Oct 9, 2013, 1:33 pm
Last edit by: gooselee
Q. Where can I find a list of the airline and hotel transfer partners?
Partner airline and hotel programs, transfer ratios, and rules vary by the country where your American Express card is issued:
Australia: Airlines & Hotels
Canada: Airlines & Hotels
International Dollar & Euro Cards: Airlines & Hotels
New Zealand: Airlines & Hotels
UK: Airlines, Hotels
USA: Airlines & Hotels Transfer ratios explained below.
Q. What are the transfer ratios to USA airline and hotel partners?
Q. How long does it typically take to compete a transfer?
MR USA airline and hotel partner transfer times.
Q. How can I use Membership Rewards points to travel on American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines or other carriers which are not transfer partners?
Membership Rewards (USA) points can be transferred to three or more frequent flyer programs in each of the international alliances. Any program can arrange award travel on flights operated by all members of the same alliance. Points cannot be transferred from one frequent flyer program to another, instead you redeem for a partner award. The number of miles required is determined by the program through which you redeem, not by the airline operating the flights. Programs in the same alliance will require different amounts of miles, and different co-payments, for the same flights. Do not transfer until you understand the full cost of the flights you need. Do not transfer until you have confirmed availability for your specific dates and route.
To travel on American Airlines, US Airways or any other OneWorld carrier redeem through:
To travel on Delta Air Lines or any other SkyTeam carrier redeem through:
To travel on United Airlines or any other Star Alliance carrier redeem through:
To travel on Alaska Airlines redeem through:
Q. Rather than transferring now, can I preserve my Membership Rewards USA points balance without paying any annual fee?
Apply for an American Express Everyday card, and link it to the same Membership Rewards account. You may then close the other cards.
Partner airline and hotel programs, transfer ratios, and rules vary by the country where your American Express card is issued:
Australia: Airlines & Hotels
Canada: Airlines & Hotels
International Dollar & Euro Cards: Airlines & Hotels
New Zealand: Airlines & Hotels
UK: Airlines, Hotels
USA: Airlines & Hotels Transfer ratios explained below.
Q. What are the transfer ratios to USA airline and hotel partners?
For most frequent customer programs, 1,000 Membership Rewards points will equal 1,000 miles, points or credits and must be transferred in 1,000-point increments unless otherwise noted.
The only exceptions are:
JetBlue Airways: 250 points = 200 JetBlue TrueBlue® points; must be transferred in 250-point increments
El AL Israel Airlines: 1,000 points = 20 Matmid points
Starwood Preferred Guest®: 1,000 points = 333 Starpoints®
Hilton®: 1,000 points = 1,500 HHonors™ points
Virgin America: 200 points = 100 Elevate points; must be transferred in 200-point increments
The only exceptions are:
JetBlue Airways: 250 points = 200 JetBlue TrueBlue® points; must be transferred in 250-point increments
El AL Israel Airlines: 1,000 points = 20 Matmid points
Starwood Preferred Guest®: 1,000 points = 333 Starpoints®
Hilton®: 1,000 points = 1,500 HHonors™ points
Virgin America: 200 points = 100 Elevate points; must be transferred in 200-point increments
Q. How long does it typically take to compete a transfer?
MR USA airline and hotel partner transfer times.
Q. How can I use Membership Rewards points to travel on American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines or other carriers which are not transfer partners?
Membership Rewards (USA) points can be transferred to three or more frequent flyer programs in each of the international alliances. Any program can arrange award travel on flights operated by all members of the same alliance. Points cannot be transferred from one frequent flyer program to another, instead you redeem for a partner award. The number of miles required is determined by the program through which you redeem, not by the airline operating the flights. Programs in the same alliance will require different amounts of miles, and different co-payments, for the same flights. Do not transfer until you understand the full cost of the flights you need. Do not transfer until you have confirmed availability for your specific dates and route.
