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The Best Ways To Fly to India With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

Ehsan Haque

Content Contributor

65 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 100 U.S. States Visited: 24

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

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Michael Y. Park

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Countries Visited: 60+ U.S. States Visited: 50

Table of Contents

Nonstop flights between the u.s. and india, best airline programs to book flights to india, final thoughts.

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India might be high on your travel bucket list if you’re a travel enthusiast. From jungle safaris to historic religious temples to inexpensive food, India has something to offer everyone.

India’s diverse languages, customs, music, architecture, and food draw travelers worldwide. But unfortunately, India is not particularly easy to get to from the U.S.

Although there are occasionally great cash fares to India, they typically involve inconvenient routing. You also have the option to use points and miles to fly to India.

Currently, only a few carriers operate nonstop flights to India. These include American Airlines, Air India, and United Airlines. On top of that, nonstop flights to India are only available from select U.S. gateways, including New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD).

If you live in these cities, you are in luck. Being able to fly nonstop to one of the world’s most intriguing countries is great. However, if you are not based in these cities, you must have a connection or may have to take a repositioning flight.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to fly to India with points and miles from cities across the U.S. Let’s get started!

Nowadays, there are fewer nonstop routes between the U.S. and India. Let’s quickly take a look at what airlines offer nonstop flights, the current routes, and how often these routes are offered.

American Airlines

• New York (JFK) – New Delhi (DEL)
• Chicago (ORD) – New Delhi (DEL): Daily
• New York (JFK) – New Delhi (DEL): Daily
• New York (JFK) – Mumbai (BOM): Daily
• Newark (EWR) – New Delhi (DEL): 4x weekly
• San Francisco – Bengaluru (BLR): 3x weekly
• San Francisco – New Delhi (DEL): Daily
• San Francisco – Mumbai (BOM): 4x weekly
• Washington (IAD) – New Delhi (DEL): 4x weekly
• United Airlines
• Newark (EWR) – New Delhi (DEL): 2x Daily

Let’s take a look at some of the best airline loyalty programs to use to fly to India.

Air Canada Aeroplan

The first option we will look at is Air Canada Aeroplan , an incredibly underrated program and one of our favorites here at Upgraded Points.

First, it is important to know that Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance, which opens up plenty of award options.

Aeroplan uses a variable pricing method for its flights, which can significantly inflate redemptions. However, Aeroplan publishes a region-based award chart detailing exactly how many points you need to use for its partner-operated flights.

The program divides the world into 4 regions: North America, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and South America. India is part of the Atlantic travel zone for Aeroplan.

With Aeroplan’s award chart , award travel between zones varies depending on the distance flown. Most flights from the U.S. to India fall in the 6,001-to-8,000-mile distance band, aside from flights from San Francisco, which are in the next distance band up.

This opens up plenty of great redemption opportunities. If you were to fly an Air Canada partner airline, you could book:

• Economy from 55,000 miles one-way
• Business class from 90,000 miles one-way
• First class from 130,000 miles one-way

When it comes to what partner airline you can fly to India, you have plenty of options.

Here are some great Star Alliance partner options you can book:

• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• Turkish Airlines

Air Canada Aeroplan also has non-Star Alliance partners, including Etihad Airways and Emirates.

We love Aeroplan because this program doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges and allows you to add stopovers for just 5,000 points.

We generally recommend searching for award availability via Aeroplan’s website. Here’s how:

• Visit  Aeroplan’s website .
• On the top right, click  Sign in  and enter your Aeroplan number and password.
• On the resulting page, you’ll see a search box. Fill in the desired trip type, origin, and destination airports, travel dates, and number of passengers.
• Check the box that says Book with Aeroplan points .
• Click  Search .
• Select your flight and pay for any taxes and fees.

Earning Aeroplan Points

Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy. All programs aside from Marriott Bonvoy transfer at a 1:1 rate to Aeroplan. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Aeroplan. For every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred, you get a 5,000-mile bonus.

Aeroplan also offers a co-branded credit card.

The Aeroplan card is a great option for Air Canada flyers looking to earn more points and receive automatic elite status.

Flyers based in the U.S. may think they wouldn’t have a need for a card like the Aeroplan ® Credit Card , it might be much better suited for you than you think.

Not only does Air Canada offer fantastic award redemptions, but adding the card to your wallet makes the program even more rewarding by offering elite status, more points, travel coverage, and more. Let’s take a closer look and see why the Aeroplan card might make a lot of sense for you.

• 3x points per $1 on Air Canada purchases, at grocery stores, and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month (up to a maximum of 1,500 bonus points)
• Receive Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year, and continue to extend it beyond that by spending $15,000 on the card per calendar year
• $95 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Earn 70,000 bonus points
• Earn 70,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• $95 Annual Fee
• Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan ® Credit Card.
• Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan ® Credit Card.
• Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
• 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month - up to 1,500 points per month.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

American Express has several personal and business cards that earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio.

Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)

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

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.

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.

• 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
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• 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. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 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 $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck ® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck ® official enrollment provider), 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.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR

American Express Membership Rewards

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!

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

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

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $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.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Bottom Line: Aeroplan takes the top spot here because it gives you a variety of airlines you can fly for competitive redemption rates without paying fuel surcharges. You can also add a stopover for just 5,000 miles to maximize your redemption value. It also partners with Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy for transfers.

Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca is another Star Alliance member and a great option to book award flights to India. Its LifeMiles award program has great sweet spots, including award flights to Asia.

In late 2022, Avianca LifeMiles raised award costs to Asia without notice. Previously, you could fly from the U.S. to Asia for 35,000 miles in economy or 75,000 miles in business class. However, award prices are closer to 47,000 and 90,000 miles, respectively, after the devaluation.

For example, here is last-minute award space from New York to New Delhi that could be booked for 47,000 miles one-way plus taxes and fees.

Best of all, Avianca LifeMiles does not add on any fuel surcharges, minimizing your out-of-pocket cost.

To book Star Alliance partners with LifeMiles, follow these steps:

• Visit the Avianca LifeMiles website .
• Click on Travel in the top menu bar.
• Enter your desired destination and travel dates .
• Select Smart Search or Star Alliance .
• Select your flight.

One of the best perks of the Avianca LifeMiles program is that it does not tack on fuel surcharges.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All programs aside from Marriott Bonvoy transfer at a 1:1 rate to LifeMiles. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to LifeMiles. There is no 5,000-mile bonus for transfers to LifeMiles.

Recommended Citi Card

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

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!

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit
• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• 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
• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Citi ThankYou Rewards

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club

Another great Star Alliance option to book award flights to India is with ANA Mileage Club .

ANA still utilizes award charts for both its flights and its partner airlines. However, there are some slight differences. ANA has 2 different applicable award charts: one for ANA international flight awards and another for partner flight awards.

For its flights, ANA prices based on the season: low, regular, or high.

Here is the award chart for ANA-operated flights between the U.S. (Zone 6) and Asia 1 (Zone 3), which includes India.

All the mileage above is for round-trip award redemptions. ANA only allows round-trip redemptions through Mileage Club.

Booking using the ANA international award chart could be useful, especially if you want to fly in ANA business class. Fuel surcharges can be high on ANA, but the mileage redemption rates are some of the best.

With ANA, you also have the option to book partner Star Alliance awards. ANA has a different award chart for its partner airlines. Although the partner award chart is zone-based, like the international one, there is no seasonality pricing.

Here is the award chart for its partner airlines for flights between the U.S. (Zone 6) and India, which is in Asia 1 (Zone 3):

ANA is also selective about passing on fuel surcharges to partner airlines. Although the mileage rates are incredible, redemptions are somewhat muted by the fuel surcharges, which can be upwards of $500 at times.

ANA Mileage Club has separate award charts for ANA domestic flight awards, for ANA international flight awards, and partner flight awards.

Here’s how to book awards with ANA miles:

• Visit ANA’s website .
• Choose ANA Mileage Club .
• Choose International, then Award Reservation .
• Log into your account.
• Enter your desired route and dates.
• Choose your desired class of travel.
• Choose your flights.
• Reserve your flight and pay for any applicable taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Miles

ANA Mileage Club is a transfer partner with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

American Express Membership Rewards transfer to ANA at a 1:1 ratio. 

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to ANA at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive a 5,000-mile bonus.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

• Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
• 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
• 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
• Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
• Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
• Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card from Chase ® !
• Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Card.
• 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
• APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card . The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

• Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
• Automatic Silver Elite Status
• $95 annual fee
• Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier
• Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
• Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
• 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Card.
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card , the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
• $250 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
• Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy ® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy ® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees.
• 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card ® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy ® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Plan It ® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
• $250 Annual Fee.
• APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card  is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy   program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• Steep annual fee of $650 ( rates and fees )
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card
• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton ® or St. Regis ® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® : Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck ® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy ® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines is also part of the Star Alliance and is another excellent way to fly to India using points and miles. Its Miles&Smiles program has incredible sweet spots that include some of the lowest award rates of any program.

For award redemptions, Turkish Airlines utilizes a  zone-based award chart  for both its own flights and its partner airlines. There are 2  award charts : 1 for promotional award tickets and 1 for regular award redemptions.

For Turkish redemptions, focus on the promotional award chart, as those are considered Saver level awards and include the best redemption rates.

On its award chart, Miles&Smiles places India in its Central Asia region. Here is what it costs for flights between the U.S. and Central Asia:

• 34,000 miles one-way in economy or 68,000 round-trip
• 52,500 miles one-way in business class or 105,000 round-trip
• 77,000 miles one-way in first class or 154,000 round-trip

Flying to India for just  34,000 miles one-way  in economy or  52,500 miles  in business class is an incredible use of Turkish miles.

To book an award ticket with Turkish Airlines, here is what you need to do:

• Log into your Miles&Smiles account on the  Turkish Airlines homepage .
• Check the box Award ticket – Buy a ticket with Miles.
• Enter your origin and destination airports, departure date, class of service, and the number of passengers.
• Click on the red arrow to the right to begin the award search.
• Find award space, book with miles, and pay applicable taxes and fees.

The Turkish Airlines website is sometimes unable to see Star Alliance availability. We recommend starting your search on  United.com  and locating flights marked as Saver awards. You can cross-reference award availability with another Star Alliance partner, such as Air Canada, to ensure you can book an award seat using your miles.

Along with the Star Alliance availability issue that arises when searching on Turkish Airlines, another problem often comes up. Some itineraries cannot be booked online with Turkish and require you to email a Turkish Airlines ticket office or book with the airline over the phone.  Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles staff can be reached at 800-874-8875.

Earning Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Miles

There are many  ways to earn Turkish Miles&Smiles miles . Turkish Airlines is a transfer partner of Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Bilt, Capital One, and Citi transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers from Marriott Bonvoy occur at a 3:1 ratio, and you get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan also provides great award flights to India. Alaska Airlines is in the Oneworld Alliance, which includes American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines, among others. Best of all, you can easily fly to India with any of the partners mentioned above.

In late 2022, Alaska simplified its award charts, including those for its partner airlines. Here are the award rates for flights to Asia using Alaska Airlines miles:

Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles for maximum value .

When Alaska revamped its award charts, some of the changes weren’t great for members. The award charts for each airline partner have been changed to a “starting from” pricing method, meaning their redemptions can vary significantly.

Thanks to Alaska’s Oneworld partners, there are some great options for flying to India, especially on some of the world’s best airlines, including Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. In fact, both airlines are a great way to redeem Alaska miles

Mileage Plan also has one incredible perk: booking stopovers on one-way award flights. This allows you to get a 2-for-1 trip with a single redemption. For example, if you fly to India using Japan Airlines from the U.S., you could stop in Tokyo for a few days before heading to India.

To book award travel with your Alaska miles for partner airlines:

• Visit Alaska Airlines .
• Click the checkbox that says  Use Miles to search for your routes and dates. Be sure to use  Multi-city if you’re booking stopovers or open-jaws .
• Pick your desired flights and click  Add to Cart .
• Log in to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account.
• Complete the booking and pay any taxes and fees.

You can now find Cathay Pacific award availability directly on the Alaska Airlines website.

Earning Alaska Mileage Plan Miles

The major drawback of Alaska Airlines miles is that they only have 1 major transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. With every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive 5,000 bonus miles.

However, there are also 2 co-branded Alaska Airlines credit cards.

Provides the potential to earn plenty of miles to fly with Alaska Airlines or over a dozen partners. Plus, get an annual companion fare from just $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)!

With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card in your wallet, you could get great perks and earn miles at the same time. This is a win-win if Alaska is the airline you prefer to fly with! Plus, its annual companion fare is a great benefit for traveling couples.

• 3x miles per $1 spent on Alaska purchases
• 2x miles per $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit (including rideshare), cable, and select streaming services
• 1x mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER — 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™!
• Get 60,000 Bonus Miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
• Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™. Every year on your credit card account anniversary you’ll receive a companion fare which allows you to book a companion flight from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
• Free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation – that’s a savings of $70 per person roundtrip!
• Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit (including rideshare), cable, and select streaming services, and unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don’t expire on active accounts.
• 10% reward bonus on all miles earned on card with an eligible Bank of America checking, savings, or investment account.
• Priority boarding on Alaska Airlines when tickets are purchased with card.
• With oneworld ® Alliance member airlines and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
• Flexibility with no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights when booking with miles or a companion fare.
• Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
• This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
• APR: 20.24% - 28.24% Variable

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Frequent Flyer Program

American Airlines AAdvantage

Another excellent award program to utilize for award tickets to India is American Airlines AAdvantage. American Airlines is also part of Oneworld, meaning you can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly both American Airlines and Oneworld partners from the U.S. to India.

For its flights, American Airlines uses a dynamic pricing method. However, partner awards with American AAdvantage are not subject to dynamic pricing , which opens up incredible redemption opportunities.

Because of the dynamic pricing on its own flights, it’s hard to get great value with your American miles. This is why we absolutely recommend you fly American’s Oneworld partners instead.

On AA’s partner award chart, India is placed in its Indian Subcontinent region.

Here is a look at what it costs for one-way awards on Oneworld partner airlines from the U.S. to the Indian Subcontinent:

One of the best ways to redeem American AAdvantage miles is for a business class flight to India for just 70,000 miles one-way. This includes options on partners like Qatar Airways, which offers its Qsuites business class on these routes.

Using American Airlines search engine is a great way to look for Oneworld alliance partner award space.

Here is how to book award travel with your American Airlines miles for partner redemptions:

• Head to American Airlines and log in to your AAdvantage account.
• Select your desired route, travel dates, and class of service.
• Click on Redeem miles .
• Search for award space.
• Book the flight online and pay the applicable taxes and fees.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Earning AAdvantage miles is relatively easy, as the program is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Bilt Rewards transfer at a 1:1 ratio. You can transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio. There is no 5,000-mile bonus if you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points as with other programs.

There are also numerous co-branded credit cards offered by both Barclays and Citibank .

Using 70,000 American Airlines to fly Qsuites business class to India is a great way to redeem your miles.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

So far, we’ve looked at multiple options with Oneworld and Star Alliance. Now, let’s look at our first award redemption with a Skyteam member program: Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue loyalty program.

Flying Blue utilizes dynamic pricing. However, even with dynamic pricing, Flying Blue generally has the best pricing for SkyTeam awards. If you have some flexibility, you can save upwards of 100,000 miles on specific routes.

Check out some other of the  best ways to redeem Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for max value.

In 2022, Flying Blue introduced an interactive map with entry award rates. The interactive map shows the starting mileage prices for one-way flights operated by Air France or KLM.

However, this map is not a guarantee that there is any entry-level award space available. You have to go to Air France or KLM’s website to check actual award prices and confirm the space. 

