The Best AmEx Transfer Partners — and Those to Avoid

Want to get the most value from your American Express Membership Rewards® points? Transferring them to one of AmEx’s transfer partners from airline and hotel loyalty programs often delivers significantly better returns than other redemption options. This comprehensive guide breaks down which AmEx transfer partners offer the best value and which ones you should skip.

AmEx points transfer basics

• Transfer ratio: Most partners offer 1:1 transfers (that means 1 AmEx point = 1 partner point).

• Point value: NerdWallet values AmEx points at 1.3 cents each when transferred to partners, so you should aim for at least that value when deciding whether to transfer your points. If your redemption value is below 1 cent per point, then you should consider booking your travel through AmEx’s travel portal.

• Target value: Aim for at least 1.3 cents per point value in your redemptions.

• Avoid: Partners with less than 1:1 transfer ratios unless there's exceptional value.

The best 6 AmEx transfer partners for maximum value

There are six AmEx transfer partners that regularly provide good value. That's not to say the other AmEx transfer partners can't serve you, but do your own calculations to ensure you're getting a good redemption. Most of the time, these seven (listed alphabetically) do provide a great redemption:

1. Air Canada Aeroplan.

2. Air France KLM-Flying Blue.

3. ANA Mileage Club.

4. Avios programs.

5. Delta SkyMiles.

6. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

7. Avianca LifeMiles.

1. Air Canada Aeroplan: Best for Star Alliance flights

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Points value: 1.1 cents each (based on Air Canada economy flights).

Air Canada’s Aeroplan program stands out as one of the most valuable AmEx transfer partners, particularly for premium cabin travel. The program uses a distance-based award chart and provides access to Star Alliance airlines plus numerous non-alliance partners. NerdWallet values Aeroplan points at 1.1 cents each when booking economy flights on Air Canada itself, though there's a good chance you'll score even better value from your Aeroplan points through its partner award chart.

Examples of great uses:

• Lufthansa first class transatlantic flights.

• Star Alliance partner awards.

• Premium cabin redemptions.

Watch out for: Dynamic pricing on United Airlines flights can reduce value. Always calculate your redemption rate before booking.

2. Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Best if you can jump on a promo reward

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Points value: 1.0 cent each (based on Air France economy flights).

Flying Blue miles excel when you take advantage of strategic redemptions and monthly promotions. The program offers discounts up to 50% on select routes through its monthly Promo Rewards.

Best uses:

• Monthly Promo Rewards (up to 50% off).

• Premium cabin bookings.

• SkyTeam alliance partner flights.

• Transfer bonus opportunities from AmEx.

Pro tip: Wait for AmEx transfer bonuses to Flying Blue to maximize your points.

» Learn more: The ultimate guide to Flying Blue

3. ANA Mileage Club: Best for premium travel to Asia

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Major update: Now allows one-way bookings (as of 2025)

ANA Mileage Club, the loyalty program for Japanese airline All Nippon Airways, provides excellent value for Star Alliance bookings, especially for those coveted business and first-class seats.

Best uses:

• ANA business and first class.

• Star Alliance partner awards (United, Lufthansa, Air New Zealand).

• Economy awards with good availability.

Important notes:

• Transfers take 2-4 days (the lack of instant transfers can be irritating).

• Miles expire after 36 months.

• Book popular routes quickly before availability disappears.

4. Avios programs (Aer Lingus AerClub, The British Airways Club, Iberia Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club): Best for flexibility

Transfer ratio: 1:1
Points value: 1.2 cents each (based on British Airways)

Avios is a points currency shared across multiple airlines, including Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways. Members can transfer Avios between the different airline loyalty programs, making it a flexible currency in its own right.

Best uses:

• Short-haul flights (distance-based pricing).

• Transfers between partner programs.

• Finding sweet spots across different award charts.

5. Delta SkyMiles: Best for domestic travel

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Points value: 1.2 cents each.

Despite its reputation for variable pricing, Delta SkyMiles offers genuine value for domestic travelers and via occasional flash sales.

Another quirk of the Delta SkyMiles program is the ability to book basic economy fares using miles. This means you can book cheaper award fares as long as you’re OK with some additional restrictions. This isn’t for everyone, so make sure you’re familiar with the rules of Delta basic economy before booking.

Those who are all in on Delta might consider getting a Delta-branded credit card that offers the TakeOff 15 benefit, which gives you 15% off award travel on Delta-operated flights.

» Learn more: Is a Delta SkyMiles credit card worth it?

6. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer partners with multiple transferable currencies, including American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Citi ThankYou. That makes it easy to amass a large number of points, especially if you’re eyeing a premium cabin redemption on Singapore Airlines itself, such as in one of its incredibly fancy Singapore Suites.

While many people report KrisFlyer transfers to be instant, AmEx cautions that it could take up to 48 hours.

7. Avianca LifeMiles

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Points value: 1.3 cents each.

Avianca LifeMiles offer the best redemption value for an economy ticket of any American Express transfer partner. LifeMiles can provide good value for partner Star Alliance bookings and for transit between North America and South America. However, the website is very clunky and often difficult to navigate for newcomers.

Be prepared once you actually redeem your miles. Especially when booking with another Star Alliance partner, the experience of finding your reservation can often be dicey (and typically involves a phone call with customer service).

Decent AmEx transfer partners

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Transfer ratio: 5:4

Cathay Pacific’s distance-based award chart means that Asia Miles usually work best for shorter flights and Cathay Pacific premium cabin bookings, whether you’re flying on Cathay Pacific or its Oneworld partners.

Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club

Transfer ratio: 4:1

Leading Hotels of the World is a portfolio of over 400 luxury, boutique properties across the globe. While the 4:1 ratio doesn't appear great, Leaders Club points are extremely valuable for high-end stays. However, you'll need a lot of Membership Rewards to make a transfer. A transfer makes the most sense for American Express Platinum Card® holders, who receive complimentary Leaders Club Sterling status (enrollment required), which includes daily breakfast for two and room upgrades, among other benefits. Terms apply.

AmEx transfer partners to avoid

Aeromexico Rewards

Transfer ratio: 1:1.6 (seems good but isn't)

At face value, Aeromexico Rewards may seem like a good transfer partner. After all, you get 1.6 AeroMexico points for every 1 AmEx point transferred. However, it can be needlessly complicated to book an award ticket with Aeromexico, and there aren’t great redemptions to be had. With so many other options to choose from, we’d skip this one.

Choice Privileges

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Choice Privileges can be valuable, but they’re even more so when transferred from Citi ThankYou points. That’s because Citi points transfer at a 1:1.5 ratio for select cards, giving you a 50% boost in the amount of Choice points you’d get compared to transferring from AmEx. If you’re looking for Choice Privileges sweet spots, consider opening a card that earns Citi ThankYou points.

Emirates Skywards

Transfer ratio: 5:4 (you lose 20% of your points)

Point value: 1.0 cent each.

Emirates offers some of the finest experiences in the sky, but its awards are notoriously expensive to book — in terms of points required as well as taxes and fees. It doesn’t help that AmEx points transfer to Emirates Skywards at a 5:4 ratio, meaning you only get 4 Emirates points for every 5 AmEx points transferred.

Hilton Honors

Transfer ratio: 1:2 (looks good on paper)

Point value: 0.4 cent each.

Hilton Honors is another transfer partner that seems great at face value, with the ability to transfer 1 AmEx point for 2 Hilton points. However, factor in that NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.4 cent per point, and you’ll see why it’s not as great of a deal as it seems.

Still, there are ways to boost the value of your Hilton points, such as taking advantage of its fifth-night-free perk for elite status holders, allowing you to book five award nights for the price of four.

» Learn more: The guide to book reward nights with Hilton points

JetBlue TrueBlue

Transfer ratio: 5:4 (you lose points).

JetBlue TrueBlue points transfer at a 5:4 ratio with AmEx. Meanwhile, folks with Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can transfer those to JetBlue at a better 1:1 ratio.

JetBlue redemptions are typically tied to the cash price of the ticket, so you won’t often find outsized value on JetBlue flights. If you do decide to use JetBlue points, you might be able to find better value redeeming points for the airline’s Mint business class seats or flights on one of its partners like Qatar.

Marriott Bonvoy

Transfer ratio: 1:1
Point value: 0.7 cent each.

NerdWallet values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cent per point , which means you'll get better value redeeming AmEx points through the AmEx travel portal at 1 cent per point.

Unless you really need to top off a Marriott points balance for a specific redemption, skip this. Better yet, save your AmEx points and instead boost your Marriott points stash by earning a welcome offer on a new Marriott credit card.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Transfer ratio: 1:1

Qantas Frequent Flyer uses a distance-based award chart that underwent major changes in August 2025, making awards more expensive and less appealing. There weren’t that many great redemption options to begin with, and with the even-higher prices after the devaluation, you’re probably better off skipping this one.

Credit cards that earn AmEx Membership Rewards points

Looking to boost your stash of AmEx Membership Rewards points (or to get started on earning them)? You’ll need to have an eligible AmEx card that earns these points.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page.

To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.

To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.