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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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How I'm using Amex's transfer bonuses to book 3 premium trips
Benji Stawski is a former reporter for the site, covering all things points, miles, credit cards, travel and aviation.
September 12, 2021 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
A record number of transfer bonuses are currently available for those with transferable points, offering up to a 40% bonus to 12 airline and hotel partners.
These bonuses can make luxury hotel stays and premium flights significantly more affordable by reducing the number of points needed for redemptions.
Examples include a Caribbean resort stay, business class flights to Europe, and cross-country U.S. flights, all at reduced points costs due to the bonuses.
While speculative transfers are generally discouraged, some programs with strong redemption options may be worth considering during this promotion.
What to consider
Airline transfer bonuses are scheduled to end Sept. 30, while hotel transfer bonuses run through Oct. 31, 2021.
Transferring points locks them into a specific program, reducing flexibility and exposing you to potential devaluations.
Award availability, especially for premium cabins or specific routes, can be limited and may require flexibility in travel plans.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed examples of high-value redemptions and strategies for maximizing current transfer bonuses across multiple travel partners.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
We normally discourage speculative transfers since your points will become stuck with the program once completed and will lose the flexibility of being transferrable to other partners. However, there are a couple of potential redemptions I have in mind that seem too good to pass up.
Luxurious getaway to Anguilla
Zemi Beach Resort, LXR Hotels (Photo courtesy of Zemi Beach House)
Ever since the Zemi Beach House in Anguilla was brought into the Honors program in 2019, I've had my eyes set on a trip there. It's one of just a handful of properties part of Hilton's luxury collection brand LXR. It sits right on the water on Anguilla’s tranquil Shoal Bay East and has just 76 rooms and suites, which will be a nice change of pace from some other Caribbean resorts that have hundreds, if not thousands, of rooms.
Standard award nights here typically cost 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night. We normally don't advise transferring Amex points to Hilton, since the standard ratio is 1:2 and TPG values Amex points at 2 cents apiece and Hilton Honors points at just 0.6 cents apiece. However, it could make sense with the current 30% transfer bonus.
With the 30% bonus, you'll get 2,600 Hilton Honors points for every 1,000 Amex points you transfer. That translates to about 37,000 Amex points per night, which is worth $740 based on TPG valuations — not bad considering the cash rate is often around $900 per night. But it gets even better. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I get a fifth night free on award stays. So, my nightly rate will effectively be 30,000 Amex points per night ($600 based on TPG valuations). Plus, I still have an up to $250 resort credit from my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to burn on incidentals.
The information for the Hilton Aspire 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.
To get there, I'll book American Airlines' nonstop flight from New York-JFK to Princess Juliana Airport (SXM) — which is slated to resume later this year — via British Airways Executive Club. BA charges 22,000 Avios each way in business class for this route. However, with the 40% bonus currently available, that price drops to just 16,000 Amex points each way. That's worth about $320 based on TPG valuations, which is great considering the cash rate is usually around $800.
American Airlines plane landing at SXM (Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy)
Next, I'd like to plan a trip to Frankfurt, Germany to reconnect with family members I haven’t seen since the start of the pandemic. I could take advantage of the transfer bonuses to Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles to book Lufthansa first class, but those flights will come out to at least 150,000 Amex points round-trip. While that's a pretty good deal, I need to be a bit more conservative with my points. Instead, I'll book Delta One business class through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for well under 100,000 points round-trip.
(Photo by Christian Kramer / The Points Guy)
Virgin recently transitioned to a distance-based award chart for most Delta redemptions. However, nonstop flights from the U.S. to Europe (non-U.K.) still cost a flat 50,000 points each way in Delta One, plus minimal taxes and fees. That’s a good deal by itself, but the rate drops to an even more attractive 39,000 Amex points when factoring in the 30% transfer bonus, which is terrific. It's a bummer that Delta doesn't fly its new Delta One suites to Germany, but I'll still take it.
After catching up with family in Germany, I'll need to visit my relatives in Los Angeles. There are lots of ways to fly from the New York City area to L.A., but if I want to get the most value out of my points, I'm going to need to book United business class through Air Canada Aeroplan.
Air Canada charges just 25,000 miles each way for transcontinental business class awards. That equates to just 21,000 Amex points when factoring in the 20% transfer bonus — worth $420 based on TPG valuations. To maximize my experience, I'm going to be strategic and pick a flight operated by one of United's 787s or 767s with the true Polaris business class pods. United is a bit stingy with releasing saver award availability on the Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX) route, but I've had good luck booking these awards close-in. Aeroplan is also one of the few programs I wouldn't mind "parking" some of my points with since it offers plenty of other great redemption options and historically hasn't devalued miles unannounced.
(Photo by Benji Stawski/The Points Guy)
How to earn Amex Membership Rewards points
If you want to take advantage of transfer bonus offers with American Express like these, you’ll need Membership Rewards points. Here are a couple of Amex cards that could help you earn these points:
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.
Amex's current round of transfer bonuses is the perfect opportunity to stretch the points I've racked up over the last year-and-a-half and make up for lost time. Although I normally wouldn't transfer points without a specific use, there are some loyalty programs, such as Air Canada Aeroplan, I'm tempted to break that rule for. If you're thinking about taking advantage of the current bonus opportunities, keep in mind that the airline transfer bonuses are slated to run through Sept. 30, while the hotel ones are through Oct. 31, 2021.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
