This must be one of the most common questions out there, maybe this will settle it once and for all?
If I'm missing any good AMEX transfer methods or if there any mistakes let me know!
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Star Alliance:
Using ANA miles
-If there is availability on Continental or USAirways for your dates: Transfer 60,000 points per ticket to ANA for coach or 90,000 points per ticket for business. If you redeem ANA miles to go to Israel on airlines besides for Continental or USAirways you will be hit with fuel surcharges.
Using Continental miles
-If there is Star Alliance availability besides for Continental and USAirways, transfer 75,000 points per ticket to Continental for coach or 115,000 points for business. Continental never charges fuel surcharges. Continental also gives its own elite members expanded award availability for travel on Continental.
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OneWorld:
Using BA miles
-If there is OneWorld availability, transfer 65,000 points per ticket to BA for coach or 130,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay additional fuel surcharges if your travel includes flying on BA. There won't be fuel surcharges if you only travel on partner airlines.
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Skyteam:
Using Alitalia miles
-If there is Skyteam availability transfer 50,000 points per ticket to Alitalia for coach or 80,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay fuel surcharges.
Using Flying Blue miles
-If there is a promo award available on Flying Blue for your dates and you're ready to work hard to get them to honor it and cut through red tape: Transfer 25,000 points to Flying Blue per ticket for coach or 50,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay fuel surcharges.
Using Delta miles
-You can also transfer to Delta Skypesos to avoid fuel surcharges for travel originating in the US (Delta charges fuel surcharges for travel originating outside of the US), but their mileage rates are variable. Coach can be between 80,000 and 190,000 and business can be between 120,000 and 370,000.
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Other:
Using El Al miles
-If there is El Al availability transfer 98,000 points per ticket to El Al for coach or 210,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay fuel surcharges.