You've accumulated a fantastic stash of American Express Membership Rewards points, and now you're dreaming of a United Airlines flight. That's a great goal! However, before we dive into the "how," there's a crucial piece of information you need to know:
American Express Membership Rewards points cannot be directly transferred to United Airlines MileagePlus.
Don't worry, though! This doesn't mean your dream trip is out of reach. There are clever, effective ways to use your Amex points to fly United, primarily by leveraging Amex's Star Alliance transfer partners. United Airlines is a proud member of the Star Alliance, a global network of airlines. This means you can transfer your Amex points to an airline loyalty program that is an Amex partner and also a Star Alliance member, and then use those miles to book a United flight!
Ready to unlock the power of your points? Let's get started!
Step 1: Understand the Indirect Transfer Strategy (and Why It's Your Best Bet!)
Hey there, savvy traveler! Before we even log into our Amex account, let's get a clear picture of the strategy we're going to employ. Since Amex doesn't directly partner with United, we're going to use an indirect method. Think of it like this: your Amex points are your currency, and you want to buy a United flight. You can't directly exchange your Amex currency for United currency. Instead, you'll exchange your Amex currency for a third-party currency (another airline's miles) that can be used to buy United flights.
Why this indirect method? Because it opens up a world of possibilities and often offers excellent value! By transferring to a Star Alliance partner, you can often find fantastic award availability on United flights, sometimes even for less than if you booked directly through United.
The key is identifying the right Amex transfer partners that are also part of the Star Alliance. Here are some of the most popular and generally beneficial ones:
Air Canada Aeroplan
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
ANA Mileage Club
Avianca LifeMiles
Each of these programs has its own sweet spots and quirks, so doing a quick search for "best ways to redeem [partner airline] miles for United flights" can be beneficial once you've decided on your target program.
Step 2: Choose Your Star Alliance Transfer Partner
This is where the strategy really begins! Deciding which Star Alliance partner to transfer your points to depends on a few factors:
Sub-heading 2.1: Flight Availability & Route
Consider your desired route and dates. Do a quick search on the partner airline's website (e.g., Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer) for the United flight you want to book. This is crucial because award availability can vary significantly between programs and even day-to-day. You want to confirm the flight exists and is available for booking with miles before you transfer your precious Amex points.
Be flexible if possible. The more flexible your travel dates and times, the better your chances of finding award availability.
Sub-heading 2.2: Transfer Ratios & Bonuses
Check the transfer ratio. Most of Amex's airline partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio (1,000 Amex points = 1,000 airline miles), but some can vary. Always confirm the exact ratio on the American Express Membership Rewards transfer page.
Look for transfer bonuses! American Express frequently offers transfer bonuses to various airline partners. These can be incredibly lucrative, allowing you to get significantly more miles for your transferred points (e.g., 20% or 30% bonus). Keep an eye out for these promotions, as they can greatly enhance the value of your redemption.
Sub-heading 2.3: Fees and Surcharges
Be aware of potential fees. Some airline programs levy fuel surcharges or other fees on award tickets. For example, while Aeroplan generally has low surcharges on United flights, some other programs might have higher fees. Research this before you transfer. You can often see the estimated taxes and fees when you search for award flights on the partner airline's website.
Step 3: Access Your American Express Membership Rewards Account
Now that you've got your strategy set, it's time to get down to business!
Sub-heading 3.1: Log In to Your Account
Go to the American Express website (americanexpress.com).
Log in to your Membership Rewards-earning American Express account. If you have multiple Amex cards, make sure you select the one associated with your Membership Rewards points. Your points are typically aggregated under one Membership Rewards account, regardless of which card earned them.
Navigate to the Membership Rewards section. This is usually found under a "Rewards" or "Benefits" tab, or directly from your account dashboard. Look for a link like "Explore Rewards" or "Redeem Points."
Sub-heading 3.2: Find the "Transfer Points" Option
Once in the Membership Rewards section, you'll see various redemption options. Look for the "Travel" section, and specifically, the option to "Transfer Points to a Partner Loyalty Program." This is your gateway to airline miles.
Click on "View all partners" to see the complete list of available airline and hotel transfer partners.
Step 4: Link Your Chosen Partner Loyalty Program Account
This is a one-time setup if you haven't transferred to that specific airline before.
Sub-heading 4.1: Select Your Partner Airline
From the list of partners, find and select the Star Alliance airline you decided on in Step 2 (e.g., Air Canada Aeroplan).
If you haven't linked your account before, it will prompt you to do so.
Sub-heading 4.2: Enter Your Loyalty Program Details
You will need your loyalty program account number for the chosen airline (e.g., your Aeroplan number). Make sure you have this readily available.
The name on your American Express account must match the name on your airline loyalty account exactly. Any discrepancy can lead to transfer delays or even rejections.
American Express will likely ask for your Card Security Code (CSC) from the Amex card you used to log in, and possibly a one-time passcode for security verification.
Sub-heading 4.3: Confirm Account Linkage
Follow the prompts to complete the linking process. You should receive a confirmation message once your accounts are successfully linked. This process might take a few minutes.
