American Express lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, but the process and value depend on which card you hold and which partner you choose

Not all American Express cards allow point transfers. The American Express Platinum Card, American Express Gold Card, and several business versions let you move Membership Rewards points to roughly 20 airline and hotel partners. The American Express Green Card does not offer transfers — you can only redeem points for cash back or statement credits. If you hold a basic Blue or everyday card, transfers are not available either.

When transfers are available, you move points directly through your online account to a partner's loyalty program. The process takes a few minutes to set up but the points themselves usually land in the partner account within 24 hours. You do not need to contact American Express or the airline — the system is automated once you confirm the transfer amount.

The real decision is whether transferring makes sense for your travel plans. A transfer locks your points into one airline or hotel chain. You cannot get them back. Some people find that transferring points to a partner program gives them better value per point than redeeming them directly through American Express, especially for premium cabin flights. Others find the opposite. The math depends on which partner you choose and what you want to book.

Key Takeaways

  • Only Platinum, Gold, and certain business American Express cards allow point transfers; basic Blue and everyday cards do not.
  • Transfers go directly from your American Express account to a partner airline or hotel loyalty program and usually arrive within 24 hours.
  • Once transferred, points cannot be moved back to American Express or to a different partner, so confirm your choice before you transfer.
  • The value of a transferred point varies by partner and by what you book — sometimes transfers offer better value than redeeming directly through American Express, sometimes worse.
  • You can transfer points in any amount, with no minimum, though some partners have transfer bonuses that reward you for moving larger amounts at once.

Which American Express cards allow transfers

The American Express Platinum Card and American Express Gold Card are the two most common cards that allow transfers. Both let you move points to the same set of airline and hotel partners. If you hold a business version of either card — the Business Platinum or Business Gold — you also have transfer rights.

The American Express Green Card does not allow transfers. Neither do the basic Blue Cash or everyday cards. If you are unsure whether your card allows transfers, log into your American Express account online and look for a "Transfer Points" or "Membership Rewards" section. If the option does not appear, your card does not support transfers.

Some co-branded cards — like the American Express Hilton or American Express Delta cards — do not transfer points to other programs because the points are already locked into that specific hotel or airline. Those cards earn points in the partner's own loyalty program, not in Membership Rewards.

The list of airline and hotel partners you can transfer to

American Express maintains a list of roughly 20 transfer partners, though the exact list changes occasionally. The partners include major airlines like Delta, United, Southwest, and American Airlines, as well as international carriers like Air France-KLM and Singapore Airlines. Hotel partners include Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG.

You can see the full current list by logging into your American Express account and navigating to the Membership Rewards transfer section. The list shows each partner's name and the current transfer rate — usually one American Express point equals one point in the partner program, though some partners occasionally offer transfer bonuses where you earn extra points for moving a large amount at once.

Transfer bonuses are temporary promotions. American Express might offer a bonus like "transfer 50,000 points and receive 10,000 bonus points" for a specific partner during a limited window. These bonuses appear in your account when they are active, so check before you transfer if you want to take advantage of one.

How to transfer points step by step

Log into your American Express account online or through the mobile app. Navigate to the Membership Rewards section — the exact location varies slightly by card type, but it is usually under "Rewards" or "My Benefits."

Look for an option labeled "Transfer Points" or "Send Points to Partners." Click it and select the partner airline or hotel you want to transfer to. You will see a list of all available partners for your card type. Choose one.

Enter the number of points you want to transfer. There is no minimum amount — you can transfer as few as 1,000 points or as many as your balance allows. American Express will show you the transfer rate (usually 1:1) and confirm the amount before you submit.

Review the confirmation screen carefully. It will show the partner name, the number of points you are sending, and a warning that the transfer cannot be reversed. Once you click "Confirm" or "Submit," the points leave your American Express account immediately. They usually appear in your partner loyalty account within 24 hours, though it can take up to 48 hours in rare cases.

When transferring points offers better value than redeeming directly

American Express lets you redeem Membership Rewards points directly for travel through their travel portal, or for cash back at a fixed rate. When you transfer points to a partner instead, you are betting that those points will be worth more when you use them in that partner's program.

This is true in some cases. If you want to book a premium cabin flight — business or first class — partner airline programs often price those seats in a way that gives you more value per point than American Express's direct redemption. For example, a business class flight that costs 150,000 points through American Express might cost 100,000 points when you transfer to the airline and book directly. In that scenario, transferring saves you 50,000 points.

The opposite is also common. Some airline partners price economy flights high, making direct redemption through American Express the better deal. Hotel partners vary widely too — some Hilton or Marriott redemptions offer strong value, others do not. The only way to know is to search for the specific flight or hotel you want in both places: the American Express travel portal and the partner's own booking site.

One advantage of transferring is flexibility. Once points are in an airline or hotel account, you can use them for any booking that program offers, including partner airlines or hotels within their network. American Express direct redemption is more limited in scope.

Transfer bonuses and timing

American Express occasionally runs transfer bonuses that reward you for moving a large amount of points to a specific partner at a specific time. A typical bonus might be: "Transfer 50,000 or more points to Delta and receive 10,000 bonus points." The bonus points land in your Delta account along with the transferred points.

These bonuses are temporary and appear in your account when they are active. You will see them in the transfer section when you log in. If a bonus interests you, transfer during the promotion window — once it ends, the bonus disappears and you cannot retroactively claim it.

Bonuses are not always worth chasing. A 10,000-point bonus sounds good, but if you do not have a specific use for 50,000 Delta points, the bonus is just encouraging you to transfer points you might have redeemed more efficiently elsewhere. Only transfer if you have a concrete travel plan that uses those points.

What happens after you transfer

Once points land in your partner airline or hotel account, they are no longer your American Express points — they belong to that partner program. You cannot transfer them back to American Express, and you cannot move them to a different airline or hotel. They are locked in.

You can use them to book travel through that partner's website or call center. Most airline programs let you book any seat available to that airline's members, including partner airlines within their network. Hotel programs work similarly — you can book at any property in that chain or its partners.

Points in partner programs do not expire as long as you have account activity — usually defined as earning or redeeming points, or sometimes just logging in. Check the partner's policy to understand what counts as activity. If your account goes dormant, points may expire after a set period, typically one to three years depending on the partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer points to multiple partners at the same time?

Yes. You can split your points across different partners in separate transfers. There is no rule against transferring 25,000 points to Delta and 25,000 points to Hilton in the same day. Each transfer is independent, so you can move points to as many partners as you want, as long as your total balance covers it.

What if I transfer points and then change my mind?

American Express does not reverse transfers. Once points leave your account and land in a partner program, they are gone from American Express. If you transferred to the wrong partner or changed your travel plans, you would need to use those points in the partner program or let them sit unused. Plan carefully before you transfer.

Do transferred points count toward elite status in the partner program?

No. Most airline and hotel programs count only points earned directly through their own credit cards or bookings toward elite status. Transferred points usually count toward your point balance and can be redeemed, but they do not advance you toward elite tiers. Check the specific partner's rules to be certain.

Is there a limit to how many points I can transfer at once?

American Express does not publish a hard limit, but most accounts can transfer up to your full balance in a single transaction. If you try to transfer an unusually large amount, American Express may flag it for review. For most people, this is not an issue — you can transfer whatever you need for your travel plans.

Do I need to have an account with the partner airline or hotel before I transfer?

No. You can transfer points to a partner even if you do not yet have an account with them. American Express will ask for your partner account number or email address during the transfer. If you do not have an account, you can create one with the partner first, then use that account number during the transfer. The points will land in the new account once it is set up.