Points Transfer Guide: How to Move Credit Card Points to Airline Miles
Transferring Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Citi points into airline miles unlocks the most valuable awards in travel and it is irreversible. This guide covers every airline transfer partner and current ratio, active transfer bonuses, and the Transfer Check.
How Credit Card Points Transfers Work
Card issuers (Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi) run their own points currencies. Those currencies can be moved into airline loyalty programs on each issuer's approved partner list.
The Rule That Matters Most: Transfers are one-way and irreversible. Once points land in an airline program, they never come back.
Ratios and why your card tier now matters
Most transfers are 1:1. But exceptions are growing: Amex to Aeromexico at 1:1.6 (gain) and to Emirates at 1:0.8 (lose). Citi's full transfer rates apply only to Strata Elite, Strata Premier, and Prestige cardholders.
The Transfer Check: Space, Speed, Spend
Step 1: Space. Search for award availability on your exact route and dates before transferring a single point.
Step 2: Speed. Confirm the transfer speed for your chosen partner.
Step 3: Spend. Compare against your benchmark. Value the award in cents per mile, note the published fare, and transfer only when the award beats both.
Airline Transfer Partners by Issuer
Chase Ultimate Rewards Airline Partners
| Airline Program | Ratio | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | 1:1 | Instant | Chase exclusive; Star Alliance |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 1:1 | Instant | Chase exclusive |
| British Airways Club (Avios) | 1:1 | Instant | oneworld |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant | SkyTeam |
| Iberia Plus (Avios) | 1:1 | Instant | Avios family |
| Aer Lingus AerClub (Avios) | 1:1 | Instant | Avios family |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | Instant | Delta awards at fixed rates |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 1+ days | Star Alliance |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | Instant | Star Alliance |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:1 | 1+ days | |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:1 | Instant |
Amex Membership Rewards Airline Partners
| Airline Program | Ratio | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles | 1:1 | Instant | Amex exclusive; SkyTeam |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | Instant | Star Alliance |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant | SkyTeam |
| ANA Mileage Club | 1:1 | 1+ days | Star Alliance |
| British Airways Club (Avios) | 1:1 | Instant | oneworld |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | 1+ days | oneworld |
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1:1.6 | 1+ days | Best Amex ratio: gain 60% |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:0.8 | 1+ days | Lose 20% |
Capital One Miles Airline Partners
| Airline Program | Ratio | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | Instant | Star Alliance |
| British Airways Club (Avios) | 1:1 | Instant | oneworld |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant | SkyTeam |
| Emirates Skywards | 2:1.5 | 1+ days | Lose 25% |
| Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | 2:1.5 | 1+ days | Lose 25% |
Citi ThankYou Points Airline Partners
| Airline Program | Ratio | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American AAdvantage | 1:1 | 1+ days | Only transferable-points path into AAdvantage |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant | SkyTeam |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:0.8 | 1+ days | Lose 20% |
Which Points Reach Your Airline? (Reverse Lookup)
Three programs are exclusives: United and Southwest take only Chase, Delta takes only Amex, and American AAdvantage takes only Citi. Everything else has multiple doors.
| Airline Program | Chase | Amex | Capital One | Citi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American AAdvantage | - | - | - | 1:1 |
| United MileagePlus | 1:1 | - | - | - |
| Delta SkyMiles | - | 1:1 | - | - |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 1:1 | - | - | - |
| British Airways Club (Avios) | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | - |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many points do I need for a flight?
- It depends entirely on the program, the route, and the cabin. Search award availability on your exact route and dates.
- How long do points transfers take?
- Many major partners complete near-instantly; others take a day or longer.
- What are transfer bonuses?
- Issuers periodically offer limited-time multipliers: transfer 10,000 points and receive 12,000 to 15,000 miles during a bonus window.
- Can you transfer points between issuers?
- No. Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi points cannot be combined directly. They can only meet inside a shared airline partner.
- Which issuer transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage?
- Citi ThankYou is the only major transferable currency with AAdvantage as a partner.
- When is it better to pay cash than transfer points?
- When the award's cents-per-mile value falls below roughly 1 cent, or when a negotiated fare undercuts the published price significantly.
- Is it safe to transfer points?
- Transfers go through the issuer's own portal. The risk is not security; it is irreversibility.
- What happens to my points if I cancel my card?
- Most issuers give you a window (typically 30 to 90 days) to transfer or use points after cancellation.