American Express Membership Rewards is one of the most valuable points currencies available, largely because of its extensive list of transfer partners. With 21 airline and hotel partners, you can book flights on nearly any alliance and stays at thousands of properties worldwide.
Here’s everything you need to know about Amex transfer partners in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- 21 transfer partners — 18 airlines and 3 hotels
- Most transfers are 1:1 — Some exceptions like JetBlue (1:0.8) and Hilton (1:2)
- Transfers are instant — Most complete within minutes
- Points don’t expire — As long as your account is open
- Transfer bonuses happen regularly — 20-40% bonuses several times per year
Amex Airline Transfer Partners
Star Alliance Partners
Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1) One of the best Amex transfer partners. Aeroplan offers:
- No fuel surcharges on most partner awards
- Generous stopover rules
- Family sharing for points
- Sweet spots to Europe and Asia on partner airlines
ANA Mileage Club (1:1) Best for booking ANA’s legendary first and business class:
- Round-trip awards only (no one-ways)
- Incredible availability on ANA metal
- First class to Japan for 110,000-120,000 miles RT
- Book via phone for partner awards
Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1) Great for Singapore Airlines premium cabins and Star Alliance:
- Singapore Suites availability is rare but incredible
- Useful for United partner awards without fuel surcharges
- Good stopover options
Avianca LifeMiles (1:1) Underrated Star Alliance option:
- No fuel surcharges
- One-way awards available
- Often has availability others don’t
- Mixed-cabin awards allowed
SkyTeam Partners
Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1) Excellent for SkyTeam redemptions:
- Promo Rewards sales offer 25-50% off monthly
- Good availability to Europe
- No fuel surcharges on some partners
- Useful for Delta awards without Delta pricing
Delta SkyMiles (1:1) Convenient but rarely the best value:
- Dynamic pricing means unpredictable costs
- Best for last-minute domestic availability
- Use for Delta-specific routes
- SkyMiles don’t expire
AeroMexico Club Premier (1:1.6) The BEST transfer ratio in the Amex portfolio:
- 1,000 Amex = 1,600 AeroMexico points
- Useful for SkyTeam partner awards
- Can book Delta flights
Oneworld Partners
British Airways Avios (1:1) Versatile currency we covered in detail:
- Great for short-haul flights
- Books AA, Alaska, and Oneworld partners
- Distance-based pricing favors short flights
- See our full Avios guide
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1) Solid for Oneworld premium cabin awards:
- Good availability on Cathay flights
- Can book JAL, Qantas, and other Oneworld
- Reasonable fuel surcharges on most routes
Iberia Plus (1:1) Often overlooked Avios alternative:
- Same currency as British Airways (Avios)
- Sometimes better pricing on Iberia routes
- Off-peak discounts to Spain
- Can transfer between BA and Iberia
Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1) Best for flights to/within Australia:
- Extensive Oneworld partner access
- Good Emirates availability (note: status now required for first class)
- Classic Flight Rewards offer set pricing
Other Airline Partners
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1) Excellent niche partner:
- Books Delta One at good rates
- ANA redemptions at sweet spot pricing
- No fuel surcharges on many partners
- Points never expire
Emirates Skywards (1:1) Best for Emirates premium cabins:
- First class suites and lounges
- Fifth-freedom routes from US
- Partner awards on Qantas, JAL, Korean
Etihad Guest (1:1) Good for Middle East routing:
- Access to Etihad Apartments (A380 first)
- Partner awards on ANA, AA
- Sometimes better pricing than alternatives
Hawaiian Miles (1:1) Niche but useful:
- Great for inter-island Hawaii flights
- Direct flights from US to Hawaii
- Limited partner options
JetBlue TrueBlue (1:0.8) Worst transfer ratio, but still useful:
- 1,000 Amex = 800 JetBlue points
- Good for Mint business class
- Transatlantic flights to London/Paris
- Caribbean routes
Amex Hotel Transfer Partners
Hilton Honors (1:2)
Transfer ratio: 1,000 Amex = 2,000 Hilton points
At first glance, this looks great — you’re doubling your points! But Hilton points are worth ~0.5 cents each, while Amex points are worth ~2 cents. So you’re actually losing value:
- 1,000 Amex (
$20 value) → 2,000 Hilton ($10 value)
When it makes sense: Only if you need a small top-off for a specific redemption. Generally avoid this transfer.
Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
Transfer ratio: 1,000 Amex = 1,000 Marriott points
Similar math problem:
- Marriott points worth ~0.7 cents each
- You’re getting $7 value for $20 worth of Amex
When it makes sense: Rarely. Only for aspirational properties or if you need a top-off.
Choice Privileges (1:1)
Transfer ratio: 1,000 Amex = 1,000 Choice points
Choice points are worth ~0.6 cents. Same story — poor value.
When it makes sense: Almost never.
Best Uses of Amex Points
Based on the transfer partners above, here are the highest-value redemptions:
1. ANA First Class via Virgin Atlantic
- Round trip US → Japan in ANA First: 110,000-120,000 Virgin Atlantic miles
- Value: $20,000+ flights for ~$2,200 worth of points
2. Delta One via Virgin Atlantic
- Transatlantic business class: 50,000 miles one-way
- Often better availability than booking through Delta
3. Aeroplan for Partner Awards
- No fuel surcharges on United, Lufthansa, etc.
- Europe business class: 70,000 points one-way
4. AeroMexico for the 1.6x Bonus
- 60,000 Amex = 96,000 AeroMexico points
- Books SkyTeam partners at good rates
5. Flying Blue Promo Rewards
- Watch for monthly sales
- Europe round trip business class from 72,000 miles
Current Transfer Bonuses (March 2026)
Transfer bonuses come and go. Current offers:
- Virgin Atlantic: 30% bonus from Citi (not Amex currently)
- Check regularly: Amex typically offers 20-40% bonuses quarterly
Pro tip: Set up alerts at Frequent Miler or The Points Guy for transfer bonus notifications.
How to Transfer Amex Points
- Log into your American Express account
- Go to Membership Rewards
- Select “Transfer Points”
- Choose your partner program
- Enter the amount to transfer
- Confirm — most transfers are instant
Important: You need a card that earns transferable Membership Rewards:
- Amex Platinum
- Amex Gold
- Amex Green
- Amex Business Platinum
- Amex Business Gold
- Amex EveryDay Preferred
The basic Blue Cash cards and no-annual-fee cards typically don’t have transfer access.
Transfer Partner Strategy Tips
Don’t Transfer Speculatively
Only transfer when you have a specific redemption in mind and have confirmed award availability. Once transferred, points are stuck in that program.
Check All Options
The same flight might be bookable through multiple partners at different rates. A United flight could be booked via:
- Aeroplan
- LifeMiles
- Singapore KrisFlyer
- Turkish Miles & Smiles (not an Amex partner, but consider other currencies)
Avoid Hotel Transfers
The math almost never works. Keep points flexible or use for flights.
Stack Transfer Bonuses
When a 30-40% bonus hits, that’s the time to transfer — if you have a redemption ready.
Amex vs Chase vs Other Programs
How does Amex compare to other transfer programs?
Amex advantages:
- More partners (21 vs Chase’s 14)
- AeroMexico 1.6x bonus
- Direct Emirates, Etihad access
- Hilton/Marriott transfers (if needed)
Chase advantages:
- Hyatt (not an Amex partner) — best hotel transfer
- United as direct partner
- Southwest (domestic)
Bottom line: Both programs are valuable. Many serious points collectors earn both.
Bottom Line
Amex Membership Rewards offers incredible flexibility with 21 transfer partners spanning all three major airline alliances plus key hotel programs. The best value comes from airline transfers, particularly to ANA, Virgin Atlantic, Aeroplan, and Flying Blue.
Avoid hotel transfers unless absolutely necessary — you’ll get significantly more value from flights.
Keep your points flexible until you find a specific redemption, watch for transfer bonuses, and always confirm availability before transferring.
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