How Credit Card Transfer Partners Work (And Which Are Best)
Transfer partners are what separate premium rewards cards from basic cash back cards. Points redeemed through an issuer's travel portal are worth 1-1.5 cents each. The same points transferred to the right airline or hotel partner can be worth 2-5 cents each. This guide explains how the system works, which partners deliver the best value, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
See also: best rewards credit cards — our ranked list of cards with transfer partners, including partner charts by issuer.
How Transfer Partners Work
Transfer partners are airlines and hotels that have agreements with credit card issuers to accept point transfers. You earn points with Chase, Amex, or Capital One. When you're ready to book travel, you transfer those points to a partner airline (United, Delta, Air Canada) or hotel (Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott) at a 1:1 ratio. Then you book award flights or hotel stays using the partner's award chart.
The value comes from the partner's award pricing. A business class flight from New York to London might cost $5,000 in cash, but only 60,000 points through a transfer partner — making each point worth 8.3 cents. The same 60,000 points redeemed through the issuer's portal would be worth $600-900 at 1-1.5 cents per point. Transfer partners unlock the premium value.
| Card | Annual Fee | Rate | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA Daily Advantage | $0/yr | 1.0x | Apply Now → |
| AAA Travel Advantage | $0/yr | 1.0x | Apply Now → |
| AAdvantage MileUp | $0/yr | 1.0x | Apply Now → |
Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners
Chase transfers to 14 partners including United, Southwest, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, British Airways, and Air Canada. The strongest partners are:
- Hyatt: Consistently delivers 2-3¢ per point on premium hotels. 25,000 points for a $500/night hotel = 2¢/point.
- United: 1.8-2.5¢ per point on domestic business class and international partner awards via Star Alliance.
- Southwest: 1.5-2¢ per point, especially when combined with Companion Pass for 2-for-1 redemptions.
Chase transfers are instant to most partners. Points don't expire as long as a Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card remains open. The best Chase cards for transfer partners: Sapphire Preferred ($95/yr), Sapphire Reserve ($550/yr), and Ink Business Preferred ($95/yr for business owners).
Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
Amex transfers to 20+ partners including Delta, Air Canada, British Airways, Hilton, Marriott, and Air France/KLM. The strongest partners are:
- Delta: 2-4¢ per point on premium cabin (Delta One business class) and SkyMiles flash sales.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: 2-5¢ per point on partner awards to Europe and Asia via Star Alliance.
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue: 2-4¢ per point on business class to Europe, especially during Promo Rewards sales.
Amex offers transfer bonuses (20-40% more points) several times per year to select partners — watch for these to maximize value. The best Amex cards for transfer partners: Gold Card ($250/yr), Platinum Card ($695/yr), and Business Platinum ($695/yr). Points don't expire as long as an Amex Membership Rewards-earning card remains open.
Capital One Miles Transfer Partners
Capital One transfers to 15+ partners including Turkish Airlines, Air Canada, Avianca, Singapore Airlines, and Wyndham. The strongest partners are:
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: 2-5¢ per point on business class to Europe and Asia via Star Alliance partners.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: 2-4¢ per point on partner awards, same as Amex but with more flexible routing rules.
- Singapore KrisFlyer: 3-5¢ per point on premium cabin redemptions and Suites class.
Capital One has fewer hotel partners than Chase or Amex, but its airline partners include some of the best for international premium cabin awards. The best Capital One cards for transfer partners: Venture ($95/yr), Venture X ($395/yr). Points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
Common Transfer Partner Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Transferring Before You're Ready to Book
Keep points with the issuer until you've confirmed award availability and are ready to book. Transferred points cannot be moved back, and airline/hotel award prices change frequently. Bank points are more flexible.
Mistake 2: Not Creating the Loyalty Account First
You cannot transfer points to a loyalty account you don't already own. Create free accounts with United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt World of Hyatt, and other partners before you need to transfer. This also lets you search award availability on the partner's website before transferring.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Transfer Bonuses
Amex and Chase occasionally offer 20-40% transfer bonuses to select partners. A 30% bonus means 100,000 points becomes 130,000 points after transfer — effectively making every point worth 30% more. Subscribe to points blogs (The Points Guy, Doctor of Credit) to catch these limited-time promotions.
For strategy on when to transfer vs. when to use the portal, see our maximize rewards points guide. To understand the broader points vs. cash back tradeoff, read our points vs. cash back comparison.