Maximize Your Travel Rewards with Credit Card Transfer Partners

We highly value the concept of transferable credit card points at income-partners.net. The advantage of being able to convert your rewards to a diverse array of airline and hotel loyalty programs on demand provides significant flexibility, empowering you to optimize your travel experiences. You aren’t confined to a single redemption system as you plan your adventures. Should you encounter limited seat availability within one program, you retain the option to explore another before committing to any credit card point transfers. Furthermore, in the event a program diminishes the value of its currency unexpectedly, you can pivot to an alternative program for your subsequent point transfer.

With numerous transfer possibilities at your fingertips, it’s understandable that keeping track of all your options can be challenging.

This comprehensive guide simplifies the landscape, detailing which credit card points are transferable to specific airline and hotel programs, along with their respective transfer ratios. We also include our valuation for each transfer partner, ensuring you can extract the maximum value from your diligently accumulated points.

Related: Understanding Points and Miles Value: A Monthly Valuation Guide

Airline Transfer Partners

Transfer Partner Valuation (February 2025) American Express Membership Rewards Bilt Rewards Capital One miles Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Rewards Wells Fargo Rewards
Aer Lingus AerClub (Avios) 1.4 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Aeromexico Rewards Not valued 1:1.6 1:1 1:1
Air Canada Aeroplan 1.5 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Air France-KLM Flying Blue 1.3 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan 1.45 cents 1:1
American Airlines AAdvantage 1.65 cents
All Nippon Airways Mileage Club 1.4 cents 1:1 1:1
Avianca LifeMiles 1.6 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
British Airways Executive Club (Avios) 1.4 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles 1.3 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles 1.2 cents 1:1
Emirates Skywards 1.2 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Etihad Airways Guest 1.2 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands Not valued 4:3 1:1
Finnair Plus (Avios) 1.4 cents 1:1
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles 1.2 cents 1:1
Iberia Plus (Avios) 1.4 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
JetBlue TrueBlue 1.35 cents 250:200 5:3 1:1 1:1
Qantas Frequent Flyer Not valued 1:1 1:1 1:1
Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios) 1.4 cents 1:1 1:1
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer 1.3 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards 1.35 cents 1:1
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go Not valued 1:1 1:1
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Not valued 1:1
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles 1.2 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
United Airlines MileagePlus 1.3 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club 1.4 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Total airline Transfer Partners 18 13 16 11 14 6

Note: Citi ThankYou Rewards points also offer a 1:1 transfer ratio to Virgin Red, encompassing both airlines and hotels.

Several key points are worth noting regarding these transfer partners:

  • Avios as a Common Currency: Notice that Avios points are shared across multiple programs such as Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. This allows for even greater flexibility in using your rewards.
  • Valuation is Key: The TPG valuation provides a benchmark for the approximate value you can expect to receive per point when transferring to each partner. Programs marked as “Not valued” may still offer value depending on specific redemption opportunities, but generally, focus on partners with higher valuations for optimal returns.
  • Transfer Ratios Matter: The transfer ratio indicates how many credit card points are required to receive one point or mile in the partner program. A 1:1 ratio is ideal, meaning one credit card point converts to one partner point or mile. Ratios greater than 1:1 (e.g., 2:1 or 4:3) mean you’ll need to transfer more credit card points to receive the equivalent value in the partner program.

Caption: Stay informed about the latest travel deals and rewards by subscribing to our daily newsletter.

Related: Is Transferring Hotel Points to Airline Partners a Good Idea?

Hotel Transfer Partners

Loyalty Program Valuation (February 2025) American Express Membership Rewards Bilt Rewards Capital One miles Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Rewards Wells Fargo Rewards
ALL — Accor Live Limitless 2.0 cents 3:2 2:1 2:1
Best Western Rewards 0.6 cents 1:2
Choice Privileges 0.6 cents 1:1 1:1 1:2 1:1 1:1
Hilton Honors 0.6 cents 1:2 1:1
IHG One Rewards 0.5 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1
Leaders Club Not valued 5:1 5:1
Marriott Bonvoy 0.85 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Not valued 1:4 1:4
World of Hyatt 1.7 cents 1:1 1:1 1:1
Wyndham Rewards 1.1 cents 1:1 1:1
Total hotel transfer partners 3 5 3 3 5 1

Similar to airline transfers, most hotel partner transfers are typically processed instantly. For more detailed information about transfer times for specific programs, refer to our dedicated guides for Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi.

