Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners: Redeem your points with airlines and hotels

However, there are a few important restrictions to be aware of:

• Transfers to travel partners are nonreversible, so make sure you are certain you have a use for the points before you transfer them.
• The first and last names must be the same on your Amex account and your loyalty program accounts.
• You can only transfer points to your loyalty program accounts or those of authorized users on the card. However, authorized users must be on your account for at least 90 days before they are eligible for transfers.
• You’re charged a federal excise tax offset fee when you move Membership Rewards points to U.S. frequent flyer programs — namely, Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue. This is 60 cents (or 120 points) for every 1,000 points you transfer, up to a maximum of $99 (or 19,800 points). However, you can potentially avoid this fee by using other partners like Virgin Atlantic to book a Delta Air Lines flight.

Related: How to transfer credit card rewards to partner programs

Is it worth it to transfer Membership Rewards points?

With the right redemption, your points will be worth significantly more than if you used them for other redemptions, like cash back or gift cards. At TPG, we always think transferring your rewards is worth it, whether you’re booking a dream trip or a yearly family vacation.

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For some inspiration, here are five of our favorite transfer options:

• Book ANA first-class flights to Japan with Virgin Atlantic: You can book a one-way flight to Japan flying ANA from the West Coast for 52,500 points (business class) or 72,500 points (first class).
• Book Oneworld economy flights using British Airways Avios: Many routes from the East Coast to Dublin on Aer Lingus can be booked in economy class for just 26,000 Avios round-trip on off-peak dates by transferring your Membership Rewards points to British Airways Club.
• Fly round-trip to Madrid on Iberia: Despite a recent devaluation, Iberia is still a solid sweet spot for business-class flights from the northeastern U.S. to Spain, costing just 40,050 Iberia Club Avios each way on off-peak dates when you book through Iberia Club.
• Fly Singapore Airlines business class on the world’s longest flights: You can book Singapore’s nonstop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) for 111,500 KrisFlyer miles one-way in business class (book by Oct. 31 to lock in current prices). These flights clock in at nearly 19 hours, making them the world’s two longest nonstop passenger routes. You’ll also sometimes even see business-class awards on shorter routes included in the carrier’s Spontaneous Escapes promotion.
• Transfer to Flying Blue for flights to Europe and North Africa: Flying Blue is Air France and KLM’s joint loyalty program. Flights to Europe start at 25,000 miles one-way in economy and 60,000 miles one-way in business class. Also, look out for the program’s monthly Promo Rewards, where select routes are discounted for last-minute travel.

Related: Best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points, from business-class flights to Europe to budget-friendly hotel stays

How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points

The Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Find out your offer — new applicants for The Platinum Card from American Express may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual fee: $895 (see rates and fees)

THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

• 5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
• 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases

For more information, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.

American Express Gold Card

Welcome offer: New applicants for the American Express® Gold Card can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)

THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

• 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• 3 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
• 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on amextravel.com
• 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases

For more information, read our full review of the Amex Gold.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer: New applicants for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.

Annual fee: $895 (see rates and fees)

THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

• 5 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
• 2 points per dollar spent in U.S. construction materials, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software, cloud system providers and shipping providers on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases

For more information, read our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.

American Express Business Gold Card

Welcome offer: New applicants for the American Express® Business Gold Card can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.

Annual fee: $375 (see rates and fees)

THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

• 4 points per dollar spent in the two eligible categories your business spends the most in each billing cycle, from six eligible categories (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• 3 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
• 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases

For more information, read our full review of the Amex Business Gold.

American Express Green Card

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $150

THE POINTS GUY

Earning rates:

• 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), travel and transit
• 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases

For more information, read our full review of the Amex Green.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Best frequent flyer programs for US travelers

Bottom line

American Express Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable points on the market. This is mainly due to Amex’s extensive selection of airline and hotel transfer partners.

There are plenty of valuable ways to use them, and the flexibility to decide when, where and how many points to transfer at your convenience is one of the reasons why we rate this rewards currency so highly.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, click here.