You've got a stash of American Express Membership Rewards points, and you're dreaming of a flight on United Airlines. Excellent choice! While you can't directly transfer your Amex points to United MileagePlus (United isn't a direct Amex transfer partner), there are clever strategies to make those points work for your United flights. This lengthy guide will walk you through each step to unlock the value of your Amex points for United travel.
Unlocking United Flights with Your American Express Points: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you ready to turn those hard-earned American Express Membership Rewards points into an amazing United Airlines journey? Fantastic! While the direct transfer isn't an option, we're about to explore the best indirect routes to get you soaring with United. Let's dive in!
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| How To Transfer American Express Points To United |
The Core Challenge: No Direct Transfer to United
Before we begin, it's crucial to understand why this guide is necessary. American Express Membership Rewards has a fantastic array of airline transfer partners, but United Airlines is not one of them. This means you can't simply log into your Amex account and transfer points directly to your United MileagePlus account. But don't despair! This doesn't mean your Amex points are useless for United flights. It just means we need to be a little more strategic.
Strategy 1: Transferring to Star Alliance Partners (The Smart Route)
United Airlines is a proud member of the Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance. This is where the magic happens! American Express does partner with several airlines that are also members of Star Alliance. By transferring your Amex points to one of these partners, you can then use those partner miles to book a United flight. This is often the most lucrative way to use your Amex points for United travel.
Step 1: Identify the Right Star Alliance Partner
Your first and most crucial step is to identify which Star Alliance transfer partner offers the best redemption rates for the United flights you want. The top contenders for Amex transfers to book United flights are typically:
Air Canada Aeroplan: This is often considered one of the best options due to its reasonable award chart for Star Alliance partners and a relatively user-friendly website for searching. Transfers are typically instant.
Avianca LifeMiles: LifeMiles can offer competitive rates, especially for business and first-class redemptions. Transfers are usually instant.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: While KrisFlyer can be excellent for Singapore Airlines' own flights, it's also a strong contender for Star Alliance redemptions, including United. Transfers can take a few hours.
ANA Mileage Club: ANA can offer fantastic value for round-trip Star Alliance redemptions, particularly for business and first class. However, it's often best for longer-term planning as transfers can take up to 48 hours and their award chart can be complex.
Pro-Tip: Always check award availability on the partner airline's website BEFORE transferring your points. Points transfers are generally irreversible, so you want to ensure the flight you want is actually bookable with miles from that partner.
Step 2: Search for United Award Availability on the Partner's Website
QuickTip: Focus on one line if it feels important.
This is a critical step to ensure your desired United flight is actually available for booking with partner miles.
For Aeroplan:
Go to the Air Canada Aeroplan website (aeroplan.com).
Log in to your Aeroplan account (if you don't have one, create one – it's free and quick).
Select "Book travel" and then "Flights."
Enter your departure and arrival cities, dates, and select "Book with points."
Aeroplan's search engine is generally good at displaying Star Alliance partner availability, including United flights. Look for flights marked "United" or "UA."
For Avianca LifeMiles:
Navigate to the Avianca LifeMiles website (lifemiles.com).
Log in or create an account.
Select "Fly" and then "Redeem your miles."
Enter your flight details. LifeMiles is known for its sometimes quirky search engine, but it can unearth excellent deals.
For Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer:
Visit the Singapore Airlines website (singaporeair.com).
Log in to your KrisFlyer account.
Go to "Redeem flights" and select "Star Alliance."
Enter your travel information.
For ANA Mileage Club:
Head to the ANA website (ana.co.jp).
Log in to your ANA Mileage Club account.
Select "ANA Mileage Club" from the top menu, then "Award Reservation" under "Flights."
Choose "Star Alliance Member Airlines Award."
Remember to note the flight numbers, dates, and times carefully once you find availability.
Step 3: Initiate the American Express Points Transfer
Once you've confirmed award availability and chosen your preferred Star Alliance partner, it's time to transfer your Amex points.
Sub-heading: Accessing the Transfer Portal
Log in to your American Express online account.
Navigate to the Membership Rewards section. You'll usually find this under "Rewards" or "Benefits."
Look for an option like "Transfer Points," "Airline Partners," or "Travel."
Sub-heading: Selecting Your Partner and Transferring Points
Select the Star Alliance airline partner you've chosen (e.g., Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles).
If it's your first time transferring to this partner, you'll likely need to link your loyalty program account by entering your frequent flyer number. Ensure the name on your Amex account exactly matches the name on your airline loyalty account to avoid delays.
Enter the number of Amex Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer. Amex typically requires transfers in increments of 1,000 points.
Double-check the transfer ratio. Most Amex airline partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio (1 Amex point = 1 airline mile), but always confirm.
Confirm the transfer. You'll usually receive a confirmation email.
Sub-heading: Understanding Transfer Times
Transfer times vary significantly by partner. Some, like Aeroplan and LifeMiles, are often instant. Others, like ANA and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, can take up to 48 hours or even a few business days.
This is why finding availability first is paramount! If the transfer isn't instant, there's a small risk the award space could disappear while you wait for your points to post.
Step 4: Book Your United Flight with Partner Miles
Once your Amex points have successfully posted to your chosen Star Alliance partner's loyalty account, you can proceed with booking.
Sub-heading: Logging In and Reserving Your Flight
Log back into your partner airline's frequent flyer account (Aeroplan, LifeMiles, KrisFlyer, ANA, etc.).
Re-search for the United flight you previously found. The award space should still be there (hopefully!).
Proceed with the booking process, using the miles that are now in your account.
You will typically be responsible for paying any taxes and fees associated with the award flight. These are usually paid with a credit card.
