Main Credit Card Reward Programs American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards

The American Express Membership Rewards program is one of the four major credit card reward programs in the US. We refer to these four rewards programs as super-programs, as they all combine over a dozen major rewards programs into one. AmEx Membership Rewards is the original super-program. It was launched in 1991 and was initially called Membership Miles. Today, there are many ways to use the membership rewards program, but transferring points to airlines miles to redeem for travel remains the most lucrative use of these rewards. All other uses bring between half a penny to 0.7 of a penny of value (with exception of gift cards which may bring up to a penny). Airline miles can bring you at least 1.1 to 1.8 cents of value and if done right you could get as many as 5 to 10 cents of value per mile!

American Express Membership Rewards works with 18 frequent flyer programs and 3 hotel frequent guest programs. 

Airline partner programs are:

AmEx Transfer Partner

Min Transfer

Transfer Ratio

Transfer Time

AeroMexico Club Premier

1,000

1:1.6

2-10 days

Air Canada Aeroplan

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

Alitalia MilleMiglia 

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

Aer Lingus AerClub

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

ANA Mileage Club*

1,000

1:1

2-3 days

Avianca LifeMiles

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

British Airways Executive Club 

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles 

1,000

1:1

2-5 days

Delta SkyMiles*

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

Emirates Skywards

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

Etihad Guest

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

Flying Blue Air France/KLM

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

HawaiianMiles*

1,000

1:1

Usually instant

Iberia Plus 

1,000

1:1

1-2 days

True Blue

250

1:0.8

Usually instant

Qantas Frequent Flyer

500

1:1

Usually instant

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

1,000

1:1

1-2 days

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club 

1,000

1:1

1-2 days

*Not available through any super-program

American Express tends to offer limited time bonus offers for some of these about twice a year. We have consistently observed the following offers over the past several years:

40 percent bonus for transferring to British Airways, 

30 percent bonus to Virgin Atlantic, 

25 percent bonus to Air France/KLM Flying Blue and to JetBlue, 

15 percent bonus to Avianca.

Hotel Transfer Partners

AmEx Membership Rewards can also be transferred to 3 hotel loyalty programs. With the exception of Hilton it is a 1:1 transfer, Hilton Honors 1:2

Amex Hotel Transfer Partner

Min Transfer

Transfer Ratio

(Amex > Partner)

Transfer Time

Choice Privileges

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

Hilton Honors

1,000

1:2

Usually Instant

Marriott Bonvoy

1,000

1:1

Usually Instant

We have observed 40 percent limited time transfer bonuses for Marriott and Hilton twice annually.

Additionally, you can redeem your points through amextravel.com and their “buy travel” with points program and points are valued at penny per point when redeemed through that program. When redeeming points through Business Platinum card, American Express offers 35 percent rebate of your points up to 500,000 points per year as long as you redeem them for a pre-selected preferred airline or for any airline in business or first class.

If I had to choose the best card from American Express, I would go for The Platinum from American Express. See our article Every Road Warrior should have at least one of these in their wallet: A Review of Citi Prestige, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Amex Platinum 

for more information and analysis about the Amex Platinum card and how it stacks up against others.

 

 

Comments: 0
Your comment will be the first.