American Express is removing one of its transfer partner options for those with Membership Rewards points next month, with a removal of the China Airlines Dynasty Flyer programme from the list of nine frequent flyer conversion options.
While Dynasty Flyer isn’t a very popular programme among the Singapore miles community, it does offer some nice “sweet spot” redemptions for those willing to transit in Taipei.
These include Singapore to the USA for 80,000 miles in Business Class and Singapore to North Asian destinations like Seoul and Osaka for 30,000 miles in Business Class.
Unfortunately with the Amex – Dynasty Flyer link ending for Singapore-based members, there will be no bank or credit card transfer options to this programme remaining from 1st January 2024.
Amex – Dynasty Flyer transfers are ending
American Express has made the following announcement to its Membership Rewards customers regarding the removal of the China Airlines Dynasty Flyer conversion option.
Please note that the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to the Dynasty Flyer programme by China Airlines will end on 31 December 2023. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
American Express Singapore
If you’d like to transfer points to the Dynasty Flyer programme, be sure to submit your request by 20:00 hrs (Singapore time) on 31 December 2023. Requests made after this time will not be accepted by the airline.
American Express cardholders in Singapore can currently transfer membership rewards points across to Dynasty miles at a 450:250 ratio, the same as the scheme offers to other frequent flyer programmes like Asia Miles, Emirates Skywards and KrisFlyer.
A better conversion ratio of 400:250 is available for Amex Platinum Charge and Centurion cardholders.
The estimated transfer time is four weeks, but that’s also quoted for many other Amex partners and usually transfers are actually much quicker.
Provided your transfer request to Dynasty Flyer is initiated by 8pm on 31st December 2023, the conversion will still go through, but do bear in mind that actually seeing the miles in your account may not happen until well into January 2024.
From 1st January 2024, American Express Membership Rewards points in Singapore will only transfer to the following eight frequent flyer programmes:
- British Airways Avios
- Cathay Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- EVA Air
- Malaysia Enrich
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
You can also transfer Amex Membership Rewards points into Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy programmes.
For an up-to-date list of credit card and bank to frequent flyer programme conversion options in Singapore, refer to our guide here.
About Dynasty Flyer
Dynasty Flyer, the frequent flyer programme of Taiwan’s flag carrier China Airlines, isn’t hugely popular or even well-known among our readers.
Here’s the programme’s quite simple award chart for flights on its own services.
Round-trip awards are priced at double the rates shown in the table.
There’s also a zone-based SkyTeam partner award table and a zone-based Qantas award table.
The airline allows stopovers on long-haul round-trip award tickets, but only if they are issued on or before 31st January 2024.
Relevant points to note about how award tickets work, including rules for stopover itineraries, are available here.
Online search and award booking is available for the programme, but only for China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines tickets. For SkyTeam and partner award bookings or mixed-carrier itineraries, you still have to call to book.
Are there any “sweet spots”?
The programme charges 17,500 miles + S$100 for a one-way Economy award between Singapore and Taipei, or 30,000 miles + S$100 in Business Class, which isn’t very competitive based on the KrisFlyer alternative on Singapore Airlines.
It’s actually better to use the Air France – KLM Flying Blue programme to redeem this route on China Airlines, with only 14,000 miles + S$100 charged in Economy and 27,500 miles + S$100 in Business Class.
Similarly Dynasty Flyer charges 80,000 miles for a one-way Singapore – Europe redemption in Business Class on a SkyTeam carrier like Air France or KLM, but redeeming via the Flying Blue programme opens up these awards for 70,000 miles.
That doesn’t mean there are no good uses of Dynasty Flyer miles though.
One very good use of the programme is to redeem from Singapore to the USA on China Airlines, with a one-way Business Class redemption coming in at 80,000 miles + S$229. That’s much better than using Flying Blue on China Airlines (121,000 miles + S$229).
This opens up awards like Singapore – Taipei – New York and Singapore – Taipei – Los Angeles for this competitive rate.
Singapore Airlines charges 107,000 or 111,500 KrisFlyer miles for a one-way Business Class saver award on Singapore – US routes, some of which require an en-route stop anyway, so redeeming on China Airlines via Taipei is definitely worth considering.
Another very good redemption is for intra-Asia itineraries with a transit in Taipei, like Singapore – Taipei – Seoul or Singapore – Taipei – Osaka.
China Airlines charges a flat-rate for these awards, so they don’t set you back any more miles than a Singapore – Taipei award alone, just a little more in taxes, meaning you can redeem in Business Class, for example, for just 30,000 miles + S$156.
KrisFlyer charges 52,000 miles for one-way Saver Business Class awards for non-stop flights on these routes.
It’s free and instant to join the Dynasty Flyer programme, and membership then allows you to search award availability even with a zero balance.
Summary
American Express is removing China Airlines Dynasty Flyer from its list of transfer partners on 31st December 2023, which will then mean there are no Singapore bank or credit card points conversion options into this programme.
While it flies somewhat ‘under the radar’ for most of our readers, there are some good uses of the scheme, including an 80,000 miles award rate in Business Class from Singapore to or from the USA, for those willing to transit in Taipei.
If you do want to top up your Dynasty miles balance using Amex MR points, be sure to initiate your transfer request by 8pm on 31st December 2023.
(Cover Photo: Airbus)