If you’ve heard people talk about “transferring points” and felt confused, you’re not alone. Transfer partners are one of the most misunderstood — and most valuable — concepts in the points world.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know.
What Are Transfer Partners?
Transfer partners are airlines and hotels that have agreements with credit card programs to accept point transfers.
Instead of using your Chase points at a fixed rate (like 1.25¢ in the portal), you can transfer them to an airline or hotel and potentially get 2-5x more value.
Example:
- 60,000 Chase points in the travel portal = ~$900 flight
- 60,000 Chase points → Hyatt = 3 nights at a $400/night hotel ($1,200 value)
Same points. Double the value. That’s the power of transfer partners.
How Transfers Work
- You have flexible points in a bank program (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, Bilt)
- You transfer them to an airline/hotel loyalty program (usually 1:1)
- You book an award using those miles/points
- Transfers are instant (usually) and one-way (can’t transfer back)
⚠️ Important: Once you transfer, you can’t get the points back. Always search for award availability BEFORE transferring.
Major Credit Card Programs & Their Partners
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Airlines:
- United MileagePlus (1:1)
- Southwest Rapid Rewards (1:1)
- British Airways Avios (1:1)
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic (1:1)
- Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Iberia Plus (1:1)
- Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
- JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1)
Hotels:
- World of Hyatt (1:1)
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1, but lower value)
- IHG One Rewards (1:1)
Best Uses:
- Transfer to Hyatt for hotels (best value)
- Transfer to United for domestic flights
- Transfer to Virgin Atlantic for ANA flights to Japan
American Express Membership Rewards
Airlines:
- Delta SkyMiles (1:1)
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- British Airways Avios (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic (1:1)
- ANA Mileage Club (1:1)
- Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1)
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Etihad Guest (1:1)
- Hawaiian Airlines (1:1)
- JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1, with Amex bonus sometimes)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
- Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
Hotels:
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
- Hilton Honors (1:2 — you get double!)
- Choice Privileges (1:1)
Best Uses:
- Transfer to ANA for Japan flights (direct partner)
- Transfer to Hilton at 1:2 for quick hotel stays
- Transfer to Virgin Atlantic for partner awards
Capital One Miles
Airlines:
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- British Airways Avios (1:1)
- Turkish Miles&Smiles (1:1)
- Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Etihad Guest (1:1)
- Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1)
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
- TAP Air Portugal (1:1)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
- Finnair Plus (1:1)
- Japan Airlines (1:1) — unique to Capital One!
Hotels:
- Wyndham Rewards (1:1)
- Choice Privileges (1:1)
- Accor Live Limitless (1:1)
Best Uses:
- Transfer to JAL for Japan (exclusive partner)
- Transfer to Turkish for Star Alliance
- Transfer to Avianca LifeMiles (no fuel surcharges)
Citi ThankYou Points
Airlines:
- Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic (1:1)
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- Qatar Privilege Club (1:1)
- Etihad Guest (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
- JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1)
- Thai Royal Orchid Plus (1:1)
- Turkish Miles&Smiles (1:1)
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
Hotels:
- Choice Privileges (1:1)
- Wyndham Rewards (1:1)
Best Uses:
- Transfer to Qatar for QSuites
- Transfer to Turkish for partner awards
- Transfer to Singapore for Star Alliance
Bilt Rewards
Airlines:
- United (1:1)
- American Airlines (1:1)
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- British Airways Avios (1:1)
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1)
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Iberia Plus (1:1)
- Turkish Miles&Smiles (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic (1:1)
- Alaska Mileage Plan (1:1)
- Icelandair Saga Club (1:1)
Hotels:
- World of Hyatt (1:1)
- IHG One Rewards (1:1)
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
Best Uses:
- Transfer to Hyatt (same as Chase)
- Transfer to AA for partner awards
- Transfer to Virgin Atlantic for ANA
When to Transfer (And When Not To)
✅ Transfer When:
- You found award availability
- The value is significantly better than portal booking
- You have a specific trip planned
- Transfer bonuses are active (free extra points!)
❌ Don’t Transfer When:
- You haven’t searched for availability yet
- The cash price is cheap (use portal instead)
- You’re “saving for later” with no plan
- You’re close to earning status in the bank program
Transfer Bonuses
Periodically, programs offer bonus points when you transfer. These are free value.
Example: 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic means 100,000 Chase points become 130,000 Virgin Atlantic miles.
Current bonuses are tracked on our Transfer Bonuses page.
Pro Tip: Don’t chase bonuses without a plan. A 30% bonus on miles you’ll never use is worth $0.
The Transfer Strategy
Step 1: Find Award Availability
Search the airline’s website for award seats. Use tools like:
- Seats.aero (aggregator)
- ExpertFlyer (alerts)
- Direct airline websites
Step 2: Calculate Value
Compare:
- Points needed for award
- Cash price of the same flight/hotel
- Portal redemption option
Formula: Cash Price ÷ Points = Cents per Point
If you’re getting 2¢+ per point, it’s probably worth transferring.
Step 3: Transfer Points
Only after confirming availability. Transfers are usually instant.
Step 4: Book Immediately
Award availability can disappear. Have your info ready.
Common Mistakes
- Transferring before searching — Always find availability first
- Ignoring taxes and fees — Some programs charge $500+ in fuel surcharges
- Chasing bad bonuses — 50% to Marriott is still bad value
- Not considering cash prices — Sometimes the flight is just cheap
- Hoarding forever — Points devalue over time. Use them.
Best Value Transfer Partners
For Flights:
- Virgin Atlantic → Book ANA flights (Japan)
- Air Canada Aeroplan → Book partner flights (no surcharges)
- Turkish Miles&Smiles → Star Alliance coverage
- Avianca LifeMiles → No fuel surcharges
For Hotels:
- World of Hyatt — By far the best value (2¢+/point)
- IHG — Decent value, good coverage
- Marriott — Huge footprint, lower value
- Hilton — Easy to earn via Amex 1:2 transfer
Summary
Transfer partners unlock the real value of credit card points. Instead of getting 1-1.5¢ per point in travel portals, you can get 2-5¢ per point through strategic transfers.
The key rules:
- Search for availability first
- Calculate value before transferring
- Transfer only what you need
- Book immediately after transfer
Master this, and you’ll never look at credit card points the same way again.
Related reads:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: The Complete Guide
- Amex Membership Rewards: The Complete Guide
- Capital One Points: The Complete Guide
- How to Book Award Flights to Japan in 2026
Questions about transfer partners? Drop them in the comments!
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