Why all travelers should earn transferable credit card points

Should you’re seeking to enhance your journey recreation in 2025, there’s one essential technique you’ll be able to pursue: Give attention to incomes (after which redeeming) transferable credit card rewards.

Transferable rewards are, merely put, probably the most worthwhile sort of foreign money to earn on this planet of factors and miles. That is completely because of their versatility. American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Wells Fargo supply rewards credit cards that earn factors or miles you’ll be able to switch to numerous airline and lodge companions.

This may be particularly worthwhile while you hope to journey in a premium cabin or need to decrease the variety of factors or miles you redeem for an award. As an alternative of being restricted to a single airline (and its companions) or one lodge program, you’ll be able to leverage your rewards to e-book the perfect accessible choice for the bottom potential value.

And if you happen to’re seeking to optimize your redemptions this yr, studying how to transfer your credit card rewards might be probably the most essential steps.

This is why you must give attention to transferable rewards in 2025 — and which playing cards to think about.

In brief, transferable factors or miles supply flexibility when it is time to use your rewards to e-book journey. For instance, when you’ve got a big stash of American Airlines AAdvantage miles, you’ll be able to solely redeem your miles on American and its companions. Nevertheless, you will have many extra choices when you’ve got an enormous stability of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Listed here are just some:

You would additionally transfer points to World of Hyatt for luxurious lodge stays.

You are within the driver’s seat, as you’ll be able to maintain on to your hard-earned rewards till you discover a particular journey you need to e-book.

From flights and lodge stays to present playing cards, merchandise and extra, there are seemingly infinite methods to make use of your factors. It may be fairly advanced. Whilst you should not take into account your loyalty program account balances as long-term investments, you ought to be certain that you spend your factors similar to hard-earned cash: strategically and effectively. Figuring out when to switch factors to companions over different redemptions turns into vital.

Once you need to redeem your transferable factors for journey, there are a number of methods to go about it. You should buy flights and lodge stays by way of the journey web site particular to the financial institution (just like the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal or Amex Travel), or you’ll be able to switch your factors to a loyalty program and e-book based mostly on that program’s award charges. Whereas your finish aim is similar — reserving journey utilizing your rewards — the prices can fluctuate broadly.

For instance, I am taking a visit to New Orleans subsequent yr and need to keep at Maison Metier (previously Maison de la Luz and now part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection). Reserving immediately with Hyatt would price $690.18.

In the meantime, as a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder, my factors are price 1.5 cents apiece when used by way of Chase Journey. Given slight variations in paid charges (this property is a part of The Edit by Chase Travel), I would want to make use of practically 50,000 factors for the keep.

Nevertheless, since I can switch Chase factors to my World of Hyatt account at a 1:1 ratio, I can e-book that very same room for simply 29,000 factors per evening.

Which means my Chase factors are price 2.38 cents apiece — nicely above our most recent valuations.

Now, it is price noting that reserving a flight immediately with an airline or by way of a bank card portal means you’d earn miles on that flight, and whereas this sometimes is not true with resorts, we’ve got not too long ago seen Chase add this option for select properties. Moreover, there is not any assure that transferring will provide you with extra worth than reserving immediately.

Nevertheless, in lots of conditions — particularly for premium-cabin flights or luxurious lodge stays — you’ll be able to actually maximize your redemptions this manner.

Fortunately, transferring your factors or miles is comparatively easy, and the overwhelming majority of transfers submit immediately. You may evaluate our full information on how to transfer credit card rewards to partner programs, however listed here are just a few fast reminders:

• Wait to take action till you will have a particular redemption in thoughts. In any other case, you danger a program making a adverse change that might have an effect on your potential to make use of these factors or miles.
• Transfers usually are not reversible. Should you change your thoughts, cannot discover the redemption you need or later cancel your journey, the rewards will stay in your loyalty program account. They can not be transformed again to a card foreign money.
• The title in your bank card should match the title in your loyalty account. For instance, I can not be “Nicholas” on one and “Nick” on the opposite.

So, what sort of factors are you able to earn to ultimately switch to your favourite airline program? Let’s dive into the 5 most well-known bank card rewards currencies so you already know your choices.

Learn extra: Complete guide to airline and hotel transfer partners for the major credit card programs

American Express Membership Rewards factors are a favourite transferable rewards foreign money, with a price of two cents per level in line with TPG’s December 2024 valuations. These factors can get you some unimaginable awards due to Amex’s array of switch companions, together with ANA Mileage Club and Delta SkyMiles — each distinctive to Amex.

It is also price noting that American Specific affords frequent transfer bonuses for its airline and lodge companions, although these are generally focused, so preserve your eye in your account for these affords to pop up.

With quite a lot of choices to make use of these factors, maximizing Membership Rewards factors can really feel a bit tough, so refer to our guide if you happen to need assistance.

After all, earlier than you redeem American Specific factors, you first have to earn them. Listed here are the preferred playing cards that earn Membership Rewards factors:

Whereas many of those have profitable welcome affords, you could possibly be targeted for an even higher bonus by way of the CardMatch tool (affords topic to vary at any time). And do not forget so as to add Amex Offers to your card(s); you’ll be able to earn hundreds of further bonus factors or lower your expenses on choose purchases.

Lastly, you may as well use Rakuten to earn bonus factors while you purchase objects on-line. This online shopping portal companions with hundreds of shops to award bonus money again in your purchases. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to elect to earn Membership Rewards points instead. You may sign up here and earn a one-time bonus of $30 by spending at the very least $30 at taking part retailers within the first 90 days of becoming a member of.