To travel on American Airlines, US Airways or any other OneWorld carrier redeem through:
- Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific)
- British Airways
- Iberia Airlines
------------------ - El Al is not a OneWorld member, but they do have a rewards partnership with American Airlines, see HERE. Ends October 31, 2014.
- Hawaiian Airlines is not a OneWorld member, but they do have a rewards partnership with American Airlines, see HERE.
To travel on Delta Air Lines or any other SkyTeam carrier redeem through:
- Delta Air Lines
- AeroMexico
- Alitalia
- FlyingBlue (Air France, KLM, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, Aircalin and Tarom.)
*Note: DL permits one-way awards as of 01 JAN 2015, however trips originating outside of USA carry additional surcharges.
To travel on United Airlines or any other Star Alliance carrier redeem through:
- Aeroplan (Air Canada) No fuel surcharge on flights operated by UA and many other airlines. Read current list HERE.
- All Nippon Airways. Read about ANA fuel surcharges HERE. Read about changes to partner redemption charts in April 2015 HERE.
- Singapore Airlines. Read HERE
Read about Singapore Airlines' reciprocal mile conversion arrangement with Virgin Australia HERE.
To travel on Alaska Airlines redeem through:
- Asia Miles
- British Airways
- Delta Airlines
- Emirates
- FlyingBlue
Q. Rather than transferring now, can I preserve my Membership Rewards USA points balance without paying any annual fee?
Apply for an American Express Everyday card, and link it to the same Membership Rewards account. You may then close the other cards.
Transfer Membership Rewards points to which airline or hotel program? [2008 - 2014]
Mar 31, 2013, 11:20 pm
#361
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Programs: UA Plat, Hilton ◆
Posts: 89
Where are you located and where would you want to travel?
Mar 31, 2013, 11:22 pm
#362
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5
located in chicago and i am planning a trip to india later this year
could also visit sfo
could also visit sfo
Apr 1, 2013, 12:06 am
#363
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Programs: UA Plat, Hilton ◆
Posts: 89
You could convert your Amex points to BA Avios or Asiamiles and get to DEL or perhaps other India destination via HKG, NRT, or LHR. You would fly Oneworld partners to get there.
I'm not familiar with non-Oneworld options so someone else can chime in perhaps.
I'm not familiar with non-Oneworld options so someone else can chime in perhaps.
Apr 1, 2013, 8:34 am
#364
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
Singapore is a good option, because they allow one way awards and you can use the miles on star alliance carriers. Also, you need their miles to book their first class products, which are nice.
Apr 1, 2013, 2:12 pm
#365
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
ANA is a good option also as their awards are mileage based. Sometimes it takes less ANA points than other carriers to get to the same destination. I will be converting my MR points into ANA points to fly to Borneo next year. I will use a combination of *A carriers. ANA also allows stopovers.
Last edited by susiesan; Apr 2, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Apr 1, 2013, 2:22 pm
#366
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, SPG gold, PC Plat, CC gold
Posts: 196
ANA is a good option also as their awards are mileage based. Sometimes it takes less ANA points than other carriers to get to the same destination. I will be converting my MR points into ANA points to fly to Borneo next year. I will use a combination of 8A carriers. ANA also allows stopovers.
Another option is to transfer to FlyingBlue (AF/KLM). The taxes/YQ are high. For RT ORD-DEL coach ticket they are around 320Euro. You can transfer to Delta and still to use book on AF/KLM to India.
Apr 1, 2013, 5:48 pm
#367
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
You can transfer to Star ( UA, US etc....) Tons of choices ( LH = ORD FRA sevral points to India). UA Nonstops from EWR.
Apr 1, 2013, 6:23 pm
#368
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
Apr 1, 2013, 6:43 pm
#369
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Originally Posted by HMPS
You can transfer to Star ( UA, US etc....) Tons of choices ( LH = ORD FRA sevral points to India). UA Nonstops from EWR.
