AMEX Membership Rewards: Transfering is the best strategy!
The best way to use your AMEX Membership Rewards (MR) points is almost always by transferring them to airline or hotel partners. (And if you’re looking to build up a healthy balance of MR points, remember the AMEX Gold Card is my top recommendation for most people – you can find details and my referral link in the American Express Gold Card section.)
Check the American Express transfer partners page for a list of current transfer partners and ratios.
My 3-Step Transfer Strategy
Identify Travel Goal
Identify your travel goal first.
Find Best Partner Redemption
See which partner program offers the best redemption for that route/hotel.
Pro Tip: Use Award Search Tools Websites like seats.aero or awardhacker.com can be invaluable for finding which airline has award seats available for your desired route, saving you hours of manual searching.
Transfer Points for Specific Booking
Transfer points only when you have found an available flight and are ready to book, as transfers are irreversible.
Example: Business Class to Asia with Asia Miles
A great option for flights to Asia, known for reasonable award rates and good availability.
| Class | Route Example (FRA-HKG) | Asia Miles | MR Points (5:4) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Frankfurt to Hong Kong (5,001-7,500 miles) | ~35,000 | 44,000 | + taxes (see Best routes) |
| Business Class | Frankfurt to Hong Kong | ~70,000 | 88,000 | + taxes (see Best routes) |
Always double-check the details! Airline award charts and partner agreements can change without notice. The numbers above are examples, but you should always verify the exact mileage cost and availability on the airline’s website before transferring any points.
Occasional transfer bonuses to hotel partners like Marriott Bonvoy can be very valuable. For example, with a 30% bonus, the transfer ratio improves significantly. A hotel night that might cost 30,000 Bonvoy points (or ~€150 cash) could be booked for just 17,300 Amex MR points instead of the usual 22,500. This is a great way to get outsized value for hotel stays.