Part of what makes transferable points programs like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards so great is the ability to convert points to miles with dozens of airline partners. What makes them even more attractive is that some issuers occasionally offer transfer bonuses for this.
However, to know whether a transfer bonus is a good deal, it helps to have some context. A 20% transfer bonus to JetBlue TrueBlue may seem like quite a perk, until you find out that another credit card company offered a 25% bonus just a few months ago and will likely do so again.
For that reason, we have compiled a list of all airline transfer bonuses that have offered the following programs over the past 10 years:
Which major card issuer offers the most transfer bonuses?
American Express takes the cake for offering the most transfer bonuses. The company also has the highest number of bonus transfer partner options, plus the greatest frequency of bonus offers, by a reasonable margin.
Chase and Citi have increased their transfer bonus options over the past 18 months, while Capital One has been the least generous of the big four issuers.
Which year has had the most transfer bonuses?
2023 appears to have been the golden year for all four programs offering transfer bonuses. According to our data, American Express, Chase and Citi all offered their highest annual totals in transfer bonuses last year.
We’ve seen plenty of transfer offers since then and are keeping an eye on more offers this year.
It is also worth noting that this list may not be exhaustive. There are times when a transfer bonus is targeted at a select group of cardholders. However, the data points below are from widespread bonuses that appeared for virtually all customers.
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Related: Why Transferable Points Are Worth More Than Other Rewards
The History of American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Bonuses
American Express Membership Rewards points are currently transferring to 18 airline partners, such as Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. This gives you great options for maximizing the rewards you earn from cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card.
American Express typically offers the most transfer bonuses compared to other issuers and has outpaced the field every year for the past decade. In 2023, American Express Membership Rewards offered a whopping 17 transfer bonuses – the most the program has ever offered in a single year.
Aer Lingus Aer Club
- July/August 2023: 30%
- September 2022: 25%
- September 2021: 40%
- October 2019: 40%
Aeromexico Rewards
- September 2022: 20%
- September 2021: 25%
- February 2019: 25%
- November 2018: 25%
- March 2015: 20%
Air Canada Aeroplan
- September 2022: 15%
- September 2021: 20%
- December 2019: 10% to 20%
- May 2019: 10% to 20%
- November 2018: 20%
- December 2017: 10% to 20%
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- September 2023: 25%
- May 2023: 25%
- November 2022: 25%
- September 2022: 25%
- September 2021: 25%
- December 2020: 30%
- April 2019: 25%
- June 2018: 25%
Avianca LifeMiles
- February/March 2024: 15%
- November/December 2023: 15%
- August 2023: 15%
- May 2023: 15%
- November 2022: 15%
- September 2022: 15%
- September 2021: 15%
- April 2019: 15%
British Airways Executive Club
- July/August 2023: 30%
- September 2022: 25%
- September 2021: 40%
- October 2019: 40%
- November 2018: 40%
- September 2017: 40%
- October 2016: 50%
- January 2015: 40%
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- March 2024: 10%
- December 2020: 25%
- January 2020: 10%
- March 2019: 10% to 30%
- September 2018: 10% to 30%
Choice rights
Emirates Skywards
Etihad Airways guest
- March/April 2024: 20%
- June 2016: 20%
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- January 2023: 20%
- September 2022: 20%
- September 2021: 25%
- June 2021: 25%
- June 2018: 25%
- June 2017: 25%
- June 2016: 25%
- December 2015: 25%
- June 2014: 20%
Hilton Awards
- November/December 2023: 30%
- August 2023: 25%
- September 2022: 30%
- October 2021: 30%
- June 2021: 40%
- January 2021: 40%
- October 2020: 40%
- December 2019: 50%
Iberia Plus
- July/August 2023: 30%
- September 2021: 40%
- October 2019: 40%
- November 2018: 40%
- December 2016: 50%
- December 2015: 25%
JetBlue TrueBlue
- October/November 2023: 25%
- December 2019: 25%
- June 2019: 40%
- October 2018: 25%
- March 2018: 10% to 30%
- November 2017: 25%
- May 2017: 25%
- September 2014: 25%
Marriott Bonvoy
- November 2023: 20%
- September 2022: 20%
- October 2021: 30%
- June 2021: 40%
- December 2020: 30%
- February 2020: 30%
- June 2019: 40% to 50%
Qantas Frequent Flyer
- September 2022: 20%
- September 2021: 20%
- February 2020: 20%
- June 2019: 20%
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- November/December 2023: 10%
KrisFlyer from Singapore Airlines
- December 2023 (target): 20%
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- December 2023: 30%
- June 2023: 30%
- September 2022: 30%
- September 2021: 30%
- December 2019: 30%
- July 2019: 30%
- December 2018: 30%
- November 2018: 10% to 30%
- September 2018: 30%
- November 2017: 30%
- May 2017: 30%
- May 2016: 30%
- April 2015: 25%
- November 2014: 35%
- May 2014: 30%
- November 2013: 30%
The History of Capital One Transfer Bonuses
Capital One has enhanced its rewards program in recent years by adding new airline and hotel transfer partners, including Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and Choice Privileges. Only select Capital One credit cards can earn transferable miles, but some top options include the Capital One Venturethe Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture.
