Complete List Of American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Bonuses

Periodically American Express offers a transfer bonus when you convert your Membership Rewards points to one of their 21 travel transfer partners.

American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Partners
Airline Partners (1:1 Unless Otherwise Noted)
Delta SkyMiles	AeroMexico Club Premier (1:1)	Air Canada Aeroplan	KLM/AirFrane Flying Blue
Alitalia MilleMiglia Club	ANA	Asia Miles	British Airways Avios
Emirates	EL AL Israel Airlines (50:1)	Frontier	Hawaiian Airlines
Iberia Plus	jetBlue (1.25:1)	Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	Qantas
Virgin atlantic flying club	Etihad	Aer Lingus	Avianca Lifemiles
Hotel Partners (1:1 unless otherwise noted)
Choice Privileges	Hilton Hhonors (1:2)	Marriott (1:1)

When deciding if these bonuses are a good deal or not, it’s useful to be able to see what transfer bonuses American Express have offered in the past. If they regularly offer a 40% transfer bonus, there seems little point to transfer when there is a 20% bonus for example.

I wasn’t able to find a list of previous transfer bonuses, so I decided I’d create one instead. I’ve tried to find as many of these past bonuses as possible, if I am missing any let me know in the comments and I’ll update it. I’ll also keep this page updated whenever a new transfer bonus comes along (you can let me know if you see any of these by contacting me). First let’s look at the current bonuses:

• American Express Transfer Bonus: 40% To Virgin Atlantic. Valid until 12/31/24
• American Express Transfer Bonus: 25% To JetBlue (250:250). Valid until 12/31/24

Historical Bonuses

These are listed with the newest bonuses being shown first and oldest bonuses being shown last.

Airlines

AeroMexico

• May 1 – May 31, 2024: 20%
• January 14th – February 14th, 2019: 25%
• November 1st – November 30th, 2018: 25%
• February 2nd – March 6th, 2015: 20%
• June 18th – 30th, 2004: 25%

Aeroplan

• November 1st, 2018 – Unknown: 10-20% transfer bonus
• [Targeted] November 12th – December 12th, 2017: 20% transfer bonus
• November 21st – December 16th, 2011: Up to 25%/25,000 miles (Conversion based on how many miles you transfer. Lowest level transferring 5,000 miles gets 1,000 mile bonus. Highest level 100,000 mile transfer earns 25,0000 mile bonus. More information here)
• November 22nd – December 5th, 2010: Up to 25%/5,000 mile bonus (1,000 mile bonus if you transfer 5,000 to 9,999 miles, 2,000 mile bonus if you transfer 10,000 to 19,999 miles, 5,000 mile bonus if you transfer 20,000 miles or more). Maximum of one bonus per.

Alitalia MilleMiglia Club

• November 26th – December 31st, 2016: 40% transfer bonus
• October 2nd – October 31st, 2016: 25% Transfer bonus.
• May 1st – 31st: 25% bonus. Not entirely sure this was a public offer, might have been targeted.

ANA

As far as I am aware, ANA has never offered a transfer bonus.

Asia Miles

• August 1, 2022 – ??: 20% 
• October 19, 2021 – Unknown: 20%
• March 4th, 2019 – Unknown: Up to 30% transfer bonus

Avianca LifeMiles

• August 1 – September 30, 2023: 15%
• May 1 – May 31, 2023: 15%
• November 17 – December 7, 2022: 15%
• May 4th – May 31, 2021: 15%
• November 23rd, 2020 – December 15, 2020: 15%
• October 1st, 2019 – October 31st, 2019: 10% (additional 5% bonus for some)
• March 1st, 2019 – April 1st, 2019: 15% transfer bonus

British Airways

Transfer rate was reduced to 1:0.8 on October 1st, 2015 and restored to 1:1 on July 13th, 2017.

• July 1 – August 31, 2023: 30%
• April 2 – unknown end date, 2,022: 40%
• June 10th – unknown end date, 2019: 40-50% (YMMV)
• September 16th -November 15th, 2018: 40%
• July 17th – September 17th, 2017: 40%
• July 13th, 2017: Transfer rate restored to 1:1
• August 10th – October 10th, 2016: 50%
• December 15th, 2014 – January 31st, 2015: 40%
• October 1st, 2015: Transfer rate decreased from 1:1 to 250:200
• October 15th – December 31st, 2013: 20%
• April 22nd, 2013 – June 7th, 2013: 35%
• December 3, 2012 – January 14, 2013: 30%
• August 28th, 2012 – September 27th, 2012: 40%
• March 15, 2012 – May 31, 2012: 50%
• March 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012: 50%
• November 28, 2011 – January 31, 2012: 30%
• June 1, 2011 – July 31, 2011: 50%
• February 2, 2011 – March 31, 2011: 40%
• November 2, 2010 – December 31, 2010: 30%
• April 1 – June 30, 2010: 20% (only for Platinum & Centurion cardholders)

