So, you've accumulated a healthy stash of American Express Membership Rewards points, and you're dreaming of flying with American Airlines. Excellent choice! However, if you've already tried to find "American Airlines" in your Amex transfer partners list, you've likely noticed it's not there. Don't despair! This doesn't mean your Amex points are useless for American Airlines flights. It just means you need to be a little smarter about how you transfer them.
This lengthy guide will walk you through the proper step-by-step process, revealing the indirect but highly effective ways to leverage your Amex points for American Airlines flights. Let's dive in!
The Indirect Route: Why American Airlines Isn't a Direct Amex Partner
Before we get into the "how," let's quickly understand the "why." American Express Membership Rewards has a fantastic list of airline transfer partners, but American Airlines' own AAdvantage program is not one of them. This is because American Airlines has its primary credit card partnerships with other financial institutions (like Citi and Barclays).
However, American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld airline alliance. This is your golden ticket! Many of Amex's direct airline transfer partners are also members of the oneworld alliance, or have direct partnerships with American Airlines. This means you can transfer your Amex points to one of these partner airlines, and then use those miles to book American Airlines flights. Think of it as a strategic detour!
Step 1: Discover Your oneworld Alliance Gateway Partner
First things first, let's figure out which Amex transfer partner will get you to American Airlines! This is arguably the most crucial step, as selecting the right partner can significantly impact the value you get from your points.
Sub-heading: Identifying Key Amex Transfer Partners for American Airlines
The most common and valuable Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners for booking American Airlines flights are:
British Airways Executive Club (Avios): This is often the go-to choice for many. British Airways is a oneworld alliance member, meaning you can use Avios to book flights on American Airlines. Their award chart for short-haul flights can be particularly sweet.
Iberia Plus (Avios): Another oneworld partner that uses Avios. While sharing the same loyalty currency as British Airways, Iberia Plus can sometimes offer different award pricing, especially for flights to/from Europe. You can also transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: A strong oneworld partner based in Hong Kong. Asia Miles can be a great option for longer-haul American Airlines flights, particularly if you're looking for business or first-class redemptions.
Qantas Frequent Flyer: As another oneworld member, Qantas allows you to book American Airlines flights. It's often not the best value compared to Avios for shorter flights, but it can be useful in specific scenarios.
Etihad Guest: While Etihad is not part of oneworld, they do have a direct partnership with American Airlines. This can open up some unique redemption opportunities that might not be available through oneworld partners, though it requires checking their specific award chart for American Airlines.
Sub-heading: Researching Award Availability
Before you transfer a single point, it's absolutely vital to check for award availability on American Airlines flights using your chosen partner's website. Award space is limited and can disappear quickly.
For British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus: Go to the British Airways or Iberia website, log in to your account, and search for award flights. When searching, select "Redeem Avios" and look for your desired American Airlines route.
For Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: Log in to your Asia Miles account on the Cathay Pacific website and use their award search tool.
For Qantas Frequent Flyer: Access your Qantas account online and search for reward flights, making sure to include American Airlines in your search.
For Etihad Guest: You'll typically need to call Etihad Guest directly to book American Airlines award flights using Etihad Guest miles. This makes it a bit more cumbersome but can be worth it for certain premium redemptions.
Pro Tip: Be flexible with your travel dates and times! Award availability is often better on off-peak days or during non-peak seasons.
Step 2: Ensure Your Accounts Are Linked and Ready
Once you've identified a flight and confirmed award availability with your chosen Amex transfer partner, the next step is to prepare for the actual transfer.
Sub-heading: Creating a Loyalty Program Account
If you don't already have an account with the chosen airline partner (e.g., British Airways Executive Club), you'll need to create one. This is usually a straightforward process on their respective websites. Make sure the name on your loyalty account exactly matches the name on your American Express Membership Rewards account to avoid any transfer issues.
Sub-heading: Linking Your Amex Membership Rewards Account
Log in to your American Express online account: Go to the American Express website and log in to your Membership Rewards account.
Navigate to "Transfer Points": Look for the "Rewards & Benefits" section, then usually a "Transfer Points" or "Airline Partners" link.
Select your chosen airline partner: From the list of partners, select the airline you've chosen (e.g., British Airways Executive Club).
Link your loyalty account: You'll be prompted to enter your loyalty program account number. Double-check this number for accuracy. You may also need to verify your identity with your Amex card details and potentially a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered email or phone.
Confirm the link: American Express will confirm that your account has been successfully linked. This linkage usually only needs to be done once per partner.
Important Note: Transfers are typically irreversible. Once points are sent to an airline partner, you cannot transfer them back to your Amex Membership Rewards account.
Step 3: Initiate the Point Transfer
Now that your accounts are linked and you've found the perfect American Airlines award flight, it's time to transfer your hard-earned Amex points!
Sub-heading: Determining the Transfer Ratio
Most Amex airline transfer partners, including British Airways, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, and Etihad, transfer at a 1:1 ratio. This means 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points will become 1,000 airline miles/Avios. However, always confirm the transfer ratio on the Amex website before initiating the transfer, as ratios can occasionally change or vary by program.
Sub-heading: Inputting the Transfer Amount
Specify the number of points: On the Amex transfer page for your chosen partner, enter the number of Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer. Transfers usually occur in increments of 1,000 points.
Consider transfer bonuses: American Express sometimes offers transfer bonuses to specific airline partners. For example, you might see a "20% bonus when you transfer to British Airways Executive Club." If there's an active bonus, it's a fantastic way to stretch your points even further! Always check the "Promotions" section on the Amex Membership Rewards website for current offers.
Review and confirm: Carefully review all the details, including the number of points being transferred, the recipient loyalty program, and any applicable fees.
