October's credit card transfer bonuses: Get a 20% bonus when converting Amex points to Flying Blue.

To truly optimize your points and miles, occasional transfer bonuses can present valuable chances for excellent award redemptions. By transferring to a specific airline or hotel partner during these promotions, you can often gain significantly more from your rewards.

Keep in mind, these offers are only available for a limited time.

We've gathered the transfer bonuses for major programs with transferable rewards to simplify tracking these deals. Be aware that transfer bonuses can be targeted, so they might not be accessible to everyone.

Transfer bonus for American Express Membership Rewards.

Currently, American Express is offering a compelling transfer bonus to Flying Blue, the loyalty program shared by Air France and KLM.

Until November 10, Amex cardholders with this offer can earn a 20% bonus when converting their Membership Rewards points into Flying Blue miles.

This means that transferring 50,000 Amex points would result in 60,000 Flying Blue miles.

Flying Blue is a extremely valuable loyalty program for travelers aiming to book international flights, whether you're planning to fly directly to Air France or KLM hubs in Paris or Amsterdam, or connecting to another global destination.

Last month, TPG aviation reporter Sean Cudahy traveled to Rome (via Paris) on Air France economy for only 15,000 Flying Blue miles one-way — transferred from Amex.

Now, those Amex points will stretch even further with these transfers. This bonus opportunity is available until 11:59 p.m. MST on Nov. 10 (1:59 a.m. EST on Nov. 11).

How to accumulate American Express Membership Rewards points.

If you want to boost your earnings of these valuable points, consider adding the following Amex cards to your wallet:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on your new card within the first six months.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after making $6,000 in purchases during your first six months. Additionally, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within this period.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.

Use the CardMatch tool to check if you qualify for an even more generous welcome offer (subject to change at any time).

You can also boost your Membership Rewards points by enrolling in Amex Offers and shopping through Rakuten.

According to TPG's October 2024 valuations, Membership Rewards points are valued at 2 cents each, and our tests show they transfer instantly to most of Amex's transfer partners.

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer bonus

Chase Ultimate Rewards is currently offering a valuable transfer bonus to British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Aer Lingus AerClub. You can earn 30% more Avios when transferring your Ultimate Rewards points to these programs until the end of October. Typically, points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, so this bonus allows for a favorable rate of 1:1.3.

While Finnair Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club also use Avios as their currency, Chase Ultimate Rewards points cannot be transferred directly to these programs. However, if you have a specific redemption in mind, you can first transfer your Chase points to British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus, and then transfer your new Avios to your Finnair or Qatar account.

Chase members can also benefit from a 50% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy available from now until Nov. 15. Since Chase points transfer to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio, this bonus means you’ll enjoy a rate of 1:1.5.

According to TPG's October 2024 valuations, Chase points are valued at 2.05 cents each, while Marriott Bonvoy points are valued at 0.85 cents each. Therefore, if you transfer 1,000 Chase points (worth $20.50) using the current bonus, your resulting 1,500 Marriott points would only be valued at $12.75. This represents a loss in value, so we recommend transferring only if you have a specific redemption planned.

How to accumulate Chase Ultimate Rewards points

To increase your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, consider adding the following Chase cards to your wallet:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after making $8,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.

If you hold one (or more) of the above cards, you can consolidate your Ultimate Rewards points into a single account. This allows you to effectively convert the cash-back earnings from the following cards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points:

• Chase Freedom Flex®: Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases in the first year (on up to $20,000 spent), amounting to as much as $300 cash back.
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn up to $750 bonus cash back: $350 after spending $3,000 within the first three months and an additional $400 after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening.
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Earn $900 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

As per TPG's October 2024 valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points hold a value of 2.05 cents each when used optimally with travel partners. Most Ultimate Rewards transfers are processed instantly.

Capital One transfer bonus

Currently, there are no transfer bonuses available for Capital One.

How to accumulate Capital One miles

If you want to earn more transferable miles, consider the following Capital One cards as great options:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG's October 2024 valuations, Capital One miles are valued at 1.85 cents each, and most transfers from Capital One are processed instantly.

For further information, check out our guides on Capital One transfer partners and how to transfer Capital One miles to airline and hotel partners.

Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer bonus

Currently, Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering two transfer bonuses. You can transfer your Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Avianca LifeMiles with a 25% bonus, which means your points will convert at a rate of 1:1.25. Thus, for every 1,000 Citi points you transfer, you’ll receive 1,250 LifeMiles.

According to TPG's October 2024 valuations, Citi points are valued at 1.8 cents each, while LifeMiles are valued at 1.6 cents each. Therefore, 1,000 Citi points equate to $18, and 1,250 LifeMiles amount to $20. Given that loyalty programs frequently experience devaluations, we advise against transferring points blindly unless you have a specific redemption planned. However, this could be a beneficial transfer if you're looking to book a trip with LifeMiles.

Citi is also offering a 25% transfer bonus to Leaders Club, the loyalty program for The Leading Hotels of the World. Since Citi points typically transfer to Leaders Club at a rate of 5:1, this bonus effectively changes the rate to 4:1. Thus, for every 1,000 Citi points you transfer, you'll receive 250 Leaders Club points.

Both transfer bonuses will expire on Oct. 19. Please note that some Citi transfers may not process instantly, so consider the transfer time if you're aiming to book an award with limited availability.

How to accumulate Citi ThankYou Rewards points

The following Citi credit cards can be excellent options for earning Citi ThankYou Rewards points:

• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card* (see rates and fees): Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. A better offer may be available directly through citi.com.
• Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first three months from account opening. Additionally, earn 5 bonus ThankYou Rewards points for every dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions via the Citi travel portal until Dec. 31, 2025. (Note: To access a complete, transferable ThankYou points account, you must pair this card with a premium Citi ThankYou card.)

*Note: By applying directly on citi.com, you can earn 75,000 bonus points, compared to the 70,000 bonus points available through TPG's affiliate link. We strive to ensure our readers receive the highest bonuses possible.

Marriott Bonvoy transfer bonus

Currently, Marriott Bonvoy is providing a 15% transfer bonus to Air Canada's Aeroplan until Oct. 31. Typically, Marriott points convert to Aeroplan at a 3:1 ratio, and you receive an additional 5,000 Aeroplan points for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. Therefore, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott points, you'll get 20,000 Aeroplan points plus the bonus of 5,000 Aeroplan points.

With the current transfer bonus, you'll receive an extra 15%, which means that transferring 60,000 Marriott points would yield you 20,000 Aeroplan points and an additional 3,000 Aeroplan points. In total, this means transferring 60,000 Marriott points nets you 28,000 Aeroplan points with the bonus.

But is this offer worthwhile?

According to TPG's October valuations, Marriott points are valued at 0.85 cents each, while Aeroplan points are valued at 1.5 cents each. Thus, 60,000 Bonvoy points are worth $510, while 28,000 Aeroplan points hold a value of $420. While you may lose some value, if you have a specific Aeroplan flight in mind and a surplus of Marriott points, it could be beneficial to transfer.

How to accumulate Marriott Bonvoy points

If you're interested in boosting your Marriott Bonvoy points, consider the following Marriott Bonvoy cards:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 125,000 bonus points after making $5,000 in purchases during the first three months from account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Receive three free night awards after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months. Each award can be redeemed for up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at participating hotels. Note that resort fees and terms may apply.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points plus one free night award (worth up to 50,000 points) after spending $2,000 in the first three months from account opening. Be aware that some hotels impose resort fees.

According to TPG's October 2024 valuations, Marriott Bonvoy points are valued at 0.85 cents each. Before transferring points, it's advisable to check our tests of Marriott transfer times, as some airlines may take several days (or even weeks) to process the points.

Is transferring points a good idea?

We suggest only transferring points or miles if you have a clear, short-term plan for their use. Many programs have seen devaluations recently, so speculative transfers could end up being unwise.

Transfers are final, and you don't want to find yourself with thousands of points or miles in a program that isn't beneficial for you.

If you don’t have a specific redemption goal but still wish to earn points or miles, focusing on card welcome bonuses and regular spending might be more advantageous.

Additionally, always check for award availability prior to transferring your rewards to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

In summary

When a program with transferable currency presents a transfer bonus, it's crucial to crunch the numbers to see if it's beneficial.

Typically, you should avoid transferring your points or miles without a clear redemption goal. The true value of transferable points lies in their flexibility, which you forfeit once you convert them to a partner's currency. However, a transfer bonus can enhance the value of your points if you frequently use a partner program or plan to redeem soon.