If you want to maximize American Express Membership Rewards points, taking advantage of transfer bonuses is an excellent opportunity to unlock an outsized value from your Amex points.
While most of Amex’s partners use a 1:1 ratio for point transfers, limited-time bonuses give you extra rewards when your points arrive in your partner account.
For example, if you signed up for The Platinum Card® from American Express and earned 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership, that could become 104,000 Avios with the current 30% transfer bonus between the two programs. That’s enough for three one-way, business-class tickets on off-peak dates from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) on Iberia.
Here’s a look at the current Amex transfer bonuses, which are scheduled to end on Aug. 31.
Ending Amex transfer bonuses
Amex occasionally runs targeted transfer bonuses, which aren’t available to all cardholders. When you log into your Amex account and select “transfer points,” you’ll see the full list of offers you’re currently eligible for.
These are the offers ending on Aug. 31 that we’ve found across the TPG team.
| Partner program | Transfer bonus | Effective transfer ratio | Dates | Notes |
| British Airways Executive Club | 30% | 1:1.3 | Until Aug. 31 | Brings one-way flights from the West Coast to Hawaii to just 10,000 Amex points |
| Iberia Plus | 30% | 1:1.3 | Until Aug. 31 | Fly off-peak dates from the East Coast to Spain in business class for just 28,000 Amex points |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 15% | 1:1.15 | Until Aug. 31 | Brings Europe business-class awards to 55,000 Amex points |
| Hilton Honors | 25% | 1:2.5 | Until Aug. 31 | Could be worth considering when you maximize Hilton Honors points |
There are many ways to make the most of these programs, whether it’s booking short-haul American Airlines flights using Avios, snagging Lufthansa first-class award tickets with minimal fuel surcharges or reserving luxurious resorts in far-flung destinations around the world.
Thankfully, our tests indicate that transfers to British Airways, Avianca LifeMiles and Hilton Honors should process instantly, while transfers to Iberia typically take up to 48 hours. However, you can get around that delay by transferring to British Airways and then combining your Avios in your Iberia Plus account.
For some additional suggestions on how to maximize these programs, you can check out the following guides:
- Complete guide to earning and redeeming Avianca LifeMiles
- The ultimate guide to British Airways Executive Club and Avios
- The award travelers guide to Hilton Honors
How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points
You’ll need Membership Rewards points to maximize Amex transfer bonuses. If you’re looking to earn Membership Rewards points, the following Amex cards could be useful additions to your wallet:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
- American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.
You can earn additional Membership Rewards points by enrolling in Amex Offers and shopping with Rakuten. Additionally, when you buy or sell a home with RBN, you can earn Amex points.
As a reminder, TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, so you should aim to target redemptions that provide at least that much value from your hard-earned Amex points.
Bottom line
Amex transfer bonuses are a fantastic way to maximize the value of your American Express Membership Rewards points. By taking advantage of these limited-time promotions, you can supercharge your points and unlock even greater value from your points.
That said, in most cases, it is not recommended to transfer your points without a specific plan for redemption. The value of transferable points lies in their flexibility, which you lose when converting them to a partner’s currency. However, if you frequently use the program or have immediate redemption plans, a transfer bonus can enhance the value of your points.
If you want to utilize any of these offers, be sure to jump on them quickly, as the bonuses for transferring Amex points to British Airways, Iberia, Avianca and Hilton Honors end on Aug. 31.
