Using AMEX points to American Airlines flights isn’t straightforward, as direct transfers aren’t available. Instead, you’ll need to transfer your points to a partner airline or use alternative booking options. To get the best value, it’s essential to know which partners offer the best redemption rates, how to avoid high taxes and fees, and when to take advantage of transfer bonuses.
The good news? With the right approach, you can still make the most of your AMEX points for AA flights.
Key Takeaways
- You can’t transfer AMEX points directly to American Airlines, but you can book AA flights by transferring to airline partners or using the AMEX Travel Portal.
- Transferring AMEX points to Oneworld alliance partners or other airline programs allows you to book American Airlines flights indirectly.
- Some airlines offer bonus miles when transferring AMEX points, giving you more value for your rewards.
- Some transfers happen instantly, while others take 2 to 5 days, so plan ahead when booking.
- Avoid high fuel surcharges by choosing partners with low taxes and better award rates.
Understanding AMEX Membership Rewards Points
AMEX Membership Rewards points are one of the most flexible travel currencies out there. Unlike airline miles that lock you into one program, these points let you transfer to multiple airline and hotel partners, book travel directly through AMEX, or even use them for upgrades and statement credits. The more points you earn, the more options you have when it’s time to redeem.
The fastest way to build your points balance is by using an eligible AMEX card for everyday spending. Some purchases earn at a higher rate, especially in categories like travel, dining, and groceries. Here’s how you can rack up points:
- Credit Card Spending: Every swipe earns points, with some cards offering extra on certain categories.
- Welcome Bonuses: Many AMEX cards offer large sign-up bonuses if you spend a set amount in the first few months.
- Promotions & Special Offers: AMEX frequently runs limited-time promotions where you can earn bonus points on select purchases.
- Referrals: If a friend or family member gets an AMEX card using your referral link, you earn extra points.
Not all AMEX cards earn Membership Rewards points, so choosing the right one matters. Here are some of the best options:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for frequent travelers, with high points on flights and premium perks.
- American Express® Gold Card: Great for everyday spending, offering big points on dining and groceries.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: A top choice for business owners, with a flat earning rate on all purchases.
- American Express® Green Card: A solid pick for travel and everyday expenses.
Can You Transfer AMEX Points to American Airlines?
No, you can’t transfer AMEX points directly to American Airlines. Nevertheless, an alternative is present. You can apply these points for flights on American Airlines via the AMEX Travel website. Planning travel this way is uncomplicated but may not maximize your points to their full potential.
To book American Airlines flights using AMEX points, transfer your points to a partner airline’s frequent flyer program that allows booking on American Airlines. Once transferred, you can use that partner’s miles to book flights operated by American Airlines.
Several airline partners enable this indirect transfer method. Each partner has its own conversion rates and award charts, which can affect the number of miles needed and potential value loss during the transfer.
When transferring AMEX points to partner airlines, be aware of the following:
- Transfer Ratios: Most partners offer a 1:1 transfer ratio, but some may differ.
- Award Charts: Partners use different award charts, which can result in varying mileage requirements for the same American Airlines flight.
- Taxes and Fees: Additional charges may apply depending on the partner’s policies.
Best AMEX Transfer Partners for Booking American Airlines Flights
Since AMEX Membership Rewards points don’t transfer directly to American Airlines, the best way to use them for AA flights is by transferring to a partner airline that allows booking on American Airlines. These partners have different redemption rates, transfer ratios, and fees, so understanding how each one works is key to getting the best deal.
British Airways Executive Club
One of the most popular options is British Airways Executive Club. This program uses Avios points, which are great for booking short-haul flights on American Airlines. Because British Airways has a distance-based award chart, flights under 1,150 miles often cost fewer points compared to other programs. For example, a one-way domestic flight on American Airlines under 650 miles costs around 9,000 Avios plus minimal taxes (as of this publishing update). Transfers from AMEX to British Airways are at a 1:1 ratio, making it a convenient option.
