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 25, 2009, 12:37 pm
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Most airlines offer this benefit, but with a catch. The upgrades are generally restricted to only that carrier - no partners - and there are frequently fare restrictions on which tickets can be upgraded.
Mar 25, 2009, 7:41 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
Either take Pitbrian's suggestion or transfer to Air Canada or offer a trade on Coupon Connection.
Mar 11, 2010, 7:08 am
#33
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
AMEX Points Transfer to which airline??
I just received the 50,000 bonus points for the mailing promotion. I have been researching b/c they say it's good for 2 domestic flights, but that's obviously not true. What is the best airline partner to transfer the 50,000 points to.
From my research so far, it looks as if maybe AIRTRAN?? It looks like 8A+ Points would get you 1 one-way domestic coach flight. This means that 16 pts would be a round trip flight, so there for 32 pts. would be 2 roundtrip ticckets? That doesn't seem to make too much sense b/c 50,000 points is equal to about 44A+ points (this would be above and beyond 2 round trip flights) But then again, they don't specify distances, it just says DOMESTIC trip.
Anyway I heard transferring points to delta is a huge waste. So I wanna stay away from that.
If anyone has any comments on this, thank you in advance!
From my research so far, it looks as if maybe AIRTRAN?? It looks like 8A+ Points would get you 1 one-way domestic coach flight. This means that 16 pts would be a round trip flight, so there for 32 pts. would be 2 roundtrip ticckets? That doesn't seem to make too much sense b/c 50,000 points is equal to about 44A+ points (this would be above and beyond 2 round trip flights) But then again, they don't specify distances, it just says DOMESTIC trip.
Anyway I heard transferring points to delta is a huge waste. So I wanna stay away from that.
If anyone has any comments on this, thank you in advance!
Mar 11, 2010, 7:31 am
#34
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Redeeming 50,000 Membership Rewards points for two domestic USA economy class tickets is not best value, but it certainly is true because 25,000 miles is the standard requirement for a domestic roundtrip.
You can transfer to British Airways and redeem for domestic USA travel on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. You can transfer to Delta Airlines and redeem for travel on Delta or (I believe) Alaska Airlines. You can transfer to Air Canada or Continental and redeem for travel on Continental, US Airways or United Airlines. There are other possibilities including AirTran, JetBlue and Southwest.
The critical thing is to hold the points in your Membership Rewards account until you have verified availability of awards on a specific airline for the dates you want to travel. MR points transfer instantly to AC, BA, CO, DL and some others.
Last edited by mia; Mar 11, 2010 at 7:41 am Reason: Precision
Mar 11, 2010, 8:09 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: ual, aa, co, delta, centurion
Posts: 120
do transferred points
Welcome to Flyertalk.
Redeeming 50,000 Membership Rewards points for two domestic USA economy class tickets is not best value, but it certainly is true because 25,000 miles is the standard requirement for a domestic roundtrip.
You can transfer to British Airways and redeem for domestic USA travel on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. You can transfer to Delta Airlines and redeem for travel on Delta or (I believe) Alaska Airlines. You can transfer to Air Canada or Continental and redeem for travel on Continental, US Airways or United Airlines. There are other possibilities including AirTran, JetBlue and Southwest.
The critical thing is to hold the points in your Membership Rewards account until you have verified availability of awards on a specific airline for the dates you want to travel. MR points transfer instantly to AC, BA, CO, DL and some others.
Redeeming 50,000 Membership Rewards points for two domestic USA economy class tickets is not best value, but it certainly is true because 25,000 miles is the standard requirement for a domestic roundtrip.
You can transfer to British Airways and redeem for domestic USA travel on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. You can transfer to Delta Airlines and redeem for travel on Delta or (I believe) Alaska Airlines. You can transfer to Air Canada or Continental and redeem for travel on Continental, US Airways or United Airlines. There are other possibilities including AirTran, JetBlue and Southwest.
The critical thing is to hold the points in your Membership Rewards account until you have verified availability of awards on a specific airline for the dates you want to travel. MR points transfer instantly to AC, BA, CO, DL and some others.
hello mia,
as always, great info and we appreciate your assistance.
do you know for example: if i already have 90,000 miles at ual and need 10,000 more miles (for a 100,000 total for a ticket). can i transfer into air canada 10,000 miles, then transfer those 10,000 miles to ual to reach my 100,000 total that was needed? or??
many thanks,
jsq
Mar 11, 2010, 8:16 am
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
hello mia,
as always, great info and we appreciate your assistance.
do you know for example: if i already have 90,000 miles at ual and need 10,000 more miles (for a 100,000 total for a ticket). can i transfer into air canada 10,000 miles, then transfer those 10,000 miles to ual to reach my 100,000 total that was needed? or??
many thanks,
jsq
as always, great info and we appreciate your assistance.
do you know for example: if i already have 90,000 miles at ual and need 10,000 more miles (for a 100,000 total for a ticket). can i transfer into air canada 10,000 miles, then transfer those 10,000 miles to ual to reach my 100,000 total that was needed? or??
many thanks,
jsq
Mar 12, 2010, 8:28 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
I was really wanting to transfer to US airway, bc I recently traveled to Hawaii, and earned about 10K miles. But they are not a partner with AMEX. So, I can transfer the AMEX MR points to Continental Airlines, and then Transfer those to USAirway, and there will be no penalty or loss of miles??