Step 5: Initiate the Points Transfer
Now for the exciting part – sending your points on their way!
Sub-heading 5.1: Specify the Transfer Amount
Once your accounts are linked, you'll be able to enter the number of American Express Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer.
Pay close attention to the minimum transfer amount and transfer increments. Most programs require transfers in increments of 1,000 points.
Double-check the number of points needed for your desired United flight on the partner airline's website. You want to transfer enough, but not significantly more than you need, as transfers are generally irreversible.
Sub-heading 5.2: Review and Confirm the Transfer
Before finalizing, carefully review all the details of your transfer: the partner airline, the number of points, and any displayed transfer ratios or fees.
Click "Review Transfer" or a similar button.
Finally, confirm and submit your transfer request. You will likely receive an email confirmation from American Express.
Sub-heading 5.3: Understand Transfer Times
Transfer times vary by partner. Some transfers are instant (like Aeroplan often is), while others can take a few business days. American Express usually provides an estimated transfer time on the transfer page.
Be patient, but also proactive. If your transfer doesn't appear within the stated timeframe, contact American Express customer service.
Crucial Tip: For flights with limited award availability, it's often advisable to not transfer your points until you have confirmed the award space is still available and ideally, you have a hold on the award (if the airline allows it). However, many airlines, especially for Star Alliance partners, do not allow holds. In such cases, fast transfer partners like Aeroplan are invaluable.
Step 6: Book Your United Flight on the Partner Airline's Website
Once your transferred miles have arrived in your partner airline loyalty account, it's time to book your United flight!
Sub-heading 6.1: Log In to the Partner Airline's Website
Go to the website of the airline you transferred your points to (e.g., aircanada.com for Aeroplan).
Log in to your loyalty program account.
Sub-heading 6.2: Search for Your United Award Flight
Use their award search engine to find the United flight you previously identified.
Ensure you are searching for "award flights" or "redeem miles."
Enter your origin, destination, dates, and number of passengers.
Sub-heading 6.3: Complete the Booking Process
Select your desired United flight.
Proceed to the payment page. You will use your partner airline miles to cover the flight cost.
You will typically still need to pay taxes and government-imposed fees with a credit card.
Review all details one last time and complete the booking. You should receive a confirmation email with your ticket details, including a United Airlines confirmation number.
Step 7: Confirm Your Flight with United Airlines (Optional but Recommended)
Once you have your partner airline's booking confirmation and especially the United Airlines confirmation number (PNR), it's a good idea to go to the United Airlines website (united.com).
Enter your confirmation number to pull up your reservation directly on United's system. This allows you to select seats, check baggage policies, and ensure everything is in order.
Congratulations! You've successfully leveraged your American Express Membership Rewards points to fly United Airlines! Enjoy your trip!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about transferring Amex points for United flights:
How to find out if United Airlines is a direct Amex transfer partner? United Airlines is not a direct transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards. You cannot transfer your Amex points directly to United MileagePlus.
How to transfer Amex points to United if they aren't a direct partner? You transfer your Amex points to one of Amex's airline transfer partners that is also a member of the Star Alliance (of which United is a part), such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, or ANA Mileage Club. Then, you use those partner miles to book a United flight.
How to choose the best Star Alliance partner for United flights? Consider the availability of your desired United flight on the partner's website, the transfer ratio from Amex to that partner, potential transfer bonuses, and any associated taxes and fuel surcharges when booking with the partner's miles.
How to link my airline loyalty account to my American Express Membership Rewards account? Log in to your Amex Membership Rewards account online, navigate to the "Transfer Points" section, select the desired airline partner, and follow the prompts to enter your loyalty program account number and verify your details.
How to know the transfer ratio from American Express to a Star Alliance partner? The transfer ratio is clearly displayed on the American Express Membership Rewards transfer page when you select a specific airline partner. Most are 1:1, but always confirm.
How to find transfer bonuses for Amex points to airline partners? American Express frequently announces transfer bonuses on their Membership Rewards website. You can also subscribe to points and miles blogs or newsletters which often report these promotions.
How long does it take for Amex points to transfer to an airline partner? Transfer times vary. Some, like Aeroplan, are often instant. Others can take a few business days. The estimated transfer time is usually listed on the Amex transfer page.
How to book a United flight using miles from an Amex transfer partner? Once the miles appear in your partner airline's loyalty account, log in to that partner's website, search for award flights, and select the United flight you wish to book. You'll use the partner's miles for the flight and typically pay taxes and fees with a credit card.
How to check award availability for United flights on a Star Alliance partner's website? Go to the Star Alliance partner's website (e.g., Aeroplan.com, Singaporeair.com) and use their award search engine, ensuring you select the option to "redeem miles" or "book with points."
How to ensure the best value when transferring Amex points for United flights? Research different Star Alliance partners for your specific route, look for transfer bonuses, compare the number of miles required across programs, and be mindful of any cash co-pays like fuel surcharges to maximize the value of your points.
