Amex Transfer Partners Airlines Points Cash Value Comparison

American Express transfer partners offer a wide range of airlines to choose from, making it easier to redeem points for flights.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles can be transferred from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, providing a valuable option for travelers.

With some airlines offering significantly higher cash values than others, it's essential to compare the options to maximize your points' worth.

For example, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are worth around 2.2 cents per point when redeemed for flights in the Asia region.

Membership Rewards is a powerful tool in your Amex arsenal, but it's essential to use it wisely. Don't transfer points until high-value awards are available and you're ready to book them, as transfers are one-way only.

Transferring points to a friend's loyalty account is possible, but it requires adding them as an authorized user or employee to one of your Membership Rewards accounts. This can take up to 90 days, so plan ahead.

Some Amex cards don't allow direct point transfers, but having at least one transferable credit card account is a must. The Blue Business Plus and Amex EveryDay cards are great options, as they don't charge a fee.

You can transfer Membership Rewards points to foreign airlines for free, but transfers to US airlines come with an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, capped at $99.

Here are some key American Express transfer partners to keep in mind:

American Express frequently offers transfer bonuses, which can boost your miles by 20% to 50% or more. Keep an eye out for these limited-time offers to maximize your rewards.

Transferring points to a hotel loyalty program can be a great way to redeem your points, but be aware that some programs have transfer ratios that aren't 1:1. For example, transferring 1,000 points to JetBlue would get you 800 TrueBlue points.

The Amex Business Platinum card offers a way to pay for travel with points and get a higher value, up to 1.5 cents per point or more on certain flights.

Amex has more than 20 transfer partners, which is the largest stable of airline and hotel partners out there.

You can transfer your Amex points to these partners, but it's not as simple as redeeming your points through a travel portal.

Amex has more transfer partners than similar points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, or Citi ThankYou Points.

It's worth noting that some of these partners are more valuable than others, but we'll cover that in a future post.

With more than 20 options, keeping track of all the different transfer partners can feel like a full-time job, but don't worry, we've got you covered.

Transfer partners are a key part of maximizing the value of your Amex points. With a vast array of airline partners to choose from, you can turn your points into flights on over 20 different airlines. One of the most valuable transfer partners is British Airways Avios, which offers a 1:1 transfer ratio and can be used to book flights on airlines like Qatar Airways and American Airlines.

Some other notable transfer partners include Emirates Skywards, which offers a 1:1 transfer ratio and can be used to book flights on Emirates and its partners, and Iberia Airlines, which offers some of the cheapest business class flights in the world using miles. With Iberia, you can book business class flights to and from Madrid for as low as 34,000 miles each way.

Here are some of the best transfer partners to consider:

These transfer partners offer a great way to turn your Amex points into flights on some of the world's best airlines. By choosing the right partner and using your points strategically, you can get the most value out of your points and enjoy a luxurious flight experience.

Delta SkyMiles can be a useful transfer partner, especially for flights to/from locations other than the U.S. or Canada, where Delta no longer charges change or cancellation fees on awards originating in North America.

If you're looking to fly Emirates, Emirates Skywards is a 1 to 1 transfer partner, but be aware that fuel surcharges can be extremely steep.

Etihad Guest is another useful transfer partner, offering a distance based award chart for flying Etihad and its partners, which can offer good value for expensive but short-distance flights.

Finnair Plus+ is also a useful transfer partner, with points that can be moved to/from other Avios programs, offering zone based award charts rather than distance based.

JetBlue points offer the most value when cheap ticket prices are available and when award taxes are high relative to the overall cost of the ticket.

Here are some of the best uses for each of these transfer partners:

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is a great program to consider, offering a 1 to 1 transfer ratio from Membership Rewards, and allowing you to book flights with Star Alliance airlines like United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines itself.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is another underrated transfer partner, with some great sweet spots and fewer points required than many other programs.

Virgin Atlantic is part of SkyTeam and partners with airlines like Delta, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Australia, and All Nippon Airways (ANA), making it a great option for booking flights to Europe or Asia.

The British Avios Option is a great way to utilize your Amex points, offering a 1:1 transfer ratio to British Airways Avios. This partnership is particularly valuable for booking Qatar Airways QSuites, either directly through British Airways or by transferring to Qatar Airways Avios.

You can also redeem Avios on US-originating flights with American Airlines to avoid high fuel surcharge fees. Additionally, British Airways Avios can be used to book Aer Lingus Business Class and Japan Airlines Business Class, although taxes and fees may be higher.

