000+ miles if booked directly with United.
• How?
  • Transfer Amex, Citi, or Capital One points to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.
  • Search for United flights on the Turkish website (it’s clunky, but it works).
  • Call Turkish Airlines if online booking doesn’t work (agents are helpful).

🪂 Pro Tip: If you’re flying to Hawaii, you can use this same trick to book United flights for only 7,500 miles one-way—an insane deal.

Got Questions? Got Answers! Email ohad@upnonstop.com