One-way award flights between the U.S. and India start at:

• 35,000 miles in economy
• 65,000 miles in premium economy
• 95,000 miles in business

However, finding those rates, especially in business class, can be tricky. It’s worth noting that Air France and KLM awards have fuel surcharges, often upwards of $300.

You can search for award availability through Air France-KLM and book awards entirely online:

• Go to the Air France website .
• In the top right corner, click My Account and log in with your Username and Password .
• After logging in and being returned to the homepage, click  Use Your Miles .
• Type in your airport information, dates, number of passengers, and class type.
• Select your flights and pay for any taxes and fees.

Earning Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

Earning Flying Blue miles is quite simple, as the program is a transfer partner of many major programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All the above points programs, besides Marriott Bonvoy, transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. You can transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to Flying Blue at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, there is a 5,000-mile bonus.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

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

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.

• 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)
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• 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, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 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, 2024.
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards

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.

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!

• 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 March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $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, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 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 ®
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited ® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards ® , our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.

Business owner? Check out our guide to the best Chase business cards .

Flying Blue typically offers the best pricing on many SkyTeam awards.

Other Options To Fly to India

Although many other programs can get you to India, we’ve covered the ones with the best redemption options.

There are several other frequent flyer programs you can use to fly to India, including Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Korean Air SKYPASS, and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer. We did not include these in our main analysis for one or more of the following reasons:

• High fuel surcharges
• High award redemption rates
• Lack of transfer partners
• Unattractive flight products or subpar airline options

There are plenty of ways to fly to India with points and miles. Fortunately, some of the best airlines in the world have flights to India. These include airlines such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

It’s worth looking at the many different award programs we’ve covered to get an idea of the best program for booking an award ticket to India. Award availability, the points and miles you already have, and what class of service you want to fly can all point you to the right award program.

The information regarding the Citi Premier ® Card has expired and the card is no longer open to applicants. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i use american airlines aadvantage miles to fly to india.

Yes you can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly both American Airlines and Oneworld airline flights from the U.S. to India.

You can fly one-way between the U.S. and China for 40,000 miles in economy or 70,000 AA miles in business class. If you can find award space, you have the option to fly on some of American’s best partner airlines including Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.

Can you use Alaska Airlines miles to fly to India?

Yes, you can. Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance with other partners such as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines among others.

There are a lot of airline options to fly to India using Alaska Airlines miles.

Can I use Air Canada Aeroplan points for flights to India?

What is the best airline to fly to india.

You have many options when flying to India.

Some of the best include Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, ANA, Japan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.

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About Ehsan Haque

Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.

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This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

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The Big Travel Guide to AMEX Membership Rewards Points: Part 8 – Best Ways to Fly to India and Middle East

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You get lots of travel flexibility with AMEX Membership Rewards points.  Because if you don’t have set travel plans for a future trip, these transferable points give you the option to choose from multiple airline and hotel partners when the time comes.

Folks in the miles & points hobby know earning transferable points, like AMEX Membership Rewards points, are the best way to get  Big Travel.   This can mean a  First Class adventure around-the-world,  a  family trip to Europe , or so many other options!  And it’s easy to earn AMEX Membership Rewards points from some of the  best American Express cards .

The AMEX Membership Rewards points program has  many direct airline and hotel partners.  

Plus, you’ll get access to other indirect partners as well, which gives you choices for flights to the  India , which an amazing travel destination!  And you’ll have great options for travel to  the Middle East  too!

Or you can keep it simple and use  AMEX Pay With Points  to book flights through the Membership Rewards travel portal and get a fixed amount per point.

We’ll show you the best ways to use  AMEX Membership Rewards Points for flights to India & the Middle East !

The Ultimate Guide to American Express Membership Rewards Points:

• Part 1 – Transfer Partners
• Part 2 – How to Transfer Points
• Part 3 – Best Ways to Fly Within Continental US
• Part 4 – Best Ways to Fly to Hawaii
• Part 5 – Best Ways to Fly to Canada & Alaska
• Part 6 – Best Ways to Fly to Caribbean & Mexico
• Part 7 – Best Ways to Fly to Europe
• Part 8 – Best Ways to Fly to India & Middle East
• Part 9 – Africa
• Part 10 – South America

AMEX Membership Rewards Points for Flights to India & Middle East

AMEX has several direct airline transfer partners that are great for flights to India & the Middle East.

India is an amazing favorite travel destination .  And Mumbai is one of Emily’s top international shopping destinations.

If you’re planning a trip to India, you can read tips and experiences in our trip reports .

When you’re  transferring AMEX Membership Rewards points to an airline partner  for flights to India or the Middle East, consider:

• Destination you’d like to visit
• Which airlines fly from your home airport
• Your airline & alliance preferences

Keep in mind there are a limited number of non-stop flights from the US to India or the Middle East.  So you’ll likely have to  connect via Europe or Asia .

If you’re planning a trip to India or the Middle East, we recommend  setting aside some time to plan your award flights .

These flights  typically  require a lot of points or miles.  So you’ll want to  confirm all the details with the airline partner  before transferring AMEX Membership Rewards points.

1.   Air Canada

You can transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio to use for flights to India or the Middle East!

Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance.  This means you can redeem Air Canada Aeroplan miles for award flights on partner airlines like:

• Brussels Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines

Keep in mind, you’ll  pay fuel surcharges when you redeem Air Canada Aeroplan miles on certain airlines .  These charges can range from ~$50 up to several hundred dollars.

From the US to India, one-way award flights cost:

• 50,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in coach
• 65,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in Premium Economy
• 75,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in Business Class
• 105,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in First Class

If you’re looking for non-stop flight options from the US, Air India flies these non-stop routes:

• Chicago and New York (JFK) to Delhi
• Newark to Mumbai
• San Francisco to Delhi
• Washington, DC to Delhi

And United Airlines flies non-stop to Delhi and Mumbai from Newark.

Air Canada also flies non-stop between Toronto and Delhi and Mumbai, and between Vancouver and Delhi.  So you can connect from the US through one of these cities to India.

Keep in mind, it is  very unlikely  you’ll find Business Class or First Class award seats available on the non-stop flights.

For folks not in the non-stop departure cities or who would like better Business Class options, you’ll have to connect through Europe or Asia.

As an example, you can fly SWISS Air Business Class from New York (JFK) to Delhi with a layover in Zurich.  You can book this one-way award flight online through Air Canada Aeroplan for  75,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles .

And from the US to the Middle East, one-way award flights cost:

• 40,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in coach
• 67,500 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in Premium Economy
• 82,500 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in Business Class
• 115,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles  in First Class

These are the destinations Air Canada includes in the Middle East region:

• Canary Islands (Spain)
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates

As an example, you can use 82,500 Air Canada Aeroplan miles for a one-way, non-stop Business Class award flight between New York (JFK) and Cairo on partner airline Egypt Air.

To  find available award seats to India or the Middle East on Star Alliance partner airlines , we recommend searching the United Airlines website for “ Saver ” level awards.

2.   ANA

ANA is also part of the Star Alliance, which means you can book award flights to India or the Middle East on partners like Air India or United Airlines.

You can NOT book one-way award flights using ANA miles.

For a round-trip award flight to India, you’ll pay:

• 80,000 ANA miles  in coach
• 136,000 ANA miles in Business Class
• 240,000 ANA miles in First Class

And to the Middle East, you’ll pay:

• 65,000 ANA miles  in coach
• 104,000 ANA miles in Business Class
• 195,000 ANA miles in First Class

Keep in mind, ANA adds significant fuel surcharges (up to ~$1,000) on certain partner award flights.

For example, we found a sample round-trip itinerary from San Francisco to Delhi.  You’ll pay  80,000 ANA miles plus ~$839  in taxes and fees.  You’re likely better off paying cash for the same flight, but you’ll want to run the numbers.

But the sweet spot using ANA miles is for  award flights to the Middle East,  because the airline has a partnership with Etihad.  And unlike other ANA partners, there are  no fuel surcharges  when you use ANA miles for Etihad award flights.

You can fly non-stop on Etihad to Abu Dhabi from:

• Los Angeles
• New York (JFK)
• Washington, DC

Then connect from Abu Dhabi to other destinations in the Middle East or India.

You’ll need to call ANA at  800-235-9262  to book Etihad award flights.

3.   Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is another Star Alliance airline.  So you can transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points to Singapore Airlines to book award flights on partner airlines like Air Canada or Air India.

You can also redeem Singapore Airlines miles for award flights directly on the airline.

Here are the prices for one-way Star Alliance partner flights using Singapore Airlines miles from North America to India:

• 45,000 Singapore Airlines miles in coach
• 69,000 Singapore Airlines miles in Business Class
• 90,000 Singapore Airlines miles in First Class

And for one-way Star Alliance flights to the Middle East, you’ll pay:

• 55,000 Singapore Airlines miles in coach
• 110,000 Singapore Airlines miles in Business Class
• 145,000 Singapore Airlines miles in First Class

Singapore Airlines has different prices for their own award flights to India and the Middle East depending if you’re departing the US from the East Coast or West Coast.

From the West Coast to India, one-way award flights  on Singapore Airlines cost:

• 46,000 Singapore Airlines miles  in coach
• 98,000 Singapore Airlines miles  in Business Class
• 138,000 Singapore Airlines miles  in First Class

And from the East Coast to India, one-way award flights on Singapore Airlines cost:

• 55,000 Singapore Airlines  miles in coach
• 110,000 Singapore Airlines miles  in Business Class
• 145,000 Singapore Airlines miles  in First Class

One-way award flights from the West Coast to the Middle East  on Singapore Airlines cost:

• 52,000 Singapore Airlines  miles in coach
• 102,000 Singapore Airlines miles  in Business Class
• 143,000 Singapore Airlines miles  in First Class

For award flight prices from the East Coast to the Middle East, you’ll have to call Singapore Airlines because the prices vary by route.

The good news is Singapore Airlines award flights are usually  easy to book online .  But if you plan to fly the airline to India or the Middle East, expect a lengthy flight itinerary.  Because you’ll likely be connecting via Singapore to get to your final destination.

For example, I found a one-way Business Class award flight from Los Angeles to Delhi.  But you’ll have 2 layovers, including in Tokyo and then in Singapore.  The total travel time is 30+ hours.

Keep in mind, you’ll pay high taxes on Singapore Airlines award flights, which can be in the hundreds of dollars.

So it might not be worth redeeming miles for a coach ticket.  But it could make sense to pay taxes for a Business Class or First Class seat, which might otherwise cost thousands of dollars!

4.   Delta

Delta  does not publish an award chart .  So you’ll need to search specific award flights to find prices.

From our research, we found the cheapest one-way award flights to the Middle East cost:

• 35,000 Delta miles  in coach  
• 85,000 Delta miles  in Business Class

And to India, the cheapest award flights we found cost:

• 40,000 Delta miles  in coach  
• 100,000 Delta miles  in Business Class

Delta does occasionally offer award sales with even better prices, so watch out for those!

Keep in mind, you might find limited available Business Class award seats, especially when using Delta miles for partner airline flights.

Delta is part of the SkyTeam Alliance, so you can fly to India or the Middle East by connecting through Europe or Asia on partner airlines like:

• Virgin Atlantic

The best departure options are from Delta hub cities:

• Minneapolis
• Salt Lake City

Although redeeming Delta miles is not always the cheapest option for award flights, there are some advantages.

For example, the award calendar is easy to search.  And you can book award flights quickly online.

5.   Flying Blue

Flying Blue is the frequent flyer program for Air France and KLM.  You can transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points directly to the program at a 1:1 ratio.

Folks planning to travel to  Israel  can find amazing deals using Flying Blue miles.

That’s because each month Air France and KLM discount award tickets on certain routes to Europe by  25% to 50%.  

Flying Blue now has an award calculator tool to allow you to see how many miles a flight will cost, but you need to log into your Flying Blue account to get to it.  And keep in mind, the taxes and fees vary by flight, but usually range from ~$200 in coach to ~$500 in Business Class.

Save Time (and Possibly Points) Using AMEX Pay With Points

If there are no award flights available for your desired travel dates, or you just can’t find an itinerary that meets your requirements, you can always redeem points for airfare using Pay With Points through the Membership Rewards travel portal.

When you use your AMEX Membership Rewards points towards air travel, you’ll get  1 cent per point  towards your ticket.   And folks with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express  can effectively get ~ 1.54 cents per point  using the Pay With Points perk to get 35% of their points back when they book coach seats on their selected airline, or Business or First Class seats on any airline.

For example, we found a round-trip United Airlines coach flight from Newark to Delhi in May 2019.  This flight costs ~$771 or ~71,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points.

You could book this same flight by transferring points to AMEX airline partners Air Canada or ANA.  Assuming award flights are available on the same dates, you’d pay:

• 80,000 ANA miles 
• 100,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles

That means that booking through AMEX Travel is cheaper AND you can earn frequent flyer miles when you fly!

Folks with the AMEX Business Platinum can get an  amazing deal  using Pay With Points if the flight is on their selected airline or for a booking any airline in First or Business Class.  These flights will get 35% of points back!  So in this example, the net cost for a round-trip flight between Newark and Delhi would be ~50,155 AMEX Membership Rewards points (77,161 points – 35% rebate).

Bottom Line

For  award flights to India & the Middle East , you’ll get the most options by transferring AMEX Membership Rewards points to Star Alliance partner airlines like  Air Canada, ANA, and Singapore Airlines .

If you’re looking to fly  Business Class , you’ll have  more options if you connect through Europe or Asia , instead of flying non-stop.

Don’t forget certain airlines add fuel surcharges on partner award flights to India & the Middle East.  So run the numbers to make sure you’re getting the best deal!

That said, you can find  good deals without any fuel surcharges  thanks to certain partnerships.  For example, you can  use ANA miles to book Etihad award flights  to Abu Dhabi.  But you’ll have to call ANA to book these flights.

If Israel is in your travel plans, keep an eye out for monthly  Flying Blue Promo Rewards .  During certain months, you can book a round-trip flight from designated US cities for as few as  25,000 Flying Blue miles  plus taxes and fees, which is an amazing deal!

Or you can use AMEX Pay With Points through the Membership Rewards travel portal to book cheap coach airfare.  This can be an  amazing deal  for folks with the AMEX Business Platinum booking a flight their selected airline or any Business or First Class flight because you’ll get 35% of your miles back!

Million Mile Secrets

Contributor

Million Mile Secrets features a team of points and miles experts who have traveled to over 80 countries and have used 60+ credit cards responsibly to accumulate loyalty points and travel the world on the cheap! The Million Mile Secrets team has been featured on The Points Guy, TIME, Yahoo Finance and many other leading points & miles media outlets.

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American Express Transfer Partners: A Comprehensive Guide for 2024

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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• American Express Membership Rewards points are some the most valuable card rewards you can earn. 
• You can get maximum value from Amex points by transferring them to airline and hotel partners.
• Strategic airline partners like Delta and Air Canada can help you score first-class award flights. 
• Read Business Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards .

Introduction to Amex transfer partners

When it comes to transferable credit card rewards points , you might automatically think of Chase Ultimate Rewards ® or Capital One miles . But the American Express Membership Rewards program was one of the first points currencies that allowed folks with associated credit cards to convert their hard-earned rewards into miles and points with various airline and hotel partners.

History and overview of the Amex Membership Rewards program

The Amex Membership Rewards program debuted way back in 1991 with just seven U.S. airline partners. Today, Membership Rewards works with 17 frequent flyer programs and three hotel loyalty programs. Those numbers are impressive in and of themselves – consider, Chase has just 14 partners total, and Citi ThankYou Rewards has 16.