Caption: The Langham, London, a luxurious hotel bookable with points transferred to hotel partners.

Maximizing Your Transfer Partner Strategy

To truly leverage transfer partners, consider these strategies:

  • Identify Your Travel Goals: Determine your preferred destinations and travel styles. Research which airline and hotel programs align best with your aspirations.
  • Compare Redemption Values: Don’t just focus on transfer ratios. Investigate the actual redemption value you can achieve within each partner program for your desired travel. Sometimes, a slightly less favorable transfer ratio can still yield better overall value due to award chart sweet spots or promotional offers.
  • Stay Updated on Transfer Bonuses: Credit card issuers and loyalty programs occasionally offer transfer bonuses, enhancing the transfer ratio (e.g., a 1:1 transfer becoming 1:1.2 or higher). Keep an eye out for these limited-time opportunities to maximize your points.
  • Hedge Against Devaluations: As loyalty programs can devalue their points or miles with little notice, transferring points only when you have a specific redemption in mind mitigates the risk of your points losing value.
  • Explore Niche Programs: Don’t overlook less mainstream programs. Some smaller or international programs can offer exceptional value for specific routes or destinations that are less competitive than major airlines.

Earning Transferable Points: Credit Card Options

The most effective way to accumulate transferable credit card points is by utilizing the right credit cards. Here’s an overview of leading credit card options for each major transferable points currency:

American Express Membership Rewards

These popular cards accrue American Express Membership Rewards points:

  • American Express Platinum Card
  • American Express Gold Card
  • American Express Green Card

You can also accumulate Amex points through Rakuten by designating Membership Rewards points as your earning preference instead of cash back.

Disclaimer: Information regarding the American Express Green Card is gathered independently by Income-Partners.net. Card details may not be reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bilt Rewards

Bilt features a single credit card, the Bilt Mastercard®. Cardholders earn rewards on rent payments (up to 100,000 Bilt Points annually), 2 points per dollar on travel (airfare, hotels, cruises, and rental cars), and 3 points per dollar on dining. A minimum of five transactions per statement period is required to earn points (refer to rewards and benefits). Notably, the Bilt Mastercard has no annual fee (see rates and fees).

Disclosure: Income-Partners.net may have partnerships or affiliations with Bilt Rewards.

Related: Bilt Rewards Program: A Comprehensive Guide to Earning Points on Rent, Dining, and More

Capital One Miles

These cards currently earn transferable Capital One miles:

  • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Disclaimer: Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business card is collected independently by Income-Partners.net. Card details may not be reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

These cards earn fully transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
  • Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Furthermore, with one of these cards, you can consolidate your rewards from cash-back cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® into a single account. This effectively transforms your cash-back earnings into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi ThankYou Rewards boasts 18 airline and hotel transfer partners. Currently, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is the primary card offering transfers to all these programs. If you still possess the Citi Prestige® Card, which is no longer available to new applicants, you also retain full transfer benefits.

Similar to Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can combine Citi ThankYou Rewards points within a single account for select products. This enables you to convert fixed-value earnings from cards like the Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees) or the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) into fully transferable ThankYou points.

Disclaimer: Information regarding the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by Income-Partners.net. Card details may not be reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Wells Fargo Rewards

While Wells Fargo offers a range of credit cards, including several cash-back options, transferable Wells Fargo Rewards points are currently primarily earned with the following cards:

  • Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
  • Wells Fargo Rewards Card

Conclusion: Unlock Travel Flexibility with Transfer Partners

The five major credit card loyalty programs present a wealth of transfer options. Transferable points generally hold greater value than points or miles within a single airline or hotel program because of the enhanced flexibility they provide. You gain the freedom to strategically choose where and when to allocate your rewards, adapting to your evolving travel needs and maximizing your point value.

Keep this guide bookmarked as a valuable resource for understanding your options when selecting your next transferable points-earning credit card or deciding on your next points redemption.

For Bilt Mastercard rates and fees, click here. For Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits, click here.

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