For several years, my wife has been transferring points from her her AMEX card to the the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program (QFF), so she can visit her family in Indonesia.
She tried to tranfer 25,000 points to QFF today and was told that since 30 September 2010, AMEX no lomger allows transfers to QFF.
Last Friday, she could have transferred 25,000 points to QFF and purchased a one way ticket to Jakarta or Bali with those points plus $100 approximately.
She was told by AMEX staff, that she can now use her AMEX points with Webjet. She tried Webjet and found that her 25,000 points only gets a $250 discount off Webjet's high prices. For example, to fly with Webjet on their cheapest one way fare to Bali in November would cost $709 plus Webjet's fees of $50 = $759 less the measly discount of $250 = $509.
For my wife, the price of a one way ticket to Bali has now risen from $100 to $509, thanks to AMEX.
I suggest that those forumites who use QFF points to fly to Bali use cards other than AMEX.