A transfer moves points from a credit card rewards program into an airline loyalty program. You then book the flight with the airline's miles. For business and first class, this is often how people get more value than they would paying cash or using a card's travel portal.
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The basic steps
- Earn flexible points. That means a rewards currency such as Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou or Bilt Rewards.
- Join the airline program. It is free. Enrollment in the airline's program is required before you transfer.
- Find the seat first. Search the airline program's site for your route and cabin. Never transfer first and hope for space.
- Link accounts and transfer. In your card account, link the airline account, enter the amount and confirm.
- Wait, then book. Bookings cannot be made until the miles post. Then book directly with the airline program.
Rules that matter
- Transfers are final. Amex states that all transfers are final and cannot be reversed, and the other issuers say the same in their terms.
- Names must match. Amex says the name on your card and on your airline account must be the same. A partner account must be held by you or by an additional cardmember linked to your account, and an additional card must have been issued at least 90 days before linking.
- Amex fee on US airlines. For each Amex conversion into the frequent flyer program of a US airline, Amex charges $0.0006 per point, with a maximum of $99. Delta is an example. Transfers to non-US airlines do not carry this fee under Amex's stated terms.
- Timing varies. Some transfers post at once, others take days. ANA, for example, says 2 to 4 business days for US Amex transfers.
- Programs can cancel. ANA's page notes American Express may cancel a transaction even after points have transferred, and ANA reported that some Amex transfers in August and September 2026 were canceled and returned.
Amex Membership Rewards ratios (US)
| Airline program | Ratio |
|---|---|
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1 point = 1 mile |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1 point = 1 point |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1 point = 1 point |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1 point = 1 Avios |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 1 point = 1 mile |
| ANA Mileage Club | 1 point = 1 mile |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 5 points = 4 miles |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1 point = 1 Avios |
| Emirates Skywards | 5 points = 4 miles |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1 point = 1 mile |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1 point = 1 point |
| Iberia Club | 1 point = 1 Avios |
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1 point = 1 Avios |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1 point = 1 mile (plus fee) |
Ratios above are from Amex's own transfer page, checked October 17, 2026. Other issuers' ratios are not listed here until we have confirmed them on an official page.
Why premium cabins
Airlines set award prices in miles, so a business or first class seat can cost far fewer points than its cash price suggests. That varies by route, date and program, which is why we show the programs worth checking, not promised prices. Use the cost-per-mile calculator to test a specific booking.
Common mistakes
- Transferring before checking seats.
- Ignoring taxes and carrier charges that appear at checkout.
- Moving more points than the booking needs.
- Letting miles sit unused in a program with expiry rules.
- Forgetting that partner lists and ratios change.
Ready to try it? Open the trip planner, or read our guides for Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, Aeroplan, ANA and Turkish Miles&Smiles.
Sources
Checked October 17, 2026. Program rules and partner lists change, so confirm on the official page before you transfer.