Ready to redeem your Membership Rewards points for maximum value? Here is your tutorial on how to transfer American Express points to travel partners.
Step 1: Navigate to your AmEx Membership Rewards Portal
Before transferring your points, you first need to log into your American Express account. Once you are logged in, navigate to the credit card whose points you want to transfer. The credit card homepage looks like the image below.
Once you see this screen, click on “Explore Rewards” in the bottom right.
Once you click on “Explore Rewards” you will see the rewards homepage. This is where you can view all the categories and how you’ve earned your points. You can also view your card benefits from here as well. However, to transfer points you’ll want to click on “Earn and Redeem” in the top blue navigation bar.
Then click on “Transfer Points.”
Step 2: Select the airline or hotel you want to transfer your points to
The next screen shows you all the transfer partners available. You can sort by airline, hotel, and offers. Or, you can just stay on the main screen and view them all in one place. You’ll definitely want to make note of the offers section because that is where you will see the limited-time transfer bonuses.
Transfer bonuses are incredibly valuable as they mean you’ll earn extra points on top of what you are transferring from AmEx. For example, when I was writing this blog, AmEx had a transfer bonus to Hawaiian Airlines where if you transfer 1000 membership rewards points you’d actually receive 1200 Hawaiian miles.
Transfer bonuses are a great way to gain even more value from your points. I capitalized on a transfer bonus opportunity to fly to Amsterdam for fewer Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Step 3: Insert your account information, review, and transfer your AmEx points
When you find the airline or hotel you want to transfer your points to, you’ll receive one of two prompts. First, is to add your loyalty account information with that travel company (i.e. your Hilton account information). If you do not have an existing loyalty account with the travel company you want to transfer to, then you’ll select the “click here” option to set up your account.
One of my lessons learned is that you should sign up for the airline and hotel programs ASAP! They are free to join and then when you’re ready to transfer points to those programs you’ll be set and ready to go!
Once you are enrolled and inserted your account information you’ll see the following window. Here is where you can either directly type in how many points you want to transfer or you can use the slider. Once you insert the amount you want to transfer, click “Review Transfer.”
Last, you’ll be brought to this screen where you’ll review the amount you want to transfer and see how many points you’ll have left once the transfer is complete. If you’re happy and everything is correct then select “Submit Transfer.”
Once you click “Submit Transfer” you’re all set. That’s all it takes to transfer American Express points to travel partners.
Final thoughts
Most airlines and hotels will transfer immediately. In my experience Delta, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and Hilton were all immediate transfers. There are a few that have longer transfer times like:
- Aeromexico
- ANA
- Avianca (>1 hour)
- Cathay Pacific
- Iberia
- Singapore KrisFlyer
