Jan 17, 2015, 11:52 am
Last edit by: mia
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
Germany: 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?
(The Canadian transfer ratios are listed directly on the Canadian site.)
Q: After I transfer, when will my miles expire at that airline/hotel program? Is there anything I can do to avoid expiration there?
The Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire wiki lists all of the Amex USA airline/hotel transfer partners and their respective expiration policies.
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 or any other OneWorld carrier redeem through:
American also has partnership outside OneWorld with:
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
Germany: 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.
In the USA version of Membership Rewards the exceptions are:
El AL Israel Airlines: 1,000 points = 20 Matmid points
Hilton®: 1,000 points = 2,000 Honors points (as of 1/11/2018)
JetBlue Airways: 250 points = 200 JetBlue TrueBlue® points
In the USA version of Membership Rewards the exceptions are:
El AL Israel Airlines: 1,000 points = 20 Matmid points
Hilton®: 1,000 points = 2,000 Honors points (as of 1/11/2018)
JetBlue Airways: 250 points = 200 JetBlue TrueBlue® points
Q: After I transfer, when will my miles expire at that airline/hotel program? Is there anything I can do to avoid expiration there?
The Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire wiki lists all of the Amex USA airline/hotel transfer partners and their respective expiration policies.
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 or any other OneWorld carrier redeem through:
- Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific)
- British Airways
- Iberia Airlines
- Qantas Airways
American also has partnership outside OneWorld with:
- Etihad
To travel on Delta Air Lines or any other SkyTeam carrier redeem through:
- Delta Air Lines (DL permits one-way awards as of 01 JAN 2015, however trips originating in Europe carry additional surcharges; Delta also imposes surcharges on trips using some partner airlines such as China Eastern or China Southern, but notably not on trips involving its European partners (as long as the trip originates outside Europe) or Virgin Australia.)
- AeroMexico
- Alitalia
- FlyingBlue (Air France, KLM, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, Aircalin and Tarom.)
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. See also transatlantic strategy discussion HERE. Read about changes to redemption charts in December 2015 HERE.
- All Nippon Airways. Read about ANA fuel surcharges HERE. Read about changes to partner redemption charts in April 2015 HERE.
- Avianca Airlines
- Singapore Airlines. Read HERE
Read about Singapore Airlines' reciprocal mile conversion arrangement with Virgin Australia HERE.
To travel on Alaska Airlines redeem through:
- BA British Airways
- CX Asia Miles https://www.asiamiles.com/en/earn-mi...irlines#redeem
- EK Emirates https://www.emirates.com/us/english/...-airlines.aspx
- SQ Singapore Airlines https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/p...s_AwdChart.pdf
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? (2015 - 2021)
Feb 6, 2017, 11:04 am
#616
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
A question about for Amex in Canada:
When transferring points from Amex MR to SPG, I noticed the following terms on the Amex website:
“Minimum transfer of 3,000 points; additional transfers must be made in increments of 100. Member must have one qualified stay at a participating Starwood property in the preceding 12 months in order to use the transferred Starpoints®.”
Does anyone know if they enforce the qualified stay requirement?
When transferring points from Amex MR to SPG, I noticed the following terms on the Amex website:
“Minimum transfer of 3,000 points; additional transfers must be made in increments of 100. Member must have one qualified stay at a participating Starwood property in the preceding 12 months in order to use the transferred Starpoints®.”
Does anyone know if they enforce the qualified stay requirement?
Feb 9, 2017, 12:27 am
#617
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: SkyTeam Elite, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 262
A question about for Amex in Canada:
When transferring points from Amex MR to SPG, I noticed the following terms on the Amex website:
“Minimum transfer of 3,000 points; additional transfers must be made in increments of 100. Member must have one qualified stay at a participating Starwood property in the preceding 12 months in order to use the transferred Starpoints®.”
Does anyone know if they enforce the qualified stay requirement?
When transferring points from Amex MR to SPG, I noticed the following terms on the Amex website:
“Minimum transfer of 3,000 points; additional transfers must be made in increments of 100. Member must have one qualified stay at a participating Starwood property in the preceding 12 months in order to use the transferred Starpoints®.”
Does anyone know if they enforce the qualified stay requirement?
