At TheMilesAcademy, we believe in making travel rewards work harder for you. Transferring credit card points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs lets you maximize your rewards and avoid the limitations of a single program. In this guide, we walk you through the top credit card transfer partners available today, share current valuations, and explain how to earn transferable points so you can book your next trip with confidence.
Why Transferable Points Give You the Upper Hand
Locking points in a single loyalty program can leave you stuck when award charts devalue or award space dries up. With transferable currencies like Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou, you call the shots. You can shop for the lowest award price across dozens of programs and move points to the partner that gives you the best deal.
For instance, we saw a 40% transfer bonus from Amex to Avianca LifeMiles—turning a standard 1:1 ratio into 1:1.4. If you had 100,000 Amex points, that extra 40,000 miles could mean an extra one-way business-class seat to Europe at 63,000 miles instead of 100,000 on some carriers. That’s why tracking monthly valuations and bonus windows is nonnegotiable.
Airline Credit Card Transfer Partners Snapshot
Below is the latest snapshot of airline partners, with updated valuations and transfer ratios. We’ve split details into two tables—one focusing on valuations and ratios, and another on transfer timing and notes—to make things clearer.
Valuations & Transfer Ratios
Airline Program | Valuation (May 2025) | Amex MR | Bilt Rewards | CapOne Miles | Chase UR | Citi TY | WF Rewards |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aer Lingus AerClub (Avios) | 1.4 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A |
Aeromexico Club Premier | N/A | 1:1.6 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Air Canada Aeroplan | 1.5 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A |
Air France KLM Flying Blue | 1.35 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A |
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | 1.6 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
American Airlines AAdvantage | 1.55 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
ANA Mileage Club | 1.45 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | N/A |
Avianca LifeMiles | 1.45 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A |
British Airways Executive Club (Avios) | 1.45 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A |
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1.35 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A |
Delta SkyMiles | 1.3 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Emirates Skywards | 1.25 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Etihad Guest | 1.25 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Finnair Plus (Avios) | 1.45 ¢ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles | 1.6 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Iberia Plus (Avios) | 1.45 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | 1.45 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
JetBlue TrueBlue | 1.4 ¢ | 250:200 | N/A | 2:1 | 1.25:1 | N/A | N/A |
Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1.3 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1.45 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1.35 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Southwest Rapid Rewards | 1.35 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
TAP Miles&Go | 1.3 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1.25 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
United MileagePlus | 1.4 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1.45 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | N/A |
Transfer Timing & Notes
Airline Program | Transfer Notes |
Aer Lingus AerClub (Avios) | Mostly instant; occasional 50% transfer bonus in Q1 2025 |
Aeromexico Club Premier | Transfer paused Mar–Apr 2025, resumed May 2025 |
Air Canada Aeroplan | Biweekly award sales affect true valuation |
Air France KLM Flying Blue | Weekly Promo rewards change value by 10–15% |
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Popular for cheap premium-cabin redemptions to Asia |
American Airlines AAdvantage | Now offering off-peak awards to Europe starting Sep 2025 |
ANA Mileage Club | Rates jump seasonally; plan ahead for best value |
Avianca LifeMiles | May 2025 saw 40% bonus from Amex through June 30 |
British Airways Executive Club (Avios) | Peak surcharges rising; watch for off-peak pricing |
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Asia travel demand spiking, award availability tight |
Delta SkyMiles | Variable award pricing means value can swing 20% |
Emirates Skywards | Suspending transfers occasionally—check before you send |
Etihad Guest | New milestone rewards introduced Mar 2025 |
Finnair Plus (Avios) | New off-peak awards to North America launching Q4 2025 |
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles | Great for intra‑Hawaii and Asia routes, limited saver space |
Iberia Plus (Avios) | Iberia’s off-peak awards to Europe can drop 40% |
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | Peak redemptions to Europe/US now requiring 60,000+ JPY points |
JetBlue TrueBlue | Northeast routes in summer peak; redeem mid-week for savings |
Qantas Frequent Flyer | New $10 carrier charge on awards ex-US introduced May 2025 |
Qatar Airways Privilege Club | Exceptional award availability to Middle East off-peak |
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Seeking more saver seats on North America routes |
Southwest Rapid Rewards | No blackout dates; value tied directly to cash fare |
TAP Miles&Go | Cheap Europe-to-US awards starting at 55,000 miles off-peak |
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | Inconsistent award space; focus on Asia hubs |
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Stopover-friendly awards make multi-city trips easier |
United MileagePlus | New USDA awards to Europe for 45,000 miles in off-peak |
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Delta partner awards often cheaper via Virgin than Delta itself |
Most transfers post instantly, but some (Amex→Aeromexico, Chase→Emirates) can take 24–72 hours. Always check each issuer’s estimated transfer time before sending live points.
