It’s no secret that American Express Membership Rewards points are one of the most valuable credit card reward currencies available.
TPG’s June 2026 valuations place Membership Rewards points at 2 cents per point. However, using the right transfer partners makes it easy to get even more value from your points. With American Express offering 17 airline partners and three hotel partners, there are many ways to maximize your points.
Here are some of the best ways to redeem your Membership Rewards points — from high-end business-class redemptions to domestic flights around the U.S.
How to Earn Membership Rewards Points
The fastest way to earn Membership Rewards points is through welcome offers on Amex’s top cards. Here are some of the best current options:
- American Express Platinum Card®: Eligible applicants may receive as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible.
- American Express® Gold Card: Eligible applicants may receive as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Eligible applicants may receive as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible.
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Eligible applicants may receive as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible.
How to Use Your Membership Rewards Points
You’re likely to get the most value from your Amex points by transferring them to partner programs. Membership Rewards partners with 17 different airlines, including Air Canada, JetBlue and British Airways. You can also transfer points to three hotel chains: Hilton, Marriott and Choice Hotels.
You can book flights or hotels directly through American Express Travel, but redeeming points with a transfer partner usually results in better value. Amex Travel only lets you redeem at a fixed 1 cent per point for flights, while transfers can yield a significantly higher value.
Most Membership Rewards transfers process instantly, while others can take up to 48 hours. For more information, see the guide to Membership Rewards transfer times.
Here are some of the best ways to redeem your Membership Rewards by transferring them to partners.
Fly Air France or KLM Business Class to Europe from 60,000 Miles
If you want to travel to Europe comfortably, consider transferring your Membership Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. The program prices award tickets dynamically, so on peak dates you can be charged more than 200,000 miles for a flight to Europe. However, the program standardized saver-level pricing for one-way business-class flights between the U.S. and Europe, meaning you can redeem as few as 60,000 miles, plus taxes, fees and surcharges.
Before transferring Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue, confirm award availability by searching your preferred dates on Air France’s website or by using an award travel tool like Seats.aero.
Flying Blue’s monthly Promo Rewards are also worth checking, as they can offer a limited-time 25% discount on award tickets in all classes of service. Flying Blue refreshes this sale every month, rotating which cities are eligible for the discount.
Book Domestic Flights from Just 4,000 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles may be notorious for charging hundreds of thousands of miles for long-haul flights, especially in premium cabins, but short-haul domestic flights booked with Delta’s Main Basic fare can offer terrific value. Select routes require just 4,000 American Express points transferred at a 1:1 rate to SkyMiles, plus only $6 in taxes and fees.
If you’d prefer a few more perks, Main Classic fares start from 6,800 Delta SkyMiles (or 6,800 transferred Amex points) for select routes.
Enjoy the World’s Longest Nonstop Flight to Singapore in Comfort
Singapore Airlines operates two of the world’s longest flights: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Singapore. Transferring Membership Rewards points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer gives you access to award seats on these ultra-long-haul routes, making it one of the most compelling ways to use your points for a premium long-distance travel experience.
With so many transfer partners and redemption options available, Membership Rewards points remain one of the most flexible and valuable currencies in travel rewards — whether you’re chasing a budget domestic hop or a lie-flat seat across the Atlantic.
