American Express Transfer Partners: An Overview

If you're a savvy traveler or credit card enthusiast in the United States, you've likely heard of American Express's Membership Rewards program. Amex has been a prominent player in the world of rewards and credit cards for decades, offering its customers a plethora of benefits and opportunities to maximize their spending.

One key aspect of the Membership Rewards program that sets it apart is its extensive list of transfer partners, which allows cardholders to get the most value from their points when booking with partner airlines and hotels.

In our guide below, we'll delve into the world of American Express transfer partners. From what Amex Rewards points are to how to get the best value from them, we'll tell you everything you need to know to get the best rewards the next time you book a flight or hotel stay.

What Are Amex Rewards Points?

American Express Rewards points are the currency of the Membership Rewards program. These points are earned by cardholders through various eligible purchases made with their Amex cards. The number of points you earn can vary depending on the specific Amex card you hold and the spending categories it rewards.

Amex points are incredibly versatile and can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, including travel bookings, gift cards, merchandise, and statement credits. However, one of the most valuable ways to transfer your points is by transferring them to Amex's extensive list of transfer partners, which include airlines and hotels. This opens up a world of possibilities for travelers seeking to get the most value from their rewards.

Which Transfer Partners Can You Use Amex Rewards With?

American Express has a diverse array of transfer partners in its Membership Rewards program. These partners include well-known airlines and hotel chains, offering cardholders various options for redeeming their points. Some of the notable American Express transfer partners included:

• AerClub is the loyalty program affiliated with Aer Lingus, an Irish airline headquartered in Dublin.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Aeromexico Club Premier is the loyalty program associated with Aeromexico, a Mexico City-based airline. This program is most beneficial for around-the-world itineraries that enable travelers to make multiple stops on their global journeys.

These tickets, particularly in business class, can have substantial value, sometimes reaching tens of thousands of dollars. However, it is generally not recommended to transfer Amex points to Aeromexico due to non-competitive award rates and the difficulty of booking around-the-world tickets.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: 24 hours
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1.6
• Air Canada Aeroplan underwent significant changes in 2020, making it a valuable American Express transfer partner. The program retained its standard award charts, eliminated fuel surcharges, and introduced generous stopover rules, allowing travelers to explore two cities on a single trip.

It is recommended to review the Aeroplan award chart to determine if transferring Amex points to Air Canada makes sense for your next redemption.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue is the joint loyalty program shared by Air France and KLM, both part of the SkyTeam alliance. Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing for its awards but frequently offers attractive deals on international award tickets.

However, be aware that most international business-class routes come with moderate fuel surcharges, ranging from $250 to $400.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• All Nippon Airways Mileage Club (ANA Mileage Club) is a popular transfer partner for American Express, known for its great award deals with open jaws and stopovers. ANA primarily permits round-trip award bookings.

However, ANA passes on fuel surcharges for some airlines, which can lead to substantial costs, particularly for partners like Swiss and Lufthansa.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: 48 hours
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Avianca LifeMiles is another excellent Star Alliance transfer partner. Unlike some programs, Avianca LifeMiles maintains a standard award chart, eliminating the uncertainty of dynamic pricing. You can find the best deals on one-way business- and first-class flights to Europe and domestic flights on United, among other redemptions.

One notable advantage of Avianca LifeMiles is that it does not pass on fuel surcharges.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• British Airways Executive Club allows you to use its currency, known as Avios, to book flights on all Oneworld carriers. While it's best to avoid redeeming Avios on British Airways flights due to high fuel surcharges, they offer excellent value when booking partner flights.

British Airways employs a distance-based award chart, so longer flights require more points. It also prices awards by segment, encouraging nonstop routes whenever possible.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is another Oneworld transfer partner that is useful for partner awards. It's best suited for booking Cathay Pacific flights, providing solid redemption value and access to award space that's not available with partner miles. The program maintains a standard award chart for its flights.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: 48 hours
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Delta SkyMiles, while part of the SkyTeam alliance, is primarily recommended for domestic redemptions, as international award tickets, especially in business class, tend to be costly.

Delta SkyMiles can also be used for affordable flights to Canada, with some routes operated by partner WestJet. Keep in mind that you'll be subject to a small fee when transferring Amex points to Delta SkyMiles, which offsets the federal excise tax on these transfers to U.S. airline programs.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Emirates Skywards is an option if you want to book flights on Emirates using your Amex points. Keep in mind that flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB) may have high fuel surcharges. However, you can often avoid these surcharges by flying Emirates' fifth freedom routes from the U.S. to Europe.

Emirates Skywards uses a distance-based award redemption chart for all its tickets. You may also want to compare rates with Air Canada Aeroplan when booking Emirates award flights to find the best value.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Etihad Guest, previously a top Amex transfer partner, underwent a major devaluation when it introduced a new award chart with standard pricing for partner airlines. As a result, the redemption rates for partner awards, including American Airlines Flagship First and Brussels Airlines business class, have increased significantly.

Due to these changes, it is generally not advisable to transfer Amex points to Etihad Guest.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles are most valuable when used for economy-class flights to Hawaii. Award rates vary based on availability, with saver award space offering the lowest prices.

It's important to note that you'll need to pay a federal excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point when transferring Amex points to Hawaiian.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Iberia Plus uses Avios as its loyalty currency. The airline employs a standard award chart for all Iberia and partner flights, offering reasonable redemption rates.

However, it's worth noting that British Airways offers identical pricing on these Iberia-operated awards, including taxes and fees. Since transfers to British Airways are instant, while transfers to Iberia can take up to 48 hours, you might find it more convenient to transfer Amex points to British Airways.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: 48 hours
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• JetBlue TrueBlue, JetBlue's loyalty program, prices award flights based on the price of the ticket. The value you get from your points will depend on the specific flight, typically around 1.3 cents per point.

