With 21 transfer partners — including 18 airlines and 3 hotels — American Express has one of the most useful points currencies with its Membership Rewards program. And while it’s easy to use the Amex Travel portal, those transfer partners are where you’ll get the most value for your points, from phenomenal business-class and first-class flights to five-star hotels and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about using Amex points to book flights and travel.
Table of contents
Using Amex Membership Rewards points to book travel with transfer partners
American Express has nearly two dozen hotel and airline transfer partners.
Airline programs
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- AeroMexico Rewards
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- ANA Mileage Club
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
- Emirates Skywards
- HawaiianMiles
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotel programs
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Hilton Honors
- Choice Privileges
When you have Amex points, whether it’s from spending on an American Express credit card or earning a welcome bonus, you can transfer your points to any of these programs. However, there are some ways to use Amex points for travel that are better than others; we’ll discuss those in detail in a minute.
Paying for travel with Amex points via transfer partners
Each airline and hotel partner has a specific transfer ratio — the number of partner points you’ll receive for each Amex point you transfer.
Some Amex points transfer to partners at a 1:1 ratio, meaning you’ll get one partner point per dollar amount for each Amex point. Others might have different ratios (e.g., 1:2 or 3:2), meaning you’ll get two or three partner points for every Amex point. Check the Amex Membership Rewards website or your account for the current transfer ratios.
Amex also runs frequent transfer bonuses, which earn you additional points or miles when you transfer your Amex points to a partner program. Some programs, like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and British Airways Executive Club, offer transfer bonuses more frequently. These bonuses can significantly increase the value of your Amex points and boost your Membership Rewards balance, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for them.
Transfer-bonus offers usually occur at the beginning of the month after months of card membership and typically last about a month. However, while transfer bonuses can be extended, you’ll want to transfer points to your preferred program ASAP.
Booking flights with the Amex Travel booking portal
A traditional booking platform, AmexTravel.com lets you use Amex points to book flights and travel directly. You’ll enter your departure and arrival airports (if booking flights), departure dates, and cabin class, and the next page will display your results.
The important section here is the number of points required to book your flight, which you’ll see on the right side of the screen.
After you’ve selected your flight, you have the option of using some or all of your points to cover your booking.
Check out as you would normally, and that’s it!
Booking domestic flights with Amex points
Some of the best ways to book domestic flights with Amex points are by transferring points to British Airways Avios, Delta SkyMiles, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
British Airways Avios
Booking domestic flights with British Airways is the best way to get maximum value from your Membership Rewards points. That’s because British Airways uses a distance-based award chart — not only for its own flights but also its partners, including American Airlines.
Unfortunately, British Airways does not publicly post its award chart, but the breakdown below is generally understood to be British Airways pricing for partner awards per calendar year.
This award chart is handy when booking short-haul flights, particularly on the U.S. East and West Coasts. Note that Zone 1 flights to, from, or within North America will cost at least 7,500 Avios.
Let’s take a look at a sample itinerary from New York to Boston. You can use a tool like Great Circle Mapper to calculate the distance between two airports — in this case, 190 miles.
Next, navigate to BA.com and select “Book flights with Avios.” You can then input your departure and arrival airports and dates and select a one-way or round-trip option.
Your results will be on the next page. On this route, for our specific dates, one-way award flights start at 8,250 Avios.
If you have enough Avios, you can book your flight. If not, you can transfer them from a transfer partner, like Amex.
Delta SkyMiles
Unlike British Airways, Delta does not use an award chart. Instead, its loyalty program, Delta SkyMiles, uses dynamic pricing. That means the cost of a reward flight can be higher or lower depending on factors such as seasonality, demand, and more.
While Delta SkyMiles aren’t typically highly valued as a points-and-miles currency, they can be incredibly valuable for booking short-haul domestic flights. For instance, flights between the airline’s Atlanta hub and Washington, D.C., start at just 8,500 SkyMiles each way — an excellent deal for such a popular route.
Another way to use SkyMiles for domestic flights is to book travel to U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. SkyMiles awards on these flights are usually extremely affordable, such as the fare we found from New York to San Juan for just 9,500 one-way.
Booking international flights with Amex points
Booking international flights with Amex points is similar to booking domestic flights, although there is a bit more planning involved.
Once you’ve chosen a transfer partner, search for award availability on their website or through partner airlines in their alliance. (Not sure which transfer partner to seach with for your route? point.me can help. We search hundreds of airlines and dozens of loyalty programs to show you the best points fare, then tell you exactly how to transfer points and book them.)
