Transferable points are probably the most valuable points to earn with a credit card. They give more flexibility when you redeem them for travel: unlike airline or hotel points, which can only be used with a specific airline or hotel, transferable points can be transferred to multiple airline or hotel loyalty programs. Plus, points transfer is given in addition to other standard redemption options, including booking travel directly through the issuer without transferring points to loyalty programs.
Below we are reviewing five point transfer programs from big credit card issuers: American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards. Each program has its own set of participating travel partners and some of them overlap giving you extra opportunities to maximize points earning.
American Express Membership Rewards®
The Membership Rewards program allows you to earn points with eligible American Express cards. Generally, Amex cardholders will earn at least 1 point per dollar on all eligible purchases, but some cards can offer higher rewards rates on select purchases, like restaurant purchases, travel purchases, and purchases at supermarkets to name a few.
The easiest way to earn Membership Rewards points is with an Amex credit card enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Cards can offer welcome bonuses, extra rewards in specific spending categories, and extra benefits. Plus, Amex card members can enroll in Amex Offers and refer friends to receive extra rewards.
Here are American Express credit cards that earn Membership Rewards points:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- American Express® Green Card
- Business Green Rewards Card
- Blue Business® Plus Credit Card
- Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
When it comes to redeeming Membership Rewards points, Amex card members can do it in several ways: pay with points at checkout, redeem for gift cards, use points like statement credits, book or upgrade travel, shop online with points, donate, or transfer points to travel partners. The last option is a firm favorite with avid travelers. The Membership Rewards program allows members to transfer points to more than 20 frequent flyer and hotel loyalty program partners.
Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
| Transfer Partner | Type | Transfer Ratio | Estimated Transfer Time | Minimum Transfer Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| AeroMexico | Airline | 1:1.6 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| ANA Mileage Club | Airline | 1:1 | 4 days | 1,000 points |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Airline | 1:1 | 72 hours | 1,000 points |
| British Airways Executive Club | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Choice Privileges® | Hotel | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Delta SkyMiles® | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Emirates Skywards | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Etihad Guest | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| HawaiianMiles® | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Flying Blue | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Iberia Plus | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| JetBlue TrueBlue® | Airline | 1.25:1 | 48 hours | 250 points |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 500 points |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Airline | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
| Hilton Honors | Hotel | 1:2 | 24 hours | 1,000 points |
| Marriott Bonvoy™ | Hotel | 1:1 | 48 hours | 1,000 points |
Capital One Miles
Capital One miles are Capital One’s travel rewards currency that can be earned with select travel rewards credit cards from Capital One. Cardholders will earn at least 1 mile per dollar on purchases made with travel cards. Plus, Capital One offers opportunities to earn increased rewards on select purchases. For example, select purchases made at Capital One Travel earn from 5X to 10X miles, depending on the card you have.
Here are Capital One travel rewards credit cards that earn miles:
- VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit
- VentureOne Rewards
- Venture Rewards
- Venture X Rewards
- Venture X Business
- Spark 2X Miles
- Spark 1.5X Miles Select
Capital One miles can be used in several ways and not only towards travel. Thus, if you do not want to redeem for travel, you can get gift cards, shop with miles, redeem miles with Capital One Entertainment, or even redeem for cash back. Travel redemptions also have several options: you can redeem miles on travel-related purchases, book travel with miles though Capital One Travel, or transfer miles to more than 15 travel loyalty programs.
Capital One Miles Transfer Partners
| Transfer Partner | Type | Transfer Ratio | Estimated Transfer Time | Minimum Transfer Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accor Live Limitless | Hotel | 2:1 | Up to 24 hours | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Aeromexico | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Air France KLM Flying Blue | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Air Canada Aeroplan® | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Asia Miles | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 5 days | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| British Airways Avios | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Emirates Skywards | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Etihad Guest | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 24 hours | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | Airline | 2:1.5 | Up to 36 hours | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Finnair Plus | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 24 hours | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 36 hours | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
| Virgin Red | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Capital One miles |
Citi ThankYou® Rewards
ThankYou® Rewards is a program that lets you earn ThankYou® Points when you make purchases with eligible credit cards. ThankYou points can be combined under a single ThankYou Account, which means you can pool or share points with friends, family members or even total strangers provided they have a ThankYou account. Just keep in mind that shared points are valid for 90 days from the date they are received.
Here are eligible Citi ThankYou® Rewards credit cards:
- Citi Rewards+® Credit Card
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Citi Custom Cash® Card
- Citi Premier® Card
- AT&T Points Plus® Credit Card from Citi
There are various ways you can redeem ThankYou Points: from gift cards to cash, you can pay with points or share your points with other ThankYou members, or you can donate points to participating charities. However, transferring points to airline and hotel partners is probably the most interesting option, especially for frequent travelers. There are 14 airline partners and 4 hotel partners in the ThankYou Rewards program. Most transfers to participating loyalty programs are at a 1:1 ratio.