Feb 21, 2017, 7:02 pm
#618
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
I was about to ask about the same disclaimer (which has been on the Amex site for at least several months) when I found this thread. I'm considering the same transfer (Amex -> SPG -> Marriott) but I don't have any SPG stays. I'm glad to hear it worked for you. Anyone else have any experience with this?
Feb 22, 2017, 1:40 am
#619
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 659
I was about to ask about the same disclaimer (which has been on the Amex site for at least several months) when I found this thread. I'm considering the same transfer (Amex -> SPG -> Marriott) but I don't have any SPG stays. I'm glad to hear it worked for you. Anyone else have any experience with this?
Wondering if it was worth it now.
Feb 22, 2017, 5:07 am
#620
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
I'm glad to hear it works. I haven't yet decided if I'm actually going to do it, but I'm glad to know it's an option.
Mar 4, 2017, 12:09 am
#621
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 9
I am kind of new to this but am trying to read as much as possible.
Question though: Are Membership Reward points earned with a Platinum card ineligible to be transferred to hotel and airline partners?
Question though: Are Membership Reward points earned with a Platinum card ineligible to be transferred to hotel and airline partners?
Mar 4, 2017, 3:50 am
#622
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Points earned with Centurion, Platinum, Gold, Green and Everyday are eligible for transfer. Points earned with Blue (and some discontinued cards) are eligible only if you also hold one of the eligible cards listed in the first sentence.
Mar 4, 2017, 6:16 am
#623
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
As an extreme example: If you earn with Platinum, then cancel the Platinum before transferring, and only have an old Blue left, you can't transfer at the point, even though you earned with Platinum.
OTOH, if you earned a bunch of points with Blue, and then get a Platinum, the moment you have the Platinum (even before you earn any points with it, as long as you've linked it to the same MR account as the Blue), you can transfer the points you earned with Blue.
Mar 4, 2017, 10:49 am
#624
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 9
Okay, thanks for the info. I read something vaguely talking about Platinum points not being transferable but then couldn't find the post again and thought man that sure is crazy. I got the 100k Personal Plat. and 100k Business Plat. in the last few months and thought my points were still frozen for review because I have had no success transferring them but the other day I was able to pay for something on Amazon with them so thought well .... maybe I can't transfer them out because all I hold are Platinum cards. Seems maybe the freeze/review is just not allowing me to transfer them out but I can use them in other ways.
Mar 4, 2017, 11:11 am
#625
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Mar 4, 2017, 8:34 pm
#626
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
Link FFP
I could not find an appropriate thread to post my questions.
Yesterday I linked my husband's ANA FFP account to my membership reward account (he is additional user on both my Everyday and PRG card).
However once it is verified and linked, ANA disappeared from the FFPs to choose from, so I could not link my own ANA account to my membership reward account.
OTOH, long time ago I was able to link both my husband's and my DL accounts to my membership reward account and they stay this way.
Since when AMEX changed its rule that you can only link primary's FFP account or additional user's FFP account of the SAME Airline, but cannot link BOTH FFP accounts?
Yesterday I linked my husband's ANA FFP account to my membership reward account (he is additional user on both my Everyday and PRG card).
However once it is verified and linked, ANA disappeared from the FFPs to choose from, so I could not link my own ANA account to my membership reward account.
OTOH, long time ago I was able to link both my husband's and my DL accounts to my membership reward account and they stay this way.
Since when AMEX changed its rule that you can only link primary's FFP account or additional user's FFP account of the SAME Airline, but cannot link BOTH FFP accounts?
Mar 5, 2017, 12:39 pm
#627
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Mar 6, 2017, 12:46 pm
#628
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
Nonetheless I will try the mechanism suggested.
Mar 6, 2017, 12:49 pm
#629
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Mar 7, 2017, 9:17 am
#630
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: status free since 2017
Posts: 2,188
Are points kept separate between personal and business accounts for the same account holder?
I am AMEX PRG personal and AMEX Blue for Business (no AF). If I close my PRG do my MR get retained because of Amex Blue? Or do I need a personal no-fee cc (like Amex Everyday) to keep my personal points?
I am AMEX PRG personal and AMEX Blue for Business (no AF). If I close my PRG do my MR get retained because of Amex Blue? Or do I need a personal no-fee cc (like Amex Everyday) to keep my personal points?