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)
Oct 7, 2018, 7:05 am
#826
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: OSH
Programs: SWRR, HH, SM, TSA Pre
Posts: 752
Help planning MR redemption
Earning a ton of MR with my new Gold card and looking for a way to use them all to get my family to Disneyworld next year. Biggest problem is where I'm located, nearest airport is ATW, which doesn't offer many flights. Next is MKE, which offers some non-stop but none on MR transfer partners as far as I can tell. Then there is ORD and MDW which is further away but still doable. Seems that none of the transfer partners offer non stop. Almost seems like my best bet is to pay for the tickets and then use the MR for statement credit? Anyone got any better ideas? I could drive to MSP and then fly DL nonstop. Better solution would be if anyone has any way to get MR to WN, but I've never heard of any way to do that.
Oct 7, 2018, 8:29 am
#827
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Moderator action
AA and UA offer non-stop flights between Chicago and Orlando. Please review the Wikipost at the top of the thread to understand how to redeem Membership Rewards points for flights operated by American and United.
Oct 7, 2018, 1:56 pm
#828
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,522
Earning a ton of MR with my new Gold card and looking for a way to use them all to get my family to Disneyworld next year. Biggest problem is where I'm located, nearest airport is ATW, which doesn't offer many flights. Next is MKE, which offers some non-stop but none on MR transfer partners as far as I can tell. Then there is ORD and MDW which is further away but still doable. Seems that none of the transfer partners offer non stop. Almost seems like my best bet is to pay for the tickets and then use the MR for statement credit? Anyone got any better ideas? I could drive to MSP and then fly DL nonstop. Better solution would be if anyone has any way to get MR to WN, but I've never heard of any way to do that.
Although I'm not recommending it, I note that Allegiant flies ATW-SFB/PIE nonstop.
Oct 26, 2018, 2:28 am
#829
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 23
I've read thru a number of threads but can definitely use some help as my eyes are glazing over after 100s of pages of thread:
I have 90K MR points that I want to use as flights between BOS-SEA. Three airlines I am aware of fly non-stop between this pair, AS, B6, and DL:
- B6 has a 20% transfer penalty at the moment...Has it always been this way? Do they ever change to a more favorable ratio?
- DL is 1:1 points-wise but it's my least favorite of these airlines.
- To fly AS on MR points I have a few options, but with 40% bonus to Avios' bonus that seems like the best deal at the moment. However, booking AS using Avios is a big pain as you have to call BA directly to get things, and the fare limitation is pretty strict. (I've thread thru 48 pages on this thread alone)
I'm ending my AmEx to avoid fees so I want to make a change fairly soon, say within a few months. Should I go MR -> Avios -> AS as the way to go, or do AmEx runs points exchange promotion fairly often?
Could really use your wisdom. Thanks!
I have 90K MR points that I want to use as flights between BOS-SEA. Three airlines I am aware of fly non-stop between this pair, AS, B6, and DL:
- B6 has a 20% transfer penalty at the moment...Has it always been this way? Do they ever change to a more favorable ratio?
- DL is 1:1 points-wise but it's my least favorite of these airlines.
- To fly AS on MR points I have a few options, but with 40% bonus to Avios' bonus that seems like the best deal at the moment. However, booking AS using Avios is a big pain as you have to call BA directly to get things, and the fare limitation is pretty strict. (I've thread thru 48 pages on this thread alone)
I'm ending my AmEx to avoid fees so I want to make a change fairly soon, say within a few months. Should I go MR -> Avios -> AS as the way to go, or do AmEx runs points exchange promotion fairly often?
Could really use your wisdom. Thanks!
Oct 26, 2018, 5:26 am
#830
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
When is next airline transfer bonus? [See Wiki for USA history]
Dec 6, 2018, 2:58 pm
#831
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
Cancelling PRG and keeping Everyday Card
Hello,
So presently I have the PRG and also the Everyday card. PRG AF hits in Jan and I will probably be closing the PRG and only keep the Everyday (both linked to same MR account). While the wiki states that MR's accumulated thru PRG continue to be available, is there any restriction on usage or loss of value I need to be aware of? (similar to cancelling CSP and keeping only CF where we lose the transfer ability and the points redemption @1.25 etc).
i.e - Can I continue to transfer my MR points to the other partners etc as possible currently with PRG in hand.
Thx
So presently I have the PRG and also the Everyday card. PRG AF hits in Jan and I will probably be closing the PRG and only keep the Everyday (both linked to same MR account). While the wiki states that MR's accumulated thru PRG continue to be available, is there any restriction on usage or loss of value I need to be aware of? (similar to cancelling CSP and keeping only CF where we lose the transfer ability and the points redemption @1.25 etc).
i.e - Can I continue to transfer my MR points to the other partners etc as possible currently with PRG in hand.
Thx
Dec 6, 2018, 3:05 pm
#832
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Dec 6, 2018, 4:00 pm
#833
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
Hello,
So presently I have the PRG and also the Everyday card. PRG AF hits in Jan and I will probably be closing the PRG and only keep the Everyday (both linked to same MR account). While the wiki states that MR's accumulated thru PRG continue to be available, is there any restriction on usage or loss of value I need to be aware of? (similar to cancelling CSP and keeping only CF where we lose the transfer ability and the points redemption @1.25 etc).
i.e - Can I continue to transfer my MR points to the other partners etc as possible currently with PRG in hand.
