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 13, 2018, 7:00 pm
#736
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 128
As someone who recently booked business class to australia from LAX, i used aeroplan on the way back since it was 140k for 2 1 ways in business SYD-YVR-LAX on Air Canada. They do charge higher fees if you use Air Canada on the way there. For my UR points i transfered to SQ and did LAX-NRT-SIN-PER since we wanted to start in Perth. Otherwise i would have attempted to use United since its 160k for 2 1 ways vs the 204k we paid on SQ. ANA required round trip bookings and since we planned to mix points it wasn't an option for us.
Feb 14, 2018, 12:56 pm
#737
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 3
Hi guys,
I have about 103K MR points that I want to make the best use of. I am planning a trip to Italy (probably rome and some other cities) 3rd week of March flying out of NYC area. The flight prices i'm seeing are around $620s for the cheapest option. Amex travel wants about 60K per ticket. This seems like a bad redemption so I wanted to check in with the experts here to see what my best option would be. Should i transfer to an airline that may give me a better deal? Should i just buy the ticket and spend the points on hotels?
I have about 103K MR points that I want to make the best use of. I am planning a trip to Italy (probably rome and some other cities) 3rd week of March flying out of NYC area. The flight prices i'm seeing are around $620s for the cheapest option. Amex travel wants about 60K per ticket. This seems like a bad redemption so I wanted to check in with the experts here to see what my best option would be. Should i transfer to an airline that may give me a better deal? Should i just buy the ticket and spend the points on hotels?
Feb 14, 2018, 1:10 pm
#738
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Hi guys,
I have about 103K MR points that I want to make the best use of. I am planning a trip to Italy (probably rome and some other cities) 3rd week of March flying out of NYC area. The flight prices i'm seeing are around $620s for the cheapest option. Amex travel wants about 60K per ticket. This seems like a bad redemption so I wanted to check in with the experts here to see what my best option would be. Should i transfer to an airline that may give me a better deal? Should i just buy the ticket and spend the points on hotels?
I have about 103K MR points that I want to make the best use of. I am planning a trip to Italy (probably rome and some other cities) 3rd week of March flying out of NYC area. The flight prices i'm seeing are around $620s for the cheapest option. Amex travel wants about 60K per ticket. This seems like a bad redemption so I wanted to check in with the experts here to see what my best option would be. Should i transfer to an airline that may give me a better deal? Should i just buy the ticket and spend the points on hotels?
IMO spending Amex MR directly via Amex Travel (on either flights or hotels) is not a good redemption option, as it gives you slightly less than 1 cent per point of value. You will generally be much better off transferring your Amex points to an airline or hotel frequent flyer program, and then redeeming those miles for a ticket.
Others can chime in with more specific advice. Are you looking for tickets in coach or business? Are you open to hotel+flight packages? I believe there is now a path to transfer Amex points to SPG, then convert those to Marriott, which often has very good hotel+flight packages you can buy with Marriott points.
Feb 14, 2018, 7:58 pm
#739
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 56
Hey all, new to the points for travel and hoping I can get some wisdom.
signed up for the Plat (Canadian) and have about 80,000 points.
we have a resort booked already for April 21st to 25th in Puero Vallarta(Depart Toronto) but am having a hard time finding a good way to use our points.
If paying for the tickets (2), the best deal I found is Aeromexico. $950 all in for two round trips.
I can can do Aeroplan 1:1 but that only saves us $600 for 80,000 MR, which doesn’t seem like good value at all.
Unfortunately for us Canadians we don’t have Aeromexico 1:1.6, because that would be perfect. We just have 1:0.75 but am unsure how this converts if we want to use on Aeromexico.
any advice? Help?
signed up for the Plat (Canadian) and have about 80,000 points.
we have a resort booked already for April 21st to 25th in Puero Vallarta(Depart Toronto) but am having a hard time finding a good way to use our points.
If paying for the tickets (2), the best deal I found is Aeromexico. $950 all in for two round trips.
I can can do Aeroplan 1:1 but that only saves us $600 for 80,000 MR, which doesn’t seem like good value at all.
Unfortunately for us Canadians we don’t have Aeromexico 1:1.6, because that would be perfect. We just have 1:0.75 but am unsure how this converts if we want to use on Aeromexico.
any advice? Help?
Feb 14, 2018, 8:14 pm
#740
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Feb 15, 2018, 5:25 am
#742
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Feb 15, 2018, 8:15 pm
#743
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 3
Welcome to FT!
