How to Transfer Amex Membership Rewards to Partners

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: Link your loyalty account, transfer Membership Rewards to the partner from the Amex site, and book once the points land. Transfer only when you have found award space, because transfers are one-way and some carry a small fee.

Before you transfer

The golden rule is to find the award space first. Transfers are one-way and cannot be reversed, so never move points speculatively. Search the partner program for the exact flight or stay you want, confirm the award is bookable, then transfer.

The steps

On the Amex site, open the transfer page, pick your partner, and link or enter your loyalty number, making sure the name matches. Enter the points to transfer. Most airline transfers are instant, though a few take hours or days. Once the points post, book the award in the partner program.

Watch the details

Amex charges a small excise-tax fee on transfers to US airlines, capped per transfer. Transfer ratios are usually 1 to 1 but not always. Watch for periodic transfer bonuses that stretch your points further, covered in our transfer bonus guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Amex transfers take?
Most airline transfers are instant, but some partners take a few hours to a couple of days. Always transfer only after confirming the award space is available.
Is there a fee to transfer Amex points?
Amex charges a small excise-tax fee on transfers to US airline programs, capped per transfer. Hotel and most foreign airline transfers have no fee.

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Bryce Casson

Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. Every card is ranked by what it actually returns, with all points valued at a flat 1 cent and offers verified against issuer sources. About the author.