If you’ve ever searched online for ways to use your credit card points, you’ve probably come across advice like, “Transfer your points to an airline partner instead.”
That sounds straightforward enough.
But if you’ve never done it before, it’s also a fair question to ask: What’s an airline partner, and why would I transfer my points there instead of just using them through my credit card?
The answer is pretty simple.
What Is a Credit Card Transfer Partner?
A transfer partner is an airline or hotel loyalty program that accepts transfers from an eligible credit card rewards program.
Think of your credit card points as one currency and airline miles as another. A transfer partner is what allows you to exchange one for the other.
For example, if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to programs like United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan.
Once the transfer is complete, your Chase points become airline miles in that program. And they’re yours to use when you’re ready to book a flight.
The same idea applies to hotels. Lots of credit card rewards programs also let you transfer points to participating hotel loyalty programs.
LORDHENRIVOTON / ISTOCK
Why Do Credit Card Transfer Partners Matter?
Transfer partners matter because they give you choices in how you redeem your rewards. And who doesn’t like choices?
Imagine you’re planning a trip to London.
You might assume you need to redeem your credit card points through your bank’s travel portal. But if your points can be transferred instead, you may have several different airline loyalty programs that can book the same trip.
In some cases, transferring your points may require fewer points than booking through your bank’s travel portal. If a credit card transfer bonus is available, that number could be even lower.
Having transfer partners gives you more ways to use your points instead of relying on other redemption options, such as booking through your bank’s travel portal, covering purchases on your credit card statement, or redeeming points for gift cards.
Not Every Credit Card Has the Same Transfer Partners
Each credit card rewards program has its own list of airline and hotel transfer partners.
For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards includes United MileagePlus as a transfer partner, while American Express Membership Rewards partners with Delta SkyMiles.
Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Bilt Rewards, U.S. Bank Altitude Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards all have their own mix of airline and hotel partners.
One of the most important things to remember is that transferring points is a one-way transaction.
Once your credit card points become airline miles or hotel points, you can’t transfer them back. That’s why it’s always a good idea to search for the award you want before transferring your points.
Once you’ve found the flight or hotel you want, you can identify the appropriate transfer partner, check for any available transfer bonuses, and transfer only the points you need to complete your booking.
If you’ve ever seen an offer like “Transfer your points and get 25% more Flying Blue miles,” you might have wondered what that actually means in the simplest of terms.
That’s a credit card transfer bonus.
Instead of receiving the normal number of airline miles or hotel points when you transfer rewards, a transfer bonus gives you a little something extra for making the same transfer.
Here’s how transfer bonuses work, when they can be useful, and how to keep track of current offers.
What Is a Credit Card Transfer Bonus?
A credit card transfer bonus is a limited-time promotion that increases the number of airline miles or hotel points you receive when transferring rewards from an eligible credit card program.
For example, imagine you transfer 10,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
Under normal circumstances, 10,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points become 10,000 Flying Blue miles.
During a 25% transfer bonus, those same 10,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points become 12,500 Flying Blue miles.
SJO / ISTOCK
You’re transferring the same number of credit card points. The transfer bonus simply gives you more airline miles or hotel points once the transfer is complete.
Those extra miles or points may not sound like much at first, but they can reduce the number of credit card points needed for a trip. And those savings can add up over time.
Which Credit Card Programs Offer Transfer Bonuses?
Transfer bonuses are most commonly offered by flexible rewards programs (credit card rewards that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs).
These often include:
American Express Membership Rewards
Bilt Rewards (typically on the first of the month as part of Rent Day promotions)
Capital One Miles
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Citi ThankYou Rewards
Each program runs promotions throughout the year, and the participating airline or hotel partners can vary from one offer to the next.
MILORAD KRAVIC / ISTOCK
How to Find Current Transfer Bonuses
Transfer bonuses come and go throughout the year, and each bank runs promotions on its own schedule.
Understandably, keeping track of them across multiple rewards programs can quickly become a chore.
PointsYeah keeps an up-to-date list of Current Credit Card Transfer Bonuses. This makes it easy to see which bank programs and airline or hotel partners are currently offering promotions.
Even better, when you’re searching for award flights with PointsYeah, eligible transfer bonuses are automatically factored into your search results. That means you can compare your options without having to calculate the bonus yourself.
Should You Transfer Points During a Bonus?
Not necessarily.
A transfer bonus can make an award booking more attractive, but it doesn’t automatically mean you should transfer your points.
Before you do anything with your credit card points, it’s worth considering a few things:
Is the award flight or hotel actually available?
Does transferring points cost less than paying cash?
Are you ready to book?