What sets Amex apart even more, however, is the excellent quality of its partners, and the myriad redemption opportunities they represent. There are many benefits of transferring points to these airline and hotel partners, which we'll explore in more detail below. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you how to transfer American Express points for travel, and teach you our best tips for maximizing value for Amex Membership Rewards transfers. We'll also walk you through Amex points transfer ratios and policies, point out the best Amex airline transfer partners, and walk you through transferring Amex points to hotel loyalty programs. 

The best cards for earning American Express Membership Rewards

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.

See Pay Over Time APR

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Bonus categories leave something to be desired
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards

If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.

• 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. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 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 $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), 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.

Before you can redeem Amex points, you've actually got to earn them. Only a handful of Amex cards – both business and personal – rack up Membership Rewards points. Other Amex rewards cards earn either cash back, hotel points with programs including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy , or airline miles with programs such as Delta SkyMiles .

The following personal American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points: 

And the following business cards earn Amex Membership Rewards points:

List of airline and hotel transfer partners

Now for a quick rundown of the current lineup of Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners.

You can transfer your Amex points to the airline and hotel partners listed below. Points transfer to many of these instantaneously, though some transactions might take a few business days to process.

Most transfer ratios are 1 Membership Rewards point to 1 airline mile or hotel point, but those that vary have been noted.

How to transfer Membership Rewards points

Once you start looking into booking awards using partner miles or points, your next step will be to actually transfer your Amex points to a partner program.

Step-by-step guide

First, log in to your Amex account online. Click on the "Rewards" tab, and you should see your points balance and various options including one with an arrow that says, "Transfer Points." You will be redirected to a page that lists the various partner programs and the current conversion ratios.

Before you can initiate a transfer, you must link your Membership Rewards account to your various frequent flyer and hotel accounts. Doing so is as simple as clicking on the partner you want to use, then entering your credit card's security code and four-digit ID as well as your account number with the partner. Once you link accounts, you should be able to transfer whenever you like.

One thing to keep in mind: American Express also periodically offers transfer bonuses that tend to range from 20% to 40% to various partners. It's worth checking on available transfer bonuses from time to time, or taking advantage of ones you come across in order to get even more value from your points.

Strategic use of the best Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners

Before you get too overwhelmed with the number of transfer partners and all the points possibilities, here are the nine that deserve the most attention, with some examples of what makes them such fantastic options.

Transfer ratios and minimums

Just a quick note on some of the numbers, airlines, flight cabins, and routes cited here: These are accurate as of the time of publication, but are subject to any fleet and network changes individual airlines make, as well as government-imposed travel restrictions.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan has had a few ups and downs in recent years, including being spun off then reacquired by Air Canada. In late 2020, the airline introduced several major changes, but its award charts have not changed much, so its points have largely retained their value. Thus, Aeroplan remains one of the best frequent flyer programs for those who want to redeem their Amex points for flights on Star Alliance carriers such as United, Lufthansa, SWISS, and EVA Air.

Aeroplan's new award formula includes 10 distance-based charts for travel within and between four regions: North America, Atlantic, Pacific, South America.

Yes, it's a bit convoluted. In general, though, economy flight redemptions are a solid bet, and you should keep your eye out for specific premium award opportunities – especially in light of the fact that Aeroplan has eliminated fuel surcharges that used to range into the thousands of dollars.

Here are three possibilities based on both the distances of specific routes and the partner airlines you can fly:

• You only need 55,000 points each way for business class on ANA from either Vancouver or Seattle to Tokyo Haneda. For comparison, United would charge you 88,000 MileagePlus miles.
• Likewise, business class on Lufthansa or SWISS between Europe and several airports in the eastern US should cost just 60,000 Aeroplan points but would require 77,000 United miles.
• Finally, thanks to that same distance-based formula, you can book coach tickets between the West Coast of the US and Canada and Hawaii starting at 12,500 points each way versus 22,500 United miles – that's nearly twice as many miles!

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Flying Blue is the mileage program of numerous airlines including not only Air France and KLM, but also carriers like Kenya Airways and TAROM. Members can also redeem their miles for flights on SkyTeam partners like Delta, Aeromexico, and Korean Air, among other partners.

Though Flying Blue levies hundreds of dollars in fuel surcharges for flights to and from Europe, there are still a couple of reasons to recommend the program.

First, it offers monthly rotating "Promo Rewards" with discounts of 20% to 50% off award pricing between certain cities and regions. In real terms, that means rewards for under 11,000 miles each way between North America and Europe in economy, or 28,750 miles in business class — if you can find them. Those numbers are hard to beat.

But even on a regular basis, Flying Blue members seem to have a lot more access to premium awards on both Air France and KLM than they would with other programs, such as Delta SkyMiles.

ANA Mileage Club

Getting back to Star Alliance for a moment, you can find some phenomenal possibilities by transferring your miles to All Nippon Airways' underrated frequent flyer program.

Without getting too bogged down in the details, Mileage Club does have a few important restrictions. Awards must be booked round-trip, though there's some flexibility thanks to open-jaw and stopover allowances. But the real beauty of the program is just how few miles you need even for the most premium experiences in the skies.

For example, you would need just 88,000 miles round-trip to fly business class on airlines like SAS and TAP Portugal between North America and Europe. Want to bump it up to first class on an airline like Lufthansa? That'll cost you 165,000 miles round-trip. Sure, that's still a lot of miles, but it's a far cry from the 242,000 miles United would charge you.

You could fly from North America to most of Asia for 85,000 to 95,000 miles round-trip in business class on Star Alliance carriers like Asiana or EVA, or 150,000 to 180,000 in first class. Yes, that's a lot of miles, but is still around half what other airlines' frequent flyer programs would charge.

Interested in taking either United's new services between Newark and either Cape Town or Johannesburg? You would need just 104,000 miles round-trip in business class with ANA, versus 176,000 United miles, or 170,000 Aeroplan miles.

British Airways Executive Club

Thanks to a distance-based award formula that can result in exorbitant pricing for long-haul flights in premium cabins, some folks might shy away from transferring Amex points to British Airways . However, Executive Club has offered some of the most frequent transfer bonuses of any Amex partner, and is still an excellent choice for certain short-haul awards (flights that are about three hours or less).

Flying from the West Coast of the US to Hawaii will only cost you 13,000 Avios each way in economy on either American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, versus 15,000 to 22,500 using either of those carriers' miles. Likewise, using Avios to book shorter flights within Asia on Cathay Pacific, within Australia on Qantas, or from Miami or Dallas to the Caribbean on American Airlines can be a good way to save money on routes that can be expensive to book using cash.

You can also get from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Tokyo for just 27,750 miles each way in economy on JAL, or from Boston to Dublin on Aer Lingus for just 13,000 miles each way at off-peak times. Keep in mind that you can transfer Avios between British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Iberia Plus for even more options, including some with lower surcharges on flights to and from Europe.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

While this Hong Kong-based airline's award chart won't be for everyone, if you're positively raking in the Amex points thanks to bonuses and spending, you might want to splurge with a few redemptions.

Like American Airlines AAdvantage , Asia Miles will charge you 70,000 miles each way in business class or 110,000 miles in first between the West Coast of the US (and Canada) and Hong Kong. The reason you might want to use Asia Miles instead of AAdvantage (or Alaska Mileage Plan miles, for that matter), is that it's easier to come by award space using the airline's own frequent flyer program rather than a partner, and unlike American and Alaska, you can transfer points from Amex as well as other card programs.

Another great premium possibility is to use 75,000 Asia Miles each way for Qatar Airways' outstanding business class between its hub at Doha and certain destinations within the US, including Boston, Chicago, New York-JFK, and Philadelphia.

Delta SkyMiles

Although Delta has made drastic changes to its award program over the past decade, it's still one of Amex's standout transfer partners for a number of reasons. First, it's the largest US carrier on the list, it's part of SkyTeam, and it also boasts non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic, so you can use Delta SkyMiles in a variety of ways.

That said, Delta has done its best lately to peg the value of SkyMiles to about 1 cent each, especially for awards on Delta itself. So use your Amex points for cheaper economy tickets that can cost as little as 5,000 miles each, or simply to top up your account with a few thousand miles here and there for specific tickets you are certain you will need to book in the near future (especially if that bumps you up from economy to business class).

Etihad Guest

Due to a clunky online interface and the fact that you have to call customer service to book awards on partner airlines, you might want to avoid Etihad Guest in general, unless you can pinpoint a few specific awards.

However, the carrier has a lot of interesting airline partners, including American Airlines, Air New Zealand, ANA, Korean Air, and Royal Air Maroc, among others. The airline also offers occasional award sales, bringing the price of some tickets down even further.

In general, though, here are two great awards you could consider transferring Amex points for:

• First, you can snag a one-way, one-segment business-class ticket on Royal Air Maroc, including between the US and Morocco, for just 44,000 miles.
• Second, Etihad makes first-class award space much more easily available to its own mileage program members than those of partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage. So if you want a shot at one of Etihad's fabulous first-class suites between Abu Dhabi and either the US or Europe, you'll probably want to start hoarding Amex points for a transfer to Etihad Guest.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines partners with several of the other major transferable points programs, including Chase Ultimate Rewards,   Citi ThankYou Rewards , and Capital One , so before you transfer Amex points, consider what other options you have. That said, there are a few redemption sweet spots to be aware of.

Economy awards between North America and Hawaii on either United or Air Canada are priced at a reasonable 19,500 miles each way, while flying business class within North America on either of those carriers is 26,000 miles each way.

But the real reason you might want to transfer Amex points to KrisFlyer is to redeem them for business- or first-class flights on Singapore Airlines itself, since the airline is very stingy with releasing award space to partners.

Sure, flights cost a lot of miles – flying business class on the world's current longest flight from Newark to Singapore will set you back 111,500 miles each way, or first class from New York-JFK to Frankfurt will require 97,000 miles — but spending some time in the lap of luxury could well be worth it.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points are useful for partner award flights, some of which you can book for fewer points compared to other programs. The program will soon become more useful, as Virgin Atlantic will join the SkyTeam alliance in 2023 .

Among the best examples are using just 50,000 miles to fly Delta One Suites between the US and Europe (except the UK), or 60,000 miles between the US and Asia – a bargain considering you'd need at least 85,000 Delta SkyMiles for either option. You might also want to use 90,000 to 95,000 of them to fly ANA's gorgeous new business-class suites round-trip between the US or Europe and Japan, or 110,000 to 120,000 miles to fly first class.

Other options

Now that we've gotten the best partners out of the way, here are the details on the rest and why might or might not want to transfer your hard-earned Amex points to them.

Aer Lingus AerClub: In reality, Aer Lingus AerClub is linked to British Airways Executive Club, so it's relatively easy to transfer your Avios between accounts, but why add another layer of complexity to your rewards strategy? Aeromexico Club Premier: Although the transfer ratio to Aeromexico might seem favorable, and there are sometimes transfer bonuses, the Club Premier award chart lacks any truly great redemption opportunities. Avianca LifeMiles: While this program offers some fabulous award opportunities on Avianca's Star Alliance partners, its booking engine is not the most reliable, and its customer service reps can be hard to reach.  Emirates Skywards: Emirates reduced the sky-high fuel surcharges it once tacked onto its award tickets, but mileage prices are still astronomical, especially for sought-after seats in first and business class. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: While this program can come in handy specifically for tickets within Hawaii and between the islands and the US mainland, you might be better off simply getting one of Hawaiian Airlines' co-branded credit cards to enjoy extra earnings and perks. Iberia Plus: Another partner linked to British Airways Avios, Iberia's mileage program is a great way to save on fuel surcharges, and does have some excellent award options between the US and Europe, including certain business-class tickets that cost as few as 34,000 Avios. However, its search engine can be hard to use, and customer service is almost non-existent, so do your homework before transferring Amex points here. JetBlue TrueBlue: Folks can get a lot of value from TrueBlue points for flights on JetBlue, but the conversion ratio of 5 Amex points to 4 TrueBlue points takes it out of the running as a truly great transfer partner. Qantas Frequent Flyer: You might find some good deals redeeming Qantas miles for expensive flights on the airline's own metal within Australia and the South Pacific, but award prices for flights beyond that are jaw-droppingly high for the most part.

Choice Privileges: Booking some budget stays in the near future? Choice points could come in handy, but are unlikely to be a frequent transfer option for more aspirational travelers. Hilton Honors: Amex points convert to Hilton Honors points at a 1:2 ratio, which is great on the surface. But if you're interested in Hilton stays and perks, you should probably apply for a co-branded Hilton card instead . For instance, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is currently offering 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership (offer ends 7/31/2024), and it confers automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond elite status , statement credits at Hilton Resorts and on certain eligible stays at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties, plus a free night reward each account year. Marriott Bonvoy: Considering the paltry 1:1 conversion ratio and Marriott's excellent stable of co-branded credit cards , you might want to avoid Amex transfers and instead apply for a product like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . It's currently offering new cardholders 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening, plus benefits like automatic Gold elite status, 6 points per dollar on eligible Marriott purchases, 3 points per dollar on dining, gas, and groceries (on up to $6,000 in combined purchases each year), and 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.

What to know about transferring Amex points to partners

American Express Membership Rewards points are among the most valuable and versatile travel rewards out there. That's thanks not only to the sheer number of airline and hotel loyalty programs cardholders can transfer their points to, but also to the variety of excellent redemption opportunities available.

The key to optimizing Membership Rewards points is to pick a credit card that will earn the most of them on the things you tend to purchase most frequently. And then, on the other side of the travel rewards equation, you will want to focus on just a few of the transfer partners with the best redemption opportunities for your needs and goals.

Once you pinpoint the right card and the right partners, you should be able to make strategic transfers and enjoy excellent award flights and hotel stays.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

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The Best AmEx Transfer Partners — and Those to Avoid

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Earning credit card rewards seems like a simple process, right? You make purchases with your card, then you’re awarded points. But what happens when it comes time to spend them? American Express Membership Rewards feature 20 different transfer partners, and not all of them will give you good value.

Here's a look at the best AmEx transfer partners, the value that they provide and which ones you should avoid.

The best AmEx transfer partners

Most of the time, your points will transfer over to American Express travel partners at a 1:1 ratio, meaning that one AmEx point becomes one hotel or airline point. We’ve noted exceptions below. Just keep in mind that NerdWallet currently values AmEx points at 2.8 cents each when transferred to partners, so always make sure you are getting a good value. Here are some of the best AmEx transfer partners:

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada’s Aeroplan program underwent an overhaul in late 2020, doing away with fuel surcharges on flights and adding the ability to book stopovers for 5,000 points. As a member of the world’s largest airline alliance, Star Alliance , Air Canada has 25 partners where you can redeem your Aeroplan points.

Decent award pricing on saver-level seats will get you to Europe in business class for 60,000 points, making this one of AmEx’s most valuable transfer partners.

For these reasons, among others, Aeroplan points sits near the top of our NerdWallet valuations at a rate of 1.4 cents per point .

ANA Mileage Club

Another member of Star Alliance, ANA is known for its generous partner award chart. Although it’s hampered by the need to book round-trip flights, you can still find your way to and from Europe in business class for a total of 88,000 miles. This is industry-leading, which is one of the reasons ANA miles are our most highly valued with a rate of 2.8 cents per point and one of the best airlines to transfer AmEx points.

» Learn more: Your guide to the ANA Mileage Club

Avianca Lifemiles

As the flag carrier for Colombia, Avianca Airlines is notorious for its clunky website and poor customer service. However, thanks to its generous reward redemptions, we’ve valued Lifemiles at a rate of 1.2 cents per point .