Iberia Plus
Another useful partner is Iberia Plus, which also uses Avios but has different redemption rates compared to British Airways. Sometimes, Iberia’s award chart offers better deals for longer flights. One advantage of Iberia Plus is that you can combine your Avios from both Iberia and British Airways, allowing more flexibility in booking American Airlines flights. Iberia also charges lower fees on certain routes, which can save money compared to using British Airways Avios.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas Frequent Flyer is another AMEX partner that can be used to book American Airlines flights. However, Qantas uses a region-based award chart that is often less competitive than British Airways or Iberia. The advantage of Qantas is that their frequent flyer program sometimes has better availability for AA flights when other partners don’t show options. AMEX transfers to Qantas are at a 1:1 ratio, but the redemption rates for AA flights tend to be higher than other programs.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is another option for booking American Airlines flights using AMEX points. Asia Miles has a complex award chart, but it can offer good value on long-haul flights. Unlike British Airways and Iberia, which use a distance-based system, Asia Miles considers factors like route demand and cabin class. This means some flights might be cheaper in miles compared to other programs. However, Asia Miles sometimes has higher surcharges, so checking the total cost before transferring points is important.
Aer Lingus AerClub
For those looking for an alternative way to use AMEX points for American Airlines flights, Aer Lingus AerClub can be useful. Like British Airways and Iberia, Aer Lingus also uses Avios, and while it primarily focuses on transatlantic flights, it allows bookings on American Airlines as well. This can be an option if British Airways or Iberia don’t have availability for the flights you need.
How to Use AMEX Points for American Airlines Flights
To use your AMEX points for American Airlines flights, you can book directly through the AMEX Travel portal or via Oneworld partner airlines. When booking through the AMEX Travel portal, select your desired American Airlines flight and choose to pay with your Membership Rewards points.
If using Oneworld partner airlines, link your frequent flyer account to your AMEX account, then transfer your points to the chosen partner and book your American Airlines flight using those transferred miles.
Booking flights through AMEX Travel
Booking flights via AMEX Travel presents no challenges. Utilize your American Express Membership Rewards points for securing American Airlines flights here. Each Membership Rewards point typically equals 1 cent toward airfare through AMEX Travel. However, if you have the Business Platinum Card, you receive a 35% rebate on points redeemed for flights booked through AMEX Travel (up to 1 million points per calendar year). This effectively gives your points a higher value.
Hence, a flight costing $500 would require an equivalent of 50,000 points. The flexibility to combine points with money offsets the expense of your journey in case of insufficient points.
There is no minimum points requirement to book flights using points via the AMEX Travel portal, giving you flexibility to pay partially with points and partially with cash. The reimbursement of money, post redemption of your points by AMEX, is executed within a span of two days. This strategy enables a hassle-free journey with American Airlines without the need to deplete your financial reserves.
Using AMEX points with Oneworld partner airlines
After learning how to book flights directly through AMEX Travel, you might want to explore another way to use your points. This method involves Oneworld partner airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas.
You can transfer your AMEX points to these airlines’ loyalty programs. Then, you can book American Airlines flights with them.
For example, if you want an economy seat on a flight less than 650 miles long, it would cost 12,000 points in the British Airways Executive Club program. Or maybe you’re looking at a longer trip from Columbus to London in business class – that would be 61,000 Asia Miles with Cathay Pacific.
With Qantas Frequent Flyer program, a short haul of up to 600 miles costs only 8,000 points for an economy ticket. This is a smart way to stretch your AMEX points even further when flying on American Airlines planes.
Transferring Points to Hotel Programs
Some hotel loyalty programs, like Marriott Bonvoy, allow you to convert AMEX points into hotel points and then transfer them to American Airlines. However, the conversion rate is often less favorable than direct airline transfers.
Steps to Transfer AMEX Points to Partner Airlines
To transfer your AMEX points to partner airlines, start by logging into your AMEX account. Then, link your frequent flyer account and proceed to transfer the points to the chosen partner.
Log into your AMEX account
To initiate the process of transferring your points, first step to take would be to log into your American Express Membership Rewards account. Access the “Transfer Points” section and click on “View All” to explore all partners. This is a crucial step for moving your points to airlines that collaborate with American Airlines, such as British Airways or Cathay Pacific.