To make the most of this option, consider linking your British Airways Prestige Club and Qatar Airways Prestige Club Accounts, allowing your British Airways Avios to transfer 1:1 to Qatar Airways Avios.

Some great uses of British Airways Avios include booking U.S. domestic nonstop hops on American or Alaska for 12,000 Avios one-way, West Coast U.S. to Hawaii for 20,000 Avios on nonstop American or Alaska flights, and East Coast U.S. to Dublin, Ireland in Aer Lingus economy starting at 13,000 Avios one-way.

Here are some specific redemption options to consider:

Keep in mind that Amex points transfer instantly to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio, making it a convenient option for redeeming your points.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is a great program for booking award flights on American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Qantas, but it's less ideal for airlines with fuel surcharges like British Airways and Qatar Airways.

It's worth noting that Cathay Pacific Asia Miles offers a fixed flight award chart, a rare feature in today's loyalty programs, which can be particularly useful for my parents, who live in Hong Kong and use it to fly back and forth for 38,000 Asia Miles.

Some great uses of Asia Miles include round-the-world business class trips, long-haul Cathay Pacific itineraries greater than 7,501 miles, one-way awards in business class with partner airlines, and short-haul flights on Alaska Airlines.

Here are some specific award prices to consider:

Transfers from Membership Rewards to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are at a 1:1 ratio and usually post instantly, though within nine hours at other times.

American Express has a vast network of airline transfer partners, with over 20 airlines to choose from. This includes popular carriers like Delta, JetBlue, British Airways, and more.

Some airlines offer a 1:1 transfer ratio, such as Aer Lingus, Air France/KLM, and Cathay Pacific. Others, like JetBlue, transfer at a rate of 1.25:1.

Here's a list of some of the airline transfer partners offered by American Express:

Bilt Rewards also offers a range of airline transfer partners, including United Airlines, World of Hyatt, and Alaska Airlines, all with a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Delta SkyMiles is a great option for traveling within North America, especially within the US, where flights cost as low as 6,000 points and $6 USD in fees. Delta is a partner airline to WestJet, offering many domestic Canadian flights and transborder routes to and from Canada and the US.

One of the unique features of Delta SkyMiles is its variable pricing system, which means that booking flights with Delta miles can be a great deal one day and a bad option the next. For example, a roundtrip ticket from New York to Paris in October costs 66,000 miles in economy, but the Delta One price is laughably bad.

If you're looking to transfer Amex points to Delta, you can do so instantly at a 1:1 ratio, but be aware that Amex charges an excise tax of $0.0006 per point on transfers, which is a terrible value and should be covered with your credit card.

Delta SkyMiles can also be used to book flights on partner airlines like WestJet, and with its partnership with WestJet, you can unlock some of WestJet's destinations to and from Canadian airports. Additionally, Delta Business Class can be a great option for international travel, offering a luxurious experience.

Here are some examples of great uses of Delta SkyMiles:

Overall, Delta SkyMiles can be a great option for travelers, especially those looking to explore the US or Canada, but it's essential to understand its variable pricing system and transfer fees to maximize its value.

Etihad Guest can be a bit of a challenge to earn points with, especially in Canada, where it's hard to get flights out of Toronto-Pearson International Airport.

The points transfer ratio is 4:3, which means that 1 MR point yields 0.75 Etihad Guest points.

Etihad Guest has a network of partners, including American Airlines and Brussels Airlines, which can be useful for booking flights.

However, the program is pretty terrible for booking flights on Etihad itself, and the award chart changes have removed a lot of the value.

If you're interested in flying Oman Air first class, Etihad miles are one way to do so, but be prepared to pay a whopping 107,000 Etihad Guest miles for a one-way ticket.

You'll need to call the Etihad Guest service center to book partner award flights, and you'll have to do it at least 24 hours before departure.

Transferring Amex points to Etihad Guest is a 1:1 ratio, although transfers can be delayed, and it's always a good idea to check on the status of your transfer.

Canada Aeroplan is a powerhouse loyalty program that offers incredible value for your points. Air Canada has the most flights to and from all major Canadian airports, and you can fly with Air Canada's partner airlines using your Aeroplan points.

Air Canada Aeroplan is one of the most valuable points currencies, and it consistently ranks as one of the top transfer partners for Membership Rewards points. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1 MR point will yield 1 Aeroplan point.