While this is lower than the value we give AmEx points, Avianca is bolstered by the fact that you can book mixed-cabin itineraries on flights. This allows you to save miles on short-haul routes so you can enjoy yourself when it really matters.

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Although Delta doesn’t have a ton of sweet spots, it occasionally offers flash sales that’ll give you outsized value for your SkyMiles . And unlike other airlines, you can redeem miles for basic economy flights, thus dropping the costs of your redemptions even lower. If you’re flexible, you can score deals such as Los Angeles to Orlando for as little as 15,000 miles roundtrip, making our valuation of SkyMiles 1.2 cents per point .

» Learn more: Your guide to earning Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

on American Express' website

• 3 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases.

• 3 points per $1 on restaurants worldwide.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

Terms apply.

• 4 points per $1 at restaurants plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year).

• 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 2 points per $1 on the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year.

• 1 point per $1 on purchases above $50,000 in a calendar year.

» See more options: Best American Express cards

• Up to $189 per year in statement credit when you use the card to pay for your Clear membership fee.

• Up to $100 per year in statement credit when you purchase LoungeBuddy passes with your card.

• $120 annual dining credit (available as $10 monthly credits on purchases from select partners).

• Up to $120 a year in Uber Cash ($10 per month).

• Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, including AmEx's own Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta).

• Credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

• Hundreds of dollars a year in credits for travel, shopping and entertainment. These include up to $200 a year for incidental fees on an airline you choose, up to $240 for digital entertainment from select providers, and up to $200 a year for Uber. See terms for details.

• Ability to earn American Express Membership Rewards points for a $0 annual fee.

• 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR .

• Terms apply.

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

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. Terms Apply.

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express , see this page .

Decent AmEx transfer partners

British airways avios.

We don’t value British Airways Avios very highly — they’re worth 1 cent per point. However, British Airways uses a distance-based award chart that shines during short-haul flights.

Avios are also interchangeable with programs from Aer Lingus, Iberia Plus and Qatar Airways. Combined, these programs have transfer partnerships with all the major transferable points currencies, making them exceedingly easy to earn.

Aer Lingus joins the group of decent transfer partners thanks to its interchangeability with other Avios programs. It also boasts the opportunity to fly from the East Coast to Dublin for 13,000 miles one way, making this sweet spot one of the most valuable for crossing the Atlantic.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

We value Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles at 1.2 cents each thanks to their usability as a member of SkyTeam, where you’ll find flights with partners such as Delta Air Lines, Czech Airlines and Aeromexico. Notably, you can redeem 55,000 miles for a one-way flight in business class to Europe, though you’ll usually be subject to some higher-than-average fees.

» Learn more: The complete guide to Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards miles are ranked at a value of 0.6 cent per point . Although the airline keeps increasing fuel surcharges, it has also limited the amount of award inventory partners can access. This means that if you’re looking to book its coveted first-class seats, you’ll need to do so directly with the airline or with Qantas Airways.

Etihad Guest

Emirati airline Etihad has maintained the same partner award chart for years, meaning you can get your hands on quite a few sweet spots for redemptions. This includes options with partner American Airlines, with premium transcontinental routes that include lay-flat beds. Using Etihad miles will score you a seat on these Flagship Business routings for 25,000 miles one way.

Iberia Plus Avios

As with Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways and British Airways, Iberia’s Avios can be exchanged interchangeably between these programs. Although Iberia is not a super well-known airline, it does maintain a sweet spot in transatlantic business class by charging as little as 34,000 miles one way for a ticket.

Qantas Airways

Like other airlines, Qantas uses a distance-based award chart for flights, which means you’ll find your best value on short-haul routings. Perhaps the best use of Qantas points is flying with partner Air Tahiti Nui from Los Angeles, where a one-way ticket in economy will cost just 25,200 points.

Singapore Airlines

As a member of Star Alliance, Singapore Airlines has access to flights from carriers such as United Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa and Swiss. While Singapore has recently devalued its award charts, we still value its miles at 1.5 cents each thanks to its decent redemptions on partner airlines, among other reasons.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic is another SkyTeam member. For this, we give Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points a value of 1.8 cents each . Perhaps its best sweet spot is the ability to book business class awards with ANA for 45,000 miles one way.

» Learn more: The guide to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

The worst AmEx transfer partners

AmEx points transfer over to AeroMexico at a 1:1.6 ratio, meaning 1,000 AmEx points becomes 1,600 AeroMexico points. Despite this, AeroMexico has no discernible sweet spots and booking award tickets is best done over the phone.

Cathay Pacific

Embattled airline Cathay Pacific has had a rough few years, cutting its route network significantly amid various issues. Despite this, you can still use your Asia Miles to book a round-the-world ticket for good value if you’re up for the challenge.

» Learn more: Cathay Pacific — what to know

Choice Hotels

The first hotel featured on this list, Choice Hotels makes a poor transfer partner of AmEx, especially since it partners with Citi ThankYou points to give you double the value for your points while it only transfers with AmEx at a 1:1 ratio.

Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles

We value Hawaiian Airlines miles at a solid 1.2 cents each , but still consider the airline to be a bad transfer partner. Without any good sweet spots to mention, you’ll be stuck using your AmEx points for half their value if you transfer to this airline.

» Learn more: Your guide to Hawaiian Airlines

Hilton Honors

AmEx points transfer to Hilton Honors points at a 1:2 ratio, so you’d think they’d be a good option — wouldn’t you? Sadly, no. We value Hilton points at just 0.5 cent per point , so you’d still be redeeming your AmEx points for just 1 cent each when transferring to Hilton. However, you can still get good value out of these transfers if you use your Hilton points exclusively for high-end hotels such as the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, where room rates are always more than $1,000 per night.

» Learn more: What to know about the Conrad Maldives

JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue runs its award program on a dynamic pricing system that’s tied to the cash price of your ticket. So while we value JetBlue TrueBlue points at 1.5 cents each , you’ll basically never get more value than that as the points required for a ticket directly correlate to its cost.

Marriott Bonvoy

The last option on this list, Marriott Bonvoy points make a poor transfer partner of American Express. The hotel program recently eliminated its fixed award chart in favor of dynamic pricing, which means your hotel costs can vary dramatically based on demand. Marriott points are valued at 0.8 cent and you can transfer AmEx points over at a 1:1 ratio.

If you want to redeem your AmEx points for good value

We’ve figured out the value of many different point programs. However, airline sweet spots and easy-to-earn miles may make some AmEx transfer partners better than others.

If you’re looking for good uses of your AmEx points, keep an eye out for these best transfer partners — and be sure to avoid those that’ll give you subpar value for your points.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Guide to Transferring American Express Points to Travel Partners

So, you've racked up a stash of Amex Membership Rewards points – congratulations. But now what? Don't let those hard-earned points gather dust. In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about transferring your Amex points to travel partners and turning them into unforgettable adventures. Whether you're dreaming of a luxurious beach vacation or a whirlwind tour of Europe, transferring your points is your ticket to maximizing their value and making your travel dreams a reality.

Amex Airline Transfer Partners

American Express boasts an impressive roster of 18 airline partners as part of its Membership Rewards program. The choices are abundant, from household names like Delta and British Airways to international favorites like Singapore Airlines and Emirates. However, the key is understanding that transfer rates are only sometimes a simple 1:1 exchange. Some partners offer better value than others, so doing your research before you commit is crucial.

Tips Before Transferring Membership Rewards Points

Before you begin on your points-transferring journey, you should take a few crucial steps to ensure you're getting the most out of your rewards. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and maximize the value of your points.

Check Award Availability First

It's a rookie mistake to transfer points before confirming that your desired flight or hotel stay is available for booking with points. Award availability can be fickle, especially during peak travel times. Always check with the airline or hotel's loyalty program first to ensure your dream redemption is within reach. Remember, American Express point transfers are irreversible, and loyalty programs can change their point values without notice.

Figure Out Which Transfer Partner is Best

Not all Amex transfer partners are created equal. Some offer better redemption rates and sweet spots than others. For instance, the ANA Mileage Club , Virgin Atlantic Flying Club , and Iberia Plus are often considered prime transfer partners due to their excellent value for international flights. With ANA, you can book a round-the-world trip for a fraction of the points you'd need with other airlines. Virgin Atlantic offers great value for flights to Europe, and Iberia Plus can get you to South America for a steal. The right transfer partner can significantly stretch your rewards and travel budget.

Another Option: Turn Points into Cash with The Miles Market

If wanderlust isn't calling your name, or if you have points you don't see yourself using, there's another option: turn those points into cash. The Miles Market allows you to securely and easily sell your Amex Membership Rewards points, putting money back in your pocket. It's a great alternative for those who prefer immediate value over future travel plans.

Link Airline and Hotel Loyalty Accounts

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to connect the dots. Linking your airline and hotel loyalty accounts to your Amex Membership Rewards account is a straightforward process, but it's an essential step before you can transfer any points.

Log-in to Your Amex Account

Getting started is easy. Head to the American Express website and log into your account. Once you're in, navigate to the account summary page of any of your Amex Membership Rewards cards. You'll find a section called "Explore Rewards." Click on it, then head to "Transfer Points" and finally, "View All." This is your gateway to managing your linked loyalty programs and initiating those all-important points transfers.

Select Program to Link

Browse through the list of available airline and hotel transfer partners. Each program will display its transfer ratio (how many Amex points equal one partner point) and the estimated time it takes for the transfer to process. Take note of the instant transfer options if you're in a hurry to book! Once you've identified the program that aligns with your travel goals, simply click on "Link Program" to get started.

Enter Loyalty Account Information

To complete the linking process, you'll need to enter your credit card details and verify your Amex account information. If you'd like to share the points-transferring joy, you have the option to link loyalty accounts in the name of an authorized cardholder on your account. The most critical step here is to double-check that you've entered your airline or hotel loyalty number correctly – even a small error can lead to a major points mishap.

Confirm Account is Linked

After you've entered all the required information, a confirmation message should appear, letting you know that your frequent flyer account is officially linked to your Amex Membership Rewards account. To be extra sure, you can always visit the Amex Membership Rewards page and look under "Your loyalty programs" to see your newly linked account.

Transfer Amex Membership Rewards Points

With your accounts linked, you can transfer those points and start planning your next adventure.

Find Your Linked Account

Once you've linked your loyalty account, it's time to take action. Head back to the familiar Amex Membership Rewards page and look for the "Your loyalty programs" section. Your linked account should be waiting there, ready for points to be transferred.

Select Airline or Hotel to Transfer Points

Click on the linked loyalty account that's calling your name. The terms, timing, and any specific requirements for the transfer will be displayed. If you haven't transferred points to this airline or hotel before, you'll be asked to enter your account number with that program. It's like a first date, but with points instead of flowers.

Enter Number of Points

Now for the exciting part: entering the number of points you want to transfer. Type in your desired amount, and then you'll be prompted to provide your credit card details for verification. Once you've given everything a final once-over and accepted the terms and conditions, click "Confirm & Transfer Points" to seal the deal.

Confirm Your Transfer

A confirmation message will appear, letting you know your points are on their way to their new home. The time it takes to complete the transfer depends on the partner. Some are speed demons, transferring instantly, while others might take a few days to finalize the exchange.

Whether you're a jet-setter looking to explore the world or someone who prefers cold, hard cash, your Amex Membership Rewards points have immense value. By understanding your options and making informed decisions, you can maximize the return on your rewards. If your goal is to travel, carefully consider the transfer partners and award availability to book the perfect trip. And if you'd rather have cash in hand, consider The Miles Market as a simple and secure way to sell your points. Either way, you're in control of how you reap the benefits of your points. ‍

The Miles Market is the best place to buy and sell airline miles, hotel points and credit card rewards

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AMEX Platinum Travel Credit Card Review

AMEX Platinum Travel as the name suggests is a travel-based card for all AMEX enthusiasts. I would call this another no-brainer card from the AMEX stable. I have reviewed the other AMEX cards like AMEX Gold Charge and AMEX MRCC here.

Let’s check out what is so tempting about this card!

• 1 Charges and Welcome Benefits
• 2 Regular Reward Accrual
• 3 Milestone Benefits
• 4 AMEX Reward Multiplier
• 5.1 Statement Credit/ Pay with Points
• 5.2 Travel With Points
• 5.3 Insta Vouchers
• 5.4.1 Airlines Transfer Partners
• 5.4.2 Hotel Transfer Partners
• 6 TechnoFino Maximum
• 7.1 Airport Lounge Access
• 7.2 Fuel Surcharge Waiver
• 7.3 Forex Markup Charges
• 8 Eligibility Criteria
• 9 TechnoFino Recommends

Charges and Welcome Benefits

AMEX doesn’t give you a spends-based fee waiver but you may get a waiver or a retention offer to keep you in the loop. Especially if you hold other AMEX cards then AMEX really values the overall relationship. Even then the rewards of this make up for the fee very easily.

Application through referral is a clear-cut winner due to the extra NIL Joining fees. Check out the link for detailed referral benefits information. You can apply for any of the six AMEX Cards available in India via this link.

If you face any problems in the application process you can contact me on Technofino Community .

You can choose to apply for any AMEX card from the link in the banner. To choose and apply a card of your choice simply click on the View All Cards option and select one. All the information for that particular card is readily available on the website.

Regular Reward Accrual

• *Spends exclude Insurance payments, Utilities and Fuel but are counted for milestone spends.
• Reward points never expire.
• You get to earn MR points even on wallet loads .

Milestone Benefits

• You can get up to 48000 MR points on completing both milestones.

Technofino Tip : Credit of AMEX points on completing the milestones is not automatic. After completion of the first milestone, you will get 7500 MR points automatically and the rest of the points will need to be requested from AMEX and same goes for the 4L milestone.

AMEX Reward Multiplier

AMEX has a Rewards Multiplier portal just like HDFC SmartBuy from where you can purchase gift vouchers or do affiliate shopping and get 3X the usual reward points.

Reward Redemption

Statement credit/ pay with points.

AMEX allows you to take a statement credit on eligible transactions or pay with points on select merchants while entering OTP for your transaction at a value of 25p/point. Most of the new AMEX cardholders use this redemption method but trust me there can’t be a method worse than this to use your MR Points. They are much more valuable than this so kindly ignore these two options.

Travel With Points

Another method to redeem your MR points. With this, you can purchase flights, prepaid hotels, car rentals, and more on AmexTravel. Again this gives you a value of 25p/MR point and is highly not recommended .

Insta Vouchers

AMEX further offers you a huge variety of instant vouchers against your MR points which have different values for different brands.

Clearly, this card is meant for travel only since MR points are better redeemed for Taj Stays Voucher or Marriott Transfer since that is where the value lies.

TechnoFino Tip: Since the MR points are credited into a common pool so if you hold either an AMEX MRCC or an AMEX Gold Charge then you can redeem them for AMEX Gold Collection Vouchers which will you a much better value.

Like redeeming a 24K Taj Voucher will give 58p/MR Point and Amazon Pay/ Flipkart Voucher will give you just 37p/ MR Point.

Transfer Points

Now, this is the hottest redemption option for MR points and if you can play well with this you can yield values of even greater than a rupee per point.

Airlines Transfer Partners

AMEX allows you to transfer points to 8 different airline partners and some of them are so unique that none of the Indian credit cards allows you to transfer points to them like Asia Miles. We have a curated list of all AMEX airline transfer partners here . For booking award tickets using points, you can refer to this post on the TechnoFino Community.

