How to Redeem American Express Membership Rewards

Transfers to airline and hotel programmes

Members may be able to move points to participating partner loyalty programmes, such as those run by airlines and hotels. [1] Before any transfer, the Rewards Account must be linked to the partner loyalty account. [1] [3] The partner account must be held in the member's own name or in the name of an Additional Card Member on the Card Account, and an Additional Card must have been issued at least 90 days before the linking takes place. [1] [3] American Express's transfer help page adds that the name on the Card and the name on the partner account must match for the accounts to link and the transfer to succeed. [3]

The number of points needed for a given partner transfer is not a single figure: the transfer rate varies by partner, and American Express points readers to its points information page for the rates. [1] [5] In most cases the minimum is 1,000 points, transferred in multiples of 1,000. [1] [5] Processing typically takes 48 hours, although some programmes delay posting to the partner account, so the balance should be checked before an award is booked. [1] [5] The steps are set out in the transfer points checklist, with definitions of the minimum transfer, transfer ratio and transfer time.

Transfers are one-way: once points reach the partner programme they cannot be converted back into Membership Rewards points, and the partner's terms and conditions govern them from that point. [1] [5] Partner programmes may also change award levels, blackout dates, capacity controls or their own terms at any time, and American Express states it is not responsible for telling members about those changes. [1] [5]

Two costs and conditions sit around the transfer itself. Points sent to a U.S. airline frequent flyer programme attract an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point, up to $99, which offsets federal excise tax American Express must pay and may be more or less than the tax on an individual transfer. [1] [5] A flight booked with frequent flyer miles is not charged to the Card Account, so insurance and other benefits that depend on charging a flight to the Card do not apply. [1] [5] If an airline loyalty programme stops participating, American Express may cap transfers to it before participation ends, and that cap will be at least 100,000 points. [1] [5]

Pay with Points and other shopping uses

Pay with Points can be used at checkout with participating brands or through American Express Travel. [1] American Express charges the full purchase to the Card Account, deducts the points, and applies a statement credit for the points used, so a purchase part-paid with points shows as a charge for the full purchase amount and a credit for the points used. [1] Any part of the cost not covered by points stays charged to the Card. [1] The option requires a charge to go through on the Card Account, so if a purchase cannot be made on the Card for any reason, Pay with Points cannot be used; the credit may also land in a different billing cycle from the charge, and the minimum payment is still due on each statement. [1]

Redemptions through Pay with Points are final and cannot be reversed, and the brand's own terms apply. [1] If part of a purchase is refunded, the refund arrives as a statement credit, and a member who prefers points back can call the number on the Card to ask for reinstatement. [1] On Amazon.com, the retailer's Shop With Points terms apply as well, and linking the Rewards Account to the Amazon account can take up to 72 hours. [1]

Points can also be exchanged for gift cards from a range of merchants, or for American Express Gift Cards usable wherever the Card is accepted. [1] American Express Gift Cards must be bought online, at least 1,000 points are needed to start, and most cards arrive within 7 to 10 business days, with faster delivery possibly available for a fee. [1] Gift cards carry no cash value, cannot pay an existing account balance, and can be shipped only within the U.S. or U.S. territories, excluding Hawaii and Vermont. [1] A separate niche option lets points cover fares, including tips, in certain taxis in New York City, but there the points must cover the full fare plus tip. [1]

Statement credits, card charges and deposits

Basic Card Members can redeem points for a statement credit, but Corporate Card Members cannot. [1] The redemption must be worth at least $1, the credit generally appears within 48 hours while points leave the account immediately, and the credit cannot be used to pay the Minimum Payment Due or to reduce a scheduled AutoPay amount. [1] These redemptions are final and cannot be reversed or expedited. [1]

Cover your Card Charges applies points to specific eligible charges. [1] An eligible charge occurs in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, appears in recent online activity or the current statement, has never been disputed, and is at least $1, and points may cover the entire amount of such a charge. [1] Basic Card Members, and in some cases Account Managers and Rewards Managers, may use this option; Corporate Card Members are not eligible. [1]

Members with a Rewards Checking or Business Checking account can use Redeem for Deposits, available to first named account holders only. [1] There is no minimum number of points, points are deducted immediately, and deposits generally post within 48 hours but may take up to 6 weeks. [1] The standard rate is 1,000 points for an $8 deposit; a Business Checking account linked to a Business Platinum Card gets 1,000 points for a deposit on the first 1,000,000 points per calendar year, then 1,000 points for $8. [1] For members whose Rewards Account is linked only to a checking account, redemption is limited to deposits and to transfers with a limited selection of partners, and the excise tax offset fee on those transfers must be paid in points at the time. [1]

Exceptions and limits

• Legacy Card only. Where the only linked product is a Legacy Card, partner transfers are unavailable, Pay with Points works only through American Express Travel, and points can be used only towards American Express Gift Cards rather than merchant gift cards. [1]
• Restricted accounts. Points generally cannot be used, and American Express may cancel the Rewards Account, if a linked product is in restricted status, cancelled or past due, or a returned payment is outstanding; New York Card Members, meaning those with a New York billing address on a linked Card Account, can keep using points in these situations for 90 days by calling the number on the Card. [1]
• Cancelling products. Cancelling or unenrolling the last linked product means losing all points in the Rewards Account immediately, except that where the last product is a Corporate Card points may be redeemable for up to 30 days; if American Express itself cancels a Card Account for inactivity, the member has 90 days to use the points. [1]
• Ownership and tax. Points do not belong to the member and cannot be transferred to someone else's Rewards Account or sold, and the member is responsible for any taxes on earning or using points, which may be reported on Form 1099 or Form 1042-S. [1]
• Programme changes. American Express may change the number of points needed for a reward or the options available at any time, and if it cancels the programme it will give at least 90 days' notice. [1]
• The current list of partner programmes, the transfer rate for each partner, and the points required for individual travel, gift card or credit redemptions are not set out in the terms checked; the terms direct members to American Express's points information page and transfer page for those figures. [1]

Related pages

Programme profile: Membership Rewards (US). Comparisons and explainers: Amex MR vs Chase UR, transfer points checklist. Terms: flexible points, transfer ratio, transfer time, and the full glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers the US Membership Rewards programme only; Canadian, UK, Indian and other local Membership Rewards programmes have their own terms and are not described here.

1. Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions (US), last updated October 2026, checked 18 October 2026
2. American Express help centre: How do I transfer Membership Rewards points?, checked 18 October 2026
3. Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions (US), transfer-to-partners section, checked 18 October 2026