What Amex transfer bonuses are and why they matter
American Express transfer bonuses are extra Membership Rewards points that Amex offers when you transfer your points to one of their airline or hotel partners. Instead of redeeming points at a flat rate, you move them to a partner account and receive a bonus on top of what you transfer — typically 25% to 50% more points than you sent.
These bonuses matter because they can stretch your points further. If you transfer 10,000 points to a partner and receive a 25% bonus, you end up with 12,500 points in that partner account. Over time, Amex has changed which partners offer bonuses, how large those bonuses are, and when they run. Tracking this history helps you understand whether current offers are genuinely better than past ones or straightforward different.
Key Takeaways
- Amex transfer bonuses typically range from 25% to 50% and vary by partner airline or hotel chain.
- The partners may be able to access for bonuses change regularly — some partners appear and disappear from bonus offers year to year.
- Bonus rates have remained relatively stable since around 2015, though the specific partners included shift frequently.
- Amex does not publish a master calendar of transfer bonuses; you find current offers by checking your Amex account or the Amex website directly.
- Transfer bonuses are different from sign-up bonuses on Amex cards and do not require opening a new account.
When transfer bonuses started and early patterns
Amex began offering transfer bonuses to Membership Rewards members sometime in the mid-2000s, though the exact launch date is not publicly documented. In the early years, bonuses were sporadic and often tied to specific promotions rather than standing offers. Airlines and hotel chains would occasionally run limited-time bonuses, and members had to watch for them or receive notices in their Amex accounts.
By the early 2010s, Amex had established a more regular pattern of rotating transfer bonuses. Partners would cycle in and out of bonus offers on a monthly or quarterly basis. A partner might offer a 25% bonus one month, then no bonus the next month, then return with a 35% bonus three months later. This unpredictability made it hard for members to plan transfers, but it also created opportunities to time transfers when a preferred partner's bonus was running.
Bonus rates from 2015 to present
Since approximately 2015, transfer bonus rates have stabilized into a predictable range. Most bonuses fall between 25% and 50%, with 25% and 35% being the most common. A 50% bonus is rarer and typically reserved for partners Amex wants to promote heavily or for limited promotional windows.
The consistency of these rates over nearly a decade suggests Amex has settled on a sustainable model. Rather than experimenting with wildly different bonus structures, the company rotates which partners are featured and at what tier within that established range. A 25% bonus might seem modest, but it compounds over large transfers — moving 50,000 points with a 25% bonus nets you 62,500 points at your destination.
Amex has not publicly announced a change in its overall transfer bonus strategy during this period, and cardholders report that the experience of checking for bonuses remains similar to what it was five years ago.
Partners that have appeared and disappeared
The list of partners may be able to access for transfer bonuses has shifted considerably. Some airlines and hotel chains have been consistent participants — major carriers like United, American, and Delta have appeared in bonus offers regularly. Others have cycled in and out or disappeared entirely.
Partners may leave the Amex transfer network for several reasons: they might renegotiate their partnership terms, Amex might choose to focus on other carriers, or the partnership might straightforward end. When a partner leaves, members with points in that partner account can still use them, but new transfers to that partner no longer earn bonuses. Occasionally, a partner returns after an absence, sometimes with a different bonus structure than before.
Hotel chains like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards have been long-standing transfer partners, though the bonus rates and frequency of their offers vary. Smaller or regional airlines have appeared in bonus rotations but are less consistent than major carriers.
How to find current transfer bonus offers
Amex does not maintain a published calendar of upcoming transfer bonuses. Instead, current offers appear in your Amex account under the Membership Rewards section, usually labeled "Transfer Bonuses" or "Accelerated Transfers." You can also see them on the Amex website if you log into your account.
The offers you see may differ from what another cardholder sees — Amex sometimes shows different bonus partners to different members based on account history, spending patterns, or other factors. This means checking your own account is the only reliable way to know what bonuses are available to you right now.
You can also call Amex customer service and ask which transfer bonuses are currently running, though the representative will direct you to your online account for the most up-to-date list. Email notifications about new transfer bonuses are not may provide, so checking your account periodically is the safest approach if you are planning a transfer.
Comparing past bonuses to today's offers
If you have been an Amex member for several years, you may remember specific transfer bonuses from the past and wonder whether today's offers are better or worse. The honest answer is that they are roughly equivalent, just applied to different partners.
A 35% bonus in 2018 to United Airlines was not fundamentally different from a 35% bonus in 2024 to the same airline. What has changed is which partners are featured at any given time and how frequently each partner cycles through bonus offers. If your preferred partner is currently offering a bonus, the value is the same as it would have been years ago. If your preferred partner is not currently featured, you either wait for it to return or transfer to a different partner at whatever bonus rate they are offering.
One shift worth noting: Amex has generally maintained or increased the frequency of transfer bonuses over time, meaning there are usually more partners with active bonuses at any moment than there were in the early 2010s. This gives members more options, even if the individual bonus rates have not changed dramatically.
Why Amex changes transfer bonus partners and rates
Amex adjusts its transfer bonus lineup for business reasons. Airlines and hotels negotiate with Amex about the terms of the partnership, including what bonuses Amex can offer. When a partner wants to attract more transfers, they might agree to a higher bonus rate. When Amex wants to push members toward a particular partner or promote a new partnership, it might feature that partner with an elevated bonus.
Amex also uses transfer bonuses as a tool to manage the value of its Membership Rewards currency. If points are being transferred too heavily to one partner, Amex might reduce that partner's bonus or remove it temporarily to encourage members to explore other options. This helps balance the flow of points across the network and prevents any single partner from becoming oversaturated.
From a member's perspective, this means transfer bonuses are not random — they reflect ongoing negotiations and strategic decisions by Amex and its partners. Understanding this helps explain why your favorite airline might disappear from bonuses for a few months and then return with a different rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do transfer bonuses change every month?
Transfer bonuses do change regularly, but not always every month. Some partners stay in the bonus rotation for several months, while others rotate in and out more frequently. The best approach is to check your Amex account when you are ready to transfer, rather than waiting for a specific bonus to appear.
Is a 25% transfer bonus worth using, or should I wait for 35% or 50%?
A 25% bonus is worth using if you are transferring to a partner you actually want to book with. Waiting months for a higher bonus on a different partner might cost you more in lost redemption value or higher award prices than the extra points would be worth. Use the bonus that is available now if it serves your travel plans.
Can I see transfer bonuses before I open an Amex card?
No. Transfer bonuses only appear once you have an active Amex Membership Rewards card and log into your account. You cannot see them on the public Amex website without logging in. If you are considering opening a card partly for transfer bonuses, you can call Amex and ask what bonuses are currently running, though they may not provide a complete list.
Do transfer bonuses explore to points I already have in my account?
Yes. Transfer bonuses explore to any points you transfer, whether you earned them recently or have had them in your account for years. There is no restriction based on when the points were earned.
Has Amex ever stopped offering transfer bonuses altogether?
No. Transfer bonuses have been a consistent feature of the Amex Membership Rewards program for nearly two decades. While specific partners and rates change, the program itself has not been discontinued or suspended.