American Express Membership Rewards points are among the most flexible rewards currencies available to U.S. cardholders — but only if you know how to use them. Booking flights with Amex points the wrong way can leave you getting just 1 cent per point when the best redemptions deliver 4, 8, even 12 cents per point on the same balance.

This guide covers everything you need to know about how to use Amex points for flights in 2026: the two main booking paths, the transfer partners worth your time, a step-by-step transfer walkthrough, the sweet spots delivering the best value right now, and the one option most cardholders never consider — selling your points for guaranteed cash instead.

Two Ways to Use Amex Points for Flights

When it comes to booking flights with Amex Membership Rewards, you have two distinct paths:

• Book through the Amex Travel portal — straightforward, no award charts, 1 cent per point (or up to 1.54¢ with the Business Platinum 35% rebate).
• Transfer to an airline partner and book an award flight — more complex, but consistently delivers 2–12¢+ per point on the right redemptions.

For most travelers, transfer partners are where the real value lives. But the portal has its place — let's break down both.

Option 1: Book Through the Amex Travel Portal

The simplest way to use Amex points for flights is to book directly through AmexTravel.com. Log in, search for flights as normal, and at checkout select "Use Points" to apply your Membership Rewards balance.

The rate: 1 cent per point, flat. A $500 flight costs 50,000 points.

The upside: No award chart to navigate, no transfer required, no blackout dates, and you still earn airline miles since it books as a paid fare.

The downside: 1¢ per point is well below what transfer partners can deliver. You're leaving real money on the table.

Exception — Amex Business Platinum cardholders: As of September 2025, the Business Platinum offers a 35% Pay with Points rebate on flights booked on your selected qualifying airline. Book a 100,000-point flight and 35,000 points come back — bringing effective value to approximately 1.54¢ per point. Still below the best transfer redemptions, but a meaningful improvement over the standard portal rate.

Option 2: Transfer to an Airline Partner (Best Value)

This is how you use Amex points for flights and actually maximize their value. As of July 2026, American Express Membership Rewards transfers to 16 airline partners and 3 hotel partners — Etihad Guest transfers ended permanently on June 30, 2026.

Most transfers happen at a 1:1 ratio — 1,000 Amex points become 1,000 airline miles. Key exceptions:

Critical transfer rules to know:

• Transfers are one-way and irreversible — always confirm award availability before initiating
• Most transfers post within minutes; ANA, British Airways, Virgin, Singapore, Qantas, and Aeromexico can take up to 48 hours
• Minimum: 1,000 points for most partners (250 for JetBlue, 500 for Qantas)
• Excise tax applies to Delta and JetBlue transfers only — $0.0006/point, capped at $99

Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Amex Points to an Airline

1. 1
   Confirm award availability first. Go to your target airline's website and confirm the specific flight, date, and cabin are available and bookable. Do not transfer until you've confirmed this.
2. 2
   Log in to americanexpress.com. Go to your account dashboard.
3. 3
   Navigate to Membership Rewards. Go to Rewards & Benefits and select "Transfer Points" under the Ready to Redeem section.
4. 4
   Select your airline partner. Click "View All" in the bottom right to see the complete list of 16 airline partners.
5. 5
   Link your frequent flyer account (first time only). Enter your frequent flyer account number and complete the linking process.
6. 6
   Enter transfer amount and confirm. Transfer in 1,000-point increments. Review the ratio carefully — once confirmed, it cannot be undone.
7. 7
   Wait for posting. Most partners post instantly. ANA, BA, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore, and Qantas can take up to 48 hours.
8. 8
   Book immediately once miles post. Award space can disappear quickly. Some partners like United and Air Canada offer 24-hour holds — use them when available.

Best Amex Transfer Partners for Flights in 2026

Value Comparison: Every Way to Use Amex Points for Flights

When Selling Your Amex Points Beats Using Them for Flights

Knowing how to use Amex points for flights is valuable — but equally important is knowing when not to bother. There are clear situations where selling your points to MilesBuyer makes more financial sense:

• You can't find award space on the routes you want. All the best Amex redemptions depend on premium cabin availability, which is limited and often disappears fast.
• You're not planning international premium cabin travel. The 4–12¢ sweet spots only apply to specific premium routes. Domestic economy gets you 1–1.5¢ — comparable to a cash sale with far less hassle.
• Your balance is larger than you can realistically use. 500,000 Amex points is difficult to burn through on personal travel. A direct cash sale turns that into real money fast.
• Your Amex card is closing. Membership Rewards points are forfeited within 30 days of account closure. Sell before you close.
• You want guaranteed value today. Program devaluations happen. Transfer partner sweet spots disappear. Selling locks in cash at today's rate.

Frequently Asked Questions