Amex Transfer Partners Guide: Airlines, Hotels, Bonuses & Best Uses
Amex transfer partners: quick answer
American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to a deep roster of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Most Amex transfer partners use a 1:1 ratio, but a few important exceptions exist, including Aeromexico, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Hilton Honors, and JetBlue.
Amex Membership Rewards has 16 airlines and 3 hotels transfer partners, totaling 19. Use this page as the current Roame guide to Amex points transfer partners. Start with the table below for the partner list and ratios, then use the sections after it to decide whether to transfer, which partners are usually worth checking first, and what to know before moving points out of American Express.
| Airline Transfer Partner | Transfer Ratio(Amex Membership Rewards → Partner) | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | 4 days | |
Aeromexico Rewards | 5:8 | 2-12 days |
| 1:1 | Instant | |
| 1:1 | 4 days | |
| 1:1 | Instant | |
Avianca LifeMiles 15% bonusUntil Jul 15, 2026 | 1:1 | Instant |
| 1:1 | Instant | |
| 5:4 | 3 days | |
| 1:1 | Up to 30 minutes | |
| 5:4 | 2 days | |
| 1:1 | 4 days | |
| 5:4 | Instant | |
| 1:1 | 3 days | |
| 1:1 | Instant | |
| 1:1 | 15 days | |
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club 30% bonusUntil Jul 31, 2026 | 1:1 | Instant |
| Hotel Transfer Partner | Transfer Ratio(Amex Membership Rewards → Partner) | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
Choice Privileges® | 1:1 | Instant |
Hilton Honors 20% bonusUntil Jul 14, 2026 | 1:2 | 5 days |
Marriott Bonvoy | 2:3 | Up to 1 day |
How to transfer Amex points to partners
Confirm the award before moving points
Search the airline or hotel program first and make sure the award seat or room you want is actually available. Transfers out of Membership Rewards are generally not reversible.
Link the loyalty account in Membership Rewards
In your American Express Membership Rewards account, choose the transfer partner and link the loyalty account. Your name should match across both accounts.
Enter the number of points to transfer
Check the transfer ratio and minimum transfer amount, then enter the points you need. Some partners transfer instantly, while others may take longer.
Book the award after the transfer posts
Once the miles or points arrive with the partner program, complete the award booking through that program. Re-check taxes, fees, and cancellation rules before confirming.
Best Amex transfer partners to check first
The best Amex transfer partner depends on your route, cabin, and available awards. As a starting point, we usually check partners that can unlock premium-cabin awards, useful alliance access, or frequent transfer bonuses before moving points to lower-value hotel or fixed-value options.
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue: useful for Europe awards, monthly Promo Rewards, and occasional Amex transfer bonuses.
- ANA Mileage Club: strong premium-cabin potential, but round-trip rules, surcharges, and award availability matter.
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: often useful for partner awards, including some Delta and ANA opportunities, when saver space exists.
- Avios programs: Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar can be useful for short-haul or oneworld awards.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: a flexible Star Alliance option for United and other partner flights, since Amex does not transfer directly to United.
Amex airline partners vs. hotel partners
Amex airline transfer partners are usually where Membership Rewards points have the most upside. Hotel transfers can be useful for topping off an account, but compare the cash price, award price, and transfer ratio before moving a large balance.
The official U.S. Membership Rewards transfer page currently shows several non-1:1 ratios: Aeromexico at 1,000 Amex points to 1,600 Aeromexico Rewards points, Cathay Pacific and Emirates at 1,000 to 800, Hilton Honors at 1,000 to 2,000, and JetBlue at 250 to 200. American Express also notes that Etihad Guest transfers end on June 30, 2026.
Can you transfer Amex points to Delta, United, or American Airlines?
You can transfer Amex points directly to Delta SkyMiles, which is one reason searches for Amex points to Delta miles are so common. Before you transfer to Delta or JetBlue, note that Amex may charge an excise tax offset fee on transfers to U.S. frequent flyer programs.
You cannot transfer Amex points directly to United MileagePlus or American Airlines AAdvantage. For United flights, check Star Alliance partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, Avianca LifeMiles, and Singapore KrisFlyer. For American Airlines flights, check oneworld partners such as British Airways, Iberia, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, and Qatar when partner award space is available.
Amex transfer bonuses
Transfer bonuses can make an already-good partner meaningfully better, but only if you have a specific redemption in mind. A bonus does not fix poor award availability, high surcharges, or a program you will not use. Check Roame's current points transfer bonuses before initiating a transfer.
What card do I need to earn and transfer Amex points?
Several American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points. Not every Amex card earns transferable points: Delta cards earn Delta miles, Hilton cards earn Hilton points, and cash-back products are separate from Membership Rewards.
- American Express Gold Card: earns Membership Rewards points on dining, groceries, flights, and eligible Amex Travel purchases. Terms apply.
- American Express Platinum Card: earns Membership Rewards points and includes premium travel benefits. Terms apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
American Express® Gold Card
As high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Examples of high-value Amex transfer partners
Not all transfer partners are built the same. The best move is usually to search award space first, compare the cash fare and taxes, then transfer only the points you need for a booking you can complete.
ANA Mileage Club
Amex is ANA's exclusive credit card transfer partner. ANA can provide excellent value, especially for premium-cabin awards, but the program has important constraints: round-trip booking rules, possible fuel surcharges, and limited premium award availability.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Flying Blue is a useful Amex airline partner because it offers broad SkyTeam access, regular Promo Rewards, and periodic transfer bonuses. It also pairs well with Roame searches because award pricing can vary by date and route.
When Amex transfers are lower value
A transfer can be low value when the award has high taxes, the cash price is low, or the partner's points are worth much less than Membership Rewards points. Hotel transfers and programs with high surcharges can still make sense for topping off an account, but they should not be automatic defaults.
Aeromexico is a good example of why ratios are not everything. Even though the transfer ratio is higher than 1:1, award pricing and fees can make the redemption worse than alternatives. Always compare the total points plus cash cost before transferring.
Amex transfer partners FAQ
Conclusion
Amex Membership Rewards points are valuable because you can wait until you find a strong redemption, then transfer to the airline or hotel program that prices that exact trip best. Use the partner table, verify availability, and compare total taxes and fees before moving points.
American Express Platinum Card®
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
