Program strategy guides

Alaska Mileage Plan is the cheapest way to fly Cathay Pacific to Asia. 50k business or 70k First class.

Amex MR's strongest Europe plays: Flying Blue Promo Rewards, a transfer partner, ANA partner awards.

Amex MR is the king of Asia premium awards via Virgin Atlantic (ANA), Singapore KrisFlyer (Suites), and ANA itself.

Amex MR for Maldives is about Hilton (Waldorf, Conrad) at 1:2 ratio plus Qatar Qsuite via AAdvantage transfers.

Amex MR for Mexico is best used on Hilton properties or AeroMexico via Flying Blue partner pricing.

Amex MR for Bora Bora: Hilton Conrad Bora Bora is the headline play, plus IHG via Chase positioner.

Chase UR's best transatlantic plays: Iberia off-peak business, a transfer partner to Lufthansa, and World of Hyatt for hotels.

Chase UR's Pacific plays: a transfer partner to Star Alliance Asia, Virgin Atlantic to ANA, Hyatt for hotels.

Chase UR's Maldives play is Park Hyatt Maldives at Hyatt cat 7 (30k pts/night), one of the best hotel redemptions globally.

Chase UR for Mexico is mostly about Hyatt resorts. Andaz Mayakoba, Hyatt Ziva Cancun, plus United for flights.

Chase UR to Hawaii: United and a transfer partner for flights, Hyatt for the Andaz Maui resort.

Citi TY's strongest Europe play: Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles for partner US-Europe business class at the low end of the chart.

Citi TY to Asia: Singapore KrisFlyer for Suites, Virgin Atlantic for ANA business, Turkish for the Star Alliance chart.

Citi TY → Turkish Miles&Smiles 45k business class to Istanbul is one of the best transatlantic redemptions in points-and-miles.

Hilton's Europe portfolio is broad. Use Conrad properties + 5th-night-free for the best per-point value.

Marriott Bonvoy's Maldives lineup: St. Regis Vommuli, Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands, W Maldives, JW Marriott. Best play uses 5th-night-free.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is the cheapest way to fly ANA in business or first class. Period.

World of Hyatt's Asia portfolio includes the highest-CPP hotel redemptions in any program globally. Park Hyatt Saigon at cat 4 is the standout.

Hyatt's Mexico resort portfolio is among the strongest in points. Andaz Mayakoba and Hyatt Ziva all-inclusives are highlights.