How Do You Maximize Your Points with the American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Partners?
by Krish Patel
Have you ever wondered how much your American Express Membership Rewards points are worth? Well, let me tell you that your points may be more valuable than you think. Amex Membership Rewards transfer out to 20 hotel and airline loyalty programs. With several transfer partners, you have several brands to consider when booking your next trip. Plus, there are several credit cards that earn transferable Membership Rewards points.
How Do You Earn American Express Membership Rewards?
In order to earn Membership Rewards, you’re going to need a credit card that earns points. The welcome bonuses for several Membership Rewards earning credit cards can help you accumulate the points needed for a flight or hotel stay. Credit cards that earn more bonus points typically come with a high annual fee and more benefits. Listed below are some cards that earn Membership Rewards points.
With the Platinum Card from American Express ($695 annual fee), cardholders earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. The card comes with the following earning rates:
Five points earned per dollar spent on flights booked directly through Amex Travel or through airlines (on up to $500,000 on these purchases in a calendar year)
Five points earned per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
One point earned per dollar spent on other purchases
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Amex Gold Card ($325 annual fee) can earn you 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of your card opening. The card comes with the following earning rates:
Four points per dollar spent at restaurants on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then one point per dollar
Four points per dollar spent at supermarkets in the U.S. (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then one point earned per dollar spent)
Three points earned per dollar spent on airfare booked through AmexTravel.com
Two points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other purchases booked through AmexTravel.com
One point earned per dollar spent on other purchases
For travelers looking to spend less but still earn points, the Amex Green Card ($150 annual fee) can earn you 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on eligible Amex purchases in the first six months of account opening. The card comes with the following earning rates:
Three points per dollar spent on travel and at restaurants
One point per dollar on other purchases
Who are the American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Partners?
For maximum value, it’s recommended that you transfer your credit card points to a specific airline or hotel partner, however, not all of the transfer partners will give you a good value for your points. Most transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio. American Express points transfer to the following airline programs at the following ratios:
Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1 ratio)
Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6 ratio)
Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio)
Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club (1:1 ratio)
Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
British Airways Executive Club (1:1 ratio)
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
Delta SkyMiles (1:1 ratio)
Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio)
Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio)
Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio)
JetBlue TrueBlue (1.25:1 ratio)
Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1 ratio)
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio)
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio)
Membership Rewards transfer out to the following hotel points programs at the following transfer ratios:
Choice Privileges (1:1 ratio)
Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
How Do You Redeem Your Amex Points for Maximum Value?
Membership Rewards can be redeemed for award flights or free hotel stays that would be costly if booked using cash. If you find a transfer bonus, the value of your points will fluctuate even further. Listed below are some of the best uses of Membership Rewards points.
Transfer Your Amex Points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue for Flights to Europe
Flying Blue prices award tickets dynamically, so the prices tend to vary. You can snag a good deal on a transatlantic hop between North America and Europe, as flights start at around 20,000 miles in Economy and 50,000 miles in Business Class one-way. However, it’s worth noting that fuel surcharges are quite expensive and can be close to $400 for a round-trip Business Class fare, while fuel surcharges are usually above $100 for a round-trip Economy ticket.
Both Air France and KLM offer a monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards sale, with 25% discounts on the prices mentioned in the paragraph above.
Transfer Your Points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Book Flights to Europe in Delta One
If you’re headed to Europe and don’t want to pay fuel surcharges, flying in Delta One Business Class might be a good option. Amex points transfer to Virgin Atlantic at a 1:1 ratio.
While you can fly nonstop from the U.S. to Europe for 50,000 points and won’t have to pay fuel surcharges, Virgin Atlantic passes on DL’s Europe origination surcharge for travel that begins on the continent. Keep in mind that the price for flights from the U.S. to the U.K. in Delta One is different compared to flights bound for other parts of Europe. During the standard season, Delta One flights to the U.K. start at somewhere around 47,500 Flying Club points from airports such as JFK, BOS, and ATL.
If you can, try to book flights to Europe with Delta One Suites when available. The product is found on the Airbus A350-900 and A330-900NEO, however, the Delta One seat on the Boeing 767-400 is an open suite, which is still a great product.
Use Your British Airways Avios to Book Domestic American Airlines Main Cabin (Economy Class) Flights
Membership Rewards transfer to British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 ratio. While British Airways has increased the price of Avios award redemptions for domestic American Airlines flights, they’re still cheaper than what American Airlines AAdvantage charges. The following prices in Avios are what BA charges for domestic AA flights:
U.S. short-haul flights up to 650 miles in length start at 12,000 Avios each way
U.S. short-haul flights ranging from 651 to 1,151 miles in length start at 16,000 Avios each way
U.S. short-haul flights up to 2,000 miles in length start at 18,000 Avios each way
Conclusion
There are several credit cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards points, including mid-tier cards such as the Amex Gold and premium credit cards such as the Platinum Card from American Express. Like other credit card points programs, Amex offers great sweet spots for a variety of travel redemptions, including the ones listed above. Just make sure to transfer your points to a program that offers a good value when planning your next trip.