Thx
So presently I have the PRG and also the Everyday card. PRG AF hits in Jan and I will probably be closing the PRG and only keep the Everyday (both linked to same MR account). While the wiki states that MR's accumulated thru PRG continue to be available, is there any restriction on usage or loss of value I need to be aware of? (similar to cancelling CSP and keeping only CF where we lose the transfer ability and the points redemption @1.25 etc).
i.e - Can I continue to transfer my MR points to the other partners etc as possible currently with PRG in hand.
Thx
But anyway, yes, as long as you hold Everyday, your points are fully transferable. Amex is no longer like Chase in that regard (they were for a long time until they introduced the Everyday card. Amex actually has at least two no-AF cards that give you full transferablity, the personal Everyday card and the Blue business Plus card.
Dec 6, 2018, 4:41 pm
#834
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
First, i presume you're aware that the PRG card has been renamed Gold, and now earns 4x on most grocery and restaurant purchases, and has added a $10 monthly credit for using GrubHub or Seamless or a couple chain restaurants, while keeping the $100 airline creidt? So even with the newer higher $250 AF that's coming, you can get the effective AFdown to $30 if you can make good use of all off those credits. I just want to make sure you know all that before you cancel a card that earns way better than Everyday does.
But anyway, yes, as long as you hold Everyday, your points are fully transferable. Amex is no longer like Chase in that regard (they were for a long time until they introduced the Everyday card. Amex actually has at least two no-AF cards that give you full transferablity, the personal Everyday card and the Blue business Plus card.
But anyway, yes, as long as you hold Everyday, your points are fully transferable. Amex is no longer like Chase in that regard (they were for a long time until they introduced the Everyday card. Amex actually has at least two no-AF cards that give you full transferablity, the personal Everyday card and the Blue business Plus card.
Yes, was aware of the name change and the benefits.
My company has a Corp card deal with Amex, so we all have to use the Amex corp card and I only recently noticed that they give a credit of $100 on the Amex Gold card. So maybe this would come in handy when my $195 renewal fee kicks in Jan'19 , so net OOP would be $95 + I get those travel & food credits + other benefits for 1 year and then decide if it makes sense.
Not yet decided which route to take, but good to know the impact on points if any
Jan 3, 2019, 2:01 pm
#835
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 50
Anyone experiencing delays with transfer to virgin atlantic?
Jan 7, 2019, 10:33 pm
#836
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 590
So just transferred 1,000 MR to Marriott/Starwood. I thought these transfer were suppose to be instantaneous? Mine certainly hasn't been.
Last edited by kapooncha; Jan 8, 2019 at 2:23 am
Jan 10, 2019, 2:54 pm
#837
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
They probably transferred to Marriott/Starwood, not just to your account yet, and are lost in quagmire over there (along with many people's hotel stays, and other things that also are not posting in much greater numbers since the merger implementation started a few months ago).
Jan 25, 2019, 9:35 am
#838
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan 75K, Westjet Gold, Skymiles, Alaska MP, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Amex MR
Posts: 40
I just had a hellish experience transferring. After getting on a three-way call with Marriott Rewards and Amex (Amex customer service FTW), it turns out you need to use your old SPG number to transfer points still, not the new Marriott number.
Despite Marriott's repeated assurances that wouldn't work, I'd had two failed transfers of MR points to Marriott before the Amex agent re-entered my old SPG number, did the transfer, and it completed in around 3 days. She pointed out that after the merger, the transfers are much slower now.
Despite Marriott's repeated assurances that wouldn't work, I'd had two failed transfers of MR points to Marriott before the Amex agent re-entered my old SPG number, did the transfer, and it completed in around 3 days. She pointed out that after the merger, the transfers are much slower now.
Jan 28, 2019, 10:55 am
#839
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL, LHR
Posts: 219
Wanted to get some suggestions. I'm about 12000AAdvantage miles short of what I need to book the family in business on a flight to Europe this summer on American. (I know you can't transfer directly). I have a few hundred thousand MR points. Are there any suggestions on a way to do a two-way transfer from my MR account to another account - like Marriott/SPG - and then over to my AA account? Every article I find seems to focus on efficiency and point optimization vs. just brute forcing points across at all costs. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.
Jan 29, 2019, 3:58 pm
#840
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 590
Wanted to get some suggestions. I'm about 12000AAdvantage miles short of what I need to book the family in business on a flight to Europe this summer on American. (I know you can't transfer directly). I have a few hundred thousand MR points. Are there any suggestions on a way to do a two-way transfer from my MR account to another account - like Marriott/SPG - and then over to my AA account? Every article I find seems to focus on efficiency and point optimization vs. just brute forcing points across at all costs. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.
Another option is to get the Citi AA Mileup Card which comes with a 10k bonus after spending $500. So that's minimum 10,500 miles into your AA account. I'm sure you can figure out the necessary spending to get the other 1,500 miles.
