If you collect American Express Membership Rewards points, understanding Amex airline partners can help you turn everyday spending into flights, upgrades, and international travel. Instead of using points only through the American Express travel portal, eligible cardholders can transfer Membership Rewards points to participating airline loyalty programs and then book award flights through those programs. American Express currently lists 16 airline transfer partners for its U.S. Membership Rewards program, although partner availability and transfer terms can change.

What Are Amex Airline Partners?

Amex airline partners are frequent-flyer programs that participate in the American Express Membership Rewards program. Eligible American Express cardholders can transfer their Membership Rewards points into participating airline loyalty accounts and use those miles or points for award flights.

The major advantage is flexibility. One Membership Rewards balance can potentially be used with programs connected to different airline alliances, including Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam. This gives travelers more opportunities to search for award availability instead of being limited to one airline.

American Express also notes that travelers must have an eligible Membership Rewards-enrolled product and an account with the participating airline loyalty program before transferring points.

Amex Airline Partners in 2026

For U.S. Membership Rewards cardholders, American Express currently lists 16 airline programs. The current list includes:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Aeromexico Rewards
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• ANA Mileage Club
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Club
• Cathay Pacific
• Delta SkyMiles
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Club
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

American Express currently shows most of these transfers at a 1:1 ratio, while some programs have different conversion rates. For example, its current transfer interface shows 1,000 Membership Rewards points becoming 1,600 Aeromexico Rewards points, while British Airways receives 1,000 Avios for 1,000 Membership Rewards points.

How Amex Points Transfers Work

Transferring Amex points to an airline partner is relatively straightforward. First, you need to enroll in the relevant airline’s loyalty program if you do not already have an account.

Next, sign in to your American Express account and open the Membership Rewards transfer section. Select your preferred airline partner, connect your loyalty account, and enter the number of points you want to transfer.

After confirming the transfer, the points move into the airline loyalty program. American Express advises customers to check the applicable transfer minimums, Amex Airline Partners, and other requirements because these can vary between partners.

The important rule is to check award availability before transferring points. Once points are transferred, they generally cannot simply be returned to your American Express Membership Rewards account.

Which Amex Airline Partners Are Most Useful?

There is no single best Amex airline partner for every traveler. The best option depends on your destination, cabin class, dates, and the award pricing available at the time you want to book.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Aeroplan can be particularly useful for international travel because its program provides access to Star Alliance award opportunities. This can make it valuable for travelers looking for flights involving airlines across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Flying Blue can be useful for travel involving Air France and KLM. The program also regularly offers promotional award opportunities, making it worth checking when planning international trips.

British Airways Club

British Airways Club uses Avios, which can be useful for flights on British Airways and other eligible oneworld partners. Since Avios are also used by several related loyalty programs, they can provide flexibility for travelers who understand how the different programs work.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Amex Airline Partnersis another major Amex airline partner. It can be especially interesting for travelers planning premium-cabin travel or flights involving Singapore Airlines and its partner network.

Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles is a convenient option for travelers who frequently fly Delta. American Express currently lists Delta among its airline transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio for U.S. Membership Rewards transfers.

Should You Transfer Amex Points or Book Through Amex Travel?

Both options can make sense, depending on the trip.

Transferring points to an airline program can provide excellent value when you find a low-priced award seat. You can also gain access to award inventory and Amex Airline Partners opportunities that may not be available through the American Express travel portal.

On the other hand, booking through Amex Travel can be simpler. American Express allows eligible cardholders to use Membership Rewards points toward flights and other travel booked through its travel platform.

A good strategy is to compare both options before making a transfer. Calculate the cash price, compare it with the airline’s award price, and consider any taxes and fees involved.

Important Things to Know Before Transferring Points

The biggest mistake is transferring points before confirming that the desired flight is actually available.

Airline award seats can disappear quickly, particularly for business-class and first-class flights. Transfer times can also vary between programs. American Express says participating partners determine their own transfer minimums and maximums.

Another important consideration is that Amex airline partners and transfer ratios can change. For example, American Express announced that transfers to Etihad Guest would no longer be available after June 30, 2026.

Because of changes like these, travelers should always verify the current partner list and transfer ratio immediately before moving points.

Tips for Getting More Value From Amex Airline Partners

Start by searching for the flight you want before transferring any Membership Rewards points. This confirms that the required award seat exists.

Next, compare several airline programs. The same physical flight may be bookable through different loyalty programs, and the number of points required can vary significantly.

It is also useful to remain flexible with travel dates. Moving a trip by one or two days can sometimes reveal substantially better award availability.

Finally, avoid transferring points simply because an airline is familiar. The goal should be to transfer only when you have identified a specific redemption that makes sense.

FAQs About Amex Airline Partners

1. How many Amex airline partners are there?

American Express currently lists 16 airline transfer partners for U.S. Membership Rewards. The partner list can change, so it is best to verify the current list before transferring points.

2. Can Amex points be transferred to airlines?

Yes. Eligible Membership Rewards cardholders can transfer points to participating airline loyalty programs and then use those programs to book eligible award travel.

3. Is every Amex airline transfer 1:1?

No. Many partners currently use a 1:1 ratio, but some have different ratios. American Express currently lists Aeromexico at 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,600 Aeromexico Rewards points, for example.

4. Can transferred Amex points be returned?

Generally, you should treat an airline transfer as permanent. Therefore, always confirm award availability and the required number of miles before transferring points.

5. What is the best Amex airline partner?

There is no universal best partner. Air Canada Aeroplan, Flying Blue, British Airways Club, Singapore KrisFlyer, and other programs can be valuable depending on the destination and redemption.

6. Can Amex points be used for international flights?

Yes. Amex’s airline partners include programs covering major international carriers and alliances, making Membership Rewards useful for international award travel.

7. Do Amex airline partners change?

Yes. American Express can modify its Membership Rewards transfer partners, ratios, and program terms. Etihad Guest, for example, ended its U.S. Membership Rewards transfer option on June 30, 2026.

Conclusion

Amex airline partners give American Express Membership Rewards users a flexible way to turn points into airline miles and award flights. The strongest strategy is not simply choosing the most familiar airline, but comparing multiple loyalty programs, checking award availability, reviewing transfer ratios, and transferring points only after finding a suitable redemption.