Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.
If you truly want to maximize your miles, periodic transfer bonuses can offer lucrative opportunities for fantastic points redemptions. You can sometimes get up to 50% more value from your points by transferring them to a specific airline or hotel partner during one of these bonuses.
To help make it easier for you to track these offers, we’ve compiled all of the current transfer bonuses for the major transferable rewards programs in this article. Right now, there are three transfer bonuses available.
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Let’s look at the offerings. Just note that transfer bonuses are sometimes targeted, so not all bonuses may be available to you.
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American Express Membership Rewards
American Express is running two transfer bonuses through the end of October.
Partner program | Transfer bonus | Transfer ratio | End date | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Choice Privileges | 25% | 1:1.25 | Oct. 31, 2022. | Good for booking award nights in Japan and Northern Europe. |
Marriott Bonvoy | 20% | 1:1.2 | Oct. 31, 2022. | Only worthwhile for topping up your account for a specific redemption. |
Cards that earn Amex points
To take advantage of American Express transfer bonuses, you’ll need Membership Rewards points. And, if you’re looking to earn Membership Rewards points, the following Amex cards could be useful additions to your wallet:
Card | Welcome offer | Bonus category earning rates | Annual fee |
---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express | 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply. | 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (earn 5 points per dollar on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel |
$695 (see rates & fees) |
American Express® Gold Card | 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply. | 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar) and on dining at restaurants
3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel |
$250 (see rates and fees) |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership. Terms apply | 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more; on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar) |
$695 (rates and fees) |
You may even be targeted for a higher welcome offer (recently as high as 125,000 points) through the CardMatch tool. Keep in mind that CardMatch offers are subject to change at any time.
Other ways to earn Amex points
You can also earn extra Membership Rewards when you enroll in Amex Offers and by shopping with Rakuten. You can even earn Amex points when buying or selling a home with RBN. Based on TPG valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each.
Most Membership Rewards transfer instantly to most programs.
Keeping track of transfer partners can feel like waiting in airport security. Fast-track your way to smarter points transfers with the free TPG App!
Related: Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards points for maximum value
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase is offering one transfer bonus through mid-November.
Cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards
If you want to utilize future bonus offers with Chase, the following cards could make good additions to your wallet.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn 3 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn 3 points per dollar on dining purchases and select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit) and 2 points per dollar on all other travel.
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.
Other ways to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points
However, if you have one (or more) of the above cards, you can combine your Ultimate Rewards points into a single account. Then, you can effectively convert the cash-back earnings on the following cards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points:
- Chase Freedom Flex: $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Finally, earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter you activate, 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining and 3% at drugstores and 1% back on other eligible purchases.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: Earn an additional 1.5% on all categories on up to $20,000 spent in the first year. That’s a value of up to $300 cash back. Earn 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 4.5% on dining at restaurants, 4.5% at drugstores and 3% on other eligible purchases.
- Ink Business Cash Credit Card: $750 bonus after spending $7,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 5% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and telecommunications providers each account anniversary year. And earn 2% cash back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and gas stations each account anniversary year.
- Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card: $750 bonus after spending $7,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earn 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
To truly maximize your earnings with Chase, consider making the Chase trifecta (or quartet) a part of your card strategy. According to TPG valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2 cents each when maximized with travel partners. Most Ultimate Rewards transfers will process instantly.
Related: How to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Capital One Venture Miles
You can take advantage of one Capital One transfer bonus through the end of October.
How to earn Capital One miles
If you want to utilize a future transfer bonus offer, the following Capital One cards could make good additions to your wallet:
TPG’s valuations peg the value of Capital One miles at 1.85 cents each. For more details, check out our guide to all of the Capital One transfer partners, as well as how to transfer Capital One miles to airline partners. Finally, note that most transfers from Capital One will process instantly.
Related: Best ways to maximize Capital One miles
Citi ThankYou Rewards
Citi is not offering any transfer bonuses right now. We’ll update this post when new offers become available.
How to earn Citi ThankYou points
If you don’t want to miss out on a future bonus offer, these Citi credit cards could make useful additions to your wallet:
- Citi Premier® Card: Earn 80,000 ThankYou bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. You’ll earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations, as well as 1 ThankYou point per dollar on all other purchases.
- Citi Rewards+® Card: Earn 20,000 ThankYou bonus points after you spend $1,500 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening. For a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou points per dollar at restaurants up to $6,000 in the first 12 months; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter. Earn 2 ThankYou points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1 point per dollar after that. Earn 1 ThankYou point per dollar on all other purchases. Finally, the points earned on each purchase are rounded up to the nearest 10 points. However, note that you must pair this card with a premium Citi ThankYou card such as the Citi Premier to access a full-fledged, transferable ThankYou points account.
Based on TPG’s valuations, Citi ThankYou points are worth about 1.7 cents each. However, note that some Citi transfers will not process instantly. So, be sure to factor in the transfer time if you’re trying to book an award with scarce availability.
Related: Is Citi ThankYou Rewards the most underappreciated and misunderstood program?
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott is not running any transfer bonuses at this time.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points
If you’re looking to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points, the following Marriott Bonvoy cards may be of interest:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership. However, this card has an annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees). Terms apply.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership. ($250 annual fee, see rates and fees).
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you use your new card to make $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership. This card has an annual fee of $125 (see rates and fees).
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
Be sure to review our tests of Marriott transfer times. After all, some airlines take a few days (or even weeks) to receive the miles.
Related: How to redeem points with the Marriott Bonvoy program
Should you transfer points now?
We only recommend transferring points if you have a short-term plan to use them. With the travel industry turning to rewards programs to drum up cash, promotions like these could spell out devaluations in the future. Transfers are irreversible, so you don’t want to be stuck with thousands of points in a program you have little use for.
If you don’t have a specific redemption in mind but still want to earn miles, you’re likely better off earning points and miles through credit card welcome bonuses and everyday spending.
Bottom line
Did we miss any? Feel free to let us know by emailing tips@thepointsguy.com.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, please click here.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh, Katie Genter, Joseph Hostetler, Summer Hull, Liz Hund, Jason Stauffer and Kyle Olsen.