Travel

How to redeem AMEX membership reward points for maximum value

Loyalty programs can be complex and it can be difficult to find the best way to maximize credit card rewards.

The American Express Member Rewards Program offers many redemption options through AMEX’s transfer partners, which is probably the best way to use them.

We will explore strategies you should consider to maximize your hard-won AMEX membership reward points.


American Express Platinum Card® – Find out your offer: After spending $8,000 on your first six months membership, you may be eligible for up to 175,000 membership reward points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.


How do I redeem American Express membership reward points?

If you want to maximize your AMEX points, transferring them to a partner hotel or airline’s loyalty program can sometimes generate the highest value.

TPG’s median valuation value in September 2025 will give membership bonus points of 2.0 cents, so try to get at least that value from each Amex Point you redeemed.

When you transfer your AMEX index to a hotel or airline program, you can redeemed it for hotel nights (some hotels have package fees) and grant flights that may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Additionally, you can take advantage of regular transfers of bonuses and even further expand the value of points.

However, since the transfer is irreversible, the cash fare is always compared to the reward price. If you are struggling to calculate whether these redemptions are a good value, try using TPG’s reward calculator.

What is the most valuable way to redeem American Express membership reward points?

Although the reward prices may vary, here are our favorite high value transfer partner redemptions.

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Flying on a plane in North America lasts 3,500 o’clock

JetBlue Airbus
Sean Cudahy/Sean guy

JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program recently introduced a Basic Economic Award Redemption. While this doesn’t sound like the most comfortable way to travel at first, the price is convincing.

For example, at the time of publication, flights from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) to Manchester Boston Regional Airport (MHT) had only 2,800 TrueBlue points available. Many other routes are available for similar prices.

JetBlue TrueBlue Screenshot
JetBlue

When membership reward points are transferred to TrueBlue at a speed of 250:200, you only need 3500 membership reward points to book these three hours of flight.

This is a great way to redeem your point of view, plus the fees and taxes of a cup of coffee.

Book a round trip flight to Spain with Club Iberia

Inside the cabin on an Iberian plane
Ben Smithson / Send guy

One of the best ways to redeem US Express reward points is to book Iberia Business Class through Iberia Club to Adolf Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). The program offers low-point prices, a 1:1 transfer rate with AMEX points and a minimum fuel surcharge.

Round trip cash fares cost thousands of dollars, which is a great way to get at least 2 cents from each membership reward point.

You will find the cheapest flights from the East Coast city, starting on off-peak dates, Business Class Iberian Club Avios, but other cities and classes also have attractive prices. This is the award ceremony in Iberia:

Crazy uninterrupted route Off-peak rate (Avios) Peak (Avios)
  • Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • John Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Dulles International Airport (IAD)
  • Louis Muniz Marin International Airport (SJU)
  • Economic foundation: 16,000
  • Economical Comfort: 25,000
  • Advanced Economy: 29,500
  • Business: 40,500
  • Economic foundation: 19,500
  • Economical and comfortable: 31,500
  • Advanced Economy: 40,250
  • Business: 59,000
  • O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  • Economic foundation: 20,000
  • Economical Comfort: 31,250
  • Advanced Economy: 36,750
  • Business: 50,500
  • Economic foundation: 24,250
  • Economical Comfort: 39,000
  • Advanced Economy: 50,500
  • Business: 74,000
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • Economic foundation: 24,000
  • Economical Comfort: 37,250
  • Advanced Economy: 44,000
  • Business: 60,500
  • Economic foundation: 29,250
  • Economical Comfort: 46,500
  • Advanced Economy: 60,500
  • Business: 88,500

Related: Reviews on the Iberian New Business Kit on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City

Comfortable to drive the world’s longest flight

Singapore Airlines A350
Zach Griff/The Points Guy

Singapore Airlines operates two longest flights in the world: from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Kennedy International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

You can transfer membership reward points by transferring membership rewards with Singapore Airlines’ Krisflyer program at a 1:1 ratio to fly the airline’s highly respected business class on these extra-long flights for nearly 19 hours.

Savings bonus fares on this route will cost you 111,500 Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Miles along with one-way taxes and fees – a smart investment in long-haul flights. Book by October 31, before prices rise slightly.

Transfer blue transfer points book flights to Europe

Aviation French Jets
Rachel Craft/Spot guy

Flying Blue is a joint loyalty program for France Air France and KLM. Plan prices to reward air tickets and often offer good deals on flights from North America to Europe. Economy-saving flights range from 25,000-fly blue miles one-way flights, 40,000-mile premium economy flights one-way and 60,000-mile business-class flights one-way.

Remember that the fuel surcharges on these awards can be difficult to deal with – close to $400 per person if you book a roundtrip business-grade flight. However, you should be able to save thousands of dollars in business-grade cash fares by transferring the AMEX membership reward to the blue at a 1:1 ratio and getting at least 2 cents of value from each Amex Point.

If you can find savings rates, this is one of the cheapest business-grade options in Europe, and both airlines have a strong network of routes. There are also occasional rewards for transferring points from the US Express to the Flying Blue, so the price on some routes becomes more attractive.

Flying Blue’s monthly promotional rewards are worth a try. They can offer up to 25% off the above prices.

Flying Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class

Qatar Airways QSUITES Business Class Boeing 777-300ER
Zach Griff/The Points Guy

Qatar Airways is known for its innovative QSuite business-grade product that has enabled a team of up to four passengers to turn its center seat into a private “four-wheel” space.

Qatar Airways’ Privileged Club Loyalty Program is a 1:1 transfer partner for the American Express membership award program, and even better, booking business class with points is a great value.

If you find a savings-level commercial-grade seat, you can fly from anywhere in North America to the airline hub of Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) for just 70,000 Qatari airline privilege clubs Avios.

This includes ultra-long aircraft flying from LAX and SFO, which can last 15 hours. Have plenty of time to enjoy this luxury product and celebrate the great value you get from your membership reward points.

You can even connect to other destinations in the Middle East and South Asia (like India) on Katar Airways without additional avios.

TPG prompt: We recommend using tools such as SEATS. Aero comes to search for rewards QSuite availability.

35% Salary with points bonus for commercial platinum cardholders

American Express Business Platinum Card® There is another potentially valuable benefit: You can earn a 35% bonus on points for the airline you choose (up to 1 million points per calendar year) regardless of the airline fee credit of your chosen (registration is required; terms applicable), regardless of fare).

Qualified airlines include:

The best card to earn US fast membership reward points

Earning membership reward points is easy thanks to the various American Express cards available. These four popular options stand out among a variety of American Express Cards, offering generous welcome bonuses:

  • Platinum card for American Express: Find out your offer: After spending $8,000 on your first six months membership, you may be eligible for up to 175,000 membership reward points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
  • American Express® Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for up to 100,000 member reward points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
  • American Express Business Platinum Card: Earn 200,000 Member Reward Points after you spend $20,000 in the first three months of your card membership.
  • AmericanExpress® Commercial Gold Card: Spend $15,000 in the first three months of card membership and earn 100,000 bonus points.

Bottom line

Like other transferable points programs, the American Express membership rewards program provides an excellent sweet spot for those who redeem points through transfer partners. To help you with reward availability searches, we recommend using platforms like SEATS.Aero or other travel redemption apps.

With a strong welcome bonus, the US Express Card can help you book your dream vacation with membership reward points.

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