American Express Membership Rewards points are a favorite among travel enthusiasts, and for good reason. Their incredible flexibility stems largely from the program’s extensive network of Transfer Partners American Express offers. Whether your dream is a luxurious first-class flight to an exotic destination or a comfortable hotel stay closer to home, understanding transfer partners American Express provides is key to maximizing your rewards.
With access to 18 airline and three hotel partners, American Express Membership Rewards opens up a world of redemption possibilities. These partnerships allow you to convert your points into miles or hotel points with various loyalty programs, often unlocking significantly greater value than direct redemptions. Let’s explore everything you need to know about transfer partners American Express, and how to leverage them for your next adventure.
Earning American Express Membership Rewards Points: Your Gateway to Travel
Before diving into the world of transfer partners American Express, it’s crucial to understand how to accumulate Membership Rewards points. The foundation of this rewards ecosystem lies in American Express’s diverse range of eligible credit cards.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYSeveral popular Membership Rewards-earning cards currently offer generous welcome bonuses.
Here are some of the most popular cards that allow you to earn valuable Membership Rewards points:
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel card renowned for its benefits and earning potential. New cardholders can often take advantage of substantial welcome bonuses, making it a fast track to accumulating a large points balance.
Earning Points:
- 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- 1x point on all other eligible purchases
Annual Fee: $695 (see rates and fees)
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American Express Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card is a popular choice for everyday spending, particularly for dining and groceries. Its bonus categories align with common expenses, making it easy to rack up Membership Rewards points quickly.
Earning Points:
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
- 2x points on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
- 1x point on other eligible purchases
Annual Fee: $325 (see rates and fees)
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express caters to business owners and frequent travelers, offering enhanced rewards for business-related spending and travel booked through Amex Travel.
Earning Points:
- 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- 1.5x points in select business categories and on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year, then 1x)
- 1x point on other eligible purchases
Annual Fee: $695 (see rates and fees)
American Express Business Gold Card
American Express® Business Gold Card provides flexible bonus categories tailored to business spending habits, allowing businesses to maximize rewards in their highest spending areas.
Earning Points:
- 4x points on the top two eligible spending categories each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 combined purchases per calendar year, then 1x)
- 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
- 1x point on other eligible purchases
Annual Fee: $375 (see rates and fees)
American Express Green Card
American Express® Green Card is a more accessible option with a lower annual fee, still offering solid rewards on dining, travel, and transit, making it a great entry point into the Membership Rewards program.
Earning Points:
- 3x points on dining at restaurants worldwide, takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 3x points on travel and transit
- 1x point on other eligible purchases
Annual Fee: $150
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Discovering American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
Once you’ve accumulated a stash of Membership Rewards points, the real magic begins with transfer partners American Express offers. These partnerships are the key to unlocking potentially outsized value for your points. American Express boasts a robust portfolio of transfer partners American Express, including 18 airlines and three hotel chains, giving you diverse options for redeeming your rewards.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYSAmerican Express has 18 airline and three hotel transfer partners. These partners include at least one useful option in each major airline alliance: SkyTeam, Star Alliance and Oneworld.
These transfer partners American Express span across all three major airline alliances – SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld – ensuring you have access to a wide global network for flight redemptions.
American Express Airline Transfer Partners:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Related: Best frequent flyer programs for US travelers
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYThere are also three hotel transfer partner options:
In addition to airlines, transfer partners American Express also includes a selection of hotel programs, providing flexibility for accommodation rewards.
American Express Hotel Transfer Partners:
- Choice Privileges
- Hilton Honors
- Marriott Bonvoy
Related: Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
Alt text: List of American Express hotel transfer partners: Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, highlighting hotel loyalty program options.
Transferring Membership Rewards Points: A Step-by-Step Guide
Transferring your Membership Rewards points to transfer partners American Express is a straightforward process. To begin, ensure you have an active and eligible American Express card account. You’ll then need to link your Membership Rewards account to each partner loyalty program you wish to use.
Points transfers are typically processed in increments of 1,000, with a minimum transfer of 1,000 points. Keep in mind a few important considerations when transferring:
- Transfers are irreversible: Once you transfer points to a partner, the transaction cannot be undone. Confirm your redemption plans before transferring.
- Name Matching is Crucial: The name on your American Express account must precisely match the name on your partner loyalty program account to ensure successful transfers.
- Authorized Users: You can transfer points to your own loyalty accounts or those of authorized users who have been on your account for at least 90 days.
- Excise Tax Offset Fee: Transfers to U.S. frequent flyer programs (Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue) incur a small federal excise tax offset fee of 6 cents per 100 points (or 60 cents per 1,000 points), up to a maximum of $99.
American Express occasionally offers bonus promotions on transfers to select transfer partners American Express, which can further enhance the value of your points. It’s always worth checking for these bonuses before making a transfer.
Related: How to transfer credit card rewards to partner programs
Maximizing Value with American Express Transfer Partners
The true power of transfer partners American Express lies in the potential to maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points. Unlike fixed-value redemptions, transferring to partners allows you to leverage the award charts of airlines and hotels, often yielding significantly higher redemption values, especially for premium cabin travel.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYSWith so many different options, deciding where to transfer your Membership Rewards points can be difficult. The great thing about transferable points is that you can keep them in your Amex account until you decide where and when to transfer them.
A key advantage of transferable points programs like Membership Rewards is the flexibility they offer. You can hold onto your points until you identify a specific and valuable redemption opportunity with a transfer partner American Express, rather than being locked into a single program.
For instance, transferring points to airline partners like ANA Mileage Club or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer can unlock incredible value for long-haul business class or first-class flights, often at significantly lower point costs compared to booking directly with Amex Travel or other fixed-value options.
Related: Best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points: From business class flights to Europe to Hawaii
Alt text: Person holding American Express Platinum card, highlighting the flexibility and travel rewards potential of Membership Rewards points.
Conclusion: Unlock Your Travel Dreams with American Express Transfer Partners
American Express Membership Rewards points are undeniably among the most valuable rewards currencies available, and their extensive network of transfer partners American Express is a primary driver of this value. The flexibility to transfer points to a diverse array of airlines and hotels empowers you to strategically redeem for maximum value, turning everyday spending into extraordinary travel experiences.
By understanding how to earn Membership Rewards points and effectively utilize transfer partners American Express, you can unlock a world of travel possibilities, from economy flights to luxurious suites, all while making the most of your rewards. The strategic use of transfer partners American Express is the savvy traveler’s secret weapon for unforgettable journeys.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, click here.