Hotel Credit Card Transfer Partners Update
Below are the leading hotel partners letting you convert hotel points to airlines, plus our most recent valuations and noted transfer promotions:
Hotel Program | Valuation | Amex MR | Bilt Rewards | WF Rewards | Transfer Notes |
Accor Live Limitless | 2.0 ¢ | 3:2 | N/A | N/A | 30% bonus for transfers to Air France KLM May–Jul 2025 |
Best Western Rewards | 0.6 ¢ | N/A | N/A | N/A | No airline transfers, but cash-back redemptions improved |
Choice Privileges | 0.65 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | N/A | Occasional 15% bonus to Qatar Airways |
Hilton Honors | 0.55 ¢ | 1:2 | 1:1 | N/A | 5,000 Points > 5,000 HH, then transfer to airlines at 10:1 |
IHG One Rewards | 0.5 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | N/A | New 20% bonus to United through Jun 2025 |
I Prefer Hotel | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No airline partners, but double points in winter months |
Marriott Bonvoy | 0.75 ¢ | 1:1 | 1:1 | N/A | 25% bonus to Turkish Miles&Smiles in Apr 2025 |
World of Hyatt | 1.75 ¢ | 1:1 | N/A | N/A | Hyatt’s new Milestone Rewards launched Mar 2025 |
Wyndham Rewards | 1.2 ¢ | N/A | N/A | 1:1 | Limited to a few airline partners, with 10% bonus now |
Earning Transferable Points
With new cards and updated bonus categories introduced this spring, now is the time to reassess your lineup.
American Express Membership Rewards
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earns 5× points on airfare and prepaid hotels. Current offer: 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $7,000 in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $695.
- American Express® Gold Card: Earns 4× points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year), plus 3× on flights booked directly. Current offer: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months. Annual fee: $250.
- American Express® Business Platinum Card®: Earns 5× points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, plus 1.5× on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Current offer: 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $695.
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Earns 4× points on the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle (from eligible categories), up to the first $150,000 in combined purchases per year. Current offer: 75,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $7,000 in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $295.
- Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Earns 2× points on the first $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1× point thereafter. Current offer: 20,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. No annual fee.
Membership Rewards points averaged about 1.8 ¢, as credit card transfer partners held strong award availability. Keep an eye on transfer bonuses, which still pop up from time to time.
Bilt Rewards
- Bilt Mastercard®: Earns 3× points on dining, 2× on travel (airfare, hotels, cruises, rental cars), and 1× on all other purchases. No annual fee. Current offer: 15,000 Bilt points after 10 dine-out transactions in the first 45 days.
The Bilt points sat near 1.5 ¢ in Q2 2025, largely due to strong off-peak availability on airline partners. Bilt remains the only card that earns points on rent with no fee.
Capital One Miles
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earns 10× miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5× on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2× on all other purchases. Current offer: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $395.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earns 2× miles on every purchase. Current offer: 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $95.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Earns 1.25× miles on every purchase. Current offer: 20,000 miles after spending $500 in the first 3 months. No annual fee.
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earns 2× miles on every purchase. Current offer: 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months. No annual fee first year, then $95.
Capital One miles were valued at roughly 1.7 ¢ in mid-2025. JetBlue TrueBlue transfers drive much of the value on East Coast itineraries.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earns 5× points on travel purchased through Chase, 3× on dining, and 2× on all other travel. Current offer: 75,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $95.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earns 10× points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, 5× on air travel purchased through Chase, and 3× on all other travel and dining. Current offer: 60,000 points after $5,000 spend in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $550.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earns 3× points on the first $150,000 spent per year in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising purchases. Current offer: 80,000 points after $5,000 spend in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $95.
- Chase Freedom Flex®: Earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter (activation required), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% on all other purchases. Current offer: $200 bonus after $500 spend in the first 3 months. No annual fee.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earns 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Current offer: $200 bonus after $500 spend in the first 3 months. No annual fee.
Ultimate Rewards hovered around 2.1 ¢, bolstered by high redemption rates in the travel portal. Points from Freedom cards can be combined into a Sapphire or Ink account for transfer.