Apr 1, 2013, 6:56 pm
#370
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
Apr 1, 2013, 7:17 pm
#371
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Transfer points to a Star Alliance member....in this case because OP is in ORD, it works very well to transfer to UA or US (or a Star Alliance partner). Then use 120,000 miles for a J lie flat all the wa on LH ORD-FRA- BOM or DEL or sevaral other south Indian locations.
Or on UA, go ORD -EWR-DEL.
I just did one
UA ORD-LHR TG LHR -BKK TG BKK BOM, TG BOM-BKK
TG BKK- NRT (on an A380, ANA NRT - ORD (Stopover in Tokyo).
All for 120 K US miles.
Or on UA, go ORD -EWR-DEL.
I just did one
UA ORD-LHR TG LHR -BKK TG BKK BOM, TG BOM-BKK
TG BKK- NRT (on an A380, ANA NRT - ORD (Stopover in Tokyo).
All for 120 K US miles.
Apr 1, 2013, 9:03 pm
#372
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
Transfer points to a Star Alliance member....in this case because OP is in ORD, it works very well to transfer to UA or US (or a Star Alliance partner). Then use 120,000 miles for a J lie flat all the wa on LH ORD-FRA- BOM or DEL or sevaral other south Indian locations.
Or on UA, go ORD -EWR-DEL.
I just did one
UA ORD-LHR TG LHR -BKK TG BKK BOM, TG BOM-BKK
TG BKK- NRT (on an A380, ANA NRT - ORD (Stopover in Tokyo).
All for 120 K US miles.
Or on UA, go ORD -EWR-DEL.
I just did one
UA ORD-LHR TG LHR -BKK TG BKK BOM, TG BOM-BKK
TG BKK- NRT (on an A380, ANA NRT - ORD (Stopover in Tokyo).
All for 120 K US miles.
Apr 2, 2013, 4:54 pm
#373
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
I'm trying to help a family member book a trip and would appreciate any input. They want to fly from PHX-SYD with a stopover in BKK or PVG. Doesn't matter which and doesn't matter if it is on the way there or back. Their dates are flexible. Doesn't matter if F or J isn't available. Y is fine and they might not even have enough points for anything other than Y anyway.
They can also leave from LAX if necessary so the PHX-LAX doesn't become a problem.
Which airline or airlines would likely be best for what they want to do while still trying to minimize YQ charges?
Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions.
They can also leave from LAX if necessary so the PHX-LAX doesn't become a problem.
Which airline or airlines would likely be best for what they want to do while still trying to minimize YQ charges?
Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions.
Apr 2, 2013, 8:47 pm
#374
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
I'm trying to help a family member book a trip and would appreciate any input. They want to fly from PHX-SYD with a stopover in BKK or PVG. Doesn't matter which and doesn't matter if it is on the way there or back. Their dates are flexible. Doesn't matter if F or J isn't available. Y is fine and they might not even have enough points for anything other than Y anyway.
They can also leave from LAX if necessary so the PHX-LAX doesn't become a problem.
Which airline or airlines would likely be best for what they want to do while still trying to minimize YQ charges?
Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions.
They can also leave from LAX if necessary so the PHX-LAX doesn't become a problem.
Which airline or airlines would likely be best for what they want to do while still trying to minimize YQ charges?
Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions.
transfer to NH for UA or NZ (Y=65k, J=105k)
transfer to SQ for SQ
transfer to DL for DL or VA
of course SQ and NZ aren't non-stop
BA (for QF) is not much of an option as it would be 100k miles (Y) + $800 or so in fees
Last edited by jmw2323; Apr 2, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Apr 3, 2013, 6:07 am
#375
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: New York, NY
Programs: DL-Gold, Starwood. Previously AA Gold and United Premier Gold, and OnePass
Posts: 179
When I first joined Amex Plat they had a promotion to transfer delta miles and earn MQMs. Are there any similar status generating offers with any airlines going on currently?