Hotel Transfer Partners

Now, this is the most sought redemption option since anyone with a Platinum or Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy can just extract a value of more than 1Re/MR point by transferring a 1:1 ratio with suite upgrades, Breakfast and lounge access with complimentary drinks are an added plus. Since AMEX is the sole transfer partner to Marriott Bonvoy , many points miners use MR points only for transfer to Marriott.

Other than this you can transfer to Hilton Honors also but the value is not that great as compared to Marriott. We have curated a complete list of AMEX hotel transfer partners h ere .

It takes about  0-5 days  to transfer Amex MR Points to various loyalty programs so transfer them well in advance to use them.

TechnoFino Maximum

This card is good for just ₹4L spent in a year and after that, the spending can be put on other cards.

On completing both the milestones you will have 48000 MR points in your kitty along with a Taj Voucher worth ₹10,000.

Now with a value of 50p/MR point when redeemed for travel one would get a ₹34,000 worth (including TAJ voucher) reward value on completing both milestones which converts to an 8.5% reward rate . I mean what more can one ask for? If you are not into travelling and will redeem the points for Flipkart vouchers then the value drops to ₹24,400 and the reward rate comes out to be nearly 6.1% which is also not bad in my opinion.

And if you hold any of the gold collection cards along with this card then with 58p/ MR Point value on a 24K Taj Voucher redemption you can easily earn up to a 9.5% reward rate. Even for cash-back lovers 18,000 worth of cash equivalent Amazon Pay vouchers along with a ₹10K Taj Voucher the reward rate translates into 7%!!!

Other Benefits

Airport lounge access.

You are eligible to access only third-party airport lounges using AMEX Platinum Travel since to access AMEX Proprietary lounges you need to have an AMEX Platinum Charge card.

For International lounges only the Priority Pass membership is complimentary and all access will be chargeable. Also, access is restricted only to primary cardholders.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

• 0% for HPCL transactions less than ₹5,000,1% fee per transaction is applicable for all HPCL transactions on and above ₹5,000.
• 1% of the transaction value subject to a minimum of ₹10 + applicable taxes, will be charged as a convenience fee at fuel stations operated by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies BPCL and IOCL.
• 2.5% of the transaction value subject to a minimum of ₹10 + applicable taxes, will be charged as a convenience fee at fuel stations of all other Oil Marketing Companies (except HPCL, BPCL and IOCL).

Forex Markup Charges

• Forex Markup charges are standard 3.50% + GST.

Eligibility Criteria

• For the AMEX Platinum Travel card an income proof of a minimum gross ₹6LPA is required whether you are salaried or self-employed. AMEX doesn’t process applications on a Card-to-Card basis .
• Your CIBIL score should be a minimum of 750.
• You must have an address proof of any serviceable area. 
• Serviceable City List- Guntur, Hyderabad, Krishna, Medak, Rangareddy, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bardoli, Surat, Vadodara, Ambala, Jhajjar, Panchkula, Bengaluru, Kochi, Bhopal, Indore, Mumbai, Pune, Raigad, Thane, Bhubaneswar, Khurdha, Mohali, Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Kanchipuram, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tiruvallur, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Vijayawada, Ernakulam, Secunderabad, Aluva, Ropar, Hosur, Sriperumbudur, Tiruppur, Baramati, Navi Mumbai, Lucknow, Trivandrum, Mysuru, Nasik, Nagpur, and Ludhiana.

AMEX has recently started serving the following Tier 2/3 cities as well

Agra, Ajmer, Allahabad, Ambala, Amritsar, Aurangabad, Chittoor, Dehradun, Goa, Guntur, Guwahati, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kolhapur, Kozhikode, Kurnool, Madurai, Meerut, Patiala, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Thrissur, Trichy and Udaipur.

Application through referral is a clear-cut winner due to the extra NIL Joining fees. Check out the link for detailed referral benefits information. You can apply for any of the six AMEX Cards available in India via this link. Even better, you can also get another  2000 Bonus MR Points  by spending ₹5000 within 90 days of membership.

TechnoFino Recommends

AMEX Platinum Travel is one of their best credit cards which provides an exceptional reward rate of 8.5% and is one of my go-to cards till I complete its milestone for the year. The only issue with AMEX cards is low acceptance but if you swipe your cards in premium places then there is nothing to stop you from clinching all of those milestones.

Isn’t AMEX Platinum Travel a no-brainer for all? Feel free to share your tricks in the comments below.

Chief Editor, TechnoFino. Personal finance nerd! Physics enthusiast and trainer. When not into Physics, he is minting points and hunting for the next best credit card for himself.

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How do you calculate ₹34k value for 48k points and you say 0.5/MR point? Isnt it ₹24k for 48k points. Same with flipkart how do you get ₹26k? 48k points x 0.3/MR point = ₹14.4k

34K Value includes Taj Voucher also. I have slightly tweaked the Flipkart value. Thanks for pointing it out.

How do we request for that extra MR points after reaching the respective milestones? What do we exactly say to the Amex Customer Support for that 100% bonus points on top of the milestone benefit? Will they honour our request or purely at their discretion? Is there any nice way of asking so that our request won’t be turned down.. Thanks for the tip.. A very nicely written article…

“Technofino Tip: Credit of AMEX points on completing the milestones is not automatic. After completion of the first milestone, you will get 7500 MR points automatically and the rest of the points will need to be requested from AMEX and same goes for the 4L milestone.”

I think I got the answer I was looking for, It is there in the T&C/s Plat travel card as a last point..

* Membership Rewards points received on spend milestones is a combination of threshold Membership Rewards points and Bonus Membership Rewards points. You will get your threshold Membership Rewards points once you achieve the spend milestones however, to claim your Bonus Membership Rewards points, please dial the number mentioned at the back of your Card

Great find!

Thanks for confirming…

A question on renewal fee: Do we get any MR points on paying the reweal fee of 5k+GST? Assuming we spent more than 4 lakhs in card memebership year, can we ask for annual fee waiver ( or atelast partial) or any any MR points? Do they generallly consider these kind of requests . Thanks in advance.

No official criteria but unofficially Spend 2L in 60 days and get an annual fee waiver Get an annual fee waiver in lieu of 10K MR points Pay an annual fee and get 15K MR points

Thanks heaps for the insights.

I have now spent 2L within 50 days.. How shall I request for annual fee waiver?

Does this card or any other AMEX card benificial if spends are not that much (6-10k pm) as other card is used as primary because of acceptance?

No this card is useful only if you can spend 4L exact else the reward rate drops drastically.

Does a Amex Platinum Metal card whose yearly fees is close to 70k better than this card or you would rate this card as the best in the segment considering the MR points it is giving.

Hi Bhavye. I follow your blog and I am a big fan of yours. I got my amex platinum travel card yesterday and was thinking of applying for amex mrcc as well based on your recommendation of pooling the points and redeeming for 24 karat gold collection. When enquired at the call centre, to my surprise, the executive said that redemption catalogues of MRCC & Platinum travel are different and one can’t redeem platinum points for 24 karat gold collection. Please suggest.

Hi, it was different for mcc and plat travel, but recently amex started allowing pooling points

Do we earn MR points on rent payment? Is it counted towards milestone? What are the extra charges?

I applied using above link , the application was successful and final screen showed we will call you , however after 1 week there is no call. Pls suggest way forward

Kindly Call AMEX on 1-800-419-2122 or mail them.

Thanks for the detailed review Bhavye! Just a couple of queries:

1. Can the milestone points be redeemed for Air Miles as well? Since in your review and the official website, its only mentioned that the welcome/milestone reward points can be redeemed against Taj voucher (0.5/- per point) or Flipkart voucher (0.3/- per point)

2. Do you have redeemed points for AirMiles? If yes, can you share some details on the same that what exactly is an AirMile in terms of actual value in Rs. This option seems more flexible and lucrative but I cant find its proper details anywhere on the net.

3. I;’m a MRCC holder, and I talked to the customer service today only and he clearly mentioned that I wont be having access to gold collection with my new travel platinum card! :-/

The biggest issue with Amex Travel Platinum is 1) limited (2 per qtr) PP lounge access and NIL for international. Not truly a Travel card. HDFC Regalia or rather HDFC Infinia metal is so much better on PP lounge access. 2) online shopping with some premium brands doesnt accept Amex 3)getting an add-on for your partner especially if their address on KYC is not from top metro/T1 city gets declined even though the primary holder is you.

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Enjoy 10X Membership Rewards® points on booking

T&C Apply*

Offer Summary:

Enjoy 10X Membership Rewards® points on booking Air India Flights with American Express Platinum & Centurion Cards.

Terms and Conditions for  American Express® RewardsXcelerator Program.

• This Offer is open to only American Express Centurion and Platinum Cardmembers whose accounts are valid and in good standing. An American Express Cardmember for the purpose of this Offer means a person holding an American Express® Centurion Card or American Express® Platinum Card, issued by American Express Banking Corp. in India. 
• The Offer is not valid for American Express Corporate Cards issued by American Express Banking Corp. in India or Cards issued by a third party bearing the name or trademark or service mark or logo of American Express ("Network Cards ") issued in India.
• In case the Card account is cancelled before the time of offer fulfilment, Cardmember will not be eligible for the offer benefit. 
• The offer in this program will be fulfilled by American Express. 
• The offer would be valid on above mentioned Cards issued in India only. 
• This offer is being made purely on a “best effort” basis. Cardmembers are not bound in any manner to participate in this offer and any such participation is purely voluntary. 
• American Express is only responsible for the crediting of the Membership Rewards® Points into the linked Card account. The redemption is not limited or cannot be held against American Express. 
• American Express & Air India reserves the right at any time without prior notice to add/ alter/ modify/ change all of these Terms & Conditions or to replace wholly, or in part, the Offer by other Offers, whether similar to this Offer or not, or to withdraw it altogether.
• This program is being offered by the participating service establishment only and shall be valid for the period mentioned in the offer.
• American Express is neither responsible for availability of services nor guarantees the quality of the goods/services and is not liable for any defect or deficiency of goods or services so obtained/availed of by the Cardmembers under this Offer. Any disputes with regard to the quality of goods/services availed shall be taken up with the merchant/service establishment directly. American Express shall have no liability whatsoever with regard to the same. 
• American Express reserves its absolute right to withdraw and/or alter any of the terms and conditions of the Offer at any time without prior notice.
• Nothing expressed or implied in the Offer shall in any way waive or amend any of the terms and conditions of the existing Cardmember agreement with the Card issuer. 
• Any disputes arising out of and in connection with this program shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in the state of Delhi only.

This offer is subject to partner Terms and Conditions mentioned below.

RewardXcelerator Terms and Conditions

Promotional offer: get 10x membership rewards points on each spend on your card at participating merchants. .

• Centurion Card : Cardmember will receive 6 Membership Rewards points (Standard American Express Membership Rewards) and additional 54 Bonus Membership Rewards points for every INR 200 Spent on Centurion Card.
• Platinum Card : Cardmember will receive 1 Membership Rewards point (Standard American Express Membership Rewards) and additional 9 Bonus Membership Rewards points for every INR 40 Spent on Platinum Card.
• Eligible Cards: American Express Centurion and Platinum Cards only
• Validity*: This offer is valid from 28th February’2024 – 6th December 2024(both days included) 

The above-mentioned Bonus Membership Rewards Points is for illustration purposes only.

Steps to avail the offer:

• The Cardmember transacts on their eligible American Express Card and with participating merchants to make a purchase during offer period.
• The Standard and Bonus Membership Rewards® Points will get credited to Cardmember’s account by American Express as per regular American Express process.
• The offer will be applicable on the transactions taken only on Air India website & mobile application. 

Offer Terms and Conditions:

• There is no minimum spend required to be eligible for/avail the offer.
• There is no maximum capping on the number of Membership Rewards points that can be earned by the Cardmember under this offer.
• The offer with Air India is applicable only on the INR transactions made with Air India official website and/or Air India mobile app and it’s not valid for transactions made via travel agents, Online Travel Agent , any Air India offline counter and/or via any other available channel(s). Transactions made on a currency other than INR will not be applicable for this program.
• The offer can be availed multiple times during offer period.
• The offer is also applicable on transactions taken with Supplementary Card(s).
• Standard and additional Membership Rewards points are awarded to the Basic Card Account only. Eligible spending made on all Supplementary Card(s) will be considered as the cumulative spend of the respective Basic Card Account. 
• To qualify for the additional Membership Rewards points, the Card Account must be in good standing, not cancelled for any reasons and enrolled successfully in the American Express Membership Rewards Program. 
• The base Membership Rewards points earned on any transaction shall be governed by the product specific Membership Rewards construct and Membership Rewards terms and conditions. To view Membership Rewards terms and conditions, click here. https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/en-in/benefits/rewards/membership-rewards/membership-rewards-terms.pdf
• In case the merchant accepts payments via third party establishment or aggregator or any change in the Merchant’s payment acceptance or settlement process, American Express cannot guarantee the credit of Bonus Membership Rewards points on Cardmember’s account. 
• There might be instances wherein the Bonus Membership Rewards points are credited late or are not credited at all and American Express shall not be held liable in such cases.
• The offer is not applicable on payments done via digital wallets.
• Any queries pertaining to awarding the Membership Rewards Points will be entertained till 30 days from the date of transaction.
• Refund(s)/reversal(s) initiated (during the offer period) for transactions taken prior to the offer period with participating merchants will result in reversal of Membership Rewards points as per the RewardXelerator Program’s offer Earn rate (i.e., 10X or 20X).
• In case of any queries, Cardmembers can reach out at amex.in/contactus.
• Membership Rewards points will be awarded as per regular American Express process. In case there is a refund/cancellation of the order, the Membership Rewards Points (along with additional Membership Rewards points, under this program) will be reversed back from the Cardmember’s Account in future credit cycle(s). 
• The Membership Rewards points will be calculated based on transaction amount billed to eligible American Express Card. 
• The Net Cart Value is the total cart value arrived at after all applicable discounts including coupon code. 
• In an instance where the partial payment is done by the Cardmember via Membership Rewards Points / cash / wallet / any other method, the additional Membership Rewards Points will be granted only on such part of the payment which is made using an eligible American Express Card.
• Offer can be combined with any other offer/promotion running on the partner site/store.
• In an instance where the full payment is done by the cardmember via Membership Rewards Points, there will be no additional Membership Rewards Points extended to the card member on that transaction.
• Any person availing this offer shall be deemed to have accepted all the terms and conditions.
• Product warranty will be regulated by the Terms and Conditions mentioned on the Warranty Card of respective product/manufacturer.
• Any defects in goods or deficiency in services or any claims, issues, damages or losses arising therefrom with respect to the Product/Services shall be the sole responsibility and liability of the manufacturer/Seller or the Service Provider.
• Pictorial representation of product(s) in communication(s) sent to the customers is purely representational.
• American Express/ Partner reserves the right to cancel an order in case of any fraudulent activity Upon cancellation, the order will not be reinstated.
• It is not mandatory for the American Express cardholders to participate in the offer. Participation in the Offer by the card holder is voluntary and free. Participation in the Offer by the Cardholder will be construed as acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of the Offer and Cardholder is advised not to participate in the Offer if such Terms & Conditions are not acceptable.
• American Express shall determine, from time to time at its discretion, those transactions which are eligible for credit of additional Membership Rewards Points (as part of this offer) and the number of additional Membership Rewards Points which Cardmember shall earn upon completion of a successful transaction on participating merchant website/store.
• The Offer is valid only in India. 
• American Express is neither responsible for any deliveries, refunds & exchanges and any additional costs related to deliveries, refunds and exchange. This is to be managed between the Merchant and the Cardmember.
• All Bookings made under this Offer shall be subject to Air India’s  conditions of carriage available at  www.airindia.com

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American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Review (India)

If you’re looking for a best travel credit card in India, the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is a must have in your wallet. The attractive reward rate on the card is too good to believe and it holds intact even after so many years of it’s existence.

