Transferring Credit Card Points
Transferring credit card points to airline and hotel partners gets you the most value for your hard-earned points almost every time. The beauty of transferable currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and others is that they give you lots of flexibility and offer maximum value for your points. Meanwhile, there are plenty of reasons to avoid booking travel through portals, including because they offer low cents per point value.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Transferring Points
We have step-by-step instructions with screenshots for transferring points from among the different transferable currencies. If you're ever unsure about which points transfer to which partners, just consult our handy Partner Transfer Tool.
- Instructions for transferring Amex Membership Rewards
- Instructions for transferring Capital One Miles
- Instructions for transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Instructions for transferring Citi ThankYou Points
Tips for Transferring Credit Card Points
Now that you know how to transfer points to partners, here are a few tips and tricks for transferring credit card points.
Only transfer points when you have found award availability
Points transfers are one-way only. You cannot transfer points from and airline/hotel program back to your credit card. So make sure to only transfer points once you have found award availability that works for you. If not, you will risk having those points stuck with the airline/hotel program and unable to move them elsewhere. (This is also why we avoid making speculative transfers to take advantage of a transfer bonus.)
Most points transfers are instant
The vast majority of points transfers are instant, save for very few exceptions. This means you can first confirm award availability and only then transfer the points, as explained above. Also, our handy Partner Transfer Tool tracks the transfer times across the different partners for all major transferable currencies.
Create loyalty accounts ahead of time to avoid transfer delays
Transfer delays can happen when transferring points to a brand new airline or hotel account. To avoid this, create loyalty accounts ahead of time. We have a list of recommended programs in this article.
Avoid test transfers
When transferring points for the first time, some folks like to do a test transfer to make sure the points go through properly. This usually involves making a minimum transfer of 1,000 points. But if you follow this small transfer with another transfer seconds or minutes later, that second transfer can get flagged for suspicious activity by the airline/hotel or the bank, or both. When that happens, there is nothing you can do but wait out a few days for that transfer to go through.
Some airlines hold awards
If you're new to award travel and are nervous about making a transfer, remember that some airlines will place an award on hold for a few days if you give them a call. We share which airlines hold awards in this guide.
Transferring Credit Card Points: ToP Thoughts
Transferring points to partners is the best way to use your points for award travel. Equipped with these step-by-step guides, you will be ready to pull off your next award booking in no time! And if you need help searching for award availability, you can start by following the steps in our award booking guide.