Associated: Choosing the best American Express card for you

Bilt Rewards (TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor) permits cardmembers to earn factors for paying lease. That is nice information since renting can amount to thousands of dollars spent per year. Though Bilt Rewards is a comparatively new entrant to this aggressive house, this system already affords a formidable listing of switch companions, together with Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and World of Hyatt.

Bilt affords one bank card: the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees). Cardmembers earn 1 level per greenback spent on lease (as much as $100,000) with out the transaction charge, 2 factors per greenback spent on journey (airfare, resorts, cruises and rental vehicles) and three factors per greenback spent on eating. You have to make at the very least 5 transactions every month to earn factors. Better of all, the Bilt Mastercard has no annual charge. (See the Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits.)

In keeping with the opposite main packages which have transferable currencies, Bilt Rewards often affords switch bonuses, typically throughout its month-to-month Rent Day promotion.

Associated: Should you use the Bilt Mastercard? Why it could be a game changer for renters

Capital One entered the market of transferable factors and miles in 2018. Whereas Capital One playing cards had lengthy been identified for his or her easy, fixed-value award options, the issuer upped its recreation by including over a dozen switch companions to a few of its hottest playing cards — and the worth proposition has only grown through the years.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card launched in November 2021, across the identical time as the primary Capital One Lounge started welcoming vacationers at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Two extra areas have since opened — at Dulles International Airport (IAD) exterior Washington, D.C., and at Denver International Airport (DEN). Additionally open is the first Capital One Landing, a brand new dining-centered lounge house at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA).

Lastly, the Capital One Venture X Business card hit the market in September 2023, providing an unimaginable welcome bonus for small companies.

Well-liked Capital One transfer partners embody Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles and British Airways Government Membership. There are additionally occasional switch bonuses. I used one in 2022 to e-book an American flight utilizing British Airways Avios that would’ve set me back over $1,000; one other staffer used a bonus to get a value of more than 5 cents per mile on a redemption by way of Flying Blue.

Associated: Tips and tricks to get maximum value from your Capital One miles

Listed here are the playing cards that presently earn transferable Capital One miles:

The data for the Capital One Spark Miles Choose has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Should you’re sitting on a stash of Capital One miles, transferring them to airline companions can unlock some nice awards. For full particulars on these choices, take a look at our guides on how to transfer Capital One miles and when it makes sense to transfer as an alternative of redeeming at a set worth.

Learn extra: Best Capital One credit cards

Chase does not have as many playing cards or switch companions as American Specific, however Final Rewards factors are nonetheless fairly worthwhile. Whereas many vacationers cannot open too many new Chase playing cards because of the issuer’s 5/24 rule, many argue that Ultimate Rewards is the perfect transferable factors program on the market. You may switch these factors to 11 airways and three companions, all at a 1:1 ratio — together with Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus, and World of Hyatt. Chase can be the one program to associate with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, although you might get higher worth to your Final Rewards factors by booking Southwest flights through Chase Travel.

Listed here are the playing cards that earn totally transferable Final Rewards factors:

It is price noting that two further private playing cards (the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® ) and two small-business playing cards (the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card) take part within the Final Rewards program. Nevertheless, to switch factors earned from these playing cards to companions, you should have one of many three “premium” playing cards with an annual charge linked above after which combine your Ultimate Rewards points in that account.

Associated: The best Chase credit cards

Citi additionally has a transferable foreign money with its ThankYou Rewards program. Whereas most of Citi’s switch companions are worldwide carriers, you’ll be able to nonetheless get great worth out of your factors by leveraging alliances and partnerships. Which means you should utilize a program like Avianca LifeMiles to fly on United or a program like Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership to fly on Delta. Citi has even provided switch bonuses for a handful of its companions up to now, together with Avianca and Virgin Atlantic.

One TPG author even believes it is the most underappreciated program with a flexible currency.

Associated: Redeeming Citi ThankYou points for maximum value

At the moment, solely a single card is obtainable that provides transfers to associate packages: the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees). (Be aware that if you happen to’re nonetheless holding on to the Citi Prestige® Card — which is not open to new candidates — you even have the total switch advantages.)

That mentioned, as with Chase Final Rewards, you’ll be able to mix your Citi ThankYou Rewards factors in a single account for choose merchandise, permitting you to successfully “convert” your fixed-value earnings from playing cards just like the Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees), Citi Rewards+℠ Scholar Card or Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) into totally transferable ThankYou factors.

The data for the Citi Status Card and Citi Rewards+ Scholar Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Learn extra: The best Citi credit cards

This yr noticed a brand new entrant within the realm of transferable bank card currencies: Wells Fargo Rewards. The issuer’s preliminary slate of companions was small — that includes three Avios packages together with Flying Blue, LifeMiles and Alternative Privileges. Nevertheless, it added Virgin Atlantic within the fall, and the 2 playing cards that earn transferable factors might be fairly profitable. Since it has been lower than a yr since Wells Fargo applied transfers to partner programs, we anticipate that is only the start for cardholders.

Listed here are the 2 playing cards that earn transferable Wells Fargo Rewards factors:

I used to be thrilled to add the Autograph Journey card to my wallet earlier this yr, and I am nonetheless deciding learn how to use the lucrative welcome bonus.

Learn extra: The best Wells Fargo credit cards

It might take a while to take action, however when you’ll be able to take journeys on Singapore Airlines’ A380 Suite, ANA’s The Room business class or British Airways’ 777 first class, it makes the entire effort price it.

Take a look at our best travel credit cards for extra of our high decisions for playing cards that provide transferable rewards.

See Bilt Mastercard charges and costs here.
See Bilt Mastercard rewards and advantages here.