Step-by-step: How (and why!) to transfer Amex points to British Airways

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Lots of folks like using British Airways Avios points to book award flights on British Airways and their partner airlines. That’s because their distance-based award chart is great for short-haul flights, for cheap award flights to Europe or for flights from the West Coast to Hawaii.

Here’s how to transfer Membership Rewards points to British Airways. Along with a few examples of why it could be a good deal for you.

Why you should consider transferring your Amex points to British Airways Avios

The beauty of Amex Membership Rewards points is their flexibility. No matter where you plan to go, you’re likely to find a transfer partner that fits your needs.

Transferring your Amex points to British Airways Avios is a good option for those looking to book flights with British Airways or their partners. And earning Amex points instead of British Airways is a smart move because of the options Amex points provide. 

For example, I’ve transferred Amex points to British Airways for non-stop flights on Alaska Airlines between Missoula, MT, and Seattle. And for non-stop American Airlines flights between Dallas and Missoula, MT. 

How to Transfer Amex Points to British Airways

Step 1.   Know the rules

You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000-point increments.

You can only transfer points into your British Airways account or the British Airways account of an authorized user. And be sure to only transfer the points you need, because once transferred, points can not be redeposited back into your Amex account.

Transfers to British Airways are usually instant.

Step 2.   Log-in to Your Amex account

After signing-in to your Amex account, click the “More” dropdown and select “Rewards.”

Step 3.   Navigate to the points transfer page

From there, click “Transfer Points” and then click the “View All” button (if British Airways doesn’t show on this particular page).

You’ll be brought to the page listing all of the Membership Rewards transfer partners. Click on British Airways.

Step 4.   Enter Your British Airways account information

If your British Airways account is already linked, you’ll now be prompted to enter the name of the Amex Membership Rewards account holder. It must match the name on the British Airways account you’re transferring to.

If your accounts aren’t linked, select British Airways as the partner you’d like to transfer to and then enter the information requested, like your Amex card’s security info and British Airways account number.

Then, verify your card information and add your British Airways account number and click “Link Account.”

You’ll see a confirmation screen showing your accounts have been linked. You can click “Continue to Transfer Points” or wait to automatically be redirected to the points transfer page.

Step 5.   Transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points to British Airways

After your account is successfully linked you can transfer points.  Enter the number of points you wish to transfer (in 1,000-point increments).

You’ll see how many British Airways Avios points will be deposited into your account.

Agree to the terms & conditions, and click “Confirm & Transfer Points.”

Afterward, you will get a confirmation message showing a transfer time of up to seven days, although in my personal experience transfers are usually instant.

How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points

The quickest way to give your Amex Membership Rewards points balance a big boost is with card welcome offers from cards like:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express – Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• American Express® Gold Card – Earn 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• And others!

Other flexible points British Airways transfer options

You can transfer these other flexible points to British Airways:

Chase Ultimate Rewards

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000-point increments to British Airways, and you can transfer points into the account of a household member at the same address.  The following cards earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Ink Bold (no longer available)
• Ink Plus (no longer available)

For more details, check out my post on how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to British Airways.

Marriott Points

• Transfer ratio 3:1
• 5,000 British Airways Avios point bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred

You’ll find detailed information about Marriott credit card offers here.

FAQ

What’s the difference between British Airways Avios and Iberia Avios? 

All three Avios are currencies from the five airlines within the International Airlines Group (IAG). These airlines include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling.

While each of these airlines offers its own Avios points, you can move your Avios between accounts. This means you can take advantage of each of the program’s benefits. 

For example, British Airways Avios are great for short-haul flights within the U.S. and Europe. Whereas Ibeara Avios are the best choice for flying business class to Spain.

What are other transfer partners I should consider? 

Amex offers a variety of transfer partners including both airlines and hotels. Some of the most valuable transfer partners include Singapore Airlines and Delta. But deciding which transfer partners to consider comes down to where you want to go and which class you’re looking to fly.

What are the best uses of British Airways Avios? 

There are a number of ways to use your British Airways Avios points, some that are more valuable than others. One of the top ways to use your Avios is for Aer Lingus flights from certain U.S. cities to Ireland. Not only will you pay lower fuel surcharges, but you’ll also pay fewer points compared to booking a British Airways flight to these same spots.

Another great use of British Airways Avios points is for short-haul non-stop flights within the U.S. on either Alaska or American. Flights under 1,150 miles on American and Alaska Airlines cost just 7,500 Avios. And those flights only charge $5.60 in tax, which is an excellent deal!

How do I find special transfer options?

Amex sometimes offers bonuses on transferred points. Taking advantage of a bonus transfer can help get you even more value from our Amex Membership Rewards points. These transfer bonuses are available through the Amex site and will show once you’ve navigated to the transfer partners page. 

For example, at the time of writing, Amex was offering a 40% bonus for transfers to Hilton. Amex points usually transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio, meaning that during this promotion, points transfer at a 1:2.8 ratio. So, you’d get 2,800 Honors points for every 1,000 Membership Rewards points transferred.

Bottom line

You can use British Airways Avios points for all sorts of great redemptions.  And it’s simple and easy to transfer them from your Amex Membership Rewards account!

Once you link your Amex Membership Rewards and British Airways accounts, you can transfer points in 1,000-point increments.  And most transfers are instant.