Quick Overview
- American Express lets you convert points into airline miles and hotel rewards with select AMEX transfer partners.
- AMEX points transfer to 18 frequent flyer programs, including U.S. airlines like Delta, JetBlue, and Hawaiian, and international airlines like Aeromexico, British Airways, and Qatar Airways.
- AMEX points transfer to three hotel partners: Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy.
- Transferring AMEX points to airline partners typically gives you 1 to 2 cents per point, making it the best use of Membership Rewards points.
- Transferring points to hotel partners generally offers less value, but you can still get over 1 cent per point, especially at high-end hotels, popular resorts, or during peak travel times.
Use our AMEX points transfer calculator to easily calculate how many miles or hotel points you can get when converting your AMEX Membership Rewards points to rewards with AMEX transfer partners.
AMEX points to miles
Transferring Membership Rewards points to airline partners typically offers the best value, often yielding 1 to 2 cents or more per point, depending on the airline and how you redeem them.
These are the airlines you can transfer your AMEX points to for miles:
What about other major U.S. airlines?
American Express has only one major U.S. airline transfer partner: Delta Air Lines. However, can you use Membership Rewards points to book travel with other U.S. airlines? Here’s what you need to know:
American Airlines
AMEX points don't transfer directly to American Airlines AAdvantage, but you can book AA flights with oneworld partners like British Airways, Qantas, and Japan Airlines. You can also use AMEX points to book AA flights through the AMEX Travel portal.
Learn More: Transfer Points To AA With These Partners
Southwest Airlines
Membership Rewards points don't transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards. Southwest isn't part of any airline alliance and Southwest flights cannot be booked through the AMEX travel portal.
If you frequently travel with Southwest, Membership Rewards points will not work in your favor. You'll want to consider Chase Ultimate Rewards instead.
Learn More: Transfer Points To Southwest With These Partners
United Airlines
AMEX points don't transfer directly to United MileagePlus, but you can book United flights using Star Alliance partners like Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles. Alternatively, you can book United flights through the AMEX Travel portal using your points.
Learn More: Transfer Points To United With These Partners
Frontier, Allegiant, & Spirit
If you fly Frontier, Allegiant, or Spirit, AMEX transfer partners won't help, as these airlines aren't part of any major alliance and can't be booked through AMEX Travel.
For these airlines specifically, you'll want to consider the Capital One Venture Rewards & Spark Rewards program. Capital One miles can be redeemed towards travel on any airline, so they would offer the most flexibility.
Learn More: Capital One Miles Value
AMEX points to hotels
Converting Membership Rewards points to hotel loyalty points may offer less consistent value than airline transfers, but you can still exceed 1 cent per point, especially for luxury stays and travel during peak times of the year.
Here are the hotels you can transfer AMEX points to:
AMEX points transfer calculator
Use our AMEX points transfer calculator to easily calculate the conversion of Membership Rewards points into airline miles and hotel points with AMEX's travel partners.
Credit cards that earn AMEX points
Membership Rewards points are earned using American Express Membership Rewards credit cards. For every eligible $1 you spend, you will earn at least 1 Membership Rewards points plus any bonus points the card offers for spending in select categories.
Here are those cards:
- Earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000, then 1X)
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible purchases
- Global Airport Lounge Access including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club Lounges (when flying Delta), Airspace Lounges, Escape Lounges, and Priority Pass Lounges
- Over $1,400 in annual credits which includes airline incidentals, Uber Cash, digital entertainment, Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, and more
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required)
- Terms Apply
- $695 annual fee (See Rates and Fees)
- Card Value & AMEX Platinum Points Calculator
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1X)
- Earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1X)
- Earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases
- Receive over $400 in annual credits each year
- Terms Apply
- $325 annual fee (See Rates and Fees)
- Card Value & AMEX Gold Points Calculator
- Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible purchases
- Global Airport Lounge Access including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club Lounges (when flying Delta), Airspace Lounges, Escape Lounges, and Priority Pass Lounges
- Over $1,400 in annual credits which includes Dell, Adobe, Indeed, CLEAR, and more
- Get 35% points back when you redeem points for all or part of an eligible flight booked with AMEX Travel
- Enroll in complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status
- Terms Apply
- $695 annual fee (See Rates and Fees)
- Card Value & Business Platinum Points Calculator
- Earn 4X points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 per year (then 1X)
- Earn 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases
- Terms Apply
- $375 annual fee (See Rates and Fees)
- Card Value & Rewards Calculator
- Earn 2X points on the first $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar thereafter
- Terms Apply
- $0 annual fee (See Rates and Fees)
- Card Value & Rewards Calculator
FAQs
Are American Express Points transferable?
Yes. American Express Membership Rewards Points can be transferred to over 15 partners which consists of airline and hotel rewards programs.
How do I transfer AMEX Points?
American Express Points can be transferred through the Membership Rewards portal.
What hotels can you transfer AMEX Points to?
Membership Rewards Points can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy (1:1), Hilton Honors (1:2), and Choice Privileges (1:1).
Which airlines accept AMEX Membership Rewards points?
Membership Rewards Points can be used to book travel through American Express Travel at a value of 1 cent per point. This means that you can use them towards a flight on any airline that you find in the portal.
We've run the calculations and checked them twice — here are the credit cards that consistently provide outstanding value to our users:
- Best flexible travel card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best overall value year after year: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best for high cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for foodies: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for business travel rewards: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Best for heavy business spenders: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
