Reader question: Which credit cards can transfer points to airlines and hotels?
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
If you would like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com. One of the things that makes flexible bank currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards so valuable is the ability to transfer points to each program's airline and hotel partners. But TPG reader Arthur wants to know if every credit card in a specific program offers that feature...
[pullquote source="TPG Reader Arthur"]I know there used to be some cards that allowed Membership Rewards points to be transferred and some cards did not. Is that still the case?[/pullquote]
Good question, Arthur. While nowadays most American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards do allow you to transfer points, there are a few exceptions, especially when it comes to older cards. And Amex isn't the only bank with one set of credit cards that have the transfer feature and another set that doesn't. Capital One, Chase and Citibank do the same thing, and usually you'll find that you have to pay an annual fee in order to be able to transfer your points, though not always. Let's take a look at which card's enable you to transfer points.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
With Chase, you'll need to have either a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or an Ink Business Preferred Credit Card in order to be able to transfer your points to any of Ultimate Rewards' transfer partners. You'll note those are all cards with annual fees, though the cheapest ones are only $95 per year, which isn't too bad. Fortunately, if you do have one of these cards but also earn Ultimate Rewards points from other Chase credit cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, points from all your cards will pool together and be transferable as well.
Citi ThankYou points
The same is true at Citibank. You'll need either the Citi® Prestige Card or the Citi Premier® Card in your wallet in order to make your ThankYou points transferable to Citibank's travel partners. Again, the Premier only costs $95 annually, so it's not a huge price to pay when you realize how much value it can add to the cashback/points you can earn with the Citi® Double Cash Card and Citi Rewards+® Card. The information for the Citi Prestige, Amex EveryDay card, has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Amex Membership Rewards
But what about American Express? Actually, when it comes to cards that can transfer points, Amex is most generous of the three banks, because it offers at least two different travel credit cards with no annual fee that come with the transfer ability. On the personal side, The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express has the transfer feature and charges no annual fee, while for businesses, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express will let you transfer points without paying an annual cost for the card (see rates and fees). Since you can easily pool all your Membership Rewards points together, that means you don't even need to pay an annual fee to make all your Amex points transferable to the program's airline and hotel partners.
Just be aware that some other older no-annual-fee Amex cards such as the Optima Card don't offer the transfer feature, so make sure you pick the right no annual fee card if you want to move your points.
Capital One
You can transfer points from certain Capital One credit cards to airline partners. Capital One rewards credit cards that earn cash back won't have the ability to transfer. Instead you'll need a card that earns miles, like the Capital One Spark Miles for Business or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. There are also no-annual-fee versions of these cards ( the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card), so you've got options. The information for the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Thanks for the question, Arthur, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.
Additional reporting by Jason Stauffer
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus card, click here.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.