It has been holding the “best travel credit card” tag almost every year for about a decade and so it’s undoubtedly an amazing product especially given that you can get the card as “First Year FREE” with the ongoing limited period offer . Here’s the detailed review of the Amex platinum travel credit card,

Table of Contents

Milestone Benefit

Airport lounge access, my experience, other benefits, how to apply, faq’s.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card has been everyone’s #1 choice when looking for a travel credit card because it comes with an attractive value and a relatively easy to reach spend targets.

Currently, one of the best offer you could get is a  First Year FREE  limited period offer when you apply using a  referral link .

*** Limited Period Offer: First Year FREE ***

Apply through the link on the page & you’ll get it First Year Fee Free *  (Saving INR 3,500) + 2,000 Referral Bonus Membership Rewards ®  points (spend INR 5,000 within 90 days)

While there are no renewal benefit (or) renewal fee waiver condition, you maybe eligible for the retention benefit based on your profile/spends which may include complete waiver of the fee as well.

Do note that the reward rate takes a little hit when you consider the renewal fee. However, there is a right way to go about it, we’ll discuss that later in the article.

Note: This is platinum travel card and not platinum charge card , which some get confused often, as multiple Amex cards carries the “platinum” tag.

While I’m not a great fan of the Platinum Travel Credit Card’s design, it’s subtle and you wouldn’t be disappointed to have it in hand.

Platinum Travel and Platinum Reserve cards looks similar except a black line running along the right side of the card on Reserve.

• Excluded spends : Insurance, Utilities, Fuel
• Rewards don’t expire.

The reward points earned on American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card are ideally meant for Marriott transfers (or) Taj voucher redemptions (according to me), as other options are not attractive enough.

Also note that the MR points earned on plat travel can’t be pooled with other Amex cards, so you can’t redeem for Gold (or) Platinum rewards collection.

While the reward rate on regular spends is not that attractive as seen above, its all about the milestone benefits that makes this card really click!

• Note: You’ll unlock 2 benefits on hitting 4L milestone spend, as above.

Note that the above calculation is done by considering “1 MR = 0.50 INR ” as we easily get that value by transferring to Marriott or redeem for Taj voucher redemptions.

With Amex Platinum travel card, you may also redeem your MR points for Flipkart vouchers at the rate of “1MR = 0.30 INR” but that’s not a wise option in my opinion.

So, if we consider regular rewards along with milestone benefits, we get a good ~8.5% return on spend post reaching 4L milestone.

What else one can ask for?!

Note : On reaching milestones, you’ll only get 7,500 and 10,000 “bonus” MR points, you’ll then need to call support and ask them to credit remaining points into your account. Gets done in a minute.

Note that you’re eligible only for regular domestic lounge access (for primary cardholders only) but not to the American Express Lounges located in Delhi & Mumbai .

To access Amex proprietary lounges you would need Amex Platinum Charge Card .

While you get complimentary “membership” to Priority Pass for international lounge access, you do-not get any complimentary “access” with it, unfortunately.

I’ve been using American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card since past 6 years and it has been an amazing time with the card so far.

I’ve used the Taj vouchers received through amex platinum travel card and other Amex offers to explore some of the beautiful Taj properties (among others) across the country. Here are some of the nice ones that I’ve explored,

• Taj Santacruz, Mumbai
• Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Chennai
• Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
• Vivanta, Guwahati
• Vivanta, Coimbatore
• Taj Lands End, Mumbai
• Taj Bengal, Kolkata
• Taj Connemara, Chennai
• Taj West End, Bangalore & few more

Which one is your most-loved or aspirational Taj property? Maybe I can cover the review of it if that interests you.

• Foreign Exchange Markup fee: 3.5% + Service Tax
• Amex health insurance benefits (with ICICI Lombard)
• Amex Festive Offers

Applying online is the quickest way to get American Express Cards in India.

Currently, one of the best offer you could get is a  First Year Free  Limited period offer when you apply using a  referral link .

To sweeten this, you can also get another  2K Bonus Points  by spending Rs.5000 within 90 days of membership.

Note : It’s better to apply using your Aadhaar address, otherwise the application might get rejected (or) delayed. If CIBIL is very good it will not ask for income documents.

1. Is Amex Plat Travel still good in 2023?

Very much it is, as it has the reward rate that is one of the best in industry.

2. What other travel cards can I hold along with Amex Platinum Travel?

Generally most travellers I know have Amex platinum Travel + Axis Magnus + Axis Vistara Infinite (First Year FREE for a limited period). That’s a brilliant combo to fetch overall average reward rate of >10% easily.

3. My address proof is not in serviceable area, what to do?

Amex is strict on that for now (as they know what happens when they don’t follow RBI rules) and so can apply only with valid address proof. Changing Aadhaar address is pretty quick and that works for most.

4. I don’t need a travel card, what other Amex card can I have for rewards?

You should then probably explore the MRCC card which is also issued as First Year Free. The same can be applied via this  referral link .

5. How fast does Amex process the application?

Usually within ~2 days for approval status and another ~3 days for delivery. They’re generally super fast. If it’s your first AMEX Card, it might take additional 1 week depending on various factors.

6. How to get renewal fee waived?

Spending >7L a year usually helps in renewal fee waiver, perhaps you can make use of the spend linked offers post hitting 4L.

• CardExpert Rating:  5/5

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card with ~8.5% reward rate is one of the highest rewarding Credit Card in India and its a must have in your wallet if you love travel benefits.

That said, the only issue with the card might be the acceptance, but it’s understandable that those who get this card are most likely to use it only at premium hotels and restaurants where the acceptance is generally not an issue.

What’s your take on the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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111 thoughts on “ American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Review (India) ”

I’ve explored.. 1.Taj Krishna , Hyderabad 2. Vivanta by Taj , Hyderabad

Ah yes, I’ve missed adding Taj Krishna to the list. It was a decent one.

I’m new to Amex. By any chance, do you have a referral link for their entry-level SmartEarn card? And does Amex often offer Life Time Free cards as promotions or should I just go ahead now and get the entry-level card? Thanks!

LTF is rare. You shall use the same link and click on “View our other cards” to apply for other card variants.

Thanks! I used your referral link to get the SmartEarn card. Though I’m new to Amex, it got approved within 24 hrs!

Plz explain how to optimise Taj voucher for stay cation for family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children Or any other great way redeem Taj voucher

Yes this would be a great topic to elaborate on. Sid, please do consider.

This article and the comments may help: Taj Hotels: Tips on booking, upgrades and more

I have started using an Amex Plat Travel card with a limit of ₹150k, since the last month. I have another credit card with a limit of ₹260k. How many months of usage would it take for an enhancement of credit limit, considering my last month’s usage was about ₹90k and general usage will always be above ₹25-30k?

I have a good CIBIL score but a not very high net ITR of about ₹550k as I am a professional and take advantage of presumptive taxation at 50% of gross income and thereafter deductions of around ₹200k.

Hi Sid, appreciate your effort for reviewing this card. Do we need to call customer care to get the annual fee waived off?

Yes, they may have few options for you based on the spend.

Hi Sid, As always, a nice review, I’ve used this card for five years and it’s still among the finest for travel. I also have MRCC, and they once transferred my MRCC points to my platinum card when I asked them to and they said its one time offer:), which I transferred into Bonvoy and used for 4+1 free night in Thailand.

I have been using the MRCC for nearly 2 years now. Recently, Amex offered an upgrade to the Platinum Travel card FYF. Didn’t go for it, as my travels aren’t that extensive to make use of the benefits of the card that doesn’t offer a fee waver or can effectively be used offline. MRCC, with the monthly bonus rewards can offer up to a 6 percent reward on a spend of 20000, and that will also take care of the card fees too. Think Amex in general, will have to do better in terms of lounge access. The MRCC, with a very high yearly fee unless applied on referral, doesn’t offer any. Even the Platinum Travel card, despite being travel specific, doesn’t offer international lounge. Think the Axis Magnus, despite not being a travel specific card, can give the Platinum Travel a proper run for money for the number 1 travel card in the country as of now!

I just realized that I only got 7,500 MR points last year when I hit the Rs.1.9L threshold. This is why I make sure to read your articles. Always learn something new and I’ll make sure to call the support team and request for the full 15,000 MR points benefit. Won’t make that mistake again!!

Glad you got something useful!

Hey thanks for that Note to call customer care for remaining points. I used to see that i have been using the card and not getting equivalent points, but never gave it a thought to contact customer care. I think i missed my points of the previous years but at least managed to get them this year. Its really strange why i need to call them though.

Are they accepting utility bills or lease agreements or government flat allotment letters as address proof? I have an existing MRCC which was issued in Delhi basis lease agreement. But, now they are saying that they accept only aadhar, passport and election id. When I escalated, received a call back saying it can be worked out as I am an existing customer and will receive a call back in 48 hours. But, no response so far and it’s been 2 weeks. I got a Magnus approved and already have a LTF DCB. So, confused whether this is worth the trouble. But, milestone benefits looks enticing 😂. Any way out except changing aadhar address?

Unfortunately changing aadhar address is the only solution for now.

Hi Siddharth, great review. You’ve clearly done a lot of research which is evident from the article. You have earned yourself a new fan. I’ve got a question, if I may ask. Between this card and Amex MRCC (or some other card from Amex), which one would you recommend for me? A little background about me: I’m a 30 year old male living in Mumbai with a salary of 30 lakhs per annum. My annual spends are about 3-4 lakhs per year. I plan to do international trips one each year next year onwards. I’m mostly interested in AirMiles.

I look forward to your response. Thanks in advance.

If you can reach 4 Lakhs spends in an year, this card is better. MRCC is good for spends upto 20k per month.

Thanks for the review. I have been using it for past 4 years. Need to add an important info. Once the renewal fees are charged, you can just call their helpline. I did it this year. They just asked me to spend 35 k in 2 months which i did it easily and my renewal fee was reversed in the next billing cycle. I was also able to use this card twice at Amex lounge in Mumbai domestic terminal T1.

Sure? Mumbai T1 does not have any amex lounge.

Hi Siddharth, how does this fare against the HDFC Diners Club Black credit card? Given that both cards have the same fee structure.

I am a regular user of Amex reserve card, it’s no more that beneficial card this days, lot of other cards are with good benefits. In my City Surat, many of the shops, garments shops, Resturants doesn’t accept the card. When ever make travel bookings, doesn’t get any benefits, earlier there was benefits on MMT but no more now. Yes need priority pass to access the airport lounge out of India, this card won’t do. Only three discount cards for Taj hotels is given, that too is just to say.

Does Amex gives Card on Card basis? I am not fulfilling income criteria of amex

Hi Sid. Another good article. Have you ever booked Taj Stays under discount rates running on Taj website and faced any issue using Taj Vouchers against that stay? I recently booked a stay during Freedom sale offer on taj website but at the time of checkin, they refused to use Taj vouchers for the same. They showed me terms where it says these can be used only on “Public rates” and not for any already discounted booking, not even member rates (one becomes a member just be enrolling to Tata Neu). Took a lot of convincing to finally use them.

Hi Siddarth, I am holding a Amex Gold Charge Card for the past 8 years. I have recently used all points only for Marriott transfer. One deterrent was that 24K and 18K collection won’t be available anymore. Having said that, is it beneficial to move to Platinum Travel Card? Thanks, Vamsi

Sir, what do you mean by 24k, 18k collection wont be available anymore? source of this info? MRCC card exists on this 24k,18k collection. I will be discontinuing the card if this info is correct

What I meant was if I move from Gold card to Platinum Travel as my main card then the points from MRCC will need to move in to 1 account led by Platinum travel and then 24K and 18k might not be available.

If you want to get rid of this then go for Gold Card instead. The combination of Gold and MRCC and give 24k points every year if you simply spend 1.44 Lakhs for monthly spends with some discipline.

Sid, Awaiting your feedback pls. Thanks, Vamsi

Me: Hi Vamsi, I enjoyed driving Maruti Alto last few years. Shall I now upgrade to Baleno or maybe Ciaz? 🙂

It’s quite tough to answer just with little inputs, so I skip such queries.

That’s why I have the credit card consultation service. It ideally takes about 30 mins to 1hr for beginners to understand the game and arrive at a sweet strategy that they can really make use of.

I understand that not everyone may afford the fee, in which case, I suggest to go through each reviews and comments which will help you find the answer easily. So many lovely contributors have shared advices generously that you can make use of.

using this card for three years now cool points- just above 7 % rewards if annual fee taken into consideration not so cool points – 1.obligation to spend 4 Lakhs on a not so acceptable card 2.rewards of 34000rs Taj vouchers make you think and spend more on a lavish vacation = more expenses I am planning to get rid of this card when it approches renewal

Amex is back with the same old trick now !

Please mention this very clearly, those who are using the referral links, ensure that, they need to provide the same address as that of Aadhar. They pull out the address from Digi Locker.

If different address, then they take this as an opportunity to reject it, and advise the user to re-apply again.

Funny thing is, when they again apply, it will state ” After careful consideration, we are sorry to let you know that we will not be able to approve your application ”

This is the exact wordings they will get.

Then, after a cooling period of 30-45 days, Amex’s different sourcing team would contact these people and approve the card

This was those agents get their internal referral benefits, then fees , and then avoid giving refferal bonus to us (8000 points) .

I know that you (even me) a bug fan of Amex, but this is the bitter truth on how Amex India behave unprofessionally in India. They will find a small mistake to reject the application and contact those rejected ones later and approve the same application with same documents which was submitted earlier! Shame on Amex India.

I have experienced this for 6 friends earlier and even today same thing happened with another friend, will wait for another 3 months and see if they will contact him and approve the application, then I will sue them up 🙂

Thanks for sharing it Arun. Will update accordingly.

I’m aware that they were using this follow up system excessively in the past but now without the proof I doubt if they can still do it. But yes, very useful info for those who need smooth & fast approval apart from the additional rewards.

Hey Sid, i have been using CC from last 3 years and my highest limit is 5L. Credit score is good having no negative remarks. But the problem is I have started working 3 months ago and my package is 4LPA😅. Can I apply for this card?

Hey Siddharth, You are amazing! Thank you for such amazing reviews and offers that you bring about. I have 2 questions- 1. Does AMEX allow us to hold multiple cards of AMEX? As in, if I take travel card now, tomorrow AMEX MRCC offers Lifetime free, I can opt for that as well while holding Travel card? 2. I am a HNI based on my income as of now for HDFC(not a salary account though). I have recently opened bank account with them. I don’t have any cards with them, how do I get LTF offers on cards with them?

1 – Yes. With Amex, you can hold multiple cards and lower variant will be free for you. So if you have plat travel and MRCC both, MRCC will be free. 2- Chase your RM .

My RM doesn’t try at all. All he does is goes by bank policy. He says I cannot get offer on DCB as LTF, I cannot have 2 credit cards with HDFC in future as there is no policy. He’s not ready to believe that people have gotten these things. I am not sure what to do really, seems my RM is worthless

Change your account to different hdfc branch.

State reason “not happy with RM or particular Branch services, so moving a/c to other Branch” (another area/town/city)

I have done this, but not for credit cards. (Got enough sorry calls from RM and BM and got things done)

I don’t want different branch RM to also do the same. How do we make sure that my new branch and RM do have powers to make it happen?

