Ready to Take to the Skies? Here's How Many American Express Points You'll Need to Fly!
Have you been diligently racking up American Express Membership Rewards® points, dreaming of the day you can trade them in for a free flight? Well, you're in the right place! This guide will demystify the process and help you understand exactly how many points it takes to get you from point A to point B. The answer, as you'll soon discover, is not as simple as a single number. Instead, it's a strategic game of choosing the right way to redeem your points for maximum value. Let's get started on your journey to award travel!
Step 1: Understand the Two Main Redemption Methods
Before you can calculate anything, you need to understand the fundamental difference in how you can use your Amex points for flights. This is the single most important decision you'll make, as it directly impacts the value you get from every single point.
Sub-heading: Redemption Method A - Booking through the Amex Travel Portal
This is often the most straightforward approach. You log into your American Express account, navigate to the travel portal, and book flights just like you would on any other travel website.
How it works: You use your points as a form of payment, with a fixed value. For flights, your points are typically worth 1 cent per point.
The Math: A $300 flight would cost you 30,000 points. A $500 flight would be 50,000 points. It's a simple, predictable calculation.
The Catch: While it's easy, this method often offers the least value for your points. You're essentially using your points as cash, which means you're not taking advantage of the more lucrative redemption opportunities.
Sub-heading: Redemption Method B - Transferring to Airline Partners
This is where the magic happens and where you can unlock truly incredible value for your Amex points.
How it works: Instead of using your points directly on the Amex portal, you transfer them to one of American Express's many partner airline loyalty programs. Once the points are in that airline's program (as miles), you can book "award flights" with them.
The Math: This is where the calculation gets a bit more complex, but the rewards are well worth it. The number of miles required for a flight is determined by the airline's award chart, not the cash price of the ticket. A flight that might cost $1,000 in cash could only require 30,000 miles, making your points worth much more than 1 cent each.
The Catch: You need to have some flexibility with your travel dates and be willing to do a bit of research to find "award availability" on flights.
Step 2: Explore American Express's Airline Partners and Their Transfer Ratios
To successfully use Redemption Method B, you need to know which airlines are partners and what their transfer ratios are. The good news is that most Amex airline partners have a 1:1 transfer ratio, meaning 1,000 Amex points become 1,000 airline miles. However, there are a few exceptions, so it's always important to check.
Here's a list of some of American Express's most popular airline partners and their standard transfer ratios:
1:1 Transfer Ratio:
Aer Lingus AerClub
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
ANA Mileage Club
British Airways Executive Club (Avios)
Delta SkyMiles®
Emirates Skywards®
Etihad Guest
Iberia Plus (Avios)
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Other Transfer Ratios:
Aeromexico Rewards: 1,000 Amex points = 1,600 AeroMexico Rewards Points
JetBlue TrueBlue®: 250 Amex points = 200 TrueBlue points
Qantas Frequent Flyer: 500 Amex points = 500 Qantas Points
Step 3: Find the Best Award Flight Deal
This is the most crucial part of the process. It requires a bit of detective work and flexibility.
Sub-heading: A. Identify Your Destination and Desired Travel Dates
Start with a general idea of where you want to go. Do you have a specific city in mind, or are you flexible? The more flexible you are, the better your chances of finding a great deal.
Sub-heading: B. Check the Award Chart of the Relevant Airline Partners
Once you know where you're going, you need to figure out which airline partners can get you there. For example, if you want to go to Europe, you could check the award charts of Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic, or British Airways.
Pro-Tip: Don't just look at one airline. An award flight to Paris on Air France-KLM could be 50,000 miles, while a similar flight on a different partner might be 70,000 miles. Always compare!
Sub-heading: C. Use a Flight Search Tool
Many airlines have their own search tools on their websites. However, there are also third-party tools specifically designed for finding award flights, such as point.me or Award Hacker. These tools can save you a lot of time by searching across multiple airline partners at once.
Sub-heading: D. Check for Transfer Bonuses
American Express frequently offers transfer bonuses to its airline partners. For example, they might have a promotion where you get a 20% bonus on all points transferred to Virgin Atlantic. This means 50,000 Amex points become 60,000 Virgin Atlantic miles, instantly giving you a huge boost in value. These bonuses are a fantastic way to stretch your points even further, so keep an eye out for them!
Step 4: Transfer Your Points and Book the Flight
Once you've found the perfect award flight, it's time to act quickly.
Sub-heading: A. Link Your Accounts
If you haven't already, you'll need to link your Amex Membership Rewards account to the frequent flyer account of the airline you've chosen. This is a one-time step that you'll do through your Amex online account.
Sub-heading: B. Initiate the Transfer
Transfer the exact number of points you need to book the award flight. Be careful here! Most transfers are irreversible. Once you've moved the points, you can't get them back into your Amex account.
Important Note: Transfer times can vary. Some transfers are instant (like to Delta SkyMiles), while others might take a few days. Do not transfer your points until you have confirmed that the award flight is available and you're ready to book.
Sub-heading: C. Book Your Flight
As soon as the miles appear in your airline loyalty account, book the flight. Award availability can disappear fast, so you don't want to hesitate.
10 FAQ Questions to Help You Fly with Amex Points
How to find out how many Amex points I have?
You can easily check your Amex Membership Rewards point balance by logging into your account on the American Express website or through the Amex mobile app. The total points will be displayed prominently on your account dashboard.
How to get the best value for my Amex points on flights?
The absolute best way to get value is by transferring your points to an airline partner and booking an "award flight." This method often allows you to get 1.5 cents to 2.0 cents or more per point, compared to the 1.0 cent you get when booking through the Amex Travel portal.
How to find out which airlines are American Express partners?
You can find the full, up-to-date list of Amex airline and hotel partners directly on the American Express Membership Rewards website. Just look for the "Transfer Points" section.
How to find transfer bonuses for Amex points?
Amex transfer bonuses are often advertised on the Membership Rewards website, but you can also find them on popular travel blogs and websites that specialize in points and miles. Keep an eye on these sites as the bonuses can change frequently.
How to know if an award flight is available?
You need to search for award availability directly on the airline's website. For example, if you want to use Virgin Atlantic miles, you would search for a flight on their website and select the "Pay with miles" or "Award" option.
How to book a flight with a partner airline's miles?
First, transfer your Amex points to the partner airline. Once the miles are in your new account, log in to that airline's website and use their booking engine to search for and book an "award flight."
How to calculate the value of my Amex points?
The value is calculated by dividing the cash price of a flight by the number of points/miles it costs. For example, if a $500 flight costs 30,000 miles, you're getting about 1.67 cents per point ($500 / 30,000 = $0.0167).
How to avoid high taxes and fees on award flights?
Taxes and fees are a real consideration. Some airlines, like British Airways, are known for charging high surcharges on their award flights. To avoid this, look for partners like United or Air Canada, which generally have lower fees.
How to use a mix of points and cash for a flight?
Many airlines and the Amex Travel portal allow you to use a combination of points and cash to pay for a flight. This is a great option if you don't have enough points to cover the full cost.
How to transfer Amex points to a family member's frequent flyer account?
American Express generally does not allow you to transfer points to a frequent flyer account that is not in your name. However, some airline programs allow you to book a flight for someone else using your miles.
