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For travel miles and points enthusiasts, credit card transfer bonuses to airlines and hotels are a great way to get more value from their rewards.
These bonuses, often offered as limited-time promotions by credit card issuers, can significantly boost the points or miles you receive when transferring to travel partners.
Capitalizing on these transfer deals allows you to book multiple flights instead of just one or two.
It could also get you closer to luxurious travel experiences, like flying business class or staying at fancy hotels, without spending a fortune.
In this blog post, I will list the current transfer bonuses available from credit card issuers so you can also take advantage of them.
Maximizing Transfer Bonuses
Transfer bonuses can range anywhere from 20% to 50% or more, depending on the credit card issuer and the travel partner involved.
For instance, transferring points from a travel rewards credit card such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to an airline program during a 30% bonus period means 10,000 points could become 13,000 miles.
This bonus could be the deciding factor between flying economy and upgrading to a premium cabin, making travel more comfortable and convenient.
Moreover, strategically utilizing transfer bonuses allows for greater flexibility in travel planning.
Points and miles fans can diversify their portfolios, spreading their points across different programs to snag award space and deals as they come up.
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Current Transfer Bonuses
Chase Ultimate Rewards®
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic | 40% ends on 11/30/2024 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 50% ends on 11/15/2024 |
American Express Membership Rewards®
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | 35% ends on 11/30/2024 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 15% ends on 11/30/2024 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 15% ends on 12/31/2024 |
Citi ThankYou® Rewards
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic | 30% ends on 11/16/2024 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 20% ends on 11/16/2024 |
Capital One Rewards
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| British Airways Avios | 20% ends on 12/01/2024 |
Expired Transfer Bonuses
Expired Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Bonuses
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| British Airways | 30% ended on 10/31/2024 |
| Aer Lingus | 30% ended on 10/31/2024 |
| Iberia | 30% ended on 10/31/2024 |
Expired American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Bonuses
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) | 20% ended on 11/10/2024 |
Expired Capital One Rewards Transfer Bonuses
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) | 20% ended on 9/29/2024 |
Expired Citi ThankYou Rewards Transfer Bonuses
| Transfer Partner | Bonus Details |
|---|---|
| Avianca LifeMiles | 25% ended on 10/19/2024 |
| Leading Hotels of the World | 25% ended on 10/19/2024 |
| Qatar Avios | 35% ended on 10/31/2024 |
| Etihad Guest | 40% ended on 10/31/2024 |
Before You Transfer
When there’s a transfer bonus, it’s important to act with clear intention.
Avoid transferring speculatively—don’t jump on transfer bonuses unless you have a specific plan for using your points later down the road. You do not want to end up with orphaned miles in your accounts.
On the other hand, if you know you’ll be traveling soon, it’s wise to take advantage of a transfer bonus quickly.
Some transfer bonuses do not happen often, and when they do, they usually have expiration dates.
The trick is knowing your travel goals and determining whether transfer bonuses align with your future travel plans and overall points strategy.
How to Transfer Bank Points to Travel Partners
As you become more familiar with travel credit cards, knowing how to transfer points and miles to travel partners is important, especially when a transfer bonus is available.
The table below lists the credit cards that offer the ability to transfer to travel partners.
| Credit Cards | Transfer Steps |
|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Travel Partners |
| American Express Membership Rewards: American Express® Gold Card American Express® Business Gold Card The Platinum Card® from American Express The Business Platinum Card® from American Express The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | Transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points to Travel Partners |
| Capital One Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture X Business Capital One Spark Miles for Business Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Transfer Capital One Miles to Travel Partners |
| Citi ThankYou Rewards: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Travel Partners |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can points be transferred back to your credit card?
Once you transfer points to an airline or hotel partner, you unfortunately can’t transfer them back to your credit card.
So, make sure the transfer fits your travel plans before proceeding, as you can’t reverse the transfer process.
2. Do transferred points and miles expire?
The travel points and miles you transfer can expire, depending on the loyalty program.
Many airlines and hotels have rules on expiration based on account activity.
To avoid losing points, regularly check your program’s expiration terms and try to use your transferred points before they expire.
3. Can I transfer points to another person?
The ability to transfer points to another person depends on the policies of the specific credit card or loyalty program.
Some programs, like Hilton Honors and the World of Hyatt, allow free point transfers to family members or nominated individuals.
Always check the rules of your program to see if and how you can transfer points to another person.
4. Are there any fees associated with transfers?
In most cases, transferring points to an airline or hotel loyalty program will not incur fees.
Except for American Express, as it charges an excise fee when moving points to U.S. frequent flier programs.
Be sure to calculate whether the value you’ll gain from the transfer is worth any potential costs.
5. How long does it take for transferred points to appear in my loyalty account?
The time it takes for transferred points to show up in your airline or hotel loyalty account can differ based on the program and the credit card issuer.
While some transfers are almost instantaneous, others can take several days or weeks.
Plan accordingly and transfer points well before your travel booking to avoid delays.
6. What happens to my points if I cancel a credit card?
If you cancel a credit card, any points associated with that card may be lost unless they’ve already been transferred to a loyalty program.
Before canceling a credit card, consider transferring your points to your program of choice to keep them safe.
Always check with your credit card issuer to understand the specific rules regarding point retention after cancelation.
7. Can points be redeemed for cash or gift cards?
Yes, many credit card and loyalty programs offer the option to redeem points for cash back or gift cards.
When redeemed for cash or gift cards, the value of points can vary, but they usually do not provide good value.
Hence, we recommend that you compare all redemption options before deciding to transfer your points.
8. Is there a limit to how many points I can transfer?
Some credit cards cap the points you can transfer, but most programs have generous limits, so you shouldn’t have any issues.
With that said, always read the terms and conditions of your credit card to be aware of any transfer limits.
9. Can I combine points from different loyalty programs?
Combining points from different loyalty programs is not always possible, as most programs operate independently.
However, some programs, like British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus, and Qatar, share the same currency (Avios), so you can freely move points between programs.
10. Is it possible to buy additional points?
Many loyalty programs offer the option to purchase additional points, which can be beneficial if you’re close to a reward redemption but lacking enough points.
However, buying points is generally more expensive than earning them through spending, so consider this option carefully and compare the cost to the value of the reward before proceeding.
Final Thoughts
Boost the value of your points and miles by taking advantage of credit card transfer bonuses.
Occasionally, credit card issuers offer these bonuses, letting you earn extra miles or points when transferring to specific airline or hotel programs.
These credit card transfer bonuses are an excellent strategy for points and miles fans, allowing them to enjoy more exciting travel experiences without breaking the bank.
Have you ever transferred points during a transfer bonus before? How was your experience?
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