A credit card on a table

Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partners Explained

Not financial advice. Program rules change, so check the official page before you transfer or book. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by Kevin.

Amex points can go to a long list of airlines and hotels. The mechanics trip people up more than the partner list does, so that's where I'll start.

Eligible cards

Points earned on Amex cards enrolled in Membership Rewards can be transferred, but Amex's terms say redemption options are limited for some legacy cards and for members with only a checking account linked (Amex terms). If you're not sure, look for the transfer option in your account.

How transfers work

From Amex's own FAQ (Amex):

  • You must link your Membership Rewards account to the partner account first.
  • The name on your card must match the partner account.
  • Transfers are final and can't be reversed.
  • The receiving account must be yours or an Additional Card Member's, and that Additional Card has to be issued at least 90 days before linking.

Airline and hotel partners

Amex shows its partner list inside your account, and the big points sites track it closely. Per The Points Guy and NerdWallet, the US list is 16 airlines and four hotels:

Airlines: Aer Lingus AerClub, Aeromexico Rewards, Air Canada Aeroplan, Flying Blue (Air France and KLM), ANA Mileage Club, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Club, Cathay Pacific, Delta SkyMiles, Emirates Skywards, Iberia, JetBlue TrueBlue, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Hotels: Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club.

Most are 1:1. The exceptions to know: Aeromexico gets more than one mile per point, Hilton gets two points per Amex point, while Cathay, Emirates, and JetBlue get fewer, and Leaders Club gets far fewer. Confirm the ratio on Amex's screen before you transfer. Citi's partners are in Citi ThankYou transfer partners and how to use Citi points for JAL business class.

Ratios and the fee on airline transfers

Amex shows each ratio before you confirm. Transfers to a US airline program carry an "excise tax offset fee" of $0.0006 per point, capped at $99 per transfer, charged to your card. On Amex's list that means Delta and JetBlue. Hotel partners and non-US airlines don't get the fee (The Points Guy). If you want to fly Delta, a non-US SkyTeam partner like Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic can sometimes book the same seat without the fee.

Best uses by region

Rather than chase a "best" partner, start with your route:

  • Europe: look at programs that book Star Alliance, oneworld, or SkyTeam carriers to your city, then check which of them Amex transfers to.
  • Asia: same approach, starting with which airlines fly nonstop from your gateway.

Before you transfer

  1. Find the seat on the partner's site.
  2. Confirm the total price, taxes, and surcharges.
  3. Confirm the ratio and any fee on Amex's screen.
  4. Transfer only what you need, then book.

The business-class award walkthrough shows this in order, and the free Starter Points Tracker keeps your balances straight.

Sources

All guides