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]
Nov 29, 2014, 7:37 pm
#856
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: SPG Gold, AMEX Plat, UA,AA
Posts: 34
Wash to LAX - VX or Delta Coach
Booking 2 RT from DC area (DCA, IAD, BWI) to LAX for mid January. Direct flight for 2 from DCA on DL for 50K points and VX option out of IAD for 32K elevate miles. Elevate at 2:1 transfer for about 12K more points than DL option, but worth the travel on VX for coach seats? Better options?
Nov 30, 2014, 4:40 pm
#857
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 23
ksoze, another option is to transfer to British Airways and book direct DCA -> LAX -> DCA flights on AA. It prices out the same as Delta (25k per person). Availability wasn't great for January when I checked, but there are still some good options. There's also the option of transferring to Aeroplan and flying United out of IAD (also 25k per person, though I don't know how good availability in January would be).
I'm actually flying DCA to LAX as well, in February, and went with the direct AA flight for oneworld qualification purposes. I suppose it depends on which airline/alliance you'd prefer to fly, as you have a lot of options!
I'm actually flying DCA to LAX as well, in February, and went with the direct AA flight for oneworld qualification purposes. I suppose it depends on which airline/alliance you'd prefer to fly, as you have a lot of options!
Nov 30, 2014, 4:57 pm
#858
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: SPG Gold, AMEX Plat, UA,AA
Posts: 34
dellsystem - thanks for the suggestion. I am currently also weighing transferring miles to Virgin Atlantic due to the 35% deal ending today. That appears to get me VX and DL options at a better rate than the normal transfer rates of DL and BA.
Dec 11, 2014, 12:08 pm
#859
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: all, none, somewhere in between
Posts: 221
AMEX Points About to Expire, Where Should I transfer them?
I have a number of AMEX points in an account I'm going to close ASAP, where should I transfer them?
I travel all over with flights of all different lengths. I have lots of UR, UA, BA, & AA miles already. This is for purely speculative travel.
Two kickers:
- I always fly economy, and am only interested in those redemptions.
- I'm not interested in hotel partners, except as a middle-man to flight miles.
Thoughts? Thanks!
I travel all over with flights of all different lengths. I have lots of UR, UA, BA, & AA miles already. This is for purely speculative travel.
Two kickers:
- I always fly economy, and am only interested in those redemptions.
- I'm not interested in hotel partners, except as a middle-man to flight miles.
Thoughts? Thanks!
Dec 11, 2014, 1:03 pm
#860
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BDL, JFK
Posts: 658
Transfer to BA. No fees for BA transfer. Use the miles on AB for TATL flights to avoid fees and AA domestic saver flights which use fewer Avios than Aadvantage miles. But be warned that the day after transfer a BA transfer bonus will be announced.
Dec 12, 2014, 9:05 am
#861
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 747
Dec 12, 2014, 12:16 pm
#863
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton - Diamond / Marriott - Platinum / SPG - Platinum / Priority Club - Platinum
Posts: 359
There will be a cap next year on transfers into DL. IIRC the limit is 250,000 RDMs per calendar year transferred in from all sources, including multiple AmEx Membership Rewards cards of all colors and types.
If you have a DL AmEx Reserve card, you don't have AmEx points on it. Those are already automatically DL miles and for all practical purposes cannot be transferred out into another reward currency.
If you have a DL AmEx Reserve card, you don't have AmEx points on it. Those are already automatically DL miles and for all practical purposes cannot be transferred out into another reward currency.
Last edited by mia; Dec 12, 2014 at 12:27 pm Reason: Remove letter which is quoted in primary thread.
Dec 12, 2014, 12:27 pm
#864
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Dec 12, 2014, 9:32 pm
#865
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: all, none, somewhere in between
Posts: 221
Thanks! Thinking Aeroplan could be good too. Thoughts?
Dec 15, 2014, 10:43 am
#866
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 747
Ask and ye shall receive, 40% bonus on BA transfer 
Dec 15, 2014, 10:45 am
#867
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Dec 21, 2014, 7:33 pm
#869
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, SPG, MR, UR, Cash Back!
Posts: 606
Can MR points from my account and my wife's MR account be combined? I read a blog that said they could NOT. If not can she transfer her MR points to my airline miles account?
Dec 21, 2014, 7:35 pm
#870
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
No. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ds-points.html
Only if she first makes you an Authorized User on her American Express account.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...otel-acct.html
If not can she transfer her MR points to my airline miles account?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...otel-acct.html