Delta SkyMiles

• November 14th – November 30th, 2011: 30% bonus (you also got an additional 15,000 points for every 50,000 points transferred. If you transferred 50,000 points you’d receive a 43% bonus)
• July 25th – September 30th, 2011: 40% rebate. Every 50,000 points you transferred you’d receive a certificate for 20,000 Membership rewards points. This is actually a 67% point bonus. Downside was that you were required to pay an excise fee of about $30/50,000 points. Certificates took awhile to post.
• June 9th – September 30th, 2011: 50% bonus, you also received 25,000 MQMs if you transferred 100,000 or more
• June 1st – June 30th, 2011: 40% bonus if transferring more than 100,000 points. Only 25% bonus if transferring less.
• April 1st – May 30th, 2011: Up to 40% in rebates (40% on transfers of 100,000 or more points and 25% on less). Works out to be an actual bonus of 67%.
• January 22nd – May 31st, 2011: 50% bonus and 25,000 MQM’s on transfers of 100,000 or more. Only available for people who haven’t transferred to Delta before.
• January 18th – March 31st, 2011: 30% bonus
• November 30th – December 31st, 2010: 20,000 bonus miles (or a $250 Macy’s gift card) for transfers of 50,000 points or more.
• November 1st – December 15th, 2010: 50% bonus, you also received 25,000 MQM’s on transfers of 50,000 points or more
• August 11th – September 30th, 2010: 20% bonus
• May 10th – June 30th: 25% bonus
• January 23rd, 2010 – February 28th, 2010: Up to 40% bonus (transfer up to 49,000 points and receive 10% bonus, transfer up to 149,000 points and receive 20% bonus, transfer over 150,000 points and receive 40% bonus)
• January 15th – February 28th, 2005: Up to 20% bonus (22,000 to 199,000 transferred is a 15% bonus, 200,000 or more is a 20% bonus)

EL AL Israel Airlines

(Note: up until February 1st, 2012 the transfer rate was 70:1, instead of 50:1 it is now)

• November 1st – November 30th, 2013: 20% bonus
• November 1st – November 30th, 2013: 20% bonus
• November 1st, 2010 – Unknown end date (most likely November 30th): 25% bonus

Emirates

• November 7th, 2013 – November 21st, 2013: 25%

Etihad

• [YMMV] March 3rd – April 4, 2024: 20%
• July 11 – July 30, 2022: 20%
• May 1st – June 15th, 2015: 30%

Flying Blue (KLM/AirFrance)

• October 11 – November 10, 2024: 25%
• May 1 – May 22, 2023: 25 bonus
• November 17 – December 7, 2022: 25%
• October 21st – November 30th: 25% bonus
• March 18th – April 29th, 2019: 25% bonus
• May 1st – June 15th, 2018: 25% bonus
• September 10th – September 16th, 2012: 35% bonus
• February 1st – February 29th, 2012: 25% bonus

Targeted Bonuses

• October 15th till November 26th, 2015: 30%
• November 20th till December 15th, 2014: 30% bonus
• May 1st till May 31st, 2013: 35% bonus

Frontier

I don’t think Frontier has ever offered a transfer bonus.

Hawaiian Airlines

• January 1 – January 31, 2023: 20%
• February 7 – March 21, 2022: 20% bonus
• June 7th – 21st, 2017: 25% bonus
• June 6th – 21st, 2016: 25% bonus
• December 8th – 21st, 2015: 25% bonus
• June 11th – June 23rd, 2014: 20% bonus

Iberia

• November 15th – December 15th: 50% (rate had dropped to 1:0.8)
• December 1st – 31st, 2015: 25% bonus (was when the transfer rate had dropped to 1:0.8 but people still getting 1:1.25 after bonus being applied twice)
• September 19th – November 16th, 2011: 20% bonus

jetBlue

• October 11th – November 30th, 2023: 25%
• October 21st – December 21st, 2019: 25%
• June 10th – unknown end date, 2019: 40-50% [ymmv]
• August 1st – October 1st, 2018: 25% bonus [targeted]
• February 26th – March 25th, 2018: 10-30% bonus [targeted]
• November 1st – November 31st, 2017: 25% bonus
• May 1st – May 31st, 2017: 25% bonus
• August 15th – September 15th, 2014: 25% bonus
• June 12th, 2012 – June 17th, 2012: 30% bonus

There was also a targeted bonus for 40% that ran from November 1st – November 30th in 2014. There was another targeted promotion for 20% that ran from June 28th – September 30th, 2011.