I have got an offer for upgrade but no renewal fee waiver and with my 2-3lakh a year spend on MRCC, i don’t think upgrade is good for me. Since I use IDFC first select card more now because of it’s straight forward rewards and generous lounge access, and Amazon pay card for amazon purchases, even MRCC 1.5lakh spend to waive renewal fee is sometimes hard to come by. Amex really need to add more benefits than removing them to keep their cards trendy.

Hi Sid, no post from u for long time now even when many new cards has been come out from different bank, Ur post and guidance was helpful all the time so request you to share ur views info abt new cards and/or other useful things abt existing cards. #flywithsid

Thanks Sid. Glad that I read your article. Got 60k points credited for past 3 years as well, thanks to you.

Keep sending great stuff!

Hi Sid, Are you sure we can transfer milestone rewards to a transfer partner like Marriott? The signup page mentions the following: 1. Spend Rs. 1.90 lacs in a Card membership year and get 15,000 Membership Rewards points redeemable for Flipkart vouchers or Pay With points option in Amex Travel Online worth Rs. 4,500

2. Spend Rs. 4 lacs in a Card membership year and additionally get 25,000 Membership Rewards points redeemable for Flipkart vouchers or Pay With Points option in Amex Travel Online worth Rs. 7,500.

Thanks, Pankaj

Very much doable.

I just logged into my account and have the following offer:

“Upgrade and unlock benefits worth ₹45,000. Get a ₹1,000* Amazon voucher and 10,000* Membership Rewards® Points as a special offer to upgrade. Additionally, enjoy benefits of ₹45,000* and more on your upgraded Card.”

Full fee of Rs.3500+GST to be paid and spends of 15000/- within 90 days of issuance

Which is better – your referral or the above

FYF (or) Pay fee & get equivalent benefits. It’s a personal choice I would say!

Please clarify how you get 0.5 and 1.0 on Cash Credit and Taj Vouchers, respectively. I think the rate has been revised downwards as cash credit seems to have been revised to 0.25 now. Even Amazon and Flipkart vouchers are at 0.25.

Dear @Siddhart and @Arun Murugan,

I think I have become a victim of their bait and switch tactic as well. 😐

I applied for Amex MRCC card using Siddharth’s link on 25th Nov 2022. The VKYC was done on the same day.

The girl who did my VKYC told me that, “the address that you have mentioned on the application form, is slightly different than the one that is there on your Aadhaar card”. I informed her that, “that is the case because the layout of the fields to input address is weird on the application form”. She asked me, “If you wanna use the address that is mentioned on the Aadhaar card?” I told her yes.

For Employment Verification, on the application form, they required my Work Email Address. I didnt provide that coz my company’s policy is very strict. We are not allowed to provide that. The VKYC girl told me that, i would have to upload my Salary Slips using the link that i received on my Email. I did that on 25th Nov itself, plus on 26th Nov, i uploaded my bank statement as well as a rep from customer service told me that i would have to do that as well, that the VKYC girl didnt mention.

Today is 4th Dec, its been almost 9 days and they havent completed my Employment Verification yet, even though i have provided all the documents that they asked for. Whenever i call them, they give me different email addresses. I have sent an Email asking for an update but i am yet to receive a response.

What should i do?

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Could you explain what you meant by “Note: On reaching milestones, you’ll only get 7,500 and 10,000 “bonus” MR points, you’ll then need to call support and ask them to credit remaining points into your account. Gets done in a minute.”

I already have MRCC applied from Sid’s referral link in Jan 2020 Am enjoying subsequent year reduced fee due to referral Am interested in Plat travel. My query is how can I get plat travel as FYF (as I have existing MRCC card). Can I call and apply directly or use fresh application from referral link ? Please advise .

Yes, Plat travel FYF is possible via above links. MRCC doesn’t affect this app.

do supplementary card holders het lounge access?

Sid, Will I get the Taj Experiences E-Gift Card worth Rs. 10,000 if I apply with your referral link. As I understand its a welcome offer and usually not given on FYF cards. Please clarify.

You’re right.

Is the 10k Taj Experiences E-Gift Card on 4 lakh spends every year or first year only?

Taj vouchers can be earned on 4L spends every year

Which card you recommend in terms of rewards MRCC or Travel Platinum?

Travel plat for spending of 4lac+ Mrcc for 1-2l spends

Sid, so on spending 4 lakhs on this card, we get in total 30,000 INR Taj vouchers (including the 10k milestone benefit one)?

Also, is there a limitation on number of Taj vouchers that can be used during a stay?

– Yes

– Not known to me but it’s better to stick to ~5 or less at a time whenever possible.

Hi Anirban, Thr is no limit on the number og vouchers that can be redeemed in one go. Once i have used 11 vouchers amounting to rupees 110000 in total.

It’s not a 8.5% return Siddharth, you’ve got to factor in the annual charges also.

Although a great card earlier i think it’s lost its Sheen in recent past

Still a great card I would say!

Most do get at least 50% off on renewal when one hits 4L spend, also there maybe spend challenges to get 100% waived off.

Ideally we’ve to look at only one fee at a time. But even in worst case we get a healthy ~7% which is great!

i JUST APPLIED FROM YOUR REFERRAL LINK BUT I GOT THIS MESSAGE. CAN YOU FIND OUT THE REASON ?

Thank you NILESH! for applying for the American Express® Platinum Travel Credit Card. Application Reference No. ***** After careful consideration, we are sorry to let you know that we will not be able to approve your application.

Nilesh, You’re trying to apply for a 3rd “credit Card” Amex issues only 2 Credit Cards & 1 Charge Card per person.

Before applying, I had already cancelled one card. Then I applied using your link. Now they are saying you have to wait 90 days before applying. They did not mention anything like this before I cancelled the card.

Hi Siddharth, I recently purchased health insurance via Amex and did get reward points for it. I guess no reward points are awarded for buying insurance from any other portals or vendor. Cheers!

As a supplementary card holder of the platinum reserve, can I apply for this in my own name without closing the reserve?

Insurance offer is rolled out today on my Travel card, 5 membership rewards per 100 spend, up to 10000 rewards.

But why would anyone go for it? 🙂

Even I received offer 5 MR for every 100 spent on insurance. Unfortunately I have paid all my insurance from other card. Too late.

Hey since how long is the system of Calling Up for Bonus rewards going on? As I have not called for the same at all.

Can I request them to credit the bonus rewards for last 3 years?

Hi Siddharth,

I am new to the credit card world and have to say it was an amazing review. To give you a background, I’m 30 and have an annual salary of 24LPA. My annual spending is around 2-4L, and on an avg, my monthly spending is ~20K. I wish to generate Reward points that can help me with free/cheap airline tickets or gift vouchers on Flipkart/Amazon.

I request you to tell me which card would be suitable for me, Amex MRCC/ Platinum Travel/Axis Magnus/ Axis Vistara Infinite/ Axis Atlas. Your recommendation would be much appreciated

The spends vis-a-vis your salary is quite low though that is a personal thing but you may want to look into it to optimise your usage of cards. Given the information AMEX MRCC should be your best bet !

Applied for Amex Plat Travel card via Apply Now link of this post on 21 Dec. Digilocker Aadhar verification done instantly. VKYC done within minutes. Received mail regarding approval of card on 22 Dec. Received card via Bluedart today on 25 Dec. This is some speed ! Thanks for the referral link Sid !

Has anyone with an AMEX Indian card been able to apply for an AMEX US card? would be interested to know if yes , how can it be done

You have an option in netbanking to transfer your card to another country although I haven’t tried it. Else, you can call Cc.

I received AMEX card in UK based on my Indian Platinum Travel card.

I got Amex card in Canada based on my Amex card in India.

Hey Sid. I’ve been using this card for 4 years now. Two quick points: 1) Reward after hitting 4L is not attractive. So, I use HDFC regalia after hitting 4L. But regalia has been downgraded so much in recent years that I’m thinking about getting some other secondary card. 2) I’ve never been offered Annual fee waiver despite high spends. Do you contact customer service and request for it?

I currently hold an MRCC card and upgraded to a platinum travel card. Do I have to pay the annual fee for both cards considering if not reaching the spending threshold?

Wondering if AMEX would come up with 22 rewards point offer around republic day time…

Mostly the taj hotel rates on thier website is inflated by 30 percent so actual value of 10k voucher is 7k only.

One trivial question, are emi transactions also considered in milestone. Ex., (30k – split as 10k for 3 months) will this be added as 30k in the milestone ?

Thanks Sid. Glad that I read your article. Got 90k points credited for past 4 years as well, thanks to you.

Great article thanks. Had a quick question. You’ve said that Fuel, insurance and utilities are excluded spends. I’m assuming these are just for base reward points. Or do they no count towards the 1.9L and 4 L milestones as well.

It will be counted for milestone targets.

Has anybody noticed that amazon on its app have stopped taking amex card , I tried booking flight and railway tickets and it didn’t showed my amex card and when manually put the cards details and it’s says this type of card is not accepted. Strange

better way is to buy Amazon voucher from amex gyftr

I have a smart earn cc and the platinum travel cc. I have earned reward points on both. Its not making sense to keep the smart earn card, if I close it, will I lost on points? is it worth keeping smart earn if I already have the platinum travel cc?

Which Rent payment app accepting this card..?

Housing.com, i was able to unlock my milestones with a few txn’s

Does rent get covered in utilities? Also are rental spends counted towards milestone benefits?

Hi Mukund, You cannot use Amex card for making rental payments. Even if you make the payment through any rental payments app, you wont get any RP’s as it gets counted under utilities.

Where do you guys spend on Amex cards to reach milestone… Now that Cred Education fee payment thru Amex is stopped

Is the 0.5 conversion on marriot and taj still there? Don’t see it anymore. They have changed it to 0.25? Can you confirm?

Hi Siddharth, I currently hold this card – Amex Platinum Travel. I have been getting upgrade intimation to the Platinum Reserve. Should i upgrade to the reserve or stick to the travel? On a separate note, I have chosen not to upgrade to Platinum Metal Charge as of now, maybe later.

Hi Sid, I transferred 60k points to marriot and then to UnitedMilage. Currently there is offer going on for every 60k points transfer we will get 10k miles extra. Current transfer ratio is 3:1. So total I got 30k miles. Is it good transfer or bad one?

Essentially that’s 2:1 and it’s indeed good value with United.

Hi brother, I have a question related to amex platinum travel supplementary card.

will the supplementary card holder get separate login details and can see the transactions made by him/her and be able to pay outstanding on his/her card? Or only primary card holder can see the transactions made by supplementary card and only primary card holder has option to pay the outstanding?

Will the supplementary card holder get separate login details and can see the transactions made by him/her and be able to pay outstanding on his/her card? – Yes

has anyone got the complete fee waiver on amex platinum, i got complete waiver on MRCC

if we don’t get the complete waiver, then the card is too costly and no point in upgrading

I called Amex today and spoke to their customer care about the best way to utilize points, and they said either Flipkart vouchers or Taj vouchers. I asked if there’s any other hotels, they said no. So I’m confused about the Marriott thing now.

Marriott comes under “points transfer” and not as vouchers.

Also, the rewards section on the app shows, only Taj and shows the conversion rate as Rs 250 for every 1000 points, which is vastly different from this article. Am I the outlier, or is this the standard now?

Conversion rate is correct as you mentioned. However, if you go for Taj vouchers you will get 18k/24k gold under Rewards Redemption option.

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Amex membership rewards: guide 2024.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

American Express Membership Rewards is a flexible rewards currency offered by many of the top Amex credit cards. The program works similarly to the Capital One Miles program and Chase Ultimate Rewards . Cardmembers can earn points by signing up for the right Amex credit card and using it for spending, after which they can redeem their rewards for flexible options like gift cards, statement credits, travel, and transfers to Amex airline and hotel partners.

That said, rewards in this program can vary in value depending on how you redeem them. How much you earn in Amex Membership Rewards points for purchases also depends on the card you have. This guide will explain how the Amex Membership Rewards program works, which cards offer this type of rewards currency, and how to maximize points once they're safe in your account.

How to earn Amex Membership Rewards points

Earning Membership Rewards points requires you to have a credit card from this issuer, but not just any card.

The fact is, not all American Express credit cards earn Membership Rewards points, and many offer cash back or other types of rewards instead. With that in mind, you'll want to be selective about the Amex card you sign up for if you want to earn flexible rewards with this card issuer.

Cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards points

Here's a rundown of the top Amex credit cards that earn Membership Rewards points at the moment:

Earning Amex Membership Rewards with a credit card is easy since you earn points on all purchases charged to your card, including miscellaneous spending, bills, gas, groceries, and more. That said, there are other ways to earn points in this program with an Amex credit card as well:

Amex Offers

Amex Offers is a promotion available to all Amex credit cards that lets users get cash back or bonus Amex Membership Rewards points for specific purchases. Cardholders can add these offers to their cards within the Amex app or their online account management page. They just have to meet the terms and conditions of the offer to earn the bonus.

Note that terms vary for these offers and that some offers come with a statement credit to your card instead of Amex Membership Rewards points. Also be aware that offers change all the time, and that each one has a firm expiration date.

While Amex doesn't have a shopping portal of its own for you to earn points in, you can maximize rewards with the help of the Rakuten shopping portal. While this portal normally awards consumers with cash back when they make eligible purchases, cardholders with an eligible Amex credit card can opt to earn Membership Rewards points instead.

Note that earning 1% cash back through Rakuten on eligible purchases translates into earning one Membership Rewards points per dollar spent if you opt to earn this flexible currency.

Refer-a-friend

Amex cardholders who refer friends to their favorite rewards card earn cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points for each friend who signs up. For example, someone with the American Express® Business Gold Card can earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points for each referral, up to a maximum of 100,000 additional points per calendar year.

How to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points

There are numerous ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points, although some can be significantly more lucrative than others. Ultimately, redeeming for travel tends to give cardholders the best bang for their buck. Here's a rundown of all the ways you can use these points:

Book travel through Amex

If you want to redeem points for travel with minimal hassle or research involved, you can redeem your rewards directly for airfare, hotels and more through amextravel.com. Note that you'll get 1 cent per point in value when you redeem for flights, but you'll only get 0.7 cents per point if you use the portal to redeem points for hotels, cruises, or car rentals.

Transfer points to airline and hotel partners

You can also transfer points to Amex airline and hotel partners, which are numerous through this program. Most point transfers happen at a 1:1 ratio, and popular options include the Delta SkyMiles program, Air France (Flying Blue), Choice Privileges, JetBlue, Hilton Honors, and more.

Be aware that transferring points to airlines and hotels is always one way, so you cannot transfer them back to your Amex account after the fact. That said, you can often get considerably higher values for point transfers than you can elsewhere. In fact, Amex Membership Rewards points can easily be worth 2 cents each or more when utilized for a premium travel redemption with a partner.

Redeem for statement credits

Redeeming points for statement credits through Amex is also a possibility, although you'll only get 0.6 cents per point with this option.

Book fine hotels and resorts

Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts is a collection of high-end properties that offer additional benefits for eligible bookings, such as early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades, daily breakfast for two and more. Cardholders with eligible Amex cards can use points for these bookings and get 1 cent per Amex point redeemed.

Shop with points

You can also use your point for a shopping spree with Amex, but we wouldn't recommend it. You'll only get 0.5 cents per point if you go this route.

Redeem for gift cards

You can also redeem your rewards for gift cards to various merchants, restaurants, travel brands, and more. However, the value of this option varies dramatically. Where some gift cards let you redeem points at a rate of 1 cent each, other gift card redemptions come with a value of 0.5 cents per point.

Gift card options can change over time, but they often include a variety of brands such as Airbnb, Olive Garden, Uber, Neiman Marcus, and Nike, among others.

