In the travel rewards community, cards with transferable points are typically heralded as the best travel cards. And it makes perfect sense when you think about it. Transferable rewards offer great flexibility, as well as lots of opportunities to get outsized per-point value.
To give you a look at how it all works, we'll talk about how to transfer your points and what happens when you do so. Let's get started.
Preparing for the transfer
The first step is to decide where you want your points to go. Each rewards program has its own transfer partners. Take a look at the partners for the four most popular programs to get an idea of your options:
Before you start transfering points, it's vital that you have a specific use in mind. Once you transfer your rewards, there's no going back -- you can't transfer them back. This is a one-way road.
For example, if you transfer Chase points to your World of Hyatt account, they become Hyatt points. You can't turn them into Chase points again.
The only time you may want to transfer points without a specific redemption already planned is if there is a transfer bonus. Most transfers are 1:1, meaning you'll get one point or mile for every point you transfer.
With a transfer bonus, you get extra points when you transfer to the specific travel partner. These bonuses can give you an extra 30% (or sometimes more).
As an example, say Amex has a 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic. In this case, if you transferred 1,000 Amex points to Virgin Atlantic, you would end up with 1,300 Virgin miles (instead of the 1,000 miles you'd normally get).
As great as these bonuses can be, however, make sure you only transfer to programs you're likely to use relatively soon. It doesn't matter how great the bonus is if your points or miles will expire before you use them.
Transferring your points
If you're ready to put your points to use, it's time to transfer. The actual process will vary depending on the rewards program. The general steps are fairly universal, however:
- Log into your credit card account (online or in the mobile app).
- Head to the rewards portal. (There is usually a link for this on your main credit card account screen where your current points balance is displayed.)
- Choose the "transfer points" option. (See note below.)
- Select the airline or hotel partner to which you want to transfer your rewards.
- Input the number of points you want to transfer.
- Complete the transfer.
Note: You specifically want to look for a "transfer points" option, not the travel portal. Many rewards programs let you redeem your points directly for travel through their own internal travel portals. However, you'll usually get a flat rate for your points that isn't as good as what you could earn by transferring those points to a travel partner.
After the transfer
The time it takes for a points transfer to complete can vary based on the program and partners involved. Most transfers should be nearly instantaneous, but it could take up to a few days. (I haven't, personally, had to wait more than half an hour, but your mileage will vary.)
Once the transfer is completed, you should see your new hotel points or airline miles in your loyalty account. From there, you can redeem them for hotel rooms or flights just as if you'd earned those rewards directly.
Transferring points is by far the best way to not only get great value from your rewards, but also to score amazing free travel opportunities. While transfers can take more effort (and research) than other redemption options, the benefits are often well worth it.
Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
FAQs
Most credit card rewards transfer to partners at a 1:1 ratio, so figuring out how many you need to transfer is easy. In most cases, you need to transfer in increments of 1,000 points, so if an award ticket is 50,000 miles, you'll need to transfer 50,000 points.
Can credit card rewards be transferred? ›
These rewards are called transferable points. Several banks and rewards programs offer transferable points: Chase Ultimate Rewards® and American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, Bilt Rewards, and Wells Fargo Autograph Rewards.
Do you still get credit card points if you transfer the balance? ›
A balance transfer can be a good way to consolidate debt or take advantage of a promotional interest rate. However, if you're considering a balance transfer to a rewards credit card, you may be disappointed to learn you won't earn rewards on the transferred balance.
Can I transfer credit card reward points to another credit card? ›
No, you cannot add or transfer your Reward Points from one SBI Card to another. Reward points can be redeemed only on SBI Card on which they have been earned.
Do you lose Amex points if you balance transfer? ›
If you're considering transferring a balance from a rewards card, you might be worried about losing your rewards points. However, balance transfers are generally treated as a payment from your new creditor (the balance transfer card) to your old card. So, you won't lose any rewards earned.
Can I transfer rewards points to another person? ›
Key Takeaways. Most credit card rewards programs don't allow you to transfer your points directly to another person, but you can oftentimes convert them to airline miles or hotel points and give the person those. Be mindful that you might have to pay transfer fees.
Can Chase Rewards be transferred? ›
Yes. There are two ways this may happen. One is by transferring Ultimate Rewards points from one Ultimate Rewards account to a partner program with another person as the recipient (an external transfer). To do this, the recipient must be a household member who is listed as an authorized user on your Chase credit card.
Do balance transfers hurt your credit? ›
A balance transfer can improve your credit over time as you work toward paying off your debt. But it can hurt your credit if you open several new cards, transfer your balance multiple times or add to your debt.
What happens to the old credit card after a balance transfer? ›
After a balance transfer takes place, your old account remains open. The original card issuer will typically only close your account if you make a request for it to do so. Unless you have a good reason to cancel your old credit card, however, you may want to think twice before you close the account.
Do balance transfers count towards bonus points? ›
Generally, balance transfers don't count towards reward points, nor will points be gained on a card if a balance is being transferred to it. Cardholders can only earn rewards on eligible purchases they make with a rewards credit card.
No, you cannot convert Chase points to Amex. Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards are separate programs. However, both Chase and American Express have some overlapping travel partners.
Can you pay off one credit card with another for points? ›
Can I earn points by paying a credit card with another credit card? Since balance transfers and cash advances aren't considered qualifying purchases, credit card issuers don't mark them as points eligible activities.
Can I convert my credit card reward points to cash? ›
Can the reward points that I earn be converted into cash? A few banks give you the option to convert your reward points into cash. The amount that has been converted into cash will be credited into your credit card account. You can use this to make payments.
Is transferring Amex points worth it? ›
You can book flights or hotels directly through Amex Travel, but redeeming points with a transfer partner usually results in a better redemption value. This is because Amex Travel only lets you redeem at a set 1 cent per point value for flights, while transfers can yield a much higher value.
Is there a fee to transfer Amex points? ›
Does Amex Charge You To Transfer Points? There's no fee for transferring points to hotels or international airlines, but a fee will apply to transfers to U.S. airline frequent flyer programs. Those include: Delta SkyMiles.
Can my husband transfer his Amex points to me? ›
No, Membership Rewards Points can only be transferred by you into an account in your name.
Can you transfer everyday rewards points to someone else? ›
As a Member you will be able to share Everyday Rewards points you have earned with other Members by visiting the Everyday Rewards Website and transferring Everyday Rewards points from your Everyday Rewards account to another Member's account.
Can I transfer my Capital One Rewards to another person? ›
Yes. Capital One allows you to transfer your miles to a family member or even a friend, as long as they have a Capital One miles-earning account, like a Venture or Spark card. And, there's no cost to pool your miles. Other major travel rewards programs may have stricter restrictions if they allow sharing at all.
How do I cash my credit card rewards? ›
Online redemption is the most convenient ways to redeem your Reward Points as it can be done without calling up the bank's customer care department. Most banks offer you home delivery for products purchased online against Reward Points. You can also convert these points into air miles and use them to buy air tickets.
