The Ultimate Guide To Transferring Flexible Points to Other Accounts [Amex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Marriott & More]

Key Takeaways

• You can convert points from credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Citi ThankYou to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
• Ensure you understand the transfer ratios and redemption value before initiating a transfer, as not all transfers offer equal value.
• There are different rules for each program regarding combining points and transferring them.

Award programs (whether airlines, hotels, or credit cards) are complicated if you’re not in the game. Most programs have tons of rules and restrictions, which can be confusing even for people who look at this stuff every day.

One aspect that can be especially confusing is when and how you can combine and transfer your points. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to combine and transfer flexible points between your own accounts, as well as from your own account to family (e.g., spouse), friends, and authorized users.

How To Transfer Flexible Points From Your Account

There are currently 7 major flexible point programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

When you earn points in each of these programs, you can transfer those points to the loyalty program’s partners.

For example, when you earn Amex Membership Rewards points, you can transfer those points directly to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer to book a Singapore Airlines first class flight.

To highlight a more nuanced example, you can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, transfer those points directly to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and book an ANA first class flight because Virgin Atlantic and ANA are partners. Make sense?

In this article, we will focus on transferring points to airline and hotel partners. We will also cover the rules for each program, as each major flexible point program treats combining and transferring points from your account differently.

Each program will be broken up into 2 parts: combining points and transferring points.

American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards is a popular flexible point program for 2 reasons:

1. It offers a useful lineup of airline partners to redeem your points with.
2. Amex regularly offers transfer bonuses to some of its airline partners.

Some of the best ways to receive the most value with your Amex points involve transfers to:

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to fly ANA first class
• Etihad Guest to fly American Airlines business class
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, to fly Singapore Airlines first class
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, to fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

Amex does a nice job offering its customers plenty of opportunities to earn points when spending money on its Membership Rewards cards. What you may not know is that you can also transfer Amex points across accounts!

Amex Transfer Rules

The Membership Rewards program has a few rules that are important to know before transferring or combining your points. As you’ll see in this article, all of the flexible point programs have different rules.

If you are combining Amex points, you can combine points across your accounts. You are not allowed to pool or combine points earned by another person with Membership Rewards points.

For example, if you earn Amex points with The Platinum Card^® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, you can combine your points into 1 account.

If you are transferring Amex points, you can only transfer points to a frequent traveler account in your name. You are not allowed to transfer Membership Rewards points to another person’s frequent traveler account, except for authorized users (personal cards) or employees (business cards) that have been listed on the account for at least 90 days.

For example, you can transfer Amex points to your Etihad account, but you can’t transfer points to your spouse’s Etihad account unless your spouse is an authorized user and has been for at least 90 days.

It’s also worth noting that Amex requires you to transfer a minimum number of points when transferring to the Amex transfer partners, which are outlined in the table below:

Amex Transfer Partners (Airlines)

Amex Transfer Partners (Hotels)

American Express has a nice lineup of both personal and business credit cards that earn Membership Rewards points.

Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

If you’re a business owner, several Amex business cards will earn Membership Rewards points.

Hot Tip: To keep your points, you need to make sure at least 1 Membership Rewards account is open and in good standing. If you cancel or if your primary Membership Rewards account is canceled, you will lose your Amex points; they can’t be reinstated. 

Bilt Rewards

Bilt Rewards has one of the most unique transfer partner lists out there, which includes United MileagePlus, plus the most valuable hotel points out there (World of Hyatt).

Some of the most attractive ways to use Bilt Rewards points:

• Air Canada Aeroplan to fly Etihad first class
• United MileagePlus to fly United Polaris class

However, there aren’t as many ways to earn Bilt points through credit cards as there are with Amex or Capital One.

Bilt Transfer Rules

Bilt points transfers are required to be done in 2,000-point increments with a minimum of 2,000 points per transfer.

At the moment, Bilt does not allow you to combine points with different accounts, so your Bilt points can only be transferred to loyalty program accounts that are in your name.

Bilt Transfer Partners (Airlines and Hotels)

Recommended Bilt Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Learn More(at Bilt's secure site)

Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

Annual Fee

$0

APR

See Rate & Fees

Why We Like This Card

Never before has there been a credit card built specifically with renters in mind. Enter the Bilt World Elite Mastercard^® Credit Card, designed specifically to help renters earn rewards on their rent payments with no transaction fees.