If you transfer points to a membership with a SkyTeam member, like Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, you can book flights on partner airlines, like Delta, as long as you have enough miles in your membership rewards account. This expands your options and can help you find more convenient routes or better redemption rates.
As you’ll see in the example below, a Delta flight from Atlanta to Rio can cost just 44,000 Flying Club points — and while Virgin doesn’t fly on this route, you can still book partner flights through its Flying Club program.
Tips for booking flights with Amex points
Sometimes award availability on your preferred airline or program will be limited. In those cases, consider using the Membership Rewards travel portal to get a points rebate or book flights directly. While this option may offer less value than transferring points to airlines, it can still be convenient, especially for last-minute bookings or when flexibility is limited.
Speaking of flexibility: Keeping your travel dates and destinations open can significantly increase your chances of finding available award seats, especially during peak travel seasons.
When redeeming points for international flights, be aware of additional taxes, fees, and surcharges that may apply. Some programs have lower fees than others, so compare the total cost — including points and fees — across different redemption options to ensure you’re getting the best value.
One last piece of advice: Award availability tends to be more limited for international flights, especially in premium cabins. Try to book as early as possible — ideally nine to 12 months in advance — to secure the best redemption options and maximize your chances of finding award seats.
Using airline alliances to maximize your Amex points
To make the most of your Membership Rewards points, take a look at the Amex Travel transfer partners that have points and miles you can use on other airlines. For instance, you can book American Airlines flights with British Airways Avios, while Aeroplan points can be used for United Airlines and Etihad Airways.
Travel purchases you can pay for with Amex points
You can redeem points to pay for various travel purchases, such as flights, prepaid hotels, prepaid car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises.
The best ways to redeem your Amex points
The best way to redeem your American Express points is by booking flights and hotels, especially on airlines like Emirates, Etihad, Singapore, or British Airways. These airlines offer some of the best ways to fly in business and first class — think: Emirates First Class (which offers an onboard shower!) or Etihad’s Apartment.
Even if you don’t manage to score one of those highly coveted seats, not to worry. Amex has more than a dozen transfer partners, including many of the world’s largest airlines, so you’re bound to find a fare that fits the bill.
The worst ways to redeem your Amex points
The worst way to redeem your American Express points is on non-travel purchases. Generally, you’ll want to avoid using points to cover charges on your American Express card, whether it’s for cash back or a statement credit, to pay for items at merchants like Amazon, and on gift cards or other eligible purchases.
Frequently asked questions about using Amex points to book a flight
Can I use Amex points for flights?
Yes, you can use Membership Rewards points for flights either by redeeming points on the Amex Travel portal or by transferring Amex points to partner airlines.
How many points do I need for a free flight?
For a free flight, the required Membership Rewards points per dollar depend on the airline. Some airlines, such as JetBlue, offer flights for as low as 500 points each way, usually on domestic short-haul flights.
Should I book my trip via Amex Travel or through the airline directly?
It’s fine to book your trip via the American Express travel portal or directly through your preferred airline. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, so it really comes down to personal preference. Amex Travel can be beneficial if you want to earn or redeem Membership Rewards points, enjoy travel benefits, and prefer to manage your trip on a single platform.
However, booking directly through the airline can, in some instances, offer lower prices, access to customer support, and more flexibility for changes or cancellations. It’s important to compare the prices and benefits of both options before making a decision. Ultimately, if you value loyalty program perks and direct airline support, booking with the airline might be the better choice, while Amex Travel can be ideal for leveraging cardholder benefits.
Will I earn points if I book my travel directly?
Yes, you’ll earn Membership Rewards points or miles when you use your Amex points to book directly with an airline or hotel; generally, you do not earn points on flights or hotels that you paid for with points.
Can I cancel a trip booked with Amex rewards points?
Yes, you can cancel a trip booked with Amex rewards points, provided you booked a refundable ticket. However, cancellations are subject to the airline’s fare rules agreed to at the time of booking. You’ll want to ensure that you booked a refundable ticket just in case you need to cancel.
Can I transfer my Amex points to an airline or hotel loyalty program?
Yes, you can transfer your Amex points to an airline or hotel loyalty program. The Amex travel portal has more than a dozen airline and hotel transfer partners.
How long does it take to transfer my Amex points to a travel partner?
Most programs transfer instantly, although some, such as Aeromexico, can take up to five days.
Will I earn miles or points on bookings made with Amex reward points?
You won’t be eligible to earn miles or points on bookings made with Amex reward points; however, you will earn Amex points on taxes and fees if you book with an Amex card.
Which Amex credit cards can I use to pay with points?
You can use any American Express credit card that participates in the Membership Rewards program to pay with points.
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