Sep 19, 2014, 7:20 am
Last edit by: HookemHorns
Membership Rewards (USA) points can be transferred to airline and hotel accounts in the name of the primary cardholder -or- the name of a supplementary cardholder on any card account linked to the same Membership Rewards account. You only need to request a supplementary card. It need not ever be given to the cardholder, nor used for any purchases. American Express will not issue cards for children under age 13.
Bear in mind that American Express (USA) generally limits customers to four credit cards, plus an unspecified number of charge cards. Most of the cards which can be used to add free supplementary cardholders are credit cards, choose one that you actually want to use,
These products allow you to add free Supplementary cardholders:
PERSONAL CARD ACCOUNTS
SMALL BUSINESS CARD ACCOUNTS
Bear in mind that American Express (USA) generally limits customers to four credit cards, plus an unspecified number of charge cards. Most of the cards which can be used to add free supplementary cardholders are credit cards, choose one that you actually want to use,
These products allow you to add free Supplementary cardholders:
PERSONAL CARD ACCOUNTS
- Premier Rewards Gold charge card. $175 fee for primary card, up to five free supplementary cards.
- Mercedes-Benz credit card. $95 fee for primary card, free supplementary cards.
- Everyday Preferred credit card. $95 fee for primary card, free supplementary cards.
- Everyday credit card. No fee for primary or supplementary cards.
- Blue from American Express credit card. No fee for primary or supplementary cards, but this card participates in Membership Rewards Express. Express points are not eligible for transfer unless you also hold a card participating in the full Membership Rewards program. Caution: Blue Cash, Blue Cash Everyday, Blue Cash Preferred, Blue Sky and Blue Sky Preferred do not participate in Membership Rewards, and supplementary cardholders are not eligible to receive transfers.
SMALL BUSINESS CARD ACCOUNTS
- Business Gold Rewards charge card. $175 fee for the primary card, $50 for the first supplementary card, but additional supplementary cards are free.
- Blue for Business credit card. No fee for primary card or supplementary cards, but this card participates in Membership Rewards Express. Express points are not eligible for transfer unless you also hold a card participating in the full Membership Rewards program. This is the best Membership Rewards card for general spending because it earns a 30% annual bonus on all spending.
AMEX (USA) kills ability to transfer MR to non-account holder's airline or hotel acct
Jun 20, 2014, 11:32 am
#31
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Is this related to the Amex glitch that today keeps booting me out when trying to re-login after choosing to transfer MR points from Amex to my airline accounts?
For hours now, I can't transfer anything online. Now I'm going to have to use the phone, as much as I would rather have avoided that while out of the country.
For hours now, I can't transfer anything online. Now I'm going to have to use the phone, as much as I would rather have avoided that while out of the country.
Jun 20, 2014, 11:39 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 108
You can still easily transfer points to spouses, relatives and friends, people you know well enough to request a supplementary card on your American Express account. The people who are affected are those who transfer points to strangers' frequent flyer accounts as part of a trade. This will now be more difficult and there is an added element of risk.
To me that was the best feature about AMEX.
Jun 20, 2014, 11:42 am
#33
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I can see that. Some people used this to top off the accounts of their young children well under even 12 years of age. Now the opportunity to do that is being somewhat frustrated by this change in practice.
Jun 20, 2014, 11:51 am
#34
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
- Login to americanexpress.com
- Click: Statements & Activity
- Click: My Rewards > View Summary
- Click: Linked Travel Programs
From there you should be able to navigate to the transfer interface.
Jun 20, 2014, 12:55 pm
#35
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Jun 21, 2014, 1:14 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: BA Avios, UA MP, AA, Choice, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,096
Thanks a bunch Mia for the work around. The site is buggy like GUWonder said.
For those with AMEX Plat it isnt the end of the world:
Add Additional Cards to your account, and continue earning Membership Rewards® points on all Additional Cards
$175 for the first 3 Additional Platinum Cards, then $175 for each Additional Platinum Card(s)
$45 for the first 5 Additional Gold Cards, then $45 for each Additional Gold Card(s)
So for $45.00 total you can still add 5 additional authorized users that you trust and transfer into their accounts.
At least that's what I am interpreting this new rule as.
For those with AMEX Plat it isnt the end of the world:
Add Additional Cards to your account, and continue earning Membership Rewards® points on all Additional Cards
$175 for the first 3 Additional Platinum Cards, then $175 for each Additional Platinum Card(s)
$45 for the first 5 Additional Gold Cards, then $45 for each Additional Gold Card(s)
So for $45.00 total you can still add 5 additional authorized users that you trust and transfer into their accounts.
At least that's what I am interpreting this new rule as.
Last edited by mrkymark; Jun 21, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Jun 21, 2014, 2:47 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: BA Avios, UA MP, AA, Choice, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,096
AMEX (USA) kills ability to transfer MR to non-account holder's airline or hotel acct
I will say that even though the transfer seemed to have gone thru and it said a confirmation email would be sent I haven't gotten the confirmation email, my balance is still the same, and I cant pull up any activity on my account. It just says an error has occurred and to check back later.
Jun 21, 2014, 6:15 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL BA Amex
Posts: 916
I wonder if Amex will make exceptions if you call in...
I remember them doing a transfer for me a few years ago over the phone... they explained that transfers were only supposed to be to my account or authorized users, but they would make an exception this one time.
I remember them doing a transfer for me a few years ago over the phone... they explained that transfers were only supposed to be to my account or authorized users, but they would make an exception this one time.
Last edited by bajrbajr; Jun 21, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Jun 22, 2014, 5:13 pm
#39
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Location: Miami, Mpls & London
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If you have a Business Platinum card you may be able to order free Green cards.
Jun 24, 2014, 5:23 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I see that AmEx has updated its website so that now you can transfer MR points only to other programs if the name on the other program account matches your name or the name of a cardholder connected to your AmEx card.
So now I can't easily give a ticket to a relative if the relative's name doesn't match mine.
So now I can't easily give a ticket to a relative if the relative's name doesn't match mine.
Jun 24, 2014, 6:31 pm
#41
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
I see that AmEx has updated its website so that now you can transfer MR points only to other programs if the name on the other program account matches your name or the name of a cardholder connected to your AmEx card.
So now I can't easily give a ticket to a relative if the relative's name doesn't match mine.
So now I can't easily give a ticket to a relative if the relative's name doesn't match mine.
Jun 25, 2014, 7:15 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
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Or if it's a relative you trust and you really want to give them the points (perhaps to combine with points they already have), you could always add them as an AU and then be able to add their FFP accounts, if your Amex allows free AUs.
You could even just have the AU card sent to yourself and never give it to them.
Jun 30, 2014, 10:10 am
#44
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Location: New York City
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Jun 30, 2014, 1:54 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,775
Sorry for the noob question, but can I transfer MR points to the MR account of an authorized user, or does it have to be to one of their airline or hotel accounts?