Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
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Amex Membership Rewards vs RBC Avion Rewards: transfers
American Express Membership Rewards (MR) is a points programme in which enrolled American Express products earn points that can be transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programmes at rates that vary by partner, once the two accounts are linked, and a completed transfer cannot be reversed. [3] [4] The rules described here are those of the Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for the United States, last updated October 2026, and individual products carry separate terms. [4]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Membership Rewards points can be moved into participating airline and hotel programmes, but only after the Rewards Account is linked to the partner account. [3] [4] [5]
- Transfers are one-way: points that have left the programme cannot be converted back. [3] [4]
- The transfer rate varies by partner, and in most cases the minimum transfer is 1,000 points in multiples of 1,000. [3] [4]
- Points sent to a U.S. airline frequent flyer programme carry an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, capped at $99. [3] [4]
How do you earn Membership Rewards points?
Under the United States terms, Card Members earn one point for every dollar of spend on an eligible purchase made with an enrolled card. [4] An eligible purchase is a purchase of goods and services minus returns and other credits. [4] American Express excludes cash advances and cash equivalents such as gift cards, person-to-person transactions, balance transfers, traveller's cheques, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, fees and interest charges on the card account, foreign exchange and account-service fees, programme fees, and purchases paid for with points or other rewards at the point of sale. [4] That list is set at American Express's discretion and can change at any time without notice. [4]
Points for a statement period post only if American Express receives the minimum amount due by the payment due date; otherwise the points from that period are not earned. [4] They can be recovered after the amounts due are paid, by requesting them and paying a fee for each billing period and each card account, within 12 months of the period in which they were not earned. [4]
Additional points for particular categories depend on the merchant code assigned to the business, and a purchase may not earn them when a merchant sells through a third party, uses a third-party processor, or the purchase is made through a third-party payment account or a mobile or digital wallet. [4]
How do Membership Rewards transfers to airline and hotel programmes work?
Transfers are not automatic. The Rewards Account must first be linked to the partner loyalty programme account, and that partner account must be held in the name of the Card Member or of an Additional Card Member on the card account; an Additional Card must have been issued at least 90 days before the link is made. [3] [4] [5] The name on the card and the name on the loyalty account must match for the link and the transfer to go through. [5]
The rate at which points convert varies by partner. [3] [4] In most cases the minimum is 1,000 points and transfers must be made in multiples of 1,000. [3] [4] Processing typically takes 48 hours, but some programmes delay posting to the partner account, so the partner balance should be confirmed before an award is booked. [4] [5]
Once points leave, the transfer cannot be reversed, the partner programme's terms apply, and the points cannot be converted back into Membership Rewards. [3] [4] [5] Partners can change award levels, blackout dates, capacity controls or their own terms at any time, and American Express states that it is not responsible for telling Card Members about those changes. [4]
Transfers into a U.S. airline frequent flyer programme carry an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, capped at $99. [3] [4] If an airline loyalty programme stops participating, American Express may limit how many points can be sent to it before participation ends, and that limit will be at least 100,000 points. [3] [4]
What can you redeem Membership Rewards points for without transferring them?
Points can also be spent at set rates inside the programme. Which options are open depends on the products linked to the Rewards Account; where the only linked product is a Legacy Card, transfers are unavailable and some redemption options are narrower. [3] [4]
| Redemption option | What the terms set out |
|---|---|
| Pay with Points | The card is charged for the purchase, points are deducted and a statement credit is applied for the points used; any shortfall stays charged to the card. [4] |
| Statement credit | Points worth at least $1; the credit generally appears within 48 hours, points are deducted immediately and the redemption is final. [4] |
| Gift cards | No cash value and redemptions are final; cards ship only to the U.S. or U.S. territories, excluding Hawaii and Vermont. [4] |
| Redeem for Deposits | Into a linked Rewards Checking or Business Checking account, at 1,000 points for an $8 deposit as the standard rate. [4] |
| Cover your Card Charges | The charge must occur in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, be at least $1, be undisputed and appear in recent activity or the current statement. [4] |
Points do not belong to the Card Member: they cannot be moved into someone else's Rewards Account, sold, or passed on through a legal action such as a divorce, an inheritance or a bankruptcy. [4]
Exceptions and limits
- Cancellation by American Express. If any product is cancelled for any reason, including death, insolvency or bankruptcy, all points in the Rewards Account are lost; where the cancellation is for inactivity, the Card Member has 90 days to use them, and points are not lost if a product is cancelled by accident. [4]
- Cancelling the last linked product. Points are lost immediately when the last linked product is cancelled or unenrolled, but where the last linked product is a Corporate Card, points may be redeemable for up to 30 days afterwards. [4]
- Fraud, abuse or gaming. American Express may suspend the ability to earn or use points, remove points even if the balance goes negative, cancel products and forfeit the balance. [4]
- Negative balances. New points first reduce a negative balance, and points cannot be used until the balance is positive. [4]
- Programme changes. American Express may change the programme and its terms at any time, including the number of points needed for a reward and caps or fees on earning and using points; if it cancels the programme it will give at least 90 days' notice. [4]
- Tax. Points may be treated as taxable income and reported to the IRS on Form 1099 or Form 1042-S. [4]
- New York billing addresses. Card Members with a New York billing address can keep using points for 90 days in certain situations, including a cancelled, past-due or restricted product or a suspended Corporate Card, by calling the number on the card. [4]
- Checking accounts only. With no card account linked to the Rewards Account, points can be used only for deposits or transferred to a limited selection of partners. [4]
Frequently asked questions
Can you undo a Membership Rewards transfer?
No. Once points are transferred the transfer cannot be reversed, the points cannot be converted back into Membership Rewards, and the partner programme's terms then govern them. [3] [4] [5]
How long does a transfer to an airline take?
Typically 48 hours, although some programmes delay posting points to the partner account, so the partner balance should be checked before booking. [4]
Is there a fee to transfer points?
Points transferred to a U.S. airline frequent flyer programme carry an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, up to $99. [3] [4]
Can you send points to a family member's airline account?
The partner account must be in your name or in the name of an Additional Card Member on your account, with that Additional Card issued at least 90 days before linking; points cannot be moved into another person's Rewards Account or sold. [3] [4] [5]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. RBC Avion Rewards and other transferable points currencies are not covered here.
- American Express Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions (transfer section, United States), checked 18 October 2026
- American Express Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions, last updated October 2026 (United States), checked 18 October 2026
- American Express customer service: How do I transfer Membership Rewards points?, checked 18 October 2026