Hey Brain's trust.

[jezza88]

Hey, I moved here from Australia with my Swedish partner and we have two children. Flying to Aus to see my family is quite expensive and I'm looking at hacking some flight points to get the annual cost down.

I'm tossing up between the amex elite or premium unless there is a better option? My partner and I will spend about 600-800sek a year on the card and yes that's withstores that will take amex payment. I'm not too worried about flying buissness class just more about getting the Annual 45,000-60,000sek economy return tickets down in price.

Thanks for your help

 

[Emil123]

With 600-800k spend you should get Amex Elite. Not sure regarding current award availability to Australia but if economy is ok this is much easier. Is it just you or partner+children as well that will be travelling? As discussed in other recent threads you should get one of the SAS Mastercards as well, probably Mastercard Premium.

Not sure if Amex Platinum with points plus would be an option as well. Others known better regarding this card and how award space is to Australia with avios.

 

[jezza88]

With 600-800k spend you should get Amex Elite. Not sure regarding current award availability to Australia but if economy is ok this is much easier. Is it just you or partner+children as well that will be travelling? As discussed in other recent threads you should get one of the SAS Mastercards as well, probably Mastercard Premium.

Not sure if Amex Platinum with points plus would be an option as well. Others known better regarding this card and how award space is to Australia with avios.

Yeah it would be partner and kids as well. One of the kids are classified as an infant. I was thinking Amex platnium P+ with avios could be good as Qatar airways has good flights from Copenhagen to Australia via Qatar.

 

[NoahS]

As they just announced today that they will add Singapore airlines as a Awardpartner, I think SAS AMEX Elite would be a great card for you as the 2 for 1 brings alot of value. We don't know if you are able to use the AMEX 2 for 1 on Singapore awards yet but if you can it will be the best deal if you ask me.

 

[Emil123]

Yeah it would be partner and kids as well. One of the kids are classified as an infant. I was thinking Amex platnium P+ with avios could be good as Qatar airways has good flights from Copenhagen to Australia via Qatar.

Yes might be, how much avios does eco cost and do they usually have 4 awardseats in eco? I dont know this program that well.

 

[NoahS]

There is a lot of availability in economy in the Eurobonus program.
It will be at least 3 flights if you start from Sweden.
140k Eurobonus points + taxes if you want a return flight in economy.

 

[Emil123]

Yes I assume Amex Elite would be best, think you need higher spend to make Points Plus work. Isnt the taxes+fules etc quite high as well for avios?

6-800k SEK if we count x4 would only give you approx 140k avios if I am couting correctly?

 

[NoahS]

If you sign for Platinum Points Plus you can fly with one stop to Perth/Sydney with Qatar Airways from Arlanda if you are looking for convenience.
Arlanda-Doha
Doha-Perth / Doha-Sydney
Very good award availability to Perth.
Returntrip prices is the following
90000 Avios + taxes for Economy
180000 Avios + taxes for Business
270000 Avios + taxes for First Class

 

[palmen]

With British Airways Avios you could potentially fly First class but paying for economy as long as the longest flight is in economy.

I booked this before the pandemic, 140k Avios around the world in a mix of business, first and then SYD-LAX in economy.

If you have a lot of spend in other currencies than SEK, Amex platinum with points plus is a no brainer. There have been plenty of signup campaigns with 1-1,5M MR in signup this year.

Just be aware that as soon as you become an amex customer, you can't get the signup again, this also goes for the person with an extra card. You need to be without an amex card for 12 months to be counted as a new customer again.
Signup on the elite card has been extremely good after the summer this year, might be another signup campaign before end of year or very early next year.