Best Airlines to Transfer Amex Points 2026: All 18 Partners Ranked
Amex Membership Rewards transfers to 18 airline partners at a 1:1 ratio. But not all partners are created equal. Some deliver exceptional value; others are best avoided. Here is every partner ranked from best to worst.
Tier 1: Premium Value (5–10 cpp)
1. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Best redemptions: ANA First Class, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
- Key sweet spot: ANA First Class US–Japan: 110,000 points (value: $8K–$15K)
- Transfer time: Instant
2. Air Canada Aeroplan
- Best redemptions: Lufthansa First, Swiss Business, ANA Business
- Key sweet spot: Lufthansa First US–Europe: 70,000 points
- Transfer time: Instant
3. Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Best redemptions: Business class transatlantic
- Key sweet spot: Promo awards from 35,000 points business class
- Transfer time: Instant
Tier 2: Strong Value (3–5 cpp)
4. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Best redemptions: Singapore Suites
- Key sweet spot: Singapore Suites regional: 86,000 points
5. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Best redemptions: Cathay First, Qatar QSuite
- Key sweet spot: Qatar QSuite US–Middle East: 90,000 points
6. British Airways Avios
- Best redemptions: Short-haul domestic
- Key sweet spot: US short-haul from 7,500 Avios
7. Emirates Skywards
- Best redemptions: Emirates First Class
- Key sweet spot: US–Dubai First Class: 85,000–100,000 points
8. ANA Mileage Club
- Best redemptions: Round-the-world
- Key sweet spot: Around-the-world business: 115,000 points
Tier 3: Decent Value (1–3 cpp)
9. JetBlue TrueBlue
- Best redemptions: Mint Studio transcontinental
- Key sweet spot: Mint JFK–LAX: 38,000 points
10. Avianca LifeMiles
- Best redemptions: Star Alliance awards
- Key sweet spot: US–Europe business: 63,000 points
11. Delta SkyMiles
- Best redemptions: SkyTeam premium cabins
- Note: Dynamic pricing reduces value
Tier 4: Use Sparingly (<1 cpp)
12–18. Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Hawaiian Airlines, Etihad Guest, El Al Matmid, Air Canada (redundant with Aeroplan)
Transfer Partner Chart
| Partner | Ratio | Transfer Time | Best Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic | 1:1 | Instant | ANA First | 5–10 cpp |
| Aeroplan | 1:1 | Instant | Star Alliance | 4–6 cpp |
| Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant | Promo awards | 3–5 cpp |
| Singapore | 1:1 | Instant | Suites | 3–5 cpp |
| Cathay Pacific | 1:1 | Instant | Oneworld premium | 3–5 cpp |
| British Airways | 1:1 | Instant | Short-haul | 2–4 cpp |
| Emirates | 1:1 | Instant | First Class | 2–4 cpp |
| JetBlue | 1:1 | Instant | Mint | 1–3 cpp |
| Delta | 1:1 | Instant | SkyTeam | 1–2 cpp |
Which Partners to Avoid
- Hawaiian Airlines: Limited route network, better options exist
- El Al: Only useful for Israel travel, low-value award chart
- Qantas: High fuel surcharges on partner awards
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Amex airline partner offers the best first class redemptions?
Virgin Atlantic (for ANA First Class) and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (for Singapore Suites) offer the best first class value.
Are all Amex transfers instant?
Most major partners (Virgin Atlantic, Aeroplan, Flying Blue, British Airways, Delta) are instant. ANA, Iberia, and Qantas take 2–3 days.
Should I transfer points speculatively?
No. Always confirm award availability before transferring.
Can I transfer Amex points to multiple partners?
Yes. You can transfer to different partners for different bookings.