If you’ve ever searched online for ways to use your credit card points, you’ve probably come across advice like, “Transfer your points to an airline partner instead.”
That sounds straightforward enough.
But if you’ve never done it before, it’s also a fair question to ask: What’s an airline partner, and why would I transfer my points there instead of just using them through my credit card?
The answer is pretty simple.
What Is a Credit Card Transfer Partner?
A transfer partner is an airline or hotel loyalty program that accepts transfers from an eligible credit card rewards program.
Think of your credit card points as one currency and airline miles as another. A transfer partner is what allows you to exchange one for the other.
For example, if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to programs like United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan.
Once the transfer is complete, your Chase points become airline miles in that program. And they’re yours to use when you’re ready to book a flight.
The same idea applies to hotels. Lots of credit card rewards programs also let you transfer points to participating hotel loyalty programs.
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Why Do Credit Card Transfer Partners Matter?
Transfer partners matter because they give you choices in how you redeem your rewards. And who doesn’t like choices?
Imagine you’re planning a trip to London.
You might assume you need to redeem your credit card points through your bank’s travel portal. But if your points can be transferred instead, you may have several different airline loyalty programs that can book the same trip.
In some cases, transferring your points may require fewer points than booking through your bank’s travel portal. If a credit card transfer bonus is available, that number could be even lower.
Having transfer partners gives you more ways to use your points instead of relying on other redemption options, such as booking through your bank’s travel portal, covering purchases on your credit card statement, or redeeming points for gift cards.
Not Every Credit Card Has the Same Transfer Partners
Each credit card rewards program has its own list of airline and hotel transfer partners.
For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards includes United MileagePlus as a transfer partner, while American Express Membership Rewards partners with Delta SkyMiles.
Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Bilt Rewards, U.S. Bank Altitude Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards all have their own mix of airline and hotel partners.
One of the most important things to remember is that transferring points is a one-way transaction.
Once your credit card points become airline miles or hotel points, you can’t transfer them back. That’s why it’s always a good idea to search for the award you want before transferring your points.
Once you’ve found the flight or hotel you want, you can identify the appropriate transfer partner, check for any available transfer bonuses, and transfer only the points you need to complete your booking.