Of course, aside from rewards on rent, there are many other solid features that the card offers that add extra value to cardholders. In this guide, we provide a complete breakdown of everything the Bilt Card has to offer to help you decide whether the card makes sense for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points per $1 at restaurants
• 2x points per $1 on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
• 1x point per $1 on rent payments, without a transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year

Cons

• Does not offer a welcome bonus
• Must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $0 Annual Fee
• Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
• Earns 3x points on dining
• Earn 2x points on travel
• Earn 1x points on other purchases
• Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
• Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
• Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
• Select “Learn More” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Rate & Fees
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Hot Tip: There are separate rules for pooling points and miles from hotel and airline accounts.

Brex Rewards

Brex Rewards has several useful transfer partners, especially if your appetite is luxury award travel. All of its transfer partners maintain a 1.67:1 ratio, and most transfers are instant (though some take up to 1 business day).

You can use Brex points in a handful of great ways:

• Avianca LifeMiles to fly Swiss Air business class
• Emirates Skywards to fly Emirates first class
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles to fly British Airways business class

Hot Tip: Brex points used to transfer to partners at a 1:1 ratio, but that changed in March 2023. Now you’ll need to transfer 1,670 Brex points to get 1,000 airline miles.

Brex Transfer Rules

Currently, you must transfer at least 1,000 points in a single transaction; but the good news with Brex transfers is that there are no minimum transfer increments — you can transfer exact numbers of points, like 19,248 instead of 19,000 points.

You can’t transfer Brex points to other Brex accounts; however, you can transfer points to frequent flyer programs under your employees’ names, in addition to programs under your own name.

Brex Transfer Partners (Airlines)

Recommended Brex Cards

Brex offers a variety of corporate charge card products that enable you to earn Brex Rewards points.

Capital One Miles

While the Capital One Miles program is not nearly as popular as many of the other programs on this list, it can still provide exceptional value to those who use Capital One cards.

Capital One offers plenty of excellent ways to get top value out of its miles, including transfers to:

• Avianca LifeMiles to fly Lufthansa first class
• Air Canada Aeroplan to fly Etihad business class
• Etihad Guest to fly American Airlines business class

Capital One Transfer Rules

Luckily for Capital One cardholders, Capital One does not provide any limits to who you can or cannot transfer miles to. So whether it’s members of your household or friends and family that live elsewhere, you can all still pool your Capital One Miles together. Better yet, there are no caps on the number of miles you can transfer either.

To transfer your Capital One miles to someone else’s Capital One credit card account, just call the number on the back of your card to make this happen.

Similarly, if you have multiple Capital One credit cards that earn Capital One miles, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles for Business, you can transfer the miles earned from either card to the other to pool together enough points for a redemption.

When you’re ready to redeem, Capital One has a great list of transfer partners, most of which you can transfer your Capital One miles to at a 2:1, 2:1.5, or 1:1 rate.

Capital One Transfer Partners

Fortunately, Capital One offers plenty of great credit cards to help you rack up Capital One miles.

Recommended Capital One Cards (Personal)

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

If you’re a business owner, consider our guide to the best Capital One business credit cards for miles and cash-back.

Bottom Line: Capital One isn’t nearly as restrictive as many of the other credit issuers when it comes to transferring your miles between other Capital One credit cardholders. 

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards is another popular flexible point program with a respectable lineup of travel partners that can be leveraged for value.

Chase offers several great ways to maximize its points, including transfers to:

• British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus to fly American Airlines
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue to fly Delta
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and United Airlines MileagePlus to fly Lufthansa
• World of Hyatt for high-value hotel stays

Chase continues to innovate and offer customers an array of personal and business credit cards. Whatever your spending habits are, the best Chase credit cards allow you to earn points that can access many high-value redemptions.

Chase Transfer Rules

Before you move your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the program has a few rules that are important to cover.

If you are combining Chase points, you can combine points with another Chase Ultimate Rewards account that belongs to you, your spouse/domestic partner, or a joint business owner.

If you are transferring Chase points to a frequent traveler account, you can only transfer points to an account that belongs to you or your spouse/domestic partner, provided the spouse or domestic partner is an authorized user living at the same address.

Hot Tip: Chase Ultimate Rewards cardholders can only make transfers to 1 authorized user on their account.

For example, you can transfer your Chase points to your spouse’s Ultimate Rewards account if your spouse is an authorized user on your account and you both live at the same address.

If you are transferring Chase points from a business account to a frequent traveler account, you can transfer points to frequent traveler accounts of business owners of the company who are also authorized users on the Ultimate Rewards business card.

For example, you can transfer your Chase points to your business partner’s United Airlines account if your business partner is an authorized user on your Ultimate Rewards business account.