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Aeromexico Rewards
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- July 2023: 20%
- August 2022: 20%
- September 2021: 30%
- June 2019: 20%
Avianca LifeMiles
- September 2023: 15%
- July 2021: 25%
- December 2020: 15%
- July 2019: 25%
- June 2019: 15%
British Airways Executive Club
- November 2022: 20%
- August 2022: 20%
- August 2021: 33%
Emirates Skywards
JetBlue TrueBlue
Virgin red
- March 2023: 30%
- October 2022: 30%
The History of Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Bonuses
Although the Ultimate Rewards program was launched more than a decade ago, transfer bonuses are rare. However, Chase has been offering more transfer bonuses since 2020.
In fact, the Ultimate Rewards program was on par with the remarkably generous American Express Membership Rewards program in 2023, with fourteen transfer bonuses last year – the most we’ve tracked from Chase in a single year. For comparison, American Express also offered the highest number of transfer bonuses in 2023 with 17.
These bonuses have added substantial value to the rewards you can earn with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Aer Lingus Aer Club
- September 2023: 30%
- September 2021: 30%
Air Canada Aeroplan
- December 2023/January 2024: 20%
- July 2023: 20%
- November 2022: 30%
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- March/April 2024: 25%
- October/November 2023: 25%
- May 2023: 25%
British Airways Executive Club
- September 2023: 30%
- September 2021: 30%
- December 2020: 30%
- June 2019: 30%
Iberia Plus
- September 2023: 30%
- September 2021: 30%
IHG One Rewards
- February 2024: 60%
- July 2023: 70%
- August 2022: 50%
- December 2020: 30%
- August 2020: 60%
JetBlue TrueBlue
- November 2023/January 2024: 25%
Marriott Bonvoy
- August/September 2023: 50%
- May 2023: 50%
- March 2023: 50%
- November 2022: 40%
- August 2022: 50%
- August 2021: 50%
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- October/November 2023: 30%
- May/June 2023: 30%
- October 2022: 30%
The History of Citi ThankYou Rewards Transfer Bonuses
Citi has more than a dozen airline partners, including Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Etihad Airways Guest and Qantas Frequent Flyer. You can earn transferable ThankYou points on the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
Citi ThankYou Rewards started to overtake the other programs in 2023 when the issuer offered 10 transfer bonuses, the most in a single year. Last year was also the first time that Citi offered at least five transfer bonuses in one year since 2019.
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Air France KLM Flying Blue
- June 2023: 25%
- July 2019: 25%
- August 2018: 30%
Avianca LifeMiles
- October/November 2023: 25%
- March 2023: 20%
- August 2022: 25%
- February 2021: 25%
- July 2019: 25%
- December 2018: 25%
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- March 2024: 10%
- July 2023: 15%
- January 2020: 15%
- July 2018: 15%
- September 2017: 20%
Etihad Airways guest
- July 2017: 10%
- July 2016: 25%
- December 2015: 25%
- May 2015: 25%
JetBlue TrueBlue
- May 2018: 30%
- October 2017: 25%
- April 2017: 50%
Qantas Frequent Flyer
- February 2020: 25%
- April 2019: 25%
- June 2016: 15% to 30%
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- November 2023: 30%
- June 2023: 30%
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- February/March 2024: 30%
- September 2023: 30%
- March 2023: 30%
- June 2019: 30%
- October 2018: 30%
- March 2017: 25%
- April 2016: 25%
- August 2015: 25%
Wyndham Rewards
In short
Transfer bonuses can make already usable points much more valuable, and programs are more likely to offer them in 2023 than any other year. It is worth monitoring whether this trend continues in 2024, as it could be beneficial for future repayments.
However, before taking advantage of a transfer bonus, it’s important to know whether it’s a good deal, an unusually high bonus, or something that’s likely to benefit you in an upcoming redemption.
If a transfer bonus comes along that appeals to you, bookmark this page and our current transfer bonus page to see how it compares to previous and current offers. Make sure you explore ideas on how to maximize your points with the best possible strategy.