Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partners: 2026 List

The same 10,000 Amex points can become 16,000 Aeromexico points, 10,000 Delta miles, or just 8,000 JetBlue points. Where you send them changes what they're worth, sometimes by double or more.

That's why knowing the current Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners list matters. As of July 2026, American Express points transfer to 16 airline programs and 3 hotel programs. Most move at 1:1, but a few ratios are better or worse, and one longtime partner just left the list.

Full List of Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partners (July 2026)

Here is every airline partner and its transfer ratio, current as of July 2026:

One notable exit: transfers to Etihad Guest ended permanently on June 30, 2026, so Etihad is no longer an option for Amex points.

Amex Hotel Transfer Partners

Amex keeps its hotel list short. There are exactly three hotel partners as of July 2026:

• Choice Privileges: 1:1
• Hilton Honors: 1:2 (every Amex point becomes 2 Hilton points)
• Marriott Bonvoy: 1:1

Hilton's 1:2 ratio looks generous, but Hilton points are usually worth about half as much as other hotel currencies. It's a fair trade, not free money.

The Transfer Ratios That Are Not 1:1

Four partners break the standard ratio, and the math matters before you hit transfer.

Aeromexico is the outlier in your favor: 1,000 Amex points become 1,600 Aeromexico points. Cathay Pacific and Emirates both transfer at 5:4, so 1,000 points become just 800 miles. JetBlue is the weakest at 1:0.8, turning 1,000 points into 800 TrueBlue points.

A worse ratio isn't automatically a bad deal. A Cathay Pacific business class seat to Asia can still beat a cash fare by a wide margin even after the 5:4 haircut. Run the numbers on the specific award before transferring.

Live Amex Transfer Bonuses as of July 2026

Amex regularly runs limited-time bonuses that boost these ratios. As of early July 2026, three are active:

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 30% bonus through July 31, 2026
• Hilton Honors: 20% bonus through July 14, 2026
• Avianca LifeMiles: 15% bonus through July 15, 2026

A 30% bonus turns 100,000 points into 130,000 Virgin points, which can cover a one-way business class seat between the US and UK with room to spare. Bonuses change monthly, so check the transfer page in your Amex account before moving points.

How Membership Rewards Transfers Work

Transfers are one-way and irreversible. Once points land in an airline program, they follow that program's rules and expiration policies, so transfer only when you have a specific award in mind.

Most transfers require a 1,000-point minimum, with two exceptions: JetBlue starts at 250 points and Qantas at 500. Many partners post instantly, while others can take up to 48 hours.

One more cost to know: on transfers to US airlines such as Delta and JetBlue, Amex passes along a federal excise offset fee of $0.0006 per point, capped at $99. Transferring 50,000 points to Delta costs $30, for example.

Which Cards Earn Membership Rewards Points

You need an eligible Amex card to play. The main earners as of July 2026 are the American Express Gold Card ($325 annual fee) and The Platinum Card ($895 annual fee), along with the Green Card and several business versions. Terms apply, and annual fees have climbed in recent years, so make sure your spending actually justifies the card before chasing partners.

If a Premium Amex Is Not the Right Fit

Points transfers reward people who fly often and enjoy the puzzle. If that's not you, simpler products may serve you better.

The Robinhood Gold Card earns a flat 3% cash back on every purchase as of July 2026 with a Robinhood Gold membership, no transfer charts required. It also charges no foreign transaction fees, and because it opens through your Robinhood brokerage account, your cash back can go straight into investing instead of sitting idle. It's flat cash back rather than transferable points, so think of it as the simple high-cash-back companion, not a 1:1 substitute for this list.

If your credit score isn't ready for a premium card yet, the Aspire Mastercard offers unsecured cash back rewards with no security deposit and reports to all three bureaus, so the on-time history you build now is what makes cards like the Gold or Platinum reachable later. Read our full Aspire Mastercard review to see if it fits.

Prefer to skip a hard credit pull entirely? The Perpay Credit Card requires no hard credit pull, takes payments straight from your paycheck, and reports payments to all three credit bureaus. Building your score first makes the premium cards reachable later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Amex Membership Rewards points expire?

No. Points stay active as long as you keep at least one Membership Rewards card open. Close all your eligible cards, though, and unredeemed points are forfeited, so transfer or spend them before canceling.

Can I transfer Amex points to United or Hyatt?

No. United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt are Chase partners, not Amex partners. If those programs matter to you, you'd need a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points instead, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Can I undo a transfer if I change my mind?

No, all transfers are final and one-way. That's why the standard advice is to confirm your award seat is bookable before you move points out of Amex.

What are Membership Rewards points worth?

Value depends entirely on redemption. Statement credits and many gift cards return under 1 cent per point, while smart airline transfers often return 1.5 to 2 cents or more. Transfers to partners are typically the highest-value use of the program.