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)
Jun 22, 2016, 5:08 pm
#481
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO
Posts: 266
My prior post on transfers to 1:0.5 VX as opposed to 1:1 VS. You can clearly see, that it depends on the value of flight you want to redeem.
In this case $52 of MR points can be turned into $69 of VX points if you select the $69 fare and do the direct 1:0.5 transfer to VX.
Even when you account for the 30% bonus, I think a "deal" only depends on the flight that's selected.
Background:
I assume you're referring to the "spend miles" portion of this table on Virgin Atlantic (VS) website. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en...n-america.html
Question:
VX points are $ based. What happens if you want to redeem for a flight that costs more (or less) between the selected destination?
Example:
For example, LAX to SFO is 10k on the table. When you price a flight on VX website for LAX to SFO, it can cost as low as 2,638 points ($69) or as high as 10,208 points ($224).
So to get the 10,000 VS points needed to fly LAX to SFO, you need to transfer 7692 MR points accounting for the 30% bonus. But if you simply want the $69 flight, you only need to transfer 5276 MR points to get 2638 VX points directly.
By going through VS and if you want the cheaper flight option, it's not a good deal, you'd rather just go MR to VX directly.
Background:
I assume you're referring to the "spend miles" portion of this table on Virgin Atlantic (VS) website. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en...n-america.html
Question:
VX points are $ based. What happens if you want to redeem for a flight that costs more (or less) between the selected destination?
Example:
For example, LAX to SFO is 10k on the table. When you price a flight on VX website for LAX to SFO, it can cost as low as 2,638 points ($69) or as high as 10,208 points ($224).
So to get the 10,000 VS points needed to fly LAX to SFO, you need to transfer 7692 MR points accounting for the 30% bonus. But if you simply want the $69 flight, you only need to transfer 5276 MR points to get 2638 VX points directly.
By going through VS and if you want the cheaper flight option, it's not a good deal, you'd rather just go MR to VX directly.
Last edited by mdosu; Jun 22, 2016 at 5:18 pm
Jun 27, 2016, 5:05 pm
#482
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAS
Programs: lots of memberships, not much status
Posts: 22
Currently Sitting on about 245k MRs, and soon to be 100k skymiles. I'm researching airlines for a trip to taipei and tokyo next summer, for me and the SO. Unfortunately, she doesn't play the game much, so it's my points or $$. I'm ok with blowing all my MRs on the flights, and I'll still be able to add plenty of points via regular spend and signup bonuses for the remainder of this year and next.
Based on the award charts and links in this wikipost, and from other threads on here, it looks like my best bets for transferring the points are Aeroplan, Asia Miles, ANA, or SQ. From what I can tell in my first round of rearch, I'm close to having enough points for two people in business class, but I have a ways to go for F. If anyone wants to chime on that sounding about right or completely ludicrous, feel free.
Since this is my first major award redemption, some questions:
1. I'm prepared to put in the work to research this, but are any of these actually straightforward? I'm guessing no.
2. Any favorite airlines (or partners) that you recommend from that list?
3. Any favorite open jaw/stopover additions you'd like to recommend?
Based on the award charts and links in this wikipost, and from other threads on here, it looks like my best bets for transferring the points are Aeroplan, Asia Miles, ANA, or SQ. From what I can tell in my first round of rearch, I'm close to having enough points for two people in business class, but I have a ways to go for F. If anyone wants to chime on that sounding about right or completely ludicrous, feel free.
Since this is my first major award redemption, some questions:
1. I'm prepared to put in the work to research this, but are any of these actually straightforward? I'm guessing no.
2. Any favorite airlines (or partners) that you recommend from that list?
3. Any favorite open jaw/stopover additions you'd like to recommend?
Jul 11, 2016, 4:37 pm
#483
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 480
Hey friends. Thanks for your help on the flights to Japan, just got back last week and it was amazing! Now on to the next one.. Trying to get from San Francisco to Bangkok and/or Chiang Mai on MR points. Economy, I suppose. Any leads on the best place to start? ANA had really high fees.
Jul 11, 2016, 5:38 pm
#484
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 168
Hello,
How long does it take to link a Flying Blue account?
How long does it take to link a Flying Blue account?
Jul 12, 2016, 5:08 am
#485
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403
5 min if that ..
Jul 12, 2016, 7:50 am
#486
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 168
Yeah, my bad. The screen said it would take two weeks to approve, so I thought I had to wait 2 weeks to transfer but I was able to initiate a transfer and discover my points are frozen which is kinda expected.
Jul 18, 2016, 1:17 pm
#487
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 464
Anyone has problem transferring AMEX MR pts (US based) to Emirates ??
Jul 18, 2016, 1:20 pm
#488
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Jul 27, 2016, 7:24 am
#489
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Moderator action
Question about transferring Starpoints has been moved to the appropriate forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...e-program.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...e-program.html
Jul 29, 2016, 6:38 pm
#490
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: MSP
Posts: 165
Hello,
I just started signing up for cards to get miles. I live in a Delta hub (MSP) but would prefer United since their programs and award availability is so much better. I'd like to go businessfirst to AKL, probably through somewhere in Asia.
