Transfer partners, explained
Which bank points move to which airlines and hotels, at what ratio, how long it takes, and the rules that stop a transfer from going wrong.
Transfer partners are what make bank points valuable. A point from American Express, Chase, Capital One, Citi or Bilt can be moved into an airline or hotel program, usually one for one, and spent there at that program’s prices. Done well, it is how a few months of ordinary spending becomes a business class seat.
This guide shows where each bank’s points can go, and the handful of rules that matter more than the map.
How a transfer works
Link the accounts
Add the airline or hotel membership number in the bank’s rewards site. The names must match.
Choose the amount
Most banks transfer in blocks of 1,000 points; Bilt Blue members need at least 2,000.
Wait, briefly
Many transfers are instant. American Express says transfers typically take 48 hours to process; Chase says most arrive by the next business day, and up to 7 business days.
Book
The points now belong to the airline or hotel program, under its rules and its prices.
The rule that matters most
Transfers cannot be reversed. American Express, Chase and Capital One all say so in their own terms. Find the award seat or room first, confirm it is bookable, then transfer and book in one sitting.
The currencies at a glance
2.2¢
Bilt Points
The only bank route to Alaska and Hawaiian’s Atmos Rewards
2.05¢
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Strong for United, Southwest and Hyatt
2.0¢
Amex Membership Rewards
The only bank route to Delta and ANA
1.9¢
Citi ThankYou Points
The only bank route to American Airlines
Values are typical values per point. Capital One Miles (about 1.85¢) are the fifth currency, strongest for Turkish, Avianca and Qatar.
The map
Bank points on the left of each ratio, partner points on the right: 1:2 means 1,000 bank points become 2,000 partner points; 4:3 means 1,000 become 750. Shaded cells are transfers that exist; blank cells mean no transfer.
| Program | Amex | Chase | Capital One | Citi | Bilt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1:1.6 | 1:1 | |||
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Atmos Rewards (Alaska, Hawaiian) | 1:1 | ||||
| American AAdvantage | 1:1 | ||||
| ANA Mileage Club | 1:1 | ||||
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| British Airways Club | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 5:4 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1:1 | ||||
| Emirates Skywards | 5:4 | 2:1.5 | 5:4 | 1:1 | |
| Etihad Guest | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Iberia Club | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | 2:1.5 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 5:4 | 1:1 | 5:3 | 1:1 | |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Qatar Privilege Club | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| TAP Miles&Go | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| Turkish Miles&Smiles | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| United MileagePlus | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 via Virgin Red | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| World of Hyatt | 1:1 or 4:3 | 1:1 | |||
| Hilton Honors | 1:2 | 1:1 | |||
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| IHG One Rewards | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| Accor Live Limitless | 2:1 | 2:1 | 3:2 | ||
| Choice Privileges | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1.5 | ||
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
Citi ratios are for the Strata Premier and Strata Elite; Citi’s no-fee cards transfer at about 70% of these. Capital One reaches Virgin Atlantic through Virgin Red, which shares Virgin Points with Flying Club. Smaller partners not shown above include EVA Air, Finnair, Thai, Amtrak (Bilt, 2:1), I Prefer Hotel Rewards (Capital One and Citi at 1:2; also Bilt) and Leading Hotels of the World (Amex 4:1, Citi 5:1).
What changed since mid-2025
- Chase and Hyatt. From October 1, 2026, Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred points move to World of Hyatt at 4:3, according to Chase. The Sapphire Reserve keeps 1:1, so pooled Chase points are best sent to Hyatt from a Reserve.
- Bilt and Hyatt. Bilt is set to move World of Hyatt transfers to 4:3 on January 1, 2027.
- Partners lost. Chase dropped Emirates in October 2025; Citi dropped Aeromexico in January 2026; American Express dropped Etihad on June 30, 2026.
- Partners added. Citi added American AAdvantage in July 2025 and Japan Airlines in September 2026; Bilt added Southwest, Qatar and Japan Airlines during 2025; American Express added Leading Hotels of the World in July 2026.
- Bilt dropped Spirit after the airline stopped flying in May 2026.
- One ratio cut. Capital One moved Emirates from 1:1 to 2:1.5 on January 13, 2026, as its own partner page now shows.
Which bank for which goal
Hotels
Hyatt hotels
1:1from Chase Sapphire Reserve or Bilt
The strongest hotel use of bank points: Hyatt points are typically worth about 1.65¢ each, against 0.4–0.75¢ for Hilton and Marriott.
Check the Bilt change before 2027
Airlines
Japan in ANA first or business
1:1to Virgin Atlantic, from Amex, Chase, Citi or Bilt, or Capital One through Virgin Red
Virgin’s fixed ANA chart is one of the most valuable airline prices left; see the airline guides.
Book by phone with Virgin
Airlines
Europe in business class
1:1to Aeroplan or Flying Blue
Every bank reaches Flying Blue, and four reach Aeroplan, so these two programs are where most bank points end up.
Compare both before transferring
Airlines
Domestic flights
1:1United (Chase, Bilt), Southwest (Chase, Bilt), Delta (Amex), American (Citi)
US airlines price awards dynamically, so domestic redemptions are often worth about 1–1.5¢.
Often better to pay cash
Transfer bonuses
Banks regularly offer extra points for transferring to one partner, typically 20–40%, and occasionally much more. A bonus is worth taking only for a booking already planned: a 70% bonus to a program whose points are worth a third as much is still a poor exchange. The current offers are on the transfer bonuses page.
The Atelier Take
Learn three programs well rather than thirty a little: for most travelers, Hyatt, one Star Alliance program and Flying Blue cover nearly everything.
Airline, hotel and card names and logos are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify their programs. Points Atelier is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
