How to Transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points
American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to 16 airline partners, most at a 1:1 ratio. A few are exceptions: Cathay Pacific, Emirates Skywards, and JetBlue TrueBlue each transfer at 1:0.8 (1,000 MR points → 800 miles), while Aeromexico Rewards is unusually generous at 1:1.6 (1,000 MR points → 1,600 miles). Transfers are typically instant, making Amex one of the most flexible transfer currencies.
Airline Transfer Partners (16)
| Airline Program | Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1:1 | Instant |
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1:1.6 | Instant |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | Instant |
| ANA Mileage Club | 1:1 | 2-3 days |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 | Instant |
| The British Airways Club | 1:1 | Instant |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:0.8 | Instant |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:0.8 | Instant |
| Air France/KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant |
| Iberia Plus | 1:1 | Instant |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:0.8 | Instant |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | Instant |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1:1 | Instant |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 12-24 hours |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | Instant |
How to Transfer Points — Step by Step
- Log in to your American Express account at americanexpress.com or the Amex app.
- Navigate to "Membership Rewards" and select "Transfer Points."
- Choose your airline partner from the list.
- Enter the number of points to transfer (minimum and steps of 1,000 for most partners; 250 for JetBlue).
- Enter your frequent flyer number for the destination program.
- Make sure the name on your frequent flyer account matches the name on your card exactly (including any middle name) — a mismatch can hold the transfer for days.
- Confirm the transfer. Most transfers are instant.
Tips & Things to Know
- Amex charges a $0.0006/point excise tax for transfers to U.S.-based airlines (Delta, JetBlue).
- Watch for periodic transfer bonuses of 20-40% to select partners.
- You must have the frequent flyer account set up before initiating a transfer.
- Transfers are one-way and non-reversible once completed.
Transfer partner availability, ratios, and transfer times are subject to change. Always verify current details with the card issuer before transferring points.