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 25, 2015, 5:04 am
#76
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: Sixt Platinum, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 11
Here is newbie question I have been reading the forum for a while now and trying to make sense of it all. I have over 600K points and would like to use them for travel. What are me best options? Traveling in December from DFW to DEL and return BOM to DFW. I am looking for 3 business class seats. Thought about buying economy on EK and upgrading afterwards? EK flies A380 from DFW I am guessing they could not be filling 60 business class seats every day. Looking for suggestions and any available options. I would like to thanks in advance for any help.
Feb 25, 2015, 9:04 pm
#77
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Orlando
Programs: AA Exec Plat, HH Lifetime Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Marrriott Silver, SPG, National Exec Elite
Posts: 187
Tax on frequent flyer awards?
I did a search and didn't see any info on this, although maybe didn't use the right search terms. I have about 300k Amex miles I'd like to transfer to either Delta or Air Canada. Am I correct that you have to pay tax on frequent flyer miles now? And if so, does this only apply to US carriers or would I be exempt if I transferred to Air Canada. I was hoping to get something with Star Alliance, so looking to use Air Canada. Thanks.
Feb 26, 2015, 5:06 am
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Last edited by mia; Feb 26, 2015 at 7:26 am Reason: Formating
Feb 26, 2015, 7:35 am
#79
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
I did a search and didn't see any info on this, although maybe didn't use the right search terms. I have about 300k Amex miles I'd like to transfer to either Delta or Air Canada. Am I correct that you have to pay tax on frequent flyer miles now? And if so, does this only apply to US carriers or would I be exempt if I transferred to Air Canada. I was hoping to get something with Star Alliance, so looking to use Air Canada. Thanks.
Mar 2, 2015, 12:50 pm
#80
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 7
Any idea when the next transfer bonus window will be? I got AMEX Platinum for the 100k sign on bonus, have used the $200 airline rebate, and thus have no real use for it anymore. BA seems to be the best transfer option but I'd like to get the bonus miles.
Mar 2, 2015, 2:28 pm
#81
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
Why not just open a no-fee Amex Everyday? Then you can cancel the Platinum and keep your MR points until you have a use for them (or until there's a transfer bonus, if you want).
Mar 4, 2015, 11:38 am
#82
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 62
You should consider leaving it open until January 2016. You'll be able to qualify for an additional $200 airline credit at that point. When you cancel (or downgrade to the Everyday card), AMEX may refund a prorated amount of your $450 annual fee.
Mar 22, 2015, 2:47 am
#83
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
How come I can't add Krisflyer as a transfer partner? When I click on "enroll" on the Amex website, it just takes me to the Singapore Airlines home page.
Mar 22, 2015, 7:51 am
#84
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Mar 22, 2015, 8:35 am
#85
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
Mar 22, 2015, 10:53 am
#86
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
My attempt to link my Aeroplan account has been stuck on "transfer in progress" for 48 hours now (this is just linking, not transferring actual points). Amex customer support, after 3 hours, has not been able to help, and instead cited that their Aeroplan liason says the servers are having issues.
My LH F seats I wanted have already disappeared.
Does anyone know what is going on / has had a similar issue?
My LH F seats I wanted have already disappeared.
Does anyone know what is going on / has had a similar issue?
Mar 26, 2015, 11:50 am
#87
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 169
Question for the experts: I have accumulated almost a million MR points, never redeemed one. If I want to use my MR points to fly ATL-CUN (likely Delta, unless someone else flies direct), what would be the best redemption strategy?
Mar 26, 2015, 12:03 pm
#88
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
It is possible you might be able to find something requiring fewer miles by going through other channels, but won't be nonstop and will require quite a bit more work and may not be on the exact dates you want.
Apr 14, 2015, 12:26 pm
#89
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 108
My annual fee is due next month and I want to close the card. However, I have 40,000 points available in my account.
I'm not sure about my travel plans in the coming year and have no preference towards a specific program. Which airline/hotel should I transfer my points to? Should I transfer it to the program that offers the best value?
Thanks a lot in advance!
I'm not sure about my travel plans in the coming year and have no preference towards a specific program. Which airline/hotel should I transfer my points to? Should I transfer it to the program that offers the best value?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Apr 14, 2015, 12:28 pm
#90
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Why not open a free Everyday card to preserve your rewards balance until you need it?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...day-cards.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...day-cards.html