Gloria - I was thinking about the Starwood Preferred Guest cc which is an American Express card but has different rules. If you like using American Express, you should look into it - for every 20000 points you transfer, you get 5000 bonus miles.

Craig-- but you have to stay at Starwood Properties, right? I rarely stay at big name American hotels because I much prefer boutique hotels or old world ones. And I'm not a resort or beach person. I like to use my ff points for airfare only. If I transfer my points to Starwood can I then transfer them back to an airline program. If so, I'd be very interested.

You don't have to stay at Starwood properties but you can get bonus points if you do. The card works just like your Amex card but the points are Starwood points that can be redeemed for miles:
www.starwoodpreferredguest.com

And starwood miles can be used for all airlines?

Starpoints can be converted for most airlines but not always 1 to 1. United for example is 2 Starpoints for every mile. Here's the link to the list:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer..._checkRoc.html

glorialf - When did you book that business class seat? I just called USAir trying to get business seats on Thai for November using my USAir and Amex points, but was told that it was not available.

I got business seats to New Zealand for last March using USAir and Amex, but I had to call 334 days in advance to get them.

FYI - You can see the airlines connected with Amex Membership Rewards at <b>http://www.membershiprewards.com/CategoryN.aspx?clgid=1&amp;catid=103&amp;ahcr=1</b> ((R))

Jed- I booked my ticket for January months ago (virtually the first or second day I could -- about 330 days ahead). I find that that's the only way to be pretty sure you can get the ticket on the date you want.

I also booked my business class Thai New York-Bangkok trip immediately when I could for travel in January, on US Air. You might also want to try via Continental using Amex miles.