Mar 12, 2010, 9:04 am
#38
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I was really wanting to transfer to US airway, bc I recently traveled to Hawaii, and earned about 10K miles. But they are not a partner with AMEX. So, I can transfer the AMEX MR points to Continental Airlines, and then Transfer those to USAirway, and there will be no penalty or loss of miles??
Again, do you have a need to transfer them out of MR now? If not, just leave them be.
Mar 12, 2010, 9:24 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LA area
Programs: SPG Plat, Priority Pass
Posts: 319
I was really wanting to transfer to US airway, bc I recently traveled to Hawaii, and earned about 10K miles. But they are not a partner with AMEX. So, I can transfer the AMEX MR points to Continental Airlines, and then Transfer those to USAirway, and there will be no penalty or loss of miles??
You should start doing some extensive research on FlyerTalk about airline alliances, and mileage redemption.
The short of it is. There are 3 or so major airline alliances in the US. With miles on just one airline per alliance, you can get a frequent flyer ticket on all the other airlines in the same alliance. In the case of your AMex. You should be collecting your miles earned from flying in an airline that you can convert MR points into.
Continental for example. Anytime you fly US Air, United, Continental, ANA and all other Star Alliance airlines you should be collecting those in your Continental mileage account. When you want to redeem miles for a frequent flyer ticket on a Star Alliance airline, just use the miles in your Continental account you earned from flying. And supplement it by converting your MR rewards points to meet the number of miles required for the tickets.
This whole forum is mainly dedicated to things like this, so take the time to learn from the millions of miles of experience posted here.
Mar 12, 2010, 9:34 am
#40
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
You can redeem Continental miles for travel on US Airways (and other Star Alliance airlines). However, you cannot combine Membership Rewards points with the miles which are already in your US Airways account, except through a hotel program which would involve a 2/3 loss of value.
Nov 6, 2010, 12:15 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11
Need to transfer all my MR points in 48 hours! Where?
I just found out that I have 48 hours to transfer my MR points from my Amex card that got canceled last month before I lose all of them.
I have over 270,000 points, what should I do with them? I want to use them for travel, so I need to figure out which FF program to transfer them to
I was originally going to transfer them to aeroplan because I used them for a great trip to europe last year on Swiss Airlines, but now with all these bonuses I am not sure that its the way to go. What do the experts think?
BA with the bonus? I am also looking at the 50% delta promo, but I keep hearing how diluted the points are now, and how hard it is to get any low point flights. Or just stick with aeroplan?
I am particularly interested in flying to hawaii and asia.
Thanks so much for your help! This got sprung on me and is really stressing me out! If I hadn't called by chance I would have lost them.
I have over 270,000 points, what should I do with them? I want to use them for travel, so I need to figure out which FF program to transfer them to
I was originally going to transfer them to aeroplan because I used them for a great trip to europe last year on Swiss Airlines, but now with all these bonuses I am not sure that its the way to go. What do the experts think?
BA with the bonus? I am also looking at the 50% delta promo, but I keep hearing how diluted the points are now, and how hard it is to get any low point flights. Or just stick with aeroplan?
I am particularly interested in flying to hawaii and asia.
Thanks so much for your help! This got sprung on me and is really stressing me out! If I hadn't called by chance I would have lost them.
Nov 6, 2010, 1:33 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Plat, PC&HH Gold
Posts: 2,602
Run to the delta forum and look for the 50% bonus thread.
Nov 6, 2010, 1:36 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG Plat, Emerald Exec., PC Plat, AA, CO, DL, UBS Charter Card, Palladium Card, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,694
I just found out that I have 48 hours to transfer my MR points from my Amex card that got canceled last month before I lose all of them.
I have over 270,000 points, what should I do with them? I want to use them for travel, so I need to figure out which FF program to transfer them to
I was originally going to transfer them to aeroplan because I used them for a great trip to europe last year on Swiss Airlines, but now with all these bonuses I am not sure that its the way to go. What do the experts think?
BA with the bonus? I am also looking at the 50% delta promo, but I keep hearing how diluted the points are now, and how hard it is to get any low point flights. Or just stick with aeroplan?
I am particularly interested in flying to hawaii and asia.
Thanks so much for your help! This got sprung on me and is really stressing me out! If I hadn't called by chance I would have lost them.
I have over 270,000 points, what should I do with them? I want to use them for travel, so I need to figure out which FF program to transfer them to
I was originally going to transfer them to aeroplan because I used them for a great trip to europe last year on Swiss Airlines, but now with all these bonuses I am not sure that its the way to go. What do the experts think?
BA with the bonus? I am also looking at the 50% delta promo, but I keep hearing how diluted the points are now, and how hard it is to get any low point flights. Or just stick with aeroplan?
I am particularly interested in flying to hawaii and asia.
Thanks so much for your help! This got sprung on me and is really stressing me out! If I hadn't called by chance I would have lost them.
Nov 6, 2010, 2:16 pm
#44
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,046
While DL would definitely allow you to take advantage of the bonus, if you like flying F in 3-class planes, you should xfer to AC.
Nov 6, 2010, 5:07 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: CMH
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 79
Send them all to Air Canada, don't waste them on Delta even with the free SM status. 270k miles on AC is enough for two F awards to anywhere.