These questions matter because point transfers can’t be reversed. Once your credit card points become airline miles or hotel points, you can’t transfer them back.
Put differently, a transfer bonus is best viewed as an opportunity and not a reason to book a trip. If you’ve already found the award you want, a bonus can help your points go a little further. If you haven’t, it’s usually better to keep your points where they are until you’re ready to book.
One of the biggest advantages of earning rewards through a travel credit card is the flexibility you have when it’s time to book travel.
Unlike airline miles, many credit card points can be transferred to multiple airline loyalty programs. Instead of being locked into a single airline, you can choose the program that best suits your trip.
If you’ve never transferred credit card points before, the process is easier than you might think. And once you understand which airline partners your bank works with, transferring your points usually takes only a few minutes.
Here’s how to convert your credit card points into airline miles.
Credit card point transfers are one-way. Once your points become airline miles, you can’t transfer them back to your credit card rewards program.
That’s why it’s usually best to:
Search for your award flight first.
Confirm that seats are available.
Compare the cash price with the points required.
Transfer only the number of points you need to complete your booking.
PointsYeah makes this process much easier by showing live award availability across supported airline programs.
Search results also identify which transferable credit card currencies can be used for a particular redemption and highlight any applicable transfer bonuses.
ROSSHELEN / ISTOCK
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express airline transfer partners
American Express Membership Rewards points are transferable to the following airline loyalty programs.
Program
Transfer Ratio
Aer Lingus AerClub
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Avios
Aeromexico Rewards
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Aeromexico points
Air Canada Aeroplan
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Aeroplan points
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 ANA miles
Avianca LifeMiles
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 LifeMiles
British Airways Club
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Avios
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
1,000 Amex points = 800 Asia Miles
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 SkyMiles
Emirates Skywards
1,000 Amex points = 800 Skywards miles
Iberia Plus
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Avios
JetBlue TrueBlue
250 Amex points = 200 TrueBlue points
Qantas Frequent Flyer
500 Amex points = 500 Qantas points
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Avios
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 KrisFlyer miles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Virgin points
Most Amex transfers process instantly, though transfer times can vary by the airline.
One important exception involves transfers to U.S.-based airline programs such as Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue. American Express charges an excise tax offset fee of 0.06 cents per point transferred (up to a maximum of $99) for these transfers.
While you can use Membership Rewards points to cover the fee at checkout, you’re generally better off paying it with your American Express card and saving your points for travel.
How to transfer American Express Membership Rewards
Sign in to your American Express account.
Open Rewards & Benefits, then select Transfer Points.
Choose your airline loyalty program and link your account if necessary.
Enter the number of Membership Rewards points you’d like to transfer.
Review the information and confirm your transfer.
Bilt Rewards
Bilt airline transfer partners
Bilt Rewards Points are transferable to the following airline loyalty programs.
Program
Transfer Ratio
Aer Lingus AerClub
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Avios
Air Canada Aeroplan
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Aeroplan points
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Atmos points
Avianca LifeMiles
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Avianca LifeMiles
British Airways Club
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Avios
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Asia Miles
Emirates Skywards
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Skywards miles
Etihad Guest
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Etihad miles
Iberia Club
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Avios
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Japan Airlines miles
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Avios
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Southwest points
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 TAP miles
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Turkish miles
United Airlines MileagePlus
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 United miles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (via Virgin Red)
1,000 Bilt Points = 1,000 Virgin points
Most Bilt transfers process instantly, though transfer times can vary by the airline.
How to transfer Bilt Rewards
Sign in to your Bilt account.
Select the Rewards tab.
Tap Transfer.
Choose your airline partner.
Enter the number of points to transfer and confirm.
Capital One Miles
Capital One airline transfer partners
Capital One Miles are transferable to the following airline loyalty programs.
Program
Transfer Ratio
Aeromexico Rewards
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Aeromexico points
Air Canada Aeroplan
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Aeroplan points
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Flying Blue miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Asia Miles
British Airways Club
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Avios
Emirates Skywards
1,000 Capital One Miles= 750 Skywards miles
Etihad Guest
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Etihad miles
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
1,000 Capital One Miles= 750 EVA Air miles
Finnair Plus
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Avios
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
1,000 Capital One Miles= 750 Japan Airlines miles
JetBlue TrueBlue
1,000 Capital One Miles= 600 TrueBlue points
Qantas Frequent Flyer
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Qantas points
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Avios
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 KrisFlyer miles
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 TAP miles
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Turkish miles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (via Virgin Red)
1,000 Capital One Miles= 1,000 Virgin points
Most Capital One transfers process instantly, though transfer times can vary by the airline.