IMO spending Amex MR directly via Amex Travel (on either flights or hotels) is not a good redemption option, as it gives you slightly less than 1 cent per point of value. You will generally be much better off transferring your Amex points to an airline or hotel frequent flyer program, and then redeeming those miles for a ticket.
Others can chime in with more specific advice. Are you looking for tickets in coach or business? Are you open to hotel+flight packages? I believe there is now a path to transfer Amex points to SPG, then convert those to Marriott, which often has very good hotel+flight packages you can buy with Marriott points.
IMO spending Amex MR directly via Amex Travel (on either flights or hotels) is not a good redemption option, as it gives you slightly less than 1 cent per point of value. You will generally be much better off transferring your Amex points to an airline or hotel frequent flyer program, and then redeeming those miles for a ticket.
Others can chime in with more specific advice. Are you looking for tickets in coach or business? Are you open to hotel+flight packages? I believe there is now a path to transfer Amex points to SPG, then convert those to Marriott, which often has very good hotel+flight packages you can buy with Marriott points.
Definitely looking for coach tickets and flight + hotel sounds great though it may not be enough as I'm looking to book for two passengers!
Feb 21, 2018, 2:06 pm
#744
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: BRU
Programs: LH FTL; A3*Gold
Posts: 311
I have 175k MR (USA) miles from the time when I lived in the USA. I moved to Europe and I have to close this account within a month, so I need to find home for my miles and I seek advice what would be the best option.
The trouble is that I have no travel plans that would allow me to use the miles in the foreseeable future. My principle airline accounts and status are with LH and A3 - can't transfer to those. I also have BA and DL accounts with some leftover miles, adding 175k will not put me in a good position to get an interesting redemption in 3-4 years (don't travel on BA, DL or their partners).
On the hotel front I have 500k on the Hilton account and see no point adding more to this account.
I would appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.
The trouble is that I have no travel plans that would allow me to use the miles in the foreseeable future. My principle airline accounts and status are with LH and A3 - can't transfer to those. I also have BA and DL accounts with some leftover miles, adding 175k will not put me in a good position to get an interesting redemption in 3-4 years (don't travel on BA, DL or their partners).
On the hotel front I have 500k on the Hilton account and see no point adding more to this account.
I would appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.
Feb 21, 2018, 2:16 pm
#745
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
1. Are you still in a position to open a (free) USA-issued card?
2. Have you opened an American Express card in another country, which earns Membership Rewards points?
2. Have you opened an American Express card in another country, which earns Membership Rewards points?
Feb 21, 2018, 7:18 pm
#747
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
There is an undocumented ability to transfer points from one nationality of Membership Rewards to another. One transfer per year, with the quantity of points adjusted to reflect the currency exchange rate, which means a USD to Euro transfer would involve a reduction.
A month is probably cutting it close to open an account and arrange the transfer., but it's something to bear in mind if you do not see a benefit to transfer to any of the USA partners.
A month is probably cutting it close to open an account and arrange the transfer., but it's something to bear in mind if you do not see a benefit to transfer to any of the USA partners.
Feb 22, 2018, 5:11 am
#748
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: BRU
Programs: LH FTL; A3*Gold
Posts: 311
There is an undocumented ability to transfer points from one nationality of Membership Rewards to another. One transfer per year, with the quantity of points adjusted to reflect the currency exchange rate, which means a USD to Euro transfer would involve a reduction.
A month is probably cutting it close to open an account and arrange the transfer., but it's something to bear in mind if you do not see a benefit to transfer to any of the USA partners.
A month is probably cutting it close to open an account and arrange the transfer., but it's something to bear in mind if you do not see a benefit to transfer to any of the USA partners.
What do you think about transferring the lot to SPG?
Feb 22, 2018, 9:21 am
#749
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Feb 23, 2018, 6:02 am
#750
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 70
Points Transfer All About Equal
Sorry for basic question...
I used to think Hilton transfer value was great. 2x points.
Until I realized that Hilton’s were about twice the needed points to book a room. Lol
Transferring to SPG and then to Marriott or sticking with the SPG, amex points values to transfer to book a room were basically the same.
So it doesnt really matter which, as long as it works out to about $.01 per reward point?
Thanks. Just looking for confirmation.
I used to think Hilton transfer value was great. 2x points.
Until I realized that Hilton’s were about twice the needed points to book a room. Lol
Transferring to SPG and then to Marriott or sticking with the SPG, amex points values to transfer to book a room were basically the same.
So it doesnt really matter which, as long as it works out to about $.01 per reward point?
Thanks. Just looking for confirmation.