Sub-heading: Understanding Transfer Times and Fees
Transfer Time: While some transfers are instant, others can take a few business days. British Airways and Iberia Avios transfers are often quite fast (sometimes instant or within an hour), while others like Cathay Pacific can take 2-4 business days. Always factor in the estimated transfer time when planning your booking, especially if award space is limited.
Excise Tax Offset Fee (for U.S. airlines): When transferring points to a U.S.-based airline frequent flyer program (like Delta SkyMiles or JetBlue TrueBlue), American Express charges a small federal excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point (with a maximum fee of $99 per transaction). Since American Airlines isn't a direct partner, you'll generally avoid this fee by transferring to international partners like British Airways or Iberia.
Step 4: Book Your American Airlines Flight with Partner Miles
Once your Amex points have successfully landed in your chosen airline partner's loyalty account (e.g., as Avios in your British Airways Executive Club account), you're ready to book!
Sub-heading: Searching for Award Flights on the Partner Site
Log in to the partner's loyalty account: Go back to the website of the airline you transferred your points to (e.g., British Airways or Iberia).
Initiate an award flight search: Use their search engine to look for flights, ensuring you select the option to "redeem miles/Avios."
Specify American Airlines as the operating carrier (if needed): While some searches will automatically show oneworld partners, you might need to filter or specify American Airlines as the operating carrier for your desired route.
Select your flight: Choose the American Airlines flight that matches the award availability you found earlier.
Sub-heading: Completing the Booking and Paying Fees
Review the booking details: Confirm the flight dates, times, passenger names, and the number of miles/Avios required.
Pay taxes and fees: Even with award flights, you'll still be responsible for paying government taxes and carrier-imposed fees. These vary significantly by route, airline, and cabin class. British Airways is notorious for high fuel surcharges on some routes, so be prepared for potentially higher cash outlays, especially on long-haul flights in premium cabins.
Confirm your booking: Follow the prompts to finalize your booking. You'll receive a confirmation email with your American Airlines flight details and a PNR (Passenger Name Record).
Final Check: It's always a good idea to take the American Airlines PNR from your partner airline confirmation and input it directly on the American Airlines website (or app) to ensure the booking is visible and confirmed in their system.
Maximizing Your Value: Tips and Tricks
Short-Haul Sweet Spots (using Avios): British Airways and Iberia Avios are often fantastic for short-haul American Airlines flights. Their distance-based award chart can make flights of 650 miles or less incredibly cheap in terms of Avios.
Watch for Transfer Bonuses: As mentioned, Amex frequently offers transfer bonuses (e.g., 20% or 30% extra miles) to various airline partners. Timing your transfer with a bonus can significantly increase the value of your points.
Compare Partner Redemption Rates: Don't assume one partner is always best. For the same American Airlines flight, British Airways, Iberia, or Cathay Pacific might have different mileage requirements. Always check a few options if you have the flexibility.
Consider "Married Segments": Sometimes, award availability might appear for a connecting flight but not for individual segments. This is known as "married segments" and can impact your booking strategy.
Hold Award Space (if possible): Some airlines allow you to put award space on hold for a few days without transferring points. This is a great way to secure your desired flight while you wait for your Amex points to transfer. Check the specific partner's policy.
Understand Surcharges: Be aware of potential fuel surcharges and taxes. While award flights save you from the base fare, these additional costs can still be substantial, especially for international business or first-class tickets.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 "How to" FAQ questions with quick answers related to transferring Amex points to American Airlines:
How to check if American Airlines is a direct Amex transfer partner? American Airlines AAdvantage is not a direct transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards. You need to use an indirect method via their alliance partners.
How to find a list of Amex's airline transfer partners? You can find the most up-to-date list of Amex Membership Rewards airline transfer partners by logging into your American Express online account and navigating to the "Transfer Points" section within the Membership Rewards program.
How to know which Amex airline partner is best for American Airlines flights? Generally, British Airways Executive Club (Avios) or Iberia Plus (Avios) are excellent choices for short-to-medium haul American Airlines flights due to their distance-based award charts. For longer international flights, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles might offer better value.
How to link my airline loyalty account to my Amex Membership Rewards account? Log in to your Amex Membership Rewards account, go to "Transfer Points," select your desired airline partner, and follow the prompts to enter your loyalty account number and verify your identity.
How to determine the transfer ratio of Amex points to an airline partner? The transfer ratio is displayed on the American Express Membership Rewards website when you select a specific airline partner for transfer. Most are 1:1, but some can vary.
How to find current Amex Membership Rewards transfer bonuses? Check the "Promotions" or "Offers" section within your American Express Membership Rewards account online. These bonuses are often advertised prominently.
How to check American Airlines award availability through a partner airline? Log in to the chosen partner airline's loyalty program website (e.g., British Airways, Iberia, Cathay Pacific) and use their award search tool, selecting the option to redeem miles/Avios.
How to deal with taxes and fees when booking American Airlines flights with partner miles? You will be required to pay government taxes and carrier-imposed fees in cash at the time of booking on the partner airline's website. These fees are separate from the miles/Avios redeemed.
How to ensure my transferred points appear in my airline loyalty account quickly? While many transfers are instant, some can take up to a few business days. It's best to initiate transfers well in advance of your desired booking, especially if award space is limited. Calling Amex or the airline partner if there's a significant delay is an option.
How to confirm my American Airlines booking after transferring Amex points to a partner? Once you receive a confirmation from the partner airline, take the American Airlines PNR (Passenger Name Record) provided in the confirmation and enter it on the American Airlines website or app under "My Trips" to verify the booking.
