Best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points, from business-class flights to Europe to budget-friendly hotel stays
Editor's Note
It's no secret that American Express Membership Rewards points are one of our favorite credit card reward currencies.
TPG's June 2026 valuations value Membership Rewards points at 2 cents per point. However, using the right transfer partners makes it easy to get even more value from your points. And with American Express having 17 airline partners and three hotel partners, you have many ways to maximize your points.
To highlight this value, let's look at some of the best ways to redeem your Membership Rewards points — from high-end business-class redemptions to domestic flights around the U.S., there are several ways to stretch your points for the best possible travel experience.
How to earn Membership Rewards points
The best way to earn Membership Rewards points quickly is through welcome offers on Amex's top cards. Here are some of our favorites:
- American Express Platinum Card®: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. 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 as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Related: 4 reasons why the Amex Gold is the 1 card we can't live without
How to use your Membership Rewards points
You're likely to get the most value from your Amex points by transferring them to partner programs. Membership Rewards partners with 17 different airlines, including Air Canada, JetBlue and British Airways. You also have the option to transfer your points to three hotel chains: Hilton, Marriott and Choice Hotels.
You can book flights or hotels directly through American Express Travel, but redeeming points with a transfer partner usually results in a better redemption value. This is because Amex Travel only lets you redeem at a set 1 cent per point value for flights, while transfers can yield a much higher value.
Most Membership Rewards transfers process instantly, while others can take up to 48 hours. For more information, see our guide to Membership Rewards transfer times.
Here are some of the best ways to redeem your Membership Rewards by transferring them to partners.
Fly Air France or KLM business class to Europe from 60,000 miles
If you want to travel to Europe comfortably, consider transferring your Membership Rewards points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. The program prices award tickets dynamically, so on peak dates, you can be charged more than 200,000 miles for a flight to Europe. However, the program standardized saver-level pricing for one-way business-class flights between the U.S. and Europe, meaning you can redeem as few as 60,000 miles, plus taxes, fees and surcharges.
Before transferring Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue to book this sweet spot, confirm award availability by searching for your preferred dates on Air France's website or by using an award travel tool like Seats.aero.
Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards are also worth checking out, as they can offer a limited-time 25% discount on award tickets in all classes of service. Flying Blue refreshes this sale every month, switching up which cities are eligible for a discount.
Book domestic flights from just 4,000 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles may be notorious for charging hundreds of thousands of miles for long-haul flights, especially in premium cabins, but short-haul domestic flights booked with Delta's Main Basic fare can offer terrific value. Select routes require just 4,000 American Express points transferred at a 1:1 rate to SkyMiles, plus only $6 in taxes and fees.
Or, if you'd prefer a few more perks, Main Classic fares start from 6,800 Delta SkyMiles (or 6,800 transferred Amex points) for select routes.
Enjoy the world's longest nonstop flight to Singapore in comfort
Singapore Airlines operates two of the world's longest flights: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
You probably don't want to spend 18-plus hours in an uncomfortable seat, so use your Membership Rewards points to fly business class. Both routes cost 111,500 KrisFlyer miles plus taxes and fees one-way for a saver award — a small price to pay for comfort on such a long flight.
Book Iberia flights to Madrid starting at 16,000 Avios
Booking premium cabin award flights to Europe can be a complicated and expensive endeavor, but Amex's transfer partner, Iberia Club, uses a distance-based award chart.
This is still one of the best options to consider when searching for select nonstop flights to Spain.
Here are the one-way award prices:
| Destination to/from Madrid | Blue class/basic economy (off-peak/peak) | Economy comfort (off-peak/peak) | Premium economy (off-peak/peak) | Business (off-peak/peak) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16,000 Avios/19,500 Avios | 25,000 Avios/31,500 Avios | 29,500 Avios/40,250 Avios | 40,500 Avios/59,000 Avios |
| 20,000 Avios/24,250 Avios | 31,250 Avios/39,000 Avios | 36,750 Avios/50,500 Avios | 50,500 Avios/74,000 Avios |
| 24,000 Avios/29,250 Avios | 37,250 Avios/46,500 Avios | 44,000 Avios/60,500 Avios | 60,600 Avios/88,500 Avios |
Off-peak business-class flights offer the best deal. You can fly one-way from the northeast (or Puerto Rico) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for just 16,000 Avios in economy, 25,500 Avios in premium economy and 40,500 Avios in business class. Off-peak dates span most of the calendar year, excluding holidays and the summer months.
Related: 5 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways
Lock in stays at Choice hotels around the world
The Choice Privileges program is not as well known as those from larger hotel groups like Marriott and Hilton, but it's still worth your attention. Thanks to its reasonable redemption rates, you can get decent value by transferring Membership Rewards points to Choice Privileges at a 1:1 rate.
For example, you can use just 15,000 points per night to book a stay at the Comfort Inn Gurnee near Six Flags in Illinois. This can be a good option for a staycation near Chicago or a stop on a long road trip.
Things get more exciting when you travel abroad. Properties in Tokyo (a traditionally expensive city for hotels) can be booked from as little as 8,000 points per night. The Comfort Suites Tokyo Bay is a great location if visiting nearby Tokyo Disney Resort and an excellent use of Amex points.
Related: Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
Fly Qatar Airways Qsuite to the Middle East and beyond
One of the best ways to use Amex points is to transfer them to Qatar Airways Privilege Club to book the world-renowned Qsuite business-class seat. By transferring 70,000 Amex points to Qatar Airways, you can fly from any one of its U.S. gateways to its hub at Doha's Hamad International Airport (DOH), where saver availability exists, though it's limited and not available on all dates.
Qsuite changed the business-class landscape by being the first to offer a private suite with a door and in an optimal 1-2-1 configuration for great privacy and direct aisle access. Seats in the middle can be laid flat to form a double bed, which is an excellent perk for couples and families traveling with a child. You can also expect excellent inflight dining with Western and Arabic options.
Travel to London via Virgin Atlantic for as few as 6,000 points
Points and miles enthusiasts are traditionally no fans of dynamic pricing on airline award tickets, but there is one exception: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
The loyalty program introduced dynamic pricing on its own flights back in October 2024. After the change, the cost of award tickets decreased on most off-peak dates, with flights from the East Coast being the cheapest.
You can fly between JFK, BOS or IAD and London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) or between JFK and Manchester Airport (MAN) in the U.K. for as few as 6,000 