How to transfer Capital One Miles
Sign in to your Capital One account.
Select View Rewards.
Choose Transfer Rewards.
Select your airline partner.
Enter the number of miles you’d like to transfer and confirm.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase airline transfer partners
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are transferable to the following airline loyalty programs.
Program
Transfer Ratio
Aer Lingus AerClub
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Avios
Air Canada Aeroplan
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Aeroplan points
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles
British Airways Club
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Avios
Iberia Club
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Avios
JetBlue TrueBlue
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Trueblue points
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 KrisFlyer miles
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Southwest points
United Airlines MileagePlus
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 United miles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
1,000 Chase points = 1,000 Virgin points
Most Chase transfers process instantly, though transfer times can vary by the airline.
How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards
Sign in to your Chase account.
Open UltimateRewards.
Select TransferPointsto Partners.
Choose your airline loyalty program.
Enter the number of points you’d like to transfer and confirm.
Citi ThankYou Rewards
Citi airline transfer partners
Citi ThankYou Rewards points are transferable to the following airline loyalty programs.
Program
Transfer Ratio
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles
American Airlines AAdvantage
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 AAdvantage miles
Avianca LifeMiles
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Avianca LifeMiles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Asia Miles
Emirates Skywards
1,000 Citi points = 800 Skywards miles
Etihad Guest
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Etihad miles
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 EVA Air miles
JetBlue TrueBlue
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 TrueBlue points
Qantas Frequent Flyer
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Qantas points
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Avios
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 KrisFlyer miles
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Thai miles
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Turkish miles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
1,000 Citi points = 1,000 Virgin points
Note: Transfer ratios vary depending on your Citi ThankYou-earning card. Be sure to confirm the transfer ratio that applies to your account before transferring points.
Most Citi transfers process instantly, though transfer times can vary by the airline.
How to transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards
Sign in to ThankYou.com.
Select PointsTransfer.
Choose your airline partner.
Enter the number of ThankYou points you’d like to transfer.
Confirm your transfer.
U.S. Bank Altitude Rewards
U.S. Bank airline transfer partners
U.S. Bank Altitude Rewards points are transferable to the following airline loyalty programs.
Program
Transfer Ratio
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1 U.S. Bank Rewards point = 1 Flying Blue mile
Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles
1 U.S. Bank Rewards point= 1 ShebaMile
Qantas Frequent Flyer
1 U.S. Bank Rewards point= 1 Qantas point
Most U.S. Bank transfers process instantly, though transfer times can vary by the airline.
How to transfer U.S. Bank Altitude Rewards
Sign in to your U.S. Bank account.
Open your rewards dashboard.
Select TransferPoints.
Choose your airline loyalty program.
Enter the number of points to transfer and confirm.
Wells Fargo Rewards
Wells Fargo airline transfer partners
Wells Fargo Rewards points are transferable to the following airline loyalty programs.
Program
Transfer Ratio
Aer Lingus AerClub
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 Avios
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 Flying Blue mile
Avianca LifeMiles
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 LifeMile
British Airways Club
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 Avios
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 Asia Mile
Iberia Plus
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 Avios
JetBlue TrueBlue
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 TrueBlue point
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (via Virgin Red)
1 Wells Fargo point= 1 Virgin point
Most Wells Fargo transfers process instantly, though transfer times can vary by the airline.
How to transfer Wells Fargo Rewards
Sign in to your Wells Fargo account.
Select Wells Fargo Rewards.
Tap See All Options, then Rewards Points Transfer.
Choose your airline partner.
Enter the number of points you’d like to transfer.
Review the information and submit your transfer.
Things to Know Before You Transfer
Transfers are usually final
In most cases, transfers from a credit card rewards program to an airline loyalty account can’t be reversed.
Before transferring your points, make sure you’ve found the award flight you want, and you’re ready to complete the booking.
POIKE / ISTOCK
Transfer times can vary
Most transfers happen within minutes, but not every airline processes transfers at the same speed.
Occasionally, transfers may take several hours or even a few days. And your first transfer to a particular airline loyalty program may also take longer than subsequent transfers, especially if your loyalty account hasn’t been linked before.
While delays are relatively uncommon, they’re worth keeping in mind if you’re booking an award with limited availability.
Transfer bonuses can stretch your points further
Banks periodically offer transfer bonuses that increase the number of airline miles you receive from the same number of credit card points.
For example, a 25% transfer bonus means 10,000 transferable credit card points become 12,500 airline miles instead of the usual 10,000.
Before transferring your points, check our Current Credit Card Transfer Bonuses guide to see whether an active promotion could help you receive more airline miles.