I have some miles stuck on Delta, but otherwise I use premier rewards gold so I should have 55-60k points soon. I then plan on getting either another non-Delta Amex (like everyday preferred), or more likely will do sapphire or one of the united cards.
Looking at the options to transfer miles from any of those cards to United, it looks like it's either aeroplan, ana or singapore. From what I understand, round trip business from North America to Australia is 160K, 150K and 195K respectively. If I go through United (which means I can't use my Amex points) it's 140K.
I don't have any specific timetable for leaving, probably just whenever I get the miles. I know it's a ways off, but what's the best way to use the Amex portion of my miles to fly on United and its partners to Australia and Asia?
Thanks
I just started signing up for cards to get miles. I live in a Delta hub (MSP) but would prefer United since their programs and award availability is so much better. I'd like to go businessfirst to AKL, probably through somewhere in Asia.
I have some miles stuck on Delta, but otherwise I use premier rewards gold so I should have 55-60k points soon. I then plan on getting either another non-Delta Amex (like everyday preferred), or more likely will do sapphire or one of the united cards.
Looking at the options to transfer miles from any of those cards to United, it looks like it's either aeroplan, ana or singapore. From what I understand, round trip business from North America to Australia is 160K, 150K and 195K respectively. If I go through United (which means I can't use my Amex points) it's 140K.
I don't have any specific timetable for leaving, probably just whenever I get the miles. I know it's a ways off, but what's the best way to use the Amex portion of my miles to fly on United and its partners to Australia and Asia?
Thanks
Aug 3, 2016, 9:43 am
#491
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
Hello,
I just started signing up for cards to get miles. I live in a Delta hub (MSP) but would prefer United since their programs and award availability is so much better. I'd like to go businessfirst to AKL, probably through somewhere in Asia.
I have some miles stuck on Delta, but otherwise I use premier rewards gold so I should have 55-60k points soon. I then plan on getting either another non-Delta Amex (like everyday preferred), or more likely will do sapphire or one of the united cards.
Looking at the options to transfer miles from any of those cards to United, it looks like it's either aeroplan, ana or singapore. From what I understand, round trip business from North America to Australia is 160K, 150K and 195K respectively. If I go through United (which means I can't use my Amex points) it's 140K.
I don't have any specific timetable for leaving, probably just whenever I get the miles. I know it's a ways off, but what's the best way to use the Amex portion of my miles to fly on United and its partners to Australia and Asia?
Thanks
I just started signing up for cards to get miles. I live in a Delta hub (MSP) but would prefer United since their programs and award availability is so much better. I'd like to go businessfirst to AKL, probably through somewhere in Asia.
I have some miles stuck on Delta, but otherwise I use premier rewards gold so I should have 55-60k points soon. I then plan on getting either another non-Delta Amex (like everyday preferred), or more likely will do sapphire or one of the united cards.
Looking at the options to transfer miles from any of those cards to United, it looks like it's either aeroplan, ana or singapore. From what I understand, round trip business from North America to Australia is 160K, 150K and 195K respectively. If I go through United (which means I can't use my Amex points) it's 140K.
I don't have any specific timetable for leaving, probably just whenever I get the miles. I know it's a ways off, but what's the best way to use the Amex portion of my miles to fly on United and its partners to Australia and Asia?
Thanks
Then you could book the return flight using UA miles transferred from your CSP.
Aug 3, 2016, 12:52 pm
#492
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: MSP
Posts: 165
You'll need to get at least 75k MR points to be able to use them towards this trip (a oneway UA J ticket through Singapore). However, before transferring you might price out the fuel surcharges imposed by Aeroplan and Singapore. I believe SQ collects fuel surcharges on United flights whereas Aeroplan does not. With Aeroplan it's easy to price out a potential itinerary online; with SQ you'd need to call them up and see if they'll give you the taxes/fees on a hypothetical ticket that you don't have enough miles to purchase. Search Aeroplan first to identify UA availability and see what they charge in cash, then call SQ and feed them the specific flight details you found. It might be worth paying the extra 5k (oneway) miles on Aeroplan.
Then you could book the return flight using UA miles transferred from your CSP.
Then you could book the return flight using UA miles transferred from your CSP.
The route was MSP-EZE, EZE-SCL, SCL-MSP going through Houston. It was the same mileage on United and Aeroplan, and there was decent award availability. The total fee on Aeroplan was $176 - I haven't checked what it would be on United. But as you said there was no fuel surcharge.
For some reason, the first time I did this multi-city on United, it had an option for 27.5k miles instead of 55k miles on the first leg, but after I ran it again it disappeared. Is that just a bug? I took a screenshot:
Aug 3, 2016, 3:56 pm
#493
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
It was allocating 27.5k for the MSP-EZE leg, and then it would have charged you another 27.5k for the EZE-SCL leg (since MSP-EZE-SCL is 55k total), and then 55k for SCL-MSP return.
Aug 3, 2016, 9:41 pm
#494
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 728
am I correct that with the AA to SPG promo that 120k MR would net 60k SPG which would then provide 90k AA?