Additionally, you'll be subject to the federal excise tax offset fee when transferring points, making this transfer option less attractive.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 250:200
• Qantas Frequent Flyer, an Amex transfer partner, allows you to book flights on Qantas and its partner airlines. While Qantas is part of the Oneworld alliance, it also has non-alliance partnerships with select airlines globally. The program uses a classic award chart for its flights.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club is another Amex transfer partner, allowing you to book flights with Qatar Airways and its partners. You can freely transfer Avios between British Airways and Qatar Airways, but it's essential to compare award rates between these two programs before making a booking decision.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Singapore KrisFlyer, a Star Alliance transfer partner, provides two award charts: one for Singapore Airlines awards and another for Star Alliance award tickets. The program also offers a miles calculator tool to determine the number of miles needed for Singapore-operated award flights.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Up to 24 hours
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club allows you to use your Amex Membership Rewards points for flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and its partners. It's typically not recommended to book Virgin Atlantic flights with points due to the high fuel surcharges associated with them.

However, one notable exception is ANA's first and business class awards. These awards provide excellent value, even after a devaluation in early 2021.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Approximately 24 hours
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Choice Privileges is an Amex hotel transfer partner, and it's known for its budget-friendly hotel options worldwide, including well-known brands like Cambria Hotels, Comfort Inn, and Sleep Inn. It recently integrated with Radisson Rewards Americas, expanding the range of options for earning and redeeming points.

Award prices vary based on the property and date, and it's generally advisable to pay for most Choice awards with cash instead of transferring Amex points.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1
• Hilton Honors is another Amex hotel transfer partner that offers a favorable transfer ratio of 1:2, meaning 10,000 Amex points become 20,000 Hilton Honors points. Transfer bonuses are also regularly offered, providing even more value. Hilton employs dynamic award pricing, but most properties have a cap on the rates, allowing for reasonable point redemptions.

However, keep in mind that Hilton rates can vary significantly, and there might be instances where you get less value for your Amex points, making it crucial to assess whether transferring points to Hilton makes sense for your specific travel plans.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:2
• Marriott Bonvoy, like Choice and Hilton, is generally not recommended for transferring Amex points. Award nights often have high costs compared to cash rates, resulting in a lower cent-per-point value, even with the occasional transfer bonus.

To maximize your hotel redemptions, it's usually better to earn Marriott Bonvoy points through other means.

Transfer Details:

• Transfer Time: Instant
• Transfer Ratio: 1:1

How to Get the Best Value From Amex Rewards Transfer Partners?

Getting the best value from your Amex Rewards points when transferring them to partners requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some strategies to help you maximize the value of your points:

1. Research and Compare:

Take the time to research the transfer ratios and redemption options of each partner. Some partners may offer better value for specific routes or types of bookings.

1. Look for Transfer Bonuses:

American Express occasionally offers transfer bonuses, where you can get extra points when transferring to specific partners. Keep an eye out for these promotions to boost your rewards.

1. Plan Your Travel:

Have a travel goal in mind before transferring points. Whether it's a specific destination or a premium cabin class, planning can help you make the most of your points.

1. Consider Partner Airlines:

Partner airlines often have different award charts and availability than their parent companies. Exploring these options can lead to better deals.

1. Be Flexible:

Flexibility in your travel dates and destinations can open up more opportunities for finding great deals and maximizing your points.

Best Credit Cards to Earn Amex Rewards

To take full advantage of American Express transfer partners, it's essential to earn Membership Rewards points efficiently. Here are some of the best credit cards for accumulating Amex Rewards points:

1. Platinum Card from American Express: This premium card offers generous rewards, including a substantial welcome bonus and ongoing points-earning opportunities.
2. American Express Gold Card: Ideal for foodies and travelers, this card offers bonus points for dining and travel purchases, making it a great choice for those who frequently spend in these categories.
3. American Express Green Card: This card offers rewards for travel and dining, along with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly perks.
4. The Amex EveryDay Credit Card: A no-annual-fee option that still allows you to earn Membership Rewards points on everyday purchases.

5. Business Platinum Card from American Express: Designed for business owners, this card offers enhanced rewards for business-related expenses.

Understanding Amex Rewards Points

Amex Rewards points are earned through various eligible purchases made with your American Express card. These points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more. However, one of the most strategic ways to maximize the value of your points is by transferring them to airline and hotel partners.

Amex Transfer Partners: A Comparative Overview

Maximizing Your Amex Rewards

To get the most out of your Amex Rewards points, consider the following tips:

• Transfer Bonuses: Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses that can increase the value of your points.
• Partner Airline Sweet Spots: Research the best ways to use your points with each partner airline, focusing on premium cabin redemptions and avoiding fuel surcharges.
• Flexible Travel Plans: Be flexible with your travel dates and destinations to find the best deals.
• Consider Alternative Redemption Options: While transferring points to airlines is a popular option, don't forget about other redemption options like merchandise, gift cards, and experiences.

By understanding the nuances of the Amex Membership Rewards program and its transfer partners, you can maximize the value of your points and unlock a world of travel possibilities.

Takeaway - American Express Transfer Partners: An Overview

American Express's Membership Rewards program, with its extensive list of transfer partners, provides cardholders with a wealth of opportunities to extract maximum value from their points. By understanding how to earn, transfer, and strategically redeem Amex Rewards points, you can unlock incredible travel experiences and rewards.

The American Express Membership Rewards program is dynamic, so staying up-to-date with the latest partnerships and promotions is key to making the most of your Amex points.