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)
Apr 8, 2017, 5:00 pm
#661
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I would prefer a nonstop firstclass, But i understand what you mean about the business class being the top class. I guess that is why I was wondering if there were any that offered first class nonstop. I think lufthansa offers sfo to frankfurt nonstop, and a short connection through SFO would be fine. How about air france or the flying blue group?
Apr 8, 2017, 5:46 pm
#662
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
No. Cards which participate in Membership Rewards Express cannot transfer, unless they are linked to a card that participates in the full program. Express cards include: Blue from American Express, Blue for Business, some obscure business cards, and some discontinued cards such as Zync.
Apr 8, 2017, 10:55 pm
#663
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 33
Wow, 4 figures is pretty crazy. So i used the search and it only found luftansa as a nonstop flight. As for flights with connections it showed united, luftansa and british airways. I tried using the british airways site, but it doesnt show any available flights from LAX to FRA. Is there another airline you guys would recommend I try?
Apr 9, 2017, 7:52 am
#664
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,535
https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/ca/e/asw_common/book-plan/charge/fuelsurcharge/
I assume this is passed onto Aeroplan, but I haven't checked
Apr 9, 2017, 10:02 am
#665
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Wow, 4 figures is pretty crazy. So i used the search and it only found luftansa as a nonstop flight. As for flights with connections it showed united, luftansa and british airways. I tried using the british airways site, but it doesnt show any available flights from LAX to FRA. Is there another airline you guys would recommend I try?
You'd have a lot more choices (with low fees) if you "downgraded" your wishes to just business class. Why do you want first class so much on this trip?
Apr 9, 2017, 10:08 am
#666
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 33
While it's only high 3 figures, BA has horrid YQ fees on transatlantic awards also. So I suggest you forget them too if you don't like paying tons of YQ fees.
You'd have a lot more choices (with low fees) if you "downgraded" your wishes to just business class. Why do you want first class so much on this trip?
You'd have a lot more choices (with low fees) if you "downgraded" your wishes to just business class. Why do you want first class so much on this trip?
Apr 10, 2017, 3:53 pm
#667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
For LAX-FRA if you can do connection or use business, you have tons of options.
But if you want to only use Aeroplan, and not to pay tons of cash out of pocket, then your choices are limited to fly SK, LX, and TK, but they would require one most likely two or more connection. All the 3 airlines have decent lie-flat business class seats.
If you want a LH F experience, you should fly the other way round - FRA-LAX, so you can experience the F terminal at FRA.
May 3, 2017, 12:29 am
#670
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 5
Best use of MR points is to trasnfer to Britsh Airways to book a flight on American Airlines for long domestic trips?
The flight I am looking at is ELP-DFW-DCA and round trip back in economy.
The flight I am looking at is ELP-DFW-DCA and round trip back in economy.
May 3, 2017, 3:48 am
#671
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Are you willing to fly on UA instead of AA? If so, a transfer to Aeroplan makes sense, as long as UA has "Saver" award seats available on your desired dates of travel.
May 3, 2017, 1:19 pm
#672
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 5
What are your other oneworld transfer options? BA charges for each flight flown, and MR => BA is no longer 1:1 (unless there is a transfer bonus promotion).
Are you willing to fly on UA instead of AA? If so, a transfer to Aeroplan makes sense, as long as UA has "Saver" award seats available on your desired dates of travel.
Are you willing to fly on UA instead of AA? If so, a transfer to Aeroplan makes sense, as long as UA has "Saver" award seats available on your desired dates of travel.
I dont mind using any other airlines. I am open to all options. Just trying to get the best value for my MR points.
The reason I was originally looking at AA is because they also have a layover in Dallas and wanted to try out the Centurion lounge while I was there.
I was hoping to fly out on June 14 and come back on the 17th but those dates can be a little flexible.
May 3, 2017, 1:29 pm
#673
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
You can't just book any AA flight with BA miles, only flights that AA has SAAver availability on. And with regards to that:
May 3, 2017, 2:50 pm
#674
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
I can fly UA but couldnt find any saver award seats through the united website, only the regular 25k points + $5
I dont mind using any other airlines. I am open to all options. Just trying to get the best value for my MR points.
The reason I was originally looking at AA is because they also have a layover in Dallas and wanted to try out the Centurion lounge while I was there.
I was hoping to fly out on June 14 and come back on the 17th but those dates can be a little flexible.
I dont mind using any other airlines. I am open to all options. Just trying to get the best value for my MR points.
The reason I was originally looking at AA is because they also have a layover in Dallas and wanted to try out the Centurion lounge while I was there.
I was hoping to fly out on June 14 and come back on the 17th but those dates can be a little flexible.
https://thepointsguy.com/2016/08/ult...artner-awards/
By contrast, you would have to transfer 44K MR points to BAEC to get the 35K Avios that BA would charge for your roundtrip itinerary.
How much does AA want for a cash ticket on your desired dates of travel?
May 3, 2017, 8:03 pm
#675
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 5
Duplicate post
Last edited by PTBKoo; May 4, 2017 at 1:51 am Reason: Dupe post