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Transferable Points and Airline Programs in the US: How Point Transfers Work

By PointsExplainedLast reviewed

Find the award first

Search the airline's or hotel's award availability and note exactly how many miles or points the booking needs. Chase suggests confirming the award is available before transferring.

Link accounts and match names

Link the loyalty account to your card program before transferring. Chase says the names must match; American Express requires the partner account to be in your name or an Additional Card Member's name.

Transfer only what you need

Transfers to partners are final at both Chase and American Express, so moving extra points only exposes them to the partner program's rules.

Wait for the points to post, then book

Chase says transfers can take up to seven business days; American Express says transfers typically take 48 hours but some programs delay posting. Confirm the points have arrived before you book.

Where this comes from

Sources

The documents this guide relies on. If one has changed since we read it, the document is right and this guide is out of date.

  1. CFPB - Credit Card Rewards Issue Spotlight (May 2024)

    Co-brand cards and issuer programs that let cardholders transfer points to a merchant's currency; once awarded or transferred, the merchant typically controls redemption value and award inventory.

    files.consumerfinance.gov · Accessed
  2. American Express - Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions (Last Updated: September 2026)

    Membership Rewards transfer rules: account linking; partner account in your name or an Additional Card Member's; transfers cannot be reversed and partner terms apply; points can't be converted back; rate varies by partner; minimum 1,000 points in multiples of 1,000 in most cases; typically 48 hours; excise tax offset fee on transfers to US airline programs; flights booked with miles aren't charged to the card so card insurance/benefits may not apply; confirm points have transferred before booking.

    americanexpress.com · Accessed
  3. Chase - How to transfer points through Chase Ultimate Rewards

    Chase transfers in increments of 1,000; transfers to travel partners are final; next business day to up to 7 business days; specific cards required to transfer; names must match or the transfer may fail; household transfers with an eligible card; check award availability and required miles before transferring.

    chase.com · Accessed
  4. American Airlines - AAdvantage terms and conditions (Effective March 1, 2026)

    Page titled Effective March 1, 2026 (body: Updated January 13, 2026). Unless otherwise stated, AAdvantage miles expire after any 24-month period without qualifying activity, which includes accruing miles with credit cards; the requirement does not apply to members under 21; American may change the program, including its rules and awards, at any time with or without notice, and may change the terms even if the changes affect the value of benefits already accumulated; flight awards may be withdrawn or require more miles before ticketing.

    aa.com · Accessed
Questions

About this guide

Can I move points back to my card program after a transfer?

Not at the programs covered here. American Express says points transferred to a partner loyalty account can't be converted back into Membership Rewards points, and Chase says transfers to travel partners are final.

Do airline miles expire?

It depends on the program. American Airlines' AAdvantage terms say all miles in an account expire if it has no qualifying activity in any 24-month period, and qualifying activity includes earning miles with credit cards. The terms say this requirement doesn't apply to members under 21. Check the current terms of the program you use.

Do points always transfer one-to-one?

Not necessarily. American Express says the rate at which points transfer varies by partner. Check the rate your program shows for the partner before you transfer.
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