Qantas

• November 3rd – November 30th, 2019: 20% transfer bonus
• June 10th – June 30th, 2019: 20% transfer bonus

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

• 12/1/23 – 12/31/23: 20% transfer bonus
• 12/1/21 – Unknown end date: 20% transfer bonus

Virgin America Elevate

• September 9th – 30th: 25% bonus + gold status when you transfer 80k or more MR points
• February 10th – March 10th, 2016: 50% bonus
• September 8th – October 8th, 2015: 25% bonus + gold status when you transfer 80k or more MR points
• January 15th – February 15th, 2015: 35% bonus
• April 16th – April 30th, 2014: 30% bonus
• January 17th – January 31st, 2014: 40% bonus
• September 16th – September 30th, 2013: 40% bonus
• October 27th – September 2nd, 2012: 30% bonus
• March 19th – March 26th, 2012: 30% bonus

They also offered the following targeted bonuses:

• September 15th – October 15th, 2014: 50%
• November 7th – November 21st, 2012. 50%

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

• December 2 – December 31, 2024: 40%
• April 22 – May 31, 2024: 30% bonus
• December 7 – 31, 2023: 30%
• May 26 – June 12, 2023: 30% bonus
• December 8 – December 29, 2022: 30% bonus
• March 3 – March 31, 2022: 30% bonus
• December 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021: 30% bonus
• November 29th, 2018 – Unknown end date: 30% bonus
• August 1st – September 12th, 2018: 30% bonus
• October 10th – November 30th, 2017: 30% bonus
• April 17th – May 22nd, 2017: 30% bonus
• May 1st – May 31st, 2016: 30% bonus
• April 1st – April 30th, 2015: 25% bonus
• October 16th – November 30th, 2014: 35% bonus
• May 1st – May 31st, 2014: 30% bonus
• October 15th – November 30th, 2013: 30% bonus
• August 27th – September 2nd, 2012: 30% bonus
• March 19th – March 26th, 2012: 30% bonus
• April 1st – May 15th, 2012: 25% bonus
• November 27th – December 29th, 2012: 35% bonus
• June 3rd – Unknown end date, 2011 (most likely June 30th): 25%
• January 10th – February 28th, 2011: 15% bonus
• October 1st – October 31st, 2010: 20%
• July 19th – July 30th, 2010: 15%
• February 22nd – March 16th, 2010: 15%

Hotels

Best Western Rewards

• February 1st – March 31st, 2014: 50% bonus

Choice Privileges

• October 1st – November 30th, 2013: 20% bonus
• April 3rd – June 30th, 2012: 25% rebate on points (33% bonus)
• October 31st – November 6th, 2011: 50% bonus

Hilton Hhonors

• September 1 – September 30, 2024: 30%
• May 9 – May 30, 2024: 40%
• December 20 – December 31, 2023: 30%
• August 1 – September 30, 2023: 25%
• April 2 – April 30, 2023: 30% transfer bonus
• March 3 – March 31, 2022: 30% transfer bonus
• March 15th – June 15th, 2021: 40% transfer bonus
• December 2nd, 2020 – January 31st, 2021: 40% transfer bonus
• August 3rd – October 31st, 2020: 40% transfer bonus
• February 4th, 2019 – Unknown: YMMV deal for 10-50% transfer bonus
• September 27th – November 30th: YMMV deal for 30-50% transfer bonus
• January 2nd, 2018: Transfer rate increased permanently from 1:1.5 to 1:2
• October 24th – December 15th, 2017: 33% transfer bonus

Targeted promotions:

• December 6th, 2018 – Unknown end date: 30-50% transfer bonus 
• September 27th – November 30th: YMMV deal for 30-50% transfer bonus
• October 16th – November 30th, 2014: 33% bonus (going from a rate of 1:1.5 to a rate of 1:2)
• December 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013, 2013: 33% bonus (going from a rate of 1:1.5 to a rate of 1:2)

Marriott

• November 1 – November 30, 2024: 35%
• November 2 – November 30, 2023: 20%
• April 2 – May 31, 2022: 25%
• March 15 – June 15, 2021: 40% transfer bonus
• December 1 – December 31, 2020: 30% transfer bonus
• September 1 – October 31, 2020: 40% transfer bonus
• June 10th – unknown end date, 2019: 50% transfer bonus (YMMV)

SPG Starwood Preferred Guest

Targeted promotions:

• October 23 – November 17th: 50% bonus
• October 12th – October 31st, 2015: 50% bonus
• October 16th – November 30th, 2014: 50% bonus

Misc

Plenti

• July 3rd – December 31st, 2016: 50% bonus 

Final Thoughts

American Express are offering a lot less of these transfer bonuses these days and are also offering more targeted bonuses which is disappointing on both counts. From now on we will always post when a new transfer bonus comes available, as well as updating this list. Make sure you join the mailing list or follow us on twitter so you can keep up with the latest updates.

Hopefully people find this page useful, if I missed any bonuses please let me know so that I can include them. If you have any ideas for reference articles like this, please let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to create them when I have the time.