Citi ThankYou Points
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card: Earns 5× points on hotels and gas stations, 3× on dining, entertainment, and select streaming services, and 1× on all other purchases. Current offer: 75,000 points after $5,000 spend in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $95.
- Citi Prestige® Card: Earns 5× points on air travel and at restaurants, and 1× on all other purchases. Current offer: 50,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months. Annual fee: $495.
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Earns 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay). Current offer: None specific to ThankYou, but cash back can be converted to ThankYou points with the Strata Premier or Prestige Card.
ThankYou Points averaged about 1.9 ¢. Converting cash-back into points remains a useful tactic for award travel.
Wells Fargo Rewards
- Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Earns 3× points on dining, streaming services, and travel; 2× points on gas; 1× on all other purchases. Current offer: 40,000 points after $3,000 spend in the first 3 months. No annual fee.
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: Earns 1.5× points on all purchases when you pay an auto or mortgage bill. Current offer: 20,000 points after $2,000 spend in the first 3 months. No annual fee.
Wells Fargo points stood near 1.6 ¢, buoyed by recently added transfer options to airlines like Hawaiian and TAP.
How to Pool and Move Points
Running multiple cards without strategy can leave points stranded. Follow these examples to stay flexible:
- Chase Ecosystem: Shift all Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited points into Sapphire Preferred; then, transfer bulk to United for off-peak European awards at 45,000 miles one-way.
- Citi Funnel: Move all Citi Double Cash rewards (2% cash back) into a Citi Velocity Elite account at a 1:1:1 structure—cash back → TY → transfer to Flying Blue when 250 bonus seats drop.
- Amex Bucket: Funnel small balances from Blue Business Plus and Amex Gold Essential into Amex Platinum Elite. When a 30% bonus to British Airways hits, top up and book short-haul off-peak flights for 9,000 Avios.
- Wells Fargo Stack: Merge Autograph Plus and Elite points monthly; transfer to Hyatt when you see a flash sale—Hyatt awards can save you 20% vs. Marriott for similar stays.
Advanced Transfer Tactics
- Stack Transfer Bonuses: We saw a stacked promotion: Amex bonus of 30% to Avianca plus Avianca’s internal 10% award discount—netting 44% more value. On 100,000 Amex points, you’d net 144,000 LifeMiles—enough for two business-class one-way tickets to South America.
- Book Around Program Changes: United will devalue its chart in Nov 2025—consider loading up UR points and booking before Oct 15. Meanwhile, Air France KLM has already tightened its promo reward availability as of Jun 2025, so prioritize any upcoming Europe travel.
- Leverage Regional Hubs: Use Turkish Miles&Smiles for multi-city itineraries through Istanbul—often cheaper than booking separate legs via other Star Alliance partners. Couple with Marriott’s 25% transfer bonus (Apr 2025) for even more savings.
- Watch Out for Currency Conversion Fees: When moving points to certain international programs, you may incur small fees (e.g., 1.5% currency conversion on Avianca). Factor these into your valuation calculations.
- Use Points for Mixed Cabin Awards: Some programs (like ANA) let you mix coach and business in round-trip awards—if availability is sparse, this can knock thousands off your miles requirement without sacrificing comfort.
Best Practices for Point Transfers
- Hunt for Award Space Before You Transfer: Travel demand shifted heavily post-pandemic. Popular off-peak justifications include traveling to Europe in November (when United’s dynamic pricing dips by 20%). Always lock in award space with a dummy booking tool, then transfer.
- Transfer Minimal Points First: Programs like Qatar and Emirates sometimes take 48 hours. Send 5,000 points first to see how long it takes before committing your entire balance.
- Understand Dynamic vs. Fixed Charts: Delta, United, and British Airways now all have mostly dynamic pricing—valuations can swing 25% week to week. Set calendar alerts to watch pricing windows (e.g., Lufthansa’s 2-for-1 business sale in late July).
- Factor in Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges: Award flights on British and Emirates can tack on $200–$400 in fuel surcharges. Compare total cost of a partner booking vs. a cash ticket before sending points.
- Use Multi-Point Booking Tools: Sites like AwardHacker and ExpertFlyer can show date ranges where awards drop below 70,000 miles round-trip. Combine this with point pooling to hit thresholds precisely.
The Bottom Line
Transferable points have never been more valuable, but complexity has increased too. At TheMilesAcademy, we recommend focusing on a core transferable currency, stacking bonuses when possible, and always verifying award space before shifting points. With the right strategy, you can book flights that would otherwise cost $3,000 for as little as 40,000 miles.