When I wrote up the news yesterday that American Express quietly added Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club as a transfer partner at a 4:1 ratio, I ran the math on a handful of properties and came away pretty convinced: Despite that seemingly poor transfer ratio, this is a genuinely exciting new option for anyone sitting on a stash of Membership Rewards points.
I was so convinced, in fact, that I didn't want to just tell you about it – I wanted to put it to the test for myself. I've got a trip to Japan on the books later this year, and the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo stood out to me for its traditional elegance, great location, and insane value. At just under 20,000 Amex points a night for a hotel that would otherwise run close to $500 in cash, this seemed like a real bargain over the property I already had booked.
So I transferred the points, booked three nights, and picked up a few things along the way that I didn't know beforehand.
Here's what I'd want you to know before you do the same:
Points Transfer Are Instant (Even If You Mess Up)
I fumbled the math on my first transfer and came up short of the points needed to book – a byproduct of the 4:1 transfer ratio.
No big deal: I quickly refreshed my Leaders Club account, and the points I'd already sent were sitting there – then I topped it off with a second transfer that landed just as fast.
Oftentimes, consecutive transfers in short succession are a red flag for fraud that leads to points getting stuck in limbo. Fortunately, that wasn't an issue here.
Activating your LHW Sterling Club Status
The *amex platinum* comes with complimentary Sterling Club status, which includes five pre-arrival upgrades a year, bonus earnings, SIXT Platinum rental car status, and a few more perks. There's one critical element to make that happen.
Enrollment only works if the email on your Amex account matches the one on your Leaders Club profile. If you signed up for Leaders Club years ago with an old email, you'll have to call Leaders Club (800-745-8883) to make the update before you enroll through Amex.
Taxes & Fees Are Not Covered by Your Points
This stung more than a little.
Many major hotel chains waive taxes and fees and even resort fees on award stays, but not LHW. My three-night stay added roughly $300 in taxes and fees on top of the points I'd already transferred.
The value was still there – I was still getting 2 cents per point – but it wasn't quite the screaming deal I'd pictured before I transferred points. Double-check the taxes and fees on paid nights so you know what to expect going into it.
Don't Count on an Upgrade
Pre-arrival upgrades don't apply to award stays: Sterling Club's five annual upgrades are for paid rates only.
Book with points, and you're not eligible to use one going in — though you should still have a shot at an upgrade on arrival. Other perks like daily continental breakfast for two and early check-in and possible late check-out should still apply … so as far as I know.
Doing the Math on LHW
Is any one of these items a deal breaker? No.
Getting this kind of value from Amex points for a hotel booking is more than solid. Generally speaking, Amex points are best used for business class flights, as its list of hotel partners is subpar comparison. But at the same time, I went into it thinking this was going to be a slam dunk redemption and walked away feeling more like I made a lay-up.
If you're thinking about taking advantage of this new transfer partner yourself, keep these things in mind before you go to book.
Bottom Line
The value here is real, but not everything is quite as straightforward as it seemed at first glance. Check your email address before enrolling in Sterling Club status, budget for taxes and fees, and go in knowing your upgrades won't follow you into an award booking.
