How to transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to partners

Which programmes can you transfer Membership Rewards points to?

American Express says eligible customers may be able to transfer points to participating partner loyalty programmes, such as those offered by airlines and hotels. [2] [3] The rate at which points are transferred varies by partner, and American Express directs card members to membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo for the details of each arrangement. [3] [4]

Partner programmes are outside American Express's control: they may change award levels, blackout dates, capacity controls or their own terms at any time, and American Express says it is not responsible for telling card members about those changes. [4] If an airline loyalty programme stops participating in Membership Rewards, American Express may limit how many points can be transferred to it before participation ends, and that limit will be at least 100,000 points. [3] [4]

This page covers the United States Membership Rewards programme described in terms last updated October 2026, and the account-linking and transfer rules set out there. [4]

How do you link an account and transfer points?

You must link your Rewards Account to the partner loyalty programme account before any points can move. [2] [3] The partner account must be held either by you or by an Additional Card Member on your Card Account, and an Additional Card must have been issued to that person at least 90 days before the link is made. [2] [3] The name on the card and the name on the selected loyalty programme account must be the same for the accounts to link and for the transfer to succeed. [2]

After linking, you choose how many points to send; in most cases the minimum is 1,000 points and the amount must be in multiples of 1,000 points. [3] [4] Transfers typically take 48 hours to process, but some programmes delay posting the points to the partner account. [3] [4] Confirm the points have arrived by checking the airline or hotel account, then redeem them directly with that programme for the booking; if the transfer is meant to fund a specific flight or hotel stay, check availability and the number of partner points needed before completing the transfer. [2]

What does a Membership Rewards transfer cost?

American Express charges an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, up to $99, on points transferred to a United States airline frequent flyer programme. [3] [4] The fee offsets the federal excise tax American Express must pay when points are transferred, and it may be more or less than the actual excise tax due on any individual transfer. [3] [4]

A flight booked with partner frequent flyer miles is not charged to your card account, so the insurance and other benefits that can apply when you charge a flight to the card do not attach to that booking. [3] [4]

Exceptions and limits

• Legacy Cards. If the only Card Product linked to your Rewards Account is a Legacy Card, the transfer option is not available to you. [3] [4]
• Checking accounts without a card. If no Card Account is linked and only a Checking Account is linked to your Rewards Account, your use of points is limited to Redeem for Deposits or to transfers into a limited selection of participating partner loyalty programmes. [3] [4] For those accounts the name on the partner loyalty programme account must match the name on the checking account, and the excise tax offset fee must be covered using Membership Rewards points at the time of the transfer. [4]
• No reversal. Points transfers are final and cannot be reversed, and transferred points cannot be converted back into Membership Rewards points. [2] [3] [4]
• The partner's terms take over. Once points are transferred, the partner loyalty programme's terms and conditions apply. [2] [4]
• Your own accounts only. Points cannot be transferred to someone else's Rewards Account, sold, or passed on through a legal action such as a divorce, an inheritance or bankruptcy. [4]
• Changing terms. American Express may add to and change the Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time. [4]

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum Membership Rewards transfer amount?

In most cases you must transfer at least 1,000 points, and only in multiples of 1,000 points. [3] [4]

Can I cancel a transfer after the points have been sent?

No. All points transfers are final and cannot be reversed, which is why American Express advises checking award availability before transferring. [2] [3]

How long does a Membership Rewards transfer take?

Processing typically takes 48 hours, but some partner programmes delay posting the points to your loyalty account. [3] [4]

Can I transfer 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 Card Account, and the Additional Card must have been issued at least 90 days before the accounts are linked. [2] [3]

Is there a fee to transfer points to a US airline programme?

Yes. Transfers to a United States airline frequent flyer programme carry an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, capped at $99. [3] [4]

Related pages

Definitions of the terms used here, including points transfer, award availability and excise tax offset fee, sit in the frequent flyer glossary. For the wider picture on moving points between programmes, start with the glossary entry on loyalty programme terms and conditions.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Membership Rewards programmes outside the United States, and the award charts and redemption rules of the airline and hotel programmes that receive the points, are not covered here.

1. American Express US help centre: How do I transfer Membership Rewards points?, checked 18 October 2026
2. Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions (US), October 2026: transfer points to partner loyalty programs, checked 18 October 2026
3. Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions (US), October 2026: full program document, checked 18 October 2026