Key Points
- Capital One has 22 transfer partners with most transferring at 1:1, meaning your miles maintain their value.
- Top partners like Avianca LifeMiles and British Airways Avios can deliver 2-3 cents per mile versus 1 cent through the portal.
- Three partners have worse ratios: EVA Air (2:1.5), JAL (2:1.5 with current 30% bonus), and JetBlue (5:3).
Introduction
Capital One transfer partners turn your miles into premium flights and hotels worth 2-3 times more than booking through Capital One Travel. While the portal guarantees 1 cent per mile, smart transfers to airline and hotel partners unlock business class flights to Europe, short-haul domestic flights for pennies on the dollar, and luxury hotel stays.
This guide breaks down which partners deliver the best value and which to avoid.
Understanding Transfer Ratios
Most Capital One partners use 1:1 transfers. Transfer 10,000 Capital One miles, get 10,000 airline miles. Simple.
Three partners have unfavorable ratios you should know about. EVA Air transfers at 2:1.5 (need 2,000 Capital One miles for 1,500 EVA miles). JAL also transfers at 2:1.5, though a 30% bonus through October 22, 2025 makes it nearly 1:1. JetBlue transfers at 5:3.
These worse ratios mean you need more miles for the same award, reducing overall value.
Best Capital One Transfer Partners
Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
LifeMiles offers the best value for business class to Europe at 63,000 miles one-way on Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa and Swiss. United charges 70,000+ miles for the same seat. No fuel surcharges means you only pay taxes and fees.
Transfers are instant. Use LifeMiles for Europe, Central America, and Star Alliance flights.
British Airways Avios (1:1)
Perfect for short flights. Fly Los Angeles to San Francisco for 7,500 Avios. East Coast to Caribbean starts at 9,250 Avios one-way. These short-haul redemptions deliver 2-3 cents per mile in value.
Avios transfer between British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Finnair, and Qatar Airways, giving you flexibility across multiple programs. Transfers are instant.
Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1)
Book Singapore's award-winning business and first class products, including the famous Suites. West Coast to Tokyo starts around 70,000 miles one-way in business class (worth $5,000+ in cash).
Instant transfers, reasonable fuel surcharges, good availability when booking far in advance.
Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
Business class to Europe for 60,000 miles on Lufthansa, Swiss, or Austrian, 10,000 miles less than United charges. Aeroplan also offers stopover options to visit extra cities for the same miles.
Dynamic pricing can work for or against you depending on cash fares. Instant transfers.
Turkish Miles&Smiles (1:1)
Best redemption rate for domestic business class: coast-to-coast for just 40,000 miles on United or Air Canada. The catch? Award search is clunky and availability can be limited. Worth the effort for unbeatable rates.
JetBlue TrueBlue (5:3)
Despite the worse transfer ratio, Mint business class to Europe and Caribbean can still deliver value. New York to London in Mint runs 50,000-80,000 TrueBlue points (83,000-133,000 Capital One miles). No fuel surcharges keeps costs down.
Solid Value Partners
Qatar Airways (1:1) - Direct access to Qsuites business class. U.S. to Doha from 70,000 Avios. You could transfer to British Airways first then to Qatar, but this eliminates that step.
Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1) - Monthly Promo Awards can discount routes up to 50%. Business class to Europe for 50,000 miles during promotions. Must act fast when deals drop.
Finnair Plus (1:1) - Uses Avios currency like British Airways but with lower fuel surcharges on some routes. Good for Europe travel.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1) - Distance-based pricing works well for Asia travel in premium cabins. Good availability on Cathay's own flights.
Wyndham Rewards (1:1) - 15,000 miles equals a free night at most properties. Not luxury, but practical for road trips. Includes Vacasa vacation rentals.
Partners to Avoid
Accor Live Limitless (2:1) - Terrible transfer ratio plus low point values. Book Accor through the portal instead.
EVA Air (2:1.5) - Worst transfer ratio and expensive award chart. Use Avianca or Air Canada for Star Alliance instead.
Emirates Skywards (1:1) - First class restricted to elite members, high redemption rates, heavy fuel surcharges. Poor value even with good ratio.
Choice Privileges (1:1) - Points worth only 0.6 cents each. You lose value at 1:1 transfer.
Aeromexico (1:1) - High fees, booking charges, difficult to use. Better options exist for Mexico travel.
How to Transfer Miles
- Log into Capital One online or mobile app
- Click View Rewards, then Transfer Rewards
- Select your partner and enter loyalty program number (must match your Capital One account name exactly)
- Enter miles to transfer (1,000 minimum, increments of 1,000)
- Confirm transfer (permanent, cannot be reversed)
Most transfers complete instantly. Always search for award availability BEFORE transferring.
Cards That Earn Transferable Miles
Capital One Venture X - 2X everywhere, 5X flights, 10X hotels/cars through Capital One Travel. $395 annual fee with $300 travel credit.
Capital One Venture - 2X everywhere. $95 annual fee.
Capital One VentureOne - 1.25X everywhere. No annual fee.
Capital One Spark Miles - 2X everywhere for business. $95 annual fee.
Cash back cards like Savor can convert to miles at 1:1, giving you transfer access even with cash back cards.
Maximizing Value Tips
Never transfer speculatively - Search for award availability first, confirm the cost, then transfer. Transfers are permanent.
Compare multiple partners - The same flight might cost different miles across Star Alliance partners. Check Avianca, Air Canada, and United.
Watch for transfer bonuses - JAL has a 30% bonus through October 22, 2025. These bonuses can turn mediocre ratios into great ones.
Consider fuel surcharges - British Airways charges $500+ on their own flights. Avianca doesn't. Big difference.
Book 11-12 months out - Best award availability is far in advance.
Use partners creatively - British Airways Avios book Alaska and American flights. Don't limit yourself to the partner's own metal.
New Partners in 2025
Japan Airlines (2:1.5) - Most significant addition. Previously only available through Bilt and Marriott. Current 30% bonus makes it nearly 1:1. Great for Asia travel and Oneworld partners.
Qatar Airways (1:1) - Convenience over necessity since you could already access via British Airways. Direct transfer simplifies the process.
I Prefer Hotel Rewards (1:2) - Boutique properties. 1,000 Capital One miles = 2,000 I Prefer points. Free nights start at 15,000 points (7,500 Capital One miles).
FAQ
Can I transfer to Delta? No, but you can book Delta through AeroMexico or Air France/KLM.
How long do transfers take? Instant for most partners, up to 24 hours for some.
Can I reverse a transfer? No, transfers are permanent.
What's the minimum? 1,000 miles in 1,000-mile increments.
Do Capital One miles expire? No, as long as your account is open. Transferred miles follow partner expiration rules.
Are there fees? No transfer fees.
Conclusion
Capital One transfer partners deliver 2-3x more value than the travel portal when used strategically. Focus on Avianca LifeMiles for Europe, British Airways for short flights, and Singapore for premium Asia travel.
Always search for awards before transferring, compare rates across partners, and only transfer when you're beating the 1 cent baseline. Your miles will take you much farther.
Ready to maximize your miles? See our Capital One rewards guide for earning strategies, or apply for the Venture X to start earning transferable miles.
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