[CDS1959]

Does anyone have a particular recommendation as to the best strategy for transferring American Express Membership Rewards points, or Diners Club points to airline or hotel points programs?

Both Amex and Diners points convert/transfer into Qantas Frequent Flyer points on a one to one basis.

I'm currently of the belief that a transfer of either Amex or Diners points to Starwood Preferred Guest points is a worthy option; with Diners Club the conversion rate is only half (120,000 Diner Club points equals 60,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points), but these can then be redeemed for SPG's "Nights and Flights" promotion, whereby you get 50,000 airline miles, and five free nights at a Category 3 Starwood property. With Amex, it takes 180,000 points for the same.

Diners also converts into Marriott Rewards or Hilton HHonors points on the same 2 points for 1 basis as with SPG, but I haven't done a comparison of what a "double transfer" from Diners to MR or Hh would then provide in terms of award redemption capabilities when using either Marriott or HHonors points for airline points and hotel nights such as are offered by Starwood.

Given the recent changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, and the well documented diminution of points, I think it's probably best to transfer Amex and/or Diner points into any program other than Qantas, but would really appreciate member feedback on this subject...!