Chase has the same minimum point transfer amounts for all of its Chase transfer partners, which are shown in the tables below:

Chase Transfer Partners (Airline)

Chase Transfer Partners (Hotel)

Chase makes it easy to earn plenty of Ultimate Rewards points from its array of personal and business credit cards.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

Bottom Line: Chase is less restrictive than Amex when combining points across Ultimate Rewards accounts, but still makes it challenging to transfer Chase points to another person’s frequent flyer account. 

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi’s flexible point program, ThankYou Rewards, does not receive as much attention as Amex and Chase. But that doesn’t mean the program can’t provide you and your family serious value!

A few of the best ways to use ThankYou Points include transfers to:

• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles to fly American Airlines
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue to fly Korean Air first class
• Avianca LifeMiles to fly Lufthansa

Citi Transfer Rules

When you decide to transfer your ThankYou Points, there are a few important rules to keep in mind.

If you are combining your ThankYou Points, Citi offers the most generous policy of the flexible point programs. The ThankYou program allows you to combine your points with any other Citi ThankYou member.

After the points are transferred, the new points holder will have 90 days before the points expire. You can share and receive up to 100,000 ThankYou Points in a calendar year.

For example, let’s say you and a friend want to take a trip together. You can transfer your points directly to your friend’s ThankYou Rewards account, who can then use those points to book a flight.

The ThankYou program does not allow you to transfer ThankYou Points to another person’s frequent airline traveler account.

Citi, like Chase, has the same minimum point transfer amounts for all of its transfer partners, which are shown in the table below:

Citi Transfer Partners

While Citi doesn’t have as deep of a bench of credit cards as Amex and Chase, it does regularly offer high welcome offer bonuses on its ThankYou Rewards-earning credit cards.

Recommended Citi Cards (Personal)

Citi Premier^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Citi Premier^® Card

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$0

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• No welcome offer available
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

For business owners interested in cash-back and rewards, check out our guide to the best Citi business credit cards.

Bottom Line: The Citi ThankYou Rewards program is ideal if you are looking to transfer points to anyone, including your spouse, a family member, or a friend. For more information, check out our FAQs about Citi ThankYou Points.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy has the most expansive list of airline transfer partners with nearly 40.

This is great news when you also consider the fact that Marriott offers a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer to many airline partners (excluding American, Avianca, Delta, and Korean Air).

Some of the best ways to use Marriott Bonvoy points include transfers to:

• Air Canada Aeroplan to fly Star Alliance partners to Europe
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan to fly Cathay Pacific to Asia
• Japan Airlines Mileage Bank to fly its own metal to Japan
• Korean Air SKYPASS to fly its SkyTeam partners to Europe

Make sure you maximize your earnings, as Marriott Bonvoy offers several ways to earn points from its credit cards to stays at its portfolio of hotels across the world.

Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Rules

When you decide to move your Marriott Bonvoy points, the rules are straightforward.

If you are combining Marriott Bonvoy points between accounts, you can transfer up to 100,000 points in a calendar year to another Marriott member whose account has been open for at least 60 days. This is valid whether you are sending or receiving the points.

Separately, a new Marriott member may receive points after 30 days if the member has had qualifying activity on his or her account. The catch with transferring points is that you must contact Member Support to initiate the transfer.

For example, let’s say you and your spouse want to book flights for a trip, but your spouse doesn’t have enough points. You can combine the points in your account with the points in your spouse’s account. From there, you can transfer the points to the program of your choice to book your flights.

You are not allowed to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to a frequent flyer account that is not your own. Instead, transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to another Marriott Bonvoy member’s account; then that member can book a flight with the points in their account.

Marriott Bonvoy sets a minimum of 3,000 and a maximum of 240,000 points that can be transferred per day.

There are currently several Marriott Bonvoy personal and business credit cards, typically with generous welcome offers too.

Hot Tip: Did you know you can also transfer World of Hyatt points to airline partners? Most transfers are at a 5:2 ratio and transfers can take 6 to 8 weeks, so it’s not a great way to use your points.

Final Thoughts

With the constant shuffling of airline partners, award redemption rates, and credit card restrictions, a valuable strategy is to earn points in a flexible points program instead of a specific airline frequent flyer program. That way when 1 partner leaves or the inevitable award chart devaluation occurs, you will have hedged your bets by not being stuck holding only 1 currency.

Whether you are earning points by yourself, with a spouse/significant other, or you have the entire family involved, it’s important to know how to move your points around to help with booking your next redemption.