With Aeroplan, you can book flights to destinations all around the world, including Europe, Hawaii, and more. Business class to Europe on Star Alliance carriers is a great use of your points, and you can even fly Etihad business or first class.

Some quality uses of Aeroplan points include flying business class to Europe, flying Etihad business or first class, short-haul domestic flights on United within the continental U.S., and flying to Hawaii from the U.S. West Coast on United for just 12,500 Aeroplan points.

Aeroplan has made some changes to its award program in recent years, including the elimination of carrier surcharges on partner awards. However, this was paired with a new partner award fee, and prices are generally reasonable.

Here are some key Aeroplan award prices to keep in mind:

Overall, Canada Aeroplan is a great loyalty program that offers a lot of value for your points. With its 1:1 transfer ratio from Membership Rewards, you can unlock amazing travel experiences with Air Canada and its partner airlines.

Air France and KLM's Flying Blue program is worth considering, especially if you're flying to Europe. With their monthly promo rewards, you can get up to 50% off award tickets, making it a great way to use your points.

Flying Blue points transfer at a ratio of 4:3 from Membership Rewards, which might not seem great, but their promo rewards can make it worthwhile. For example, if you transfer some points and take advantage of a 25-50% discount, the effective transfer ratio becomes 1:1-1.25.

One of the best things about Flying Blue is their availability of award flights, especially in business class. You can often find business class seats bookable for just 50,000 miles each way.

Here are some of the airline and hotel programs you can transfer your Bilt points to, including Air France/KLM Flying Blue, which has a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Aer Lingus AerClub is part of the Avios family, which means you can use your Aer Lingus Avios to book flights through Avios.com. You can also transfer Avios between Aer Lingus, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and British Airways Avios programs.

One of the best ways to use AerClub Avios is for Aer Lingus' own flights, which can be a great value. For example, you can fly from the U.S. East Coast to Ireland for as few as 13,000 Avios one-way in economy on off-peak dates. Similarly, you can fly from the rest of the U.S. to Ireland for 16,250 Avios one-way in economy on off-peak dates.

Business class flights start at 50,000 Avios one-way, which is a great value considering the cash cost of a business-class ticket can be as high as $800. However, booking through Aer Lingus can sometimes reduce the cash cost of a round-trip business-class itinerary from $800 to around $250.

Here are some specific redemption options for Aer Lingus AerClub:

Taxes and fees start around $115 one-way in economy, but booking through Aer Lingus can sometimes save you money compared to booking through British Airways.

Aeromexico Rewards can be a confusing program since its awards are priced in kilometers instead of miles.

You'll need to divide their award prices by 1.6 to get an accurate comparison to other airlines' award programs.

Aeromexico Rewards isn't usually great for most tickets, with flights from the U.S. to Europe costing around 45,000 to 85,000 Membership Rewards points one way.

High fuel surcharges apply for Aeromexico-, Air France-, and KLM-operated flights.

The best business-class options are from Mexico City to Europe for just over 100,000 Membership Rewards points, plus over $400 in taxes, fees, and surcharges.

Amex transfers to Aeromexico are typically instant, but there's little upside to Aeromexico's program compared to Flying Blue.

Aeromexico Rewards has discontinued its Round-the-World tickets, which previously allowed you to fly to up to 15 destinations.

If you have The Business Platinum Card from American Express, you'll get a 35% points rebate on business- and first-class tickets booked through Amex Travel.

All Nippon Mileage Club offers great value for round-trip itineraries on Star Alliance carriers. You can expect to pay $400+ for round-trip business-class fees on ANA and partners like Lufthansa and Singapore.

For those with fewer miles available, ANA's award pricing is hard to beat. Round-trip awards from the U.S. to Europe cost just 55,000 miles in economy and 100,000 miles in business class.

Taxes on United flights to Europe typically run between $50 and $250. This can be a significant savings compared to other airlines.

Other great uses of ANA miles include United flights from the U.S. to South Africa in business class for 130,000 milesTurkish Airlines flights from the U.S. to Turkey in business class for 100,000 milesAir New Zealand flights from the U.S. to New Zealand in business class for 145,000 miles

Keep in mind that prices vary, but the lowest prices are off-peak awards for ANA's own flights.

Avianca LifeMiles offers some great options for travel on Star Alliance carriers like United, Air Canada, and Lufthansa. This can save you hundreds of dollars compared to booking the same flights with Aeroplan, ANA, or Singapore miles.

Avianca does not pass on fuel surcharges from partner airlines, which can be a huge money-saver. For example, booking a mixed-cabin itinerary on SWISS can save you thousands of miles.

