By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: Transferring American Express points to ANA Mileage Club at 1 to 1 is one of the best premium-cabin plays in the hobby, with low round-trip pricing for business and first class to Asia and Europe. The catches are that awards must be round-trip, transfers take a couple of days, and you should never transfer before you confirm space.
Why it is a great transfer
ANA Mileage Club, fed by American Express, prices round-trip business and first class to Asia and Europe at some of the lowest mileage anywhere, so a 1-to-1 transfer of Membership Rewards can yield several cents of value per point on a premium cabin. For the right trip, it is among the highest-value uses of Amex points. See our ANA guide and ANA First guide.
The catches that shape the decision
ANA awards must be booked round-trip, so this only works when you have a round-trip itinerary, and Amex transfers to ANA take a couple of days rather than being instant, so you cannot book on a whim. Plan the full round-trip, confirm the space holds, then transfer with a buffer. See finding award space.
The opportunity cost
Because the transfer is non-instant and one-way, the speculative-transfer trap is a real risk here, so never move points until you are confident in the space. Weighed against other Amex uses, ANA wins for round-trip premium travel to Asia, but a one-way trip or a cash-cheap economy fare points you elsewhere. See the speculative transfer trap.
Frequently asked questions
Is transferring Amex to ANA worth it?
For round-trip premium-cabin travel to Asia or Europe, yes, it is one of the best uses of Membership Rewards, with low round-trip pricing that can return several cents per point.
What is the catch with ANA awards?
Awards must be booked round-trip, and Amex transfers to ANA take a couple of days rather than instant. Plan the full round-trip and confirm the space before transferring.
How long do Amex to ANA transfers take?
Typically a couple of days, not instant. Because the transfer is slow and one-way, confirm award space first and transfer with a time buffer to avoid stranding points.
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.
