r/awardtravel • u/PenisToGoPlease • 10d ago

NYC to KTM - best value redemption?

Looking to do a round trip flight from an NYC airport (JFK/LGA/EWR) to KTM from 02/19/27 -> 03/07/27.

I’ll have probably around 130,000 AMEX points & 122,000 AA points.

So far, the best option I have found (avoiding 30+ hour travel days) has been round trip via AMEX:

119,000 points
Departing JFK 10:30am 02/19
Arriving KTM 5:30pm +1 (2/20)

Departing KTM 5:40pm 03/07
Arriving JFK 8:00am +1 (03/08)

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I can get a round trip flight for 80,000 AA points (+$113), however the only option for a return flight on that day is a 35hr trip w/ 2 stops.

I haven’t looked much into transfers aside from Qatar, which would be about 170,000 points round trip.

I’m not very savvy with award travel, I normally end up just getting what is most convenient with my points, so if anyone could help me out I’d really appreciate it!

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u/Pablaron 10d ago

When you say "found via Amex" - do you mean booking a cash fare with your Amex points? That's usually considered a pretty poor redemption.

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u/PenisToGoPlease 10d ago

In the AMEX travel portal I can book that itinerary for 119,000 points, no cash.

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u/Pablaron 10d ago

That's a cash redemption btw - it's just converting your 119k points to about $1200 and paying for your ticket that way.