Sub-heading: Be Aware of Surcharges (Especially Fuel Surcharges)
Some airlines, particularly European carriers, may levy significant fuel surcharges on award tickets. This can sometimes make an award redemption less appealing.
Aeroplan and LifeMiles are generally known for imposing lower or no fuel surcharges on Star Alliance awards, making them even more attractive for United flights. Always check the total cost (miles + cash) before committing.
Strategy 2: Booking Directly Through American Express Travel (Less Value, More Convenience)
While not ideal for maximizing point value, you can also use your American Express Membership Rewards points to book United flights directly through the American Express Travel portal.
Step 1: Log in to American Express Travel
Go to AmexTravel.com or access it via your Amex online account.
Log in using your Amex credentials.
Step 2: Search for United Flights
Tip: Don’t just glance — focus.
Enter your desired departure and arrival cities, dates, and number of passengers.
The portal will display various flight options, including United Airlines flights.
Step 3: Pay with Points
During the checkout process, you'll have the option to "Pay with Points" or "Use Points + Card."
Select the option to use your Membership Rewards points.
Be aware of the redemption rate: When booking flights through Amex Travel, your points are typically valued at 1 cent per point. This means 10,000 Amex points would be worth $100 towards your flight. While convenient, this is often less value than you could get by transferring points to a Star Alliance partner for an award redemption.
Exception for Amex Business Platinum Cardholders: If you hold the American Express Business Platinum Card, you may be eligible for a 35% rebate when using Pay with Points for a selected airline (which can be United) or for business/first-class flights on any airline. This significantly increases the value of your points when booking through the portal, making it a much more competitive option.
Strategy 3: Transferring to Marriott Bonvoy (A Last Resort, Generally Poor Value)
It is technically possible to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy, and then transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to United MileagePlus. However, this method typically results in a very poor redemption value due to unfavorable transfer ratios.
Amex to Marriott: 1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Marriott to United: 3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 United MileagePlus mile, with a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
As you can see, the value diminishes significantly. This method is generally not recommended unless you have a very specific and niche redemption need where no other option works.
Key Considerations and Best Practices
Flexibility is King: The more flexible you are with your travel dates and times, the better your chances of finding attractive award availability on United via Star Alliance partners.
Check Multiple Partners: Don't just check one Star Alliance partner. Award availability and pricing can vary between Aeroplan, LifeMiles, KrisFlyer, and ANA for the exact same United flight.
Be Patient: Finding the perfect award flight can take time and persistence. Don't get discouraged if you don't find it immediately.
Watch for Transfer Bonuses: American Express occasionally offers transfer bonuses to its airline partners. For example, you might see a 15% or 25% bonus when transferring to Aeroplan. These bonuses can significantly increase the value of your points, so keep an eye out for them!
Understand Award Charts: Familiarize yourself with the award charts of the Star Alliance partners you're considering. This will give you an idea of how many miles a particular United flight should cost.
Factor in Taxes and Fees: Remember that award flights, even with points, will almost always incur taxes and fees that you'll pay in cash. These can range from a few dollars to hundreds, depending on the route and airline.
Conclusion
While a direct transfer from American Express Membership Rewards to United MileagePlus isn't possible, there are definitely viable and often highly valuable ways to use your Amex points for United flights. By leveraging Star Alliance transfer partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, you can unlock fantastic redemption opportunities. For convenience, the Amex Travel portal is an option, especially for Business Platinum cardholders. Always prioritize searching for award availability before initiating any point transfers, and keep an eye out for those valuable transfer bonuses to maximize your rewards! Happy travels!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about transferring American Express points to United Airlines, with quick answers:
Tip: Take a sip of water, then continue fresh.
How to find out which airlines are American Express transfer partners?
You can find a complete list of American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners, including airlines and hotels, by logging into your American Express online account and navigating to the Membership Rewards section, then looking for "Transfer Points" or "Airline Partners."
How to know if a United flight is available for booking with partner miles?
You need to search for award availability directly on the website of the Star Alliance partner airline you intend to transfer points to (e.g., Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer). Look for flights operated by United Airlines.
How to link my partner airline frequent flyer account to my American Express account?
When you initiate a points transfer on the American Express Membership Rewards portal for the first time with a new partner, you will be prompted to enter your frequent flyer account number for that partner to link the accounts. Ensure the names match exactly.
How to deal with different names on Amex and partner loyalty accounts?
The name on your American Express account must match the name on your partner airline loyalty account exactly to successfully transfer points. If there's a discrepancy, contact American Express or the airline to rectify it before attempting a transfer.
How to find out the transfer ratio for Amex points to a specific airline 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 some can vary.
QuickTip: Slow scrolling helps comprehension.
How to check for American Express transfer bonuses?
American Express frequently offers transfer bonuses to various airline and hotel partners. You can find these advertised on the Membership Rewards website, in emails from American Express, or by checking popular points and miles blogs.
How to cancel a points transfer once it's initiated?
Unfortunately, points transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to airline or hotel partners are generally final and irreversible. This is why it's crucial to confirm award availability before transferring.
How to determine the "value" of my Amex points for United flights?
The value depends on the redemption. Transferring to a Star Alliance partner for a high-value award ticket (e.g., business or first class) often yields 2 cents per point or more. Booking through Amex Travel typically gives you 1 cent per point, which is less ideal unless you have the Business Platinum Card's 35% rebate.
How to pay taxes and fees for award flights booked with partner miles?
When booking an award flight with partner miles, you will typically pay the associated taxes and fees using a credit card directly on the partner airline's website.
How to find out how long a points transfer to a specific partner will take?
The estimated transfer time for each partner is usually listed on the American Express Membership Rewards transfer page. While some are instant, others can take 24-48 hours or even longer for the first transfer.
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