Ensure you have connected your frequent flyer accounts prior to your attempt to transfer points. This act facilitates a smoother process. For this phase, you’ll need the information of your airline loyalty program readily available.
Link your frequent flyer account
First, you need to connect your frequent flyer program to your American Express Membership Rewards account. Make sure the names on both accounts are the same. This keeps things smooth and avoids any mix-ups. To do this, go to your American Express account online. Find where it says “Link frequent flyer account.” Click there and follow the steps.
After linking, check if your points moved over to your airline loyalty program as expected. This ensures you’re ready for the next step: transferring points directly to airlines for those dream flights with American Airlines or its partner airlines.
Transfer points to the chosen partner
Consider transferring your AMEX points to partner airlines in increments of 1,000, with a minimum transfer requirement of 1,000 points. Keep in mind that once you transfer your points, the process is irreversible.
Also, be aware that in some cases, a federal excise tax of 60 cents per 1,000 points may apply. Pay attention to occasional transfer bonuses from Amex when transferring points to partner airlines, they could enhance the value of your transfers.
When using AMEX Membership Rewards to book American Airlines flights through partner airlines like British Airways Executive Club or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, it’s crucial to take into account transfer ratios and any potential bonuses offered at the time of transfer.
Tips for Maximizing AMEX Points on American Airlines Flights
Getting the most out of your AMEX points when booking American Airlines flights requires strategy. Finding the best redemption opportunities, taking advantage of transfer bonuses, and minimizing fees can help you stretch your points further.
- Find Award Sweet Spots: Certain airline programs offer great redemption deals for American Airlines flights. British Airways Avios charges as little as 9,000 Avios for short-haul domestic flights, while ANA Mileage Club offers 105,000 points for a first-class round trip to Japan.
- Use Transfer Bonuses: AMEX occasionally offers bonus miles when transferring points to airline partners. Checking for these promotions before making transfers can increase the value of your points.
- Minimize Taxes and Fees: Some airlines add high surcharges to award tickets. Transferring AMEX points to international airline programs can help avoid extra costs, as AMEX waives the excise tax offset fee for non-U.S. carriers.
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Final Thoughts
Maximizing AMEX points for American Airlines flights requires smart transfers. The best strategy is to transfer points to airline partners with favorable award charts, like British Airways Avios for short-haul flights or ANA for long-haul premium travel. But, it is important to check award availability through partner airlines before transferring points, as transfers cannot be reversed.
To get the most value, watch for transfer bonuses, avoid high taxes by choosing the right partners, and compare award charts before transferring. Always check availability and plan ahead to ensure you’re getting the best redemption rate. A little research can make a big difference in how far your AMEX points take you.
FAQs
1. How can I transfer my AMEX points to American Airlines flights?
You can’t transfer AMEX points directly to American Airlines. Instead, transfer your points to Oneworld partners such as British Airways, Iberia, Qantas, or Cathay Pacific and then book AA flights through those partner airlines.
2. Is it a good idea to convert credit card points into frequent flyer programs for award flights?
Absolutely! It’s often a great deal if you’re aiming for first-class or business tickets on airlines like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Just remember that the number of points needed varies due to dynamic pricing.
3. Can I use my AMEX points with other airline loyalty programs apart from American Airlines?
Yes, besides transferring to the AAdvantage miles program, you could also utilize them with other Star Alliance and SkyTeam alliance members such as Avianca , Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways among others.
4. What is the process of transferring AMEX rewards to hotel loyalty programs?
AMEX allows transfers not only to airlines but also hotel chains like Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors which are part of its extensive list of partners offering another avenue for redeeming your hard-earned credit card points.
5. Can I earn more value from my AMEX Gold Card by using it for eligible purchases?
Certainly! With every dollar spent on eligible purchases using cards such as the Business Platinum Card or even an American Express Green Card, you accumulate valuable reward points that can be transferred across various travel partners providing excellent flexibility.
6. Are there any additional benefits linked with having an Amex Centurion card in relation to air travel?
Definitely! The perks extend beyond just point transfers; holders enjoy access privileges at airport lounges including Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs along with Global Entry fee credits making each journey even more rewarding.
