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How to Transfer Capital One Miles to Travel Partners

9 minute read 07 November 2024
cafe seating in a courtyard in Europe
Written by: Carissa Rawson

If you’re a Capital One rewards card holder and you’ve been looking for the best ways to maximize the value of your miles, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’ve got a ton of miles ready to go or you’re just starting your Capital One journey, we’ve got you covered. This guide will show you how to transfer your Capital One miles to partners, the best Capital One transfer partners, and tips for transferring your miles. Let’s take a look. 

Capital One transfer partners 

Capital One has formed some seriously valuable partnerships with a wide range of hotels and airlines. These partners include the big names in the travel industry, so you can rest (or fly) assured that you’re getting the best: 

The following partner transfers at a 1.5:1 ratio:

  • EVA Air Infinity MileageLands

The following partner transfers at a 2:1 ratio:

  • ALL (Accor Live Limitless)

How much are Capital One miles worth? 

At their baseline, Capital One points are worth one cent each when redeemed through the Capital One portal.

That value can skyrocket when you transfer them to partners. Depending on how you redeem them, they can be worth between 1.5 to 2.5 cents each. However, there are definitely transfers that devalue your points, so let’s take a closer look at where you should be transferring your Capital One miles and where you shouldn’t. 

How to transfer Capital One miles to travel partners

Step 1: Log into the Capital One travel portal 

Start by logging into your Capital One account. If you don’t have it yet, it’s a good idea to set up online access. You’ll need it to manage your points and transfers.

Step 2: View rewards 

Look for the “Rewards” section on the main dashboard. Here, you’ll see your point balance and options for redeeming or transferring your points.

view your capital one miles rewards

Here, you’ll see your point balance and options for redeeming or transferring your points.

select the option to transfer rewards

Step 3: Choose your partner

There should be an option to “Transfer rewards.” Click on this to view the list of available partners. Click through the options available and find the one that suits your travel plans best.

choose your transfer partner

Step 4: Enter your details 

After you select a partner to which you’d like to transfer your points, they’ll ask for your frequent flyer or loyalty account number. If you don’t have one, now’s a good opportunity to create an account.

select the miles you want to transfer

Step 5: Transfer your points 

Enter the number of points you want to transfer and confirm the transaction. Remember that some transfers happen immediately, but others may take a few days to process. 

Step 6: Confirm and plan your redemption 

After the transfer is processed, check your frequent flyer or loyalty account number to confirm the points have arrived. Once you see them, you can start planning your trip! Be sure to look out for any transfer promotions or bonus offers, as partners frequently have deals that can boost your points even further. 

How to transfer Capital One miles to airlines

The process for transferring your Capital One miles to airlines is the same regardless of which airline you choose. You’ll need to be logged into your account and navigate to the transfer partner page. 

Once that’s done, you’ll select the airline to which you’d like to transfer your miles. 

transferring miles to airlines

You’ll need your frequent flyer number on hand and specify how many miles you’d like to transfer. That’s it! 

The best Capital One transfer partners

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is easily one of the best Capital One transfer partners. There are a few different reasons for this, one of them being that you can add a stopover during your trip for just 5,000 points. Even better, the stopover can be booked entirely online. 

You’ll also have access to flights worldwide, thanks to Air Canada’s membership in Star Alliance and its huge number of airline partners. 

Avianca Lifemiles

Avianca Lifemiles may be notorious for its poor IT system, but its generous redemption rate makes up for it. Beyond this, Avianca Lifemiles partners with nearly every flexible point currency, which makes them very easy to earn. 

Flying Blue

Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, both of which are members of the SkyTeam alliance. Although they don’t have great access to awards from partners like Delta, that doesn’t matter. This is because Flying Blue has widespread access to business class award space to Europe at just 50,000 miles. That’s cheaper than nearly every other program. 

Virgin Red

Virgin Red points convert easily to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points, which are some of the most valuable around. This is thanks to the very reasonable rates it charges for awards, including just 45,000 miles one-way for a business-class flight from the U.S. to New Zealand. 

travel more for fewer points cta

Tips for transferring Capital One Miles to travel partners

Double-check availability: Before transferring points, double — no, triple-check that your desired flights or hotels are available. We may or may not have been stuck with a lot of points transferred for the purpose of booking a flight that was no longer available — a few times.

Stay Informed on promotions: Keep an eye on promotional offers from both Capital One and its partners. Sometimes, there are limited-time bonuses for transferring points, which can give you a little extra bang for your buck.

Stay flexible: Be open to different travel dates and routes. When you go in with flexibility, you can really make the most of your points.

How to transfer Capital One miles between cards 

Transferring your Capital One miles from one card to another is easy. It’s a very similar process to transferring your miles to a partner:

  1. Log in to your account
  2. Select view rewards
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page, where it says combine rewards
  4. Select how many you’d like to combine and from which accounts
transferring capital one miles between accounts

When to transfer Capital One miles between cards

When you’re closing a card

To ensure you keep your miles after closing a card, you should move them all to a Capital One account that you’re keeping open. Anytime you close a card, all its existing rewards must either be redeemed, moved, or forfeited. 

To make your rewards transferable 

Did you know that not all rewards earned with a Capital One card can be transferred to partners? For example, rewards earned with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card are usually redeemable as cash back — unless you combine your rewards and move them to a card that earns miles. 

How to transfer Capital One miles to another person 

Transferring your Capital One miles is free but cannot be done online. Instead, you’ll need to call the number on the back of your card. 

Frequently asked questions about transferring Capital One miles

Should you transfer Capital One miles to a partner or redeem through Capital One’s travel portal?

You’ll get a better value out of your rewards by transferring them to a partner instead of redeeming them in the travel portal. Still, it’s always best to do the math; check out the cost, in points, through the travel portal versus what it would cost when redeeming with a partner. 

Rather than going through every airline partner’s website to figure out the cost, take advantage of a tool like point.me to quickly assess award availability and flight costs. 

How long does it take to transfer Capital One miles to a travel partner? 

Most transfers from Capital One to partners are instant, though some may take a few days. 

Can you transfer Capital One miles to someone else?

Yes, you can transfer Capital One Miles to someone else as long as they have an account that earns Capital One miles. To do so, you’ll need to call the number on the back of your card. 

Can you transfer miles back to Capital One once you have transferred them to a partner? 

No, once you’ve transferred your Capital One miles out of your account, the process cannot be reversed. 

Which cards earn transferable Capital One miles? 

Several Capital One credit cards earn transferable points, including the following:

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

These cards allow you to earn miles on everyday purchases, which you can transfer to various travel partners.

Summary

Transferring Capital One points to travel partners can open up a world of opportunities for travel enthusiasts. By understanding the process and knowing how to leverage your points effectively, you can score some amazing rewards. So whether you’re planning a quick weekend getaway or a luxurious vacation, take the time to explore your options and make the most of your Capital One miles.

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Carissa Rawson
Written by:

Carissa Rawson

Carissa Rawson is a travel writer, award space expert, and frequent flyer enthusiast known for her expertise in uncovering hidden gems and insider tips to make luxury travel accessible. After spending 7 years in the Air Force, she completed a degree in Scotland before becoming a writer full time. Nowadays, you can find her work all over, including The Points Guy, Forbes, USA Today, Upgraded Points, NerdWallet, Business Insider, CNN, and more.