09/12-09/16: Sea to YEG RT $350/person (6people) via Alaska air.com (also thinking to sign up for the Alaska credit card to earn miles).

Vs

09/17 Yeg-sea: Amex plat MR/chase UR -> avios 1:1, 8250 avios points 56.17 per person. For a one way ticket.

Another one way ticket $140/ per person Alaskaair.com

Google shows Amex points valued at 2cpp. So this means 8250 x .02 = 165 56.17= 221.17 140= $361.17.

We also plan to bring our pet corgi with us, so we are looking to move our parents to first class so there’s more room.

Perhaps it’s not worth it to transfer points if we plan to travel to Japan/Hawaii/Asia in the upcoming years (I read that you get more point values if you transfer to first class for these longer flights.)

Also we don’t get our ideal travel dates 09/12-09/16 (not too bad to stay an extra day 09/17).

What’re your thoughts? I’m new to award travels and don’t travel much. I’ve just been churning credit cards and have a lot of points now.

Here to pick your brains and learn :)