Citi ThankYou® Rewards Transfer Partners
| Transfer Partner | Type | Transfer Ratio | Estimated Transfer Time | Minimum Transfer Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avianca LifeMiles | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| Aeromexico | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| ALL – Accor Live Limitless | Hotel | 2:1 | Up to 36 hours | 1,000 points |
| Cathay Pacific | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| Choice Privileges® | Hotel | 1:2 or 1:1.5* | Instant | 1,000 points |
| Emirates Skywards | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| Etihad Guest | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| EVA Air | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 3 days | 1,000 points |
| Flying Blue | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Airline | 1:1 or 1:0.8* | Instant | 1,000 points |
| Leaders Club | Hotel | 1:0.2 | Up to 14 days | 1,000 points |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| Qatar Privilege Club | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 2 days | 1,000 points |
| Shop Your Way | Retail | 1:10 | 3 to 5 days | 1 point |
| Singapore Airlines | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 24 hours | 1,000 points |
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 7 days | 1,000 points |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 24 hours | 1,000 points |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 points |
| Wyndham Rewards® | Hotel | 1:1 or 1:0.8* | Instant | 1,000 points |
*Transfer exchange rates vary depending on your card.
Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Chase Ultimate Rewards® is a credit card rewards program offered by Chase. The program allows consumers with eligible Chase credit cards to earn points on all everyday purchases, whether you shop at your favorite retailers, dine out with friends or travel around the world. Chase credit cards can offer a sign-up bonus, which you can earn by meeting certain spending requirements within a specified amount of time, or you can earn higher points per dollar spent in specific categories (such as gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and more).
Here are eligible Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
There are four main ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards points: book travel through the Chase Travel Portal, redeem for gift cards, redeem for cash back, or transfer points to a partner. To transfer points to Chase’s travel partners, log into the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and choose the “Transfer to Travel Partners” section. There, you will see a list of airline and hotel partners to choose from. Also, you can see a full list of Chase’s travel partners below.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners
| Transfer Partner | Type | Transfer Ratio | Estimated Transfer Time | Minimum Transfer Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| British Airways Executive Club | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Emirates Skywards® | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Air France KLM Flying Blue | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Iberia Plus | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| United MileagePlus® | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| IHG® Rewards Club | Hotel | 1:1 | 24 hours | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Marriott Bonvoy™ | Hotel | 1:1 | Up to 2 days | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| World of Hyatt® | Hotel | 1:1 | Instant | 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
Bilt Rewards
Bilt Rewards is a loyalty program that lets you earn points on purchases, but more notably, you can earn Bilt points by paying your rent. You don’t have to have a Bilt credit card to earn Bilt points. You can simply become a Bilt Rewards member, link a debit or credit card to your Bilt account, and start earning points with Bilt Neighborhood Rewards or by paying your rent. However, earning can be easier with the Bilt Mastercard® credit card.
Bilt Rewards members can redeem their points in various ways: use points towards rent, save points to use them towards a down payment on a home, shop with partners, redeem points on the Bilt Travel Portal, or transfer points to Bilt loyalty partners. Bilt members can transfer Bilt points at a 1:1 rate to most Bilt travel partners. Below are the loyalty programs you can transfer Bilt points to using the Bilt app.
Bilt Loyalty Partners
| Transfer Partner | Type | Transfer Ratio | Estimated Transfer Time | Minimum Transfer Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska® Airlines | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 72 hours | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Accor ALL | Hotel | 3:2 | Within 24 hours | 3,000 Bilt Points |
| FlyingBlue® | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Cathay Pacific | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Air Canada Aeroplan® | Airline | 1:1 | Within 24 hours | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| United MileagePlus® | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| IHG® Hotels & Resorts | Hotel | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 72 hours | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Iberia | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| British Airways | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Aer Lingus AerClub | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| World of Hyatt® | Hotel | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Marriott Bonvoy™ | Hotel | 1:1 | Within 48 hours | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Emirates Skywards® | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Hawaiian Airlines® | Airline | 1:1 | Within minutes | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| Hilton Honors | Hotel | 1:1 | Within 24 hours | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
| TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go | Airline | 1:1 | Within 24 hours | 1,000 Bilt Points (2,000 Bilt Points for members with Blue Status) |
Bottom line
Travel enthusiasts love point transfers as they have the potential to increase the value of earned points. When you master all ins and outs of credit card point transfers, you will see more opportunities to earn points or miles and can get more flexibility when redeeming them.