AMEX Transfer Partners
Transferring your American Express Membership Rewards (MR) points to airline and hotel partners is often the best way to maximize their value.
A major transfer partner devaluation occurred on August 1, 2025.
| Airline | Old Ratio | New Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 5 MR : 4 Miles | 2 MR : 1 Mile |
| Etihad | 5 MR : 4 Miles | 3 MR : 2 Miles |
| Cathay Pacific | 5 MR : 4 Miles | 3 MR : 2 Miles |
| Qatar Airways | 5 MR : 4 Avios | 3 MR : 2 Miles |
Lufthansa Miles & More: There is NO DIRECT TRANSFER from American Express Membership Rewards to Lufthansa Miles & More. The only way to transfer points is indirectly via Payback. The effective ratio is 3 MR Points = 1 Payback Point, and then 1 Payback Point = 1 M&M Mile, making the final effective ratio 3 MR -> 1 M&M Mile. It is critical to only transfer from Payback to M&M during a 20-30% bonus promotion.
✈️ Airline Partners
Key Airline Transfer Partners (Germany, October 2025)
Best Value Partners: British Airways (5:4), Singapore KrisFlyer (3:2), and Flying Blue (5:4) offer good value and weren’t affected by the August 2025 devaluation. Avoid heavily devalued Middle Eastern carriers.
| Airline Partner | Ratio (MR:Partner) | Min. Transfer | Est. Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) | 3 MR : 2 Miles | 1,000 MR | ~3 business days |
| British Airways Executive Club | 5 MR : 4 Avios | 1,000 MR | ~5 business days |
| Club Iberia Plus | 5 MR : 4 Avios | 1,000 MR | Up to 1 bus. day |
| Delta SkyMiles | 3 MR : 2 Miles | 3,000 MR | ~5 business days |
| Emirates Skywards | 2 MR : 1 Mile | 1,000 MR | Up to 1 bus. day |
| Etihad Guest | 3 MR : 2 Miles | 1,000 MR | ~5 business days |
| Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) | 5 MR : 4 Miles | 625 MR | Up to 1 bus. day |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 3 MR : 2 Miles | 1,000 MR | ~7 business days |
| SAS EuroBonus | 5 MR : 4 Points | 1,000 MR | ~5 business days |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 3 MR : 2 Miles | 1,500 MR | ~15 business days |