What is a credit card transfer partner?

How to Make Your Credit Card Points Work Harder Than You Do

Ever feel like your credit card points are just sitting there, collecting virtual dust, waiting to be used but the amount of miles that the bank portals are asking seem out of reach? Well, I'm here to tell you that there’s a far better way to squeeze every ounce of value out of your hard-earned points—by transferring them to airline and hotel partners. This is where the real magic happens, turning your everyday spending into luxurious business class flights and five-star stays.

Buckle up, because I’m about to show you how to get way more bang for your points—and make your past self thank you for all those groceries and gas station runs.

Credit Card transfer partners breakdown

1. Understanding Transfer Partners

Credit card issuers like Chase, American Express, Capital One and CITI have partnerships with airlines and hotel programs. Instead of using your points at a fixed value

(1 cent per point for a travel portal redemption), transferring them can sometimes yield much higher value—often 2 cents or more per point.

Examples of Credit Card Transfer Partners:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards → United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, World of Hyatt, etc.

• American Express Membership Rewards → Delta SkyMiles, ANA Mileage Club, Hilton Honors, etc.

• Citi ThankYou Points → Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Avianca LifeMiles, Choice Hotels, etc.

• Capital One Miles → Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Wyndham Rewards, etc.

Each program has different partners, so it’s important to check which one aligns best with your travel goals.

2. How Transferring Points Gets You More Value

Let’s break it down with a comparison:

Option 1: Booking Through a Travel Portal

• You find a round-trip economy flight for $500.

• If your credit card gives you 1.25 cents per point in their travel portal, you’d need 40,000 points to book it.

Option 2: Transferring Points to an Airline

• Instead of booking through the portal, you check United MileagePlus and find the same flight for 25,000 miles + small taxes.

• You transfer 25,000 Chase points to United and book the ticket.

• Boom! You just saved 15,000 points.

And if we’re talking business or first class, the savings get even wilder. A $5,000 business class seat might cost you just 60,000 points, making your points worth nearly 8 cents each. How you like them apples!

3. How to Transfer Points Like a Pro

Alright, now that you’re excited, here’s how you actually do it:

1. Log into your credit card rewards account (Chase, Amex, etc.).

2. DO NOT click on "Book Travel" this is the banks travel portal , (we only use this when we have a travel credit or when you miraculously find a better deal,(rare but it happens)

3. Look for a button that says "redeem, or transfer rewards,(each bank words this differently so you might have to search)

4. Select your airline or hotel transfer partner from the list.

5. Enter your frequent flyer or hotel loyalty number (you’ll need an account with the airline/hotel first).

6. Decide how many points to transfer (most transfers happen in increments of 1,000).

7. Hit confirm and wait—some transfers are instant, others take a few hours or days.

8. Book your flight or hotel once the points arrive in your loyalty account.

9. For specific instructions on a particular card click here

   
   

⚠️ Warning: Once you transfer points, there’s no undo button. Make sure your award flight or hotel is available before moving your points!

4. Some Secret Hacks to Maximize Your Transfer Game

✅ Look for transfer bonuses. Sometimes, banks offer extra miles when transferring (like 30% more British Airways Avios). That’s free points!

✅ Check award availability first. You don’t want to transfer 50,000 points to an airline only to realize they have zero flights to your dream destination.

✅ Use for premium travel. Business class flights and five-star hotels often give you 3X+ value per point compared to economy or budget stays.

✅ Don’t hoard points forever. Rewards programs love devaluing points, so if you see a good deal, book it before it disappears.

Conclusion

Transferring credit card points to airline and hotel partners can unlock massive savings and allow you to fly in premium cabins or stay in luxury hotels for a fraction of the cost. The key is to research transfer options, check award availability before transferring, and look for promotions to maximize value.