You can choose between economy, business, and first class on a flight-by-flight basis, which is a big advantage over other programs. This flexibility allows you to tailor your travel plans to your budget and preferences.

Avianca also offers discounted rates for mixed-class itineraries, which can be a huge cost-saver. For instance, a mixed-cabin itinerary from San Francisco to Barcelona on SWISS costs 60,240 miles, instead of 63,000 miles to fly the entire route in business.

Membership Rewards transfer to Avianca LifeMiles instantly at a 1:1 ratio, making it a convenient option for earning and redeeming miles. This means you can earn points on your everyday purchases and transfer them to Avianca LifeMiles for travel.

JetBlue TrueBlue is a great option for travelers, especially those with American Express Membership Rewards points. You can transfer points to JetBlue at a 1.25:1 ratio, which means 1,000 Amex points get you 1,250 TrueBlue points.

One of the best things about JetBlue TrueBlue is that there are no blackout dates or award availability restrictions, so you can always use your points if there's a seat for sale. This makes booking flights with TrueBlue points a breeze.

The value of TrueBlue points varies from flight to flight, but on average, you can get 1.24¢ per point. This is a great return on your investment, especially considering the flexibility of the program.

If you're planning to book a flight with JetBlue, it's worth considering whether to transfer points or book through Amex Travel. Transfers from Amex to JetBlue occur at a 250:200 ratio and should post instantly.

Here are some examples of flights you can book with TrueBlue points:

Keep in mind that the points required for each flight will depend on the cash price of the flight, so be sure to check the TrueBlue website for the most up-to-date information.

Qantas Frequent Flyer uses a distance-based award chart, which calculates ticket prices based on the total distance flown, not each segment.

The best value usually comes from short trips, where you'll pay 8,000 points each way for trips under 600 miles and 12,000 points each way for trips between 600 and 1,200 miles.

Qantas prices tend to be higher than other Amex partner airlines for most itineraries.

However, you can find situations where transfers can make sense, especially for short-segment, connecting AA itineraries.

The Qantas website is great at searching for and booking complex itineraries, like travel between small U.S. airports.

Membership Rewards transfers to Qantas post instantly at a 1:1 ratio.

Qatar Privilege Club is a valuable addition to the Amex transfer partners, allowing you to transfer Membership Rewards points directly to the program.

In July 2023, Amex added Qatar Privilege Club as a transfer partner, saving a step in the process.

The Qatar partner award chart largely matches other Avios programs, making it generally unnecessary to consider which program to transfer to for non-BA and non-Qatar awards.

Qatar Privilege Club shines when booking awards on Qatar's own flights, where we've found more award availability for its own members than through partner programs.

Transferring to Qatar Privilege Club can be a convenient option for those looking to redeem points on Qatar flights.

ANA Mileage Club offers great value for round-trip itineraries on Star Alliance carriers like United, Air Canada, and Air New Zealand.

One of the biggest advantages of ANA is its low award pricing, with round-trip economy awards from the U.S. to Europe costing just 55,000 miles.

Other great uses of ANA miles include booking United flights from the U.S. to South Africa in business class for 130,000 miles, Turkish Airlines flights from the U.S. to Turkey in business class for 100,000 miles, and Air New Zealand flights from the U.S. to New Zealand in business class for 145,000 miles.

If you're looking to book ANA flights, consider using Virgin Atlantic points, which can be redeemed for ANA flights at a significantly lower cost.

For example, you can book round-trip flights between the mainland U.S. and Japan for 60,000-65,000 Virgin points in economy, 90,000-95,000 points in business class, or 145,000-170,000 points in first class.

Here are some examples of ANA flight booking values:

Keep in mind that taxes and surcharges may apply, and prices may vary depending on the route and class of service.

Iberia is a great airline to consider for your next trip to Europe. It offers one of the cheapest ways to fly in business class using miles.

You can book Iberia business class to and from Madrid for as low as 34,000 miles each way, which is less than most airlines charge for a one-way ride in economy.

Iberia also offers flights to Spain in economy for half the cost, with prices starting at 17,000 miles each way or 34,000 miles for a roundtrip to Madrid.

Transfers to Iberia can take up to 24 hours to process, so if you're in a hurry to book, you might want to consider transferring points instantly from Membership Rewards to British Airways first.

Iberia participates in the Avios program, which means you can use your Iberia Avios miles to book flights on partner airlines like American Airlines.