What Amex Transfer Bonuses Are and Why They Matter
An American Express transfer bonus is extra points you get when you move rewards from an Amex card to a travel partner airline or hotel program. Instead of redeeming points at a fixed rate, you send them to (for example) Delta, United, or Marriott Bonvoy, and Amex adds bonus points on top of what you transfer. A $10,000 point transfer might become 12,000 or 13,000 points in the partner program, depending on the bonus offer running that month.
These bonuses matter because airline and hotel points are often worth more per point than cash back or statement credits. If you know you'll book a specific airline or hotel chain, a transfer bonus can stretch your rewards further. The catch is that these bonuses change monthly, and not every Amex card participates in every promotion.
Key Takeaways
- Transfer bonuses typically add 25% to 50% extra points when you move rewards to airline and hotel partners, but the specific offers change each month.
- Only certain Amex cards carry transfer privileges — most commonly the Platinum Card, Gold Card, and Business Platinum, though some premium cards also participate.
- You can see current transfer bonuses on your Amex account dashboard or by calling the card's customer service line, since offers rotate and are not published in one central place.
- Transfer bonuses work best if you have a specific trip or redemption in mind, because points transferred to a partner program cannot be moved back to Amex.
- Some transfer partners offer their own promotions (like bonus points for new members) that can stack with Amex bonuses, multiplying your point value.
Which Amex Cards Include Transfer Privileges
Not every American Express card lets you transfer points. The Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card are the primary cards with transfer partners. The Gold Card and Business Gold Card also include transfer options, though with a smaller partner network than Platinum. Some co-branded cards (like the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card) transfer only to their specific partner, not to a broader network.
Entry-level cards like the Blue Cash Everyday or Blue Preferred do not offer transfer partners at all — they earn cash back or statement credits instead. If you hold multiple Amex cards, you can combine points from one card to another within your account, then transfer the combined total to a partner, but only if at least one of the cards has transfer privileges.
How to Find Current Transfer Bonuses
Amex does not maintain a single public list of transfer bonuses. Instead, bonuses appear on your account dashboard when you log in to Amex.com or the mobile app. Look for a section labeled "Transfer Bonuses" or "Membership Rewards Partners" — the exact name varies by card type. The dashboard shows which partners have active bonuses this month and what the bonus percentage is.
If you do not see a bonus listed for a partner you want to use, call the customer service number on the back of your card. Representatives can tell you whether a bonus is coming soon or whether that partner straightforward has no bonus running. Some partners rotate bonuses on a predictable schedule (for example, a particular airline might have a bonus every other month), but Amex does not publish these schedules in advance.
Common Transfer Partners and Their Bonus Ranges
Amex partners with most major U.S. airlines and several hotel chains, though the specific partners depend on your card. Airlines typically include Delta, United, American, Southwest, and JetBlue. Hotel partners usually include Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Hyatt. Some regional airlines and smaller hotel brands also participate.
Bonus rates typically range from 25% to 50% extra points, though the exact percentage changes month to month. A 25% bonus means 1,000 Amex points become 1,250 points in the partner program. A 50% bonus means 1,000 Amex points become 1,500 points. Higher bonuses (40% to 50%) are less common and usually appear during slower travel seasons or for partners Amex is trying to promote.
When Transfer Bonuses Are Worth Using
A transfer bonus makes sense when you have a specific redemption in mind and you know the partner program's point values. If you are planning a Delta flight and Delta has a 35% transfer bonus running, moving points to Delta now locks in that bonus. If you wait and the bonus drops to 25% next month, you lose value.
Transfer bonuses are less useful if you are uncertain about your travel plans or if you do not know the partner program's award chart. Transferring points is permanent — you cannot move them back to Amex if you change your mind or find a better redemption elsewhere. Before transferring, check the partner's website to see what your intended flight or hotel stay costs in points, and confirm that the transfer bonus makes the redemption worthwhile.
Some readers find it safer to hold Amex points and redeem them directly through Amex's travel portal (which offers a fixed value, usually around 1 cent per point for flights and hotels). This approach is simpler but typically offers less value than a well-timed transfer to a partner with a bonus running.
How Transfer Bonuses Stack with Partner Promotions
Transfer bonuses can combine with promotions the partner program is running. For example, if Marriott Bonvoy is offering 10 bonus points per $1 spent for new members, and Amex is offering a 35% transfer bonus, you can move your Amex points to Bonvoy, receive the 35% bonus, and then use those points to book a stay that earns the 10 bonus points per dollar. The two promotions do not interfere with each other.
This stacking effect is one reason transfer bonuses can be powerful — you are not limited to one promotion at a time. However, you need to plan ahead. Check both the Amex transfer bonus calendar and the partner program's current promotions before you transfer, so you can time the move to take advantage of both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer points back from an airline to Amex if I change my mind?
No. Once points leave your Amex account and land in a partner program, they belong to that program and cannot be transferred back. This is why it is important to confirm your travel plans and the point cost before you transfer.
Do transfer bonuses explore to points I already have, or only new points I earn after the bonus starts?
Transfer bonuses explore to any points you transfer during the bonus period, whether you earned them last month or last year. The bonus is tied to the transfer date, not the earning date.
What if I have multiple Amex cards — can I combine points from all of them before transferring?
Yes. You can move points between your Amex cards within your account, then transfer the combined total to a partner. However, at least one of the cards must have transfer privileges for this to work. Points from a Blue Cash card (which has no transfer partners) can be moved to a Platinum card, then transferred to an airline.
Are transfer bonuses the same across all Amex cards, or do they vary?
Bonuses are usually the same across all may be able to access Amex cards in a given month — a 35% Delta bonus applies whether you hold Platinum, Gold, or Business Platinum. However, some premium or co-branded cards may have exclusive bonuses that other cardholders do not see.
How often do transfer bonuses change?
Amex updates transfer bonuses monthly, usually on the first day of the month, though the exact timing varies. Some partners have bonuses running most months, while others go several months without a bonus. There is no way to predict future bonuses, so checking your account dashboard regularly is the only reliable method.