How to Transfer Amex Membership Rewards Points to Airlines

Amex points can take you a long way when you move them over to an airline account. Before you make a transfer, here’s what to know. You can transfer your American Express (Amex) Membership Rewards over to eligible airline loyalty programs through your online Membership Rewards account. Simply link that airline account to your Amex profile and go. Of course, there are some important tips to remember when transferring your points, and it’s important to do things in the right order. Once you get that order right,  transfers are generally quick and easy. 

Amex airline transfers at a glance:

• Transfers can’t be undone, so be sure to confirm a bookable award seat before you move your points.

• Link your airline loyalty account first, and make sure the account holder’s name matches the name on your Amex account.

• Amex points can be transferred to airline partners across the three major alliances. See Amex Transfer Partners for the full list.

• Transfers to most airline partners are quick, though a few (including ANA Mileage Club) take longer. 

• Amex adds a small government excise tax on transfers to U.S. airline programs, so factor that into your pricing.

• Use a transfer bonus only when you already have a trip in mind.

Before you transfer Amex points to an airline

Start by confirming that the award seat you want is available and bookable. Amex points transfers to an airline are always one-way and can’t be undone. Make sure the seat is open on your preferred dates, that the airline program can book it, and that your loyalty account is open and active. Then look at the point transfer ratio and the minimum increment, so you can move the exact number of points you need. While these steps are simple, doing them in order ensures that your points are protected.

Two Amex-specific notes to keep in mind: some transfers (including ANA Mileage Club) are slower than others, and Amex charges a small government excise tax on transfers to U.S. airline programs.

Which Amex cards or accounts allow point transfers?

Several consumer and business Amex cards earn transferable points, including The Platinum Card, the Gold Card, and The Green Card. Points earned across your eligible cards pool into one Membership Rewards balance. A few Amex cards, including the Blue Cash cards, earn a different kind of reward that doesn't transfer to airlines, so confirm your card earns Membership Rewards points before you plan a transfer. If an account has additional cardholders, their points will pool into the primary cardholder’s balance.

Current Amex transfer partners

Amex points transfer to a broad set of airline loyalty programs, with strong coverage across the Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld networks. Partner access, ratios, and rules can change over time, so check back periodically for updates. Amex points transfer to 20 airline and hotel programs in total. For the complete, current roster and each program's ratio, see Amex Transfer Partners.

Amex airline transfer rules at a glance

This table covers the transfer rules that affect your booking.

How much are Amex points worth?

point.me values Amex points at around 1.7 cents each as a general rule of thumb, but that number can vary depending on your specific trip. That being said, Amex points are worth the most when you use them to book flights in premium cabins. When you transfer points to the right airline program for a lie-flat business- or first-class seat, they can be worth several times the cash value. Two things can eat into the value of your points: a poorly priced award, and a small fee that Amex adds on transfers to U.S. airline programs. For the full breakdown, see How Much Are Amex Points Worth?

How to transfer Amex points to travel partners

First, sign in to your Membership Rewards account and open the airline and travel partners area. Then pick your desired airline program, confirm the linked loyalty account, enter the number of points you’d like to move, and confirm. The whole process typically takes a few minutes. We’ll go through the step-by-step process below.

Step 1: Log into the Amex rewards portal

Sign in to your American Express account and under Accounts, click on your Membership Rewards balance.

Step 2: Click the Earn and Redeem dropdown, then select Transfer Points.

Open the section for transferring points to airline and travel partners. This hub lists the programs you can move points to.

Step 3: Find the airline program you want to transfer to and link your loyalty account.

Choose the airline loyalty program where you want to move your points. If your preferred airline isn't on the list, that means it isn't a direct Amex partner and you may need to book through an alliance partner airline. 

Connect your airline loyalty account to your Amex account before you move your points. 

• To link your account, enter your account number and follow the prompts. 

• Confirm the name on your loyalty account and ensure that it exactly matches your Amex profile. A mismatch is the most common reason why a transfer fails or stalls. 

• Once your account is linked, click Show Details next to that program.

Step 4: Enter the number of points you want to transfer.

Enter the number of miles you want in the partner program under Miles, not the number of points you’re looking to transfer on the Amex side. The system will automatically calculate how many Amex points are required to complete your transfer. 

Once you submit, the points leave your Amex balance and land in the airline account, ready to book. Most transfers are instant, but make sure you check the rules for your specific airline.

Step 5: Follow the remaining on-screen instructions to complete the transfer.

How long does an Amex points transfer take?

Most Amex points transfers post quickly, often within minutes. Speed is one of the program's strengths. A few partners take longer, from several hours to a few days. That’s why it’s important to confirm the award space availability before you move points. If a transfer takes some time, the award space can disappear by the time your points arrive. When you're booking a hard-to-find award, treat any partner with a transfer delay as a real risk to your points. Search live award space on point.me right before you transfer and always confirm availability on the airline’s site.

How to transfer Amex points to United

United isn't a direct Amex transfer partner. The workaround is to book United flights through a Star Alliance loyalty program that is an Amex direct partner, such as Air Canada Aeroplan, which has access to United award space. Confirm the seat availability on United through the partner program first. See Amex Tricks and Workarounds for more on this topic.

How to transfer Amex points to Delta

Delta is a direct Amex transfer partner, so you can move points straight from Amex into your SkyMiles account. Delta awards are priced dynamically, so the rates fluctuate. This makes searching live availability especially important. Confirm the exact Delta award before you transfer. See Amex Transfer Partners and Best Uses for more on getting the most out of points transfers.

How to transfer Amex points to American Airlines

American isn't a direct Amex transfer partner. To use Amex points for American flights, book through a oneworld partner Amex does reach, such as Cathay Pacific or British Airways. Cathay often prices American award seats lower than British Airways. Confirm seat availability through the partner program before moving your points. See the full list of Amex Transfer Partners for more oneworld booking strategies.

Tips for transferring Amex points to travel partners

• Search for a bookable award seat.

• Confirm the transfer ratio and minimum increment.

• Factor in the fee that Amex adds to U.S. airline bookings.

• For United or American, book through an alliance partner because neither is a direct Amex partner.

• Treat transfer bonuses as time-sensitive, and check our Current Transfer Bonuses page.

Can I transfer Amex points between cards or accounts?

The ability to move points to another person's account is limited, and the rules depend on the program. Points earned on your eligible Amex cards pool automatically into one Membership Rewards balance. In short, don't assume you can freely move points between accounts. Check your Amex account guidance for details.

Summary and expert verdict

Transferring Amex points to airline partner accounts is easy and quick once you get the hang of it. The most important thing to remember is that award inventory is in high demand and can disappear quickly. That means it’s important to have a specific seat in mind before you move your points. Then, confirm that the seat is bookable through your preferred airline program, link your loyalty account, then move exactly enough points to cover the award. A few Amex-specific quirks can impact your transfer. A small government excise tax applies on transfers to U.S. airline programs. Also, neither United nor American directly partner with Amex, and those can be booked through their alliance partners. Beyond that, Amex's quick transfers and deep partner roster make it one of the easiest currencies to use.