How to maximize Amex Membership Rewards points

You can accumulate Amex Membership Rewards points on both the earning side and the redemption side of the equation, but you should try to be strategic in doing so. Here's how you can get the most of your rewards upfront and later on when you redeem:

Pair several Amex credit cards

American Express lets you have multiple Membership Rewards cards and pool all points in one account. This allows consumers to earn multiple welcome offers over time, as well as pair up cards that have unique earning structures they can maximize.

For example, many people opt for the Amex trifecta , which includes the card_name , the card_name , and the card_name . This combination of Amex cards lets users maximize earnings on dining, U.S. supermarket spending and travel, and all while users earn Membership Rewards points for their business spending with no annual fee.

Many people also pair a premium Amex credit card with the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, which is the only Amex card for consumers that earns Membership Rewards points with no annual fee required.

Transfer points to partners before you redeem

When you go to redeem your points, you should know that you'll almost always get more value for travel when you transfer to an airline partner instead of using points to book the same flight through amextravel.com. You'll only get 1 cent per point in value if you redeem Amex points for flights through the Amex portal, yet the value you get with an airline partner can be twice that or more.

Consider this example:

With the Air France / Flying Blue program, an Amex transfer partner, we found round-trip business class flights from Chicago (ORD) to Rome (FCO) for 61,000 miles one way or 122,000 miles round-trip. Total airline taxes and fees for this redemption came in at $492.25, which makes this deal pretty stellar for a round-trip international business class flight in a lie-flat seat.

From there, we looked for the exact same flight in the same cabin through the Amex travel portal for the exact same dates (March 12 to March 20, 2024). Crazy enough, this flight would set you back 324,985 Amex Membership Rewards points or $3,249.85 in cash if you booked through Amex.

Obviously, it makes a lot more sense to transfer 122,000 miles from Amex to Air France before making this booking, right? This is even true after you account for the $492.25 in airline taxes and fees you would have to pay.

Also note that you're getting an outsized redemption value for this premium partner redemption. When you subtract the $492.25 in airline taxes and fees from the cash price of this round-trip flight ($3,249.85) and consider how many miles you have to transfer to make this booking (122,0000), you're getting a little over 2.2 cents per mile in value.

Full list of Amex Membership rewards travel partners

American Express has more transfer partners than any other credit card rewards program and options include both domestic and international airlines along with three major hotel brands. The chart below shows all Amex transfer partners and their current transfer ratios.

How much are Amex Membership Rewards points worth?

Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 0.5 cents each at the bare minimum, but they can be worth well over 2 cents each if you redeem them for premium airfare with a transfer partner. Other transfer-partner values for rewards can vary widely, so make sure to compare the cost of booking travel through Amex with points to how many points you would need to book travel with a partner instead.

TIME Stamp: Amex Membership Rewards points are worth most for travel

For the most part, Amex points are most valuable when you redeem them for travel with partners. However, booking airfare through the Amex portal isn't a bad deal, either. That said, you'll probably want to steer clear of redeeming rewards for statement credits or merchandise bought through Amex. You'll get a lot less value for your points that way, which defeats the purpose of earning them in the first place.

Also be aware that some other flexible programs let you get more bang for your buck for non-travel redemptions if you want that flexibility. For example, both Capital One Miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards let you redeem for gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point, and Chase Ultimate Rewards lets you redeem for statement credits at the same redemption value.

For rates and fees of the card_name , please visit this URL .

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Which are the best amex credit cards.

The best Amex credit cards earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash back, but the right card for you can depend on how you spend. Popular cards include the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and the card_name for consumers. The card_name is also popular for frequent travelers who want to travel in luxury with plenty of perks.

How much are 50,000 Membership Rewards points worth?

The value of 50,000 Membership Rewards points varies based on how you redeem them. These points can be worth $500 in airfare through amextravel.com, yet they can be worth $1,000 or more if transferred to a partner for a premium redemption.

Do all American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points?

Some Amex credit cards earn different types of rewards, including cash back, airline miles, or hotel points. Make sure to compare all rewards cards from this issuer and others so you know which rewards you'll earn and how you can use them.

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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The best ways to travel to Europe using points and miles

Editor's Note

Europe is a popular option for award travelers thanks to its rich history, diverse cultures, excellent beaches and gourmet cuisine. However, with new routes, mileage devaluations and airline partnerships, keeping track of the top ways to fly to Europe with miles can be challenging. Still, there are excellent travel options for your credit card points.

Regardless of your budget for your next trip, this guide will help ensure that you can obtain great value from your point redemptions for your European vacation with proper planning.

Related: Hotels sold out for the Paris Olympics? Here's where to stay instead

First class

For the ultimate way to travel to Europe in style and comfort, here are our tips for booking first-class seats with points and miles.

Lufthansa's first-class product is one of the best in the sky, offering a fantastic onboard experience, including caviar, canapes and fine wines. If you're traveling from Frankfurt Airport (FRA), you can access Lufthansas's special first-class terminal; it has private customs and immigration facilities, a top-tier lounge and a chauffeur who will take you from the terminal directly to the tarmac next to your plane.

Unfortunately, Lufthansa's first class is also known for being one of the hardest airline tickets to purchase with points. Lufthansa generally only opens up award availability for first-class tickets to partner airlines around 14 days (or less) before departure; in most cases, it will likely only become available a few days before departure. Because Lufthansa only operates this cabin on some aircraft (Boeing 747-8s, Airbus A380s and a handful of A340s), first-class redemptions can be scarce.

The airline operates a variety of these aircraft on routes between the U.S. and Germany:

• Between FRA and the following airports: Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Miami International Airport (MIA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.
• Between Munich Airport (MUC) and the following airports: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LAX, MIA and EWR

Lufthansa's new Allegris first-class seat should commence flying on select Airbus A350 aircraft later this year.

Redemptions are a great value if you can find them last minute. You can use the following partner miles to book it:

• Avianca LifeMiles : You'll need 87,000 miles and low taxes and fees of only $30.60 for a flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt. Avianca LifeMiles is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards , Capital One miles , Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy .
• United Airlines MileagePlus : Expect to redeem 140,000 miles and spend about $140 in taxes and fees for a flight from Newark to Munich. United MileagePlus is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards , Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
• Air Canada Aeroplan : Plan on needing 90,000 miles from the West Coast or 100,000 miles from the Midwest and East Coast, plus around $50 in taxes and fees, for a flight to Germany; taxes and fees for a flight from Europe to the U.S. will cost less than $200. Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles and Marriott Bonvoy.

British Airways

While British Airways' first-class product doesn't have as many bells and whistles as Lufthansa's, booking with points and miles is much easier.

British Airways operates first class on most of its transatlantic fleet, including the Airbus A380, the Boeing 787-10 and most Boeing 777s. If you are flying from London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) in first class, the Concorde Room is one of the best airport lounges in Europe.

First class can be easy to find on flights from JFK and EWR, where the airline operates more than a dozen combined services each day. However, it can be harder to find on routes with only one or two daily services, like ones from MIA and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

First-class flights on British Airways to London start from 68,000 British Airways Executive Club Avios on off-peak dates for shorter flights from the East Coast, 80,000 Avios on peak dates for shorter flights from the East Coast, 85,000 Avios on off-peak for longer flights (such as those from California) and 100,000 Avios on peak dates for longer flights, including those from the West Coast.

Unfortunately, British Airways imposes large fuel surcharges that total around $800 each way in first class, as well as airport fees and government taxes. As first-class flights are excluded from British Airways' Reward Flight Saver option , paying more Avios cannot reduce these surcharges.

American Airlines AAdvantage award rates are cheaper for first-class British Airways tickets to the West Coast, as American uses a region-based award chart rather than a distance-based award chart. Regardless of the origin in the U.S. or date of travel, American Airlines currently charges 85,000 AAdvantage miles plus taxes and fees for these award flights, so for longer flights to Europe, consider AAdvantage instead. You can also add a short-haul connecting flight beyond London to mainland Europe for no extra cost when using American miles, whereas British Airways charges extra. Keep in mind, a short flight with British Airways will be in the carrier's Club Europe cabin , which is nothing like first class.

Just remember that flights departing from the United Kingdom will face even higher costs thanks to the country's Air Passenger Duty. That's why you should avoid making London the final stop on your European adventure.

Related: Still better than business class: A review of British Airways First on the 777 from London to Washington

Business class

Want a lie-flat bed for an overnight flight that arrives in Europe so you can feel rested and refreshed? Here are our business-class redemption recommendations.

One redemption for Europe trips that has remained strong over the years is Iberia. Iberia operates flights from ORD, IAD, BOS, LAX, MIA, JFK, SFO and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to its main hub at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD).

Iberia's Airbus A330-200, A330-300 and A350-900 aircraft operate transatlantic flights, each offering a 1-2-1 business-class configuration. While the Airbus A350 offers Iberia's newest and best business-class product (including sliding doors and an 18.5-inch, 4k inflight entertainment screen), all three aircraft provide excellent points value on transatlantic flights.

Related: A review of Iberia's new business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City

Iberia prices its flights based on distance and whether your travel falls into peak or off-peak dates. Four of its departure gateways offer spectacular value. If you depart from JFK, BOS, IAD or ORD, here's what you'll pay for one-way business-class flights:

• Off-peak dates: 34,000 Avios and about $120 in fees
• Peak dates: 50,000 Avios and about $120 in fees

Tickets on Iberia flights longer than 4,000 miles (any flights departing from Miami or cities west of Chicago) are pricier. However, an off-peak fare to Madrid from these destinations will cost 42,500 Avios, which is still an excellent deal.

Air France-KLM

Another one of the industry's great sweet spots to Europe is booking flights on Air France or KLM through their Flying Blue program . While flights are priced dynamically, they start from just 50,000 miles from anywhere in North America to anywhere in Europe, a terrific deal with both carriers operating great products.

Related: Flying Blue standardizes prices of saver-level redemptions to Europe

Availability during the winter months is usually excellent. During summer, seats at these prices come and go often in waves. Availability from New York is usually fairly easy to find if you are flexible, as there are numerous daily flights, while seats from the West Coast can be harder to find.

Also, remember to keep an eye out for Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards , where select routes are discounted by 25%, making the award prices even cheaper.

Related: Private suites and high-tech touches: What it's like flying Air France's new business class

Premium economy

Premium economy provides a sensible midway point with more space and comfort than economy without breaking the bank.

Just like with its attractive business-class redemption pricing, Iberia's business-class cabin rates for flights to Spain are also very reasonable.

If you don't have enough miles to stretch for a flat bed in business class for overnight flights to Europe, consider premium economy instead. It offers a wider seat, a smaller, more intimate cabin, more legroom and recline, and elevated food, beverages and bedding than the economy-class cabin.

Passengers also receive an amenity kit and noise-canceling headphones.

From Dallas, Miami and the West Coast, expect to pay 31,750 Avios for off-peak travel or 43,750 Avios for peak season flights. Tickets from Chicago and the East Coast are slightly cheaper. During off-peak times, you can purchase a premium economy ticket for just 25,500 Avios from New York, Boston and D.C. to Madrid; on peak dates, expect to redeem 35,000 Avios.

Related: 7 things that surprised me on my first premium economy flight

Both Air France and KLM offer premium economy class on most transatlantic routes. While Air France's product has some room for improvement, TPG rates KLM's premium economy as one of the world's best. It provides an elevated experience above economy class, including lobster for dinner on select routes, which is almost unheard of in premium economy.

While Flying Blue prices its awards dynamically, the program has standardized saver-level pricing for all one-way flights between the U.S. and Europe, regardless of origin or destination. This means you can connect at no extra cost from just 35,000 miles in premium economy on Air France or KLM.

Related: Is KLM premium economy worth it on the 787 Dreamliner?

Do you just want the cheapest price to fly to Europe? Here are our economy recommendations for redeeming points and miles for flights to Europe.

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic

You can book Virgin Atlantic- or Delta-operated economy-class flights to Europe with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points starting at just 10,000 points each way from the East Coast on off-peak dates. Peak dates require just 15,000 points.

Flights from other parts of the U.S. start at just 12,500 points on off-peak dates and 20,000 points on peak dates. Peak date flights from California cost 25,000 Virgin points each way, which is not as great of a redemption.

Admittedly, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club charges more fees, taxes and surcharges than Delta SkyMiles . However, Delta's loyalty program may charge at least 40,000 miles each way from the U.S. to the U.K. in economy, so the miles you're saving can be worth a few hundred dollars.

Also look out for Virgin's redemption discount offers, where, from time to time, the points required are discounted by as much as 50%. This makes it possible to score a flight to London for just 5,000 points plus fees and taxes.

Related: A review of Delta Air Lines economy on the Boeing 767 from London to New York

If you want to fly to Ireland in economy class, redeeming Avios through the Aer Lingus Aer Club program or British Airways Executive Club is a terrific deal.

Aer Lingus routes from the northeast U.S. to Ireland require just 13,000 Avios each way on off-peak dates. This includes flights from JFK, BOS, ORD, IAD and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Fees, taxes and surcharges are reasonable, too, and should be no more than $100. However, peak travel dates require 20,000 Avios each way.

Longer flights from Florida, Washington (specifically, Seattle) and California to Ireland cost a slightly higher 16,250 Avios each way on off-peak dates or 25,000 Avios on peak dates. This could still be a good deal if nonstop cash fares are otherwise expensive.

Related: Airlines you can book using Avios: How to maximize your points

How to earn points and miles to book flights to Europe

The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses with points and miles that you can transfer to some or all of the above programs to book flights to Europe:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Bottom line

Redeeming points for travel to Europe can be confusing. With so many airlines flying on seemingly endless route combinations across the Atlantic, planning a European getaway with miles can quickly overwhelm. If you plan to visit Europe in the summer, booking as early as possible is best to maximize your chance of finding the right flight at the right price.

However, this guide will help you save time (and points or miles) when finding the best flight options for your hop across the pond. Be sure to regularly check out TPG, as we regularly share last-minute award deals from the U.S. to Europe, Asia and beyond.

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You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back.

When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global, inclusive and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other with the utmost integrity. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.

At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success.

Flexibility to be and deliver your best

You’ll be part of a winning team that embraces collaboration, innovative ​thinking, and respects each colleague and what they contribute.

Diverse and inclusive teams, empowered voices​

Our differences are what shape the world, and we’re committed to our colleagues feeling seen, heard, and like they belong.

Grow your career, learn and lead every day

As you build your skills and develop as a leader, you’ll have the backing you need to grow your career and shape your future.

Supporting your physical, financial, and mental well-being

We back our colleagues with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being at each stage of life.

Leading the way with opportunities all around the world

Team Amex is a diverse global community committed to working together with purpose and embracing each other’s creativity, innovative thinking, and new ideas. With more than 60,000 colleagues spread across over 110 countries all around the world—we’ve got your back wherever you are.

Career areas at American Express

Whether you’re looking for your very first job or ready to take your next big step, let’s grow your career together.

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Sales & Relationship Management

Build rewarding customer relationships with the powerful backing of an iconic brand.

Analytics & Risk Management

Unleash your analytical skills to define the future of how we serve our customers.

Customer Service

Go above and beyond at a company that sets the standard for customer-first service.

Make your mark on one of the most iconic global brands.

Create products and experiences that enhance our customers’ lives at every touchpoint.

Shape the strategic decisions that lead our business forward.

Architect, code and ship software that makes us an essential part of our customers’ digital lives.

Travel & Lifestyle Customer Service

Set the standard for world-class service by curating unique travel and lifestyle experiences.

Corporate Functions

Provide the critical support that drives our business forward.

Learn more about working at American Express

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Student Opportunities