Booking flights using points can feel like finding hidden gems. Recently, Shruti and I managed to book a 13-Hr Emirates flight by spending ₹4L on our Amex Platinum Travel Credit Cards, and we only spent a fraction of what the revenue fare would cost. Here’s how we made it happen, and why it’s such an incredible deal when you play your points game smartly.
The SAS 1 Million Points Challenge
To set the stage, I’m in the middle of completing the SAS 1 Million Points challenge, which lets me to earn a million points within a short time frame. As part of this challenge, I had to book a long-haul flight to Mexico from Spain to connect to an AeroMexico flight which was part of the challenge. Unfortunately, the revenue fares were high, which pushed me to explore ways to use points for a better deal.
Emirates from Spain to Mexico, really?
While searching for flights, I came across Emirates’ 5th Freedom flight operating between Barcelona and Mexico City. For those unfamiliar with what a 5th Freedom flight is, it’s when an airline operates a route between two countries that doesn’t originate from its home country. I’ve covered 5th Freedom Flights in a separate article that you can check out here.
This Barcelona to Mexico City flight was a perfect opportunity to use points, as it gave me access to Emirates’ luxury at a much lower cost. But the sweet spot didn’t end there. The flight was available for just 20k Emirates Skywards miles + ₹6700 in taxes. When compared to the revenue fares, the value was exceptional.
How the Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card Helped
Let’s dive into how we spent 4L on our Amex Platinum Travel Credit Cards to make this booking possible.
The Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card comes with an attractive bonus for those who spend ₹4,00,000 (4L) within a year. Once you meet this threshold, you earn 40k bonus MR points. Additionally, for every ₹50 spent, you earn 1 MR point.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- Spend ₹4L and earn 40k bonus MR points.
- You also earn 1 MR point per ₹50 spent.
So, in total, if you hit ₹4L spend, you’ll earn 48k points which are more than sufficient for this flight. So you are still left with 8k points & cherry on top – you also get a 10k Taj voucher to stay in any property in India. This is one of the no-brainer card one should definitely have, if you don’t, Apply Now
Transferring Points to Emirates
Shruti and I had 40k MR points each. These MR points can be transferred to multiple airline partners, and one of those is Emirates Skywards. The transfer process was incredibly seamless and instant, which I really appreciate about Amex.
We each transferred 40k MR points to our respective Emirates Skywards accounts, which gave us 20k Skywards miles per account. This was just enough for both Shruti and I to book the flight we wanted.
Breaking Down the Costs
With 20k Emirates Skywards miles + ₹6700 in taxes, we were able to secure a 13-hour flight from Barcelona to Mexico City. When compared to the revenue flight prices, the value is unmatched.
- The cheapest revenue flight on this sector (with self-transfer) was ₹49,000.
- Emirates’ own revenue flight for this route was priced at ₹80,000.
By using Emirates Skywards miles, we paid a fraction of that price, making the points redemption extremely valuable. I am not getting into value per point for this, be my guest 🙂
Conclusion
By spending 4L each on our Amex Platinum Travel Credit Cards, Shruti and I booked an Emirates flight from Barcelona to Mexico City for just 20k Skywards miles and ₹6700 in taxes. Compared to the high revenue prices for this route, this was an incredible deal, showing the power of points and how they can unlock amazing travel opportunities. Not to forget the other option was with 26hours self transfer & a 2 stopper. If you have the Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card, this is definitely one of the best ways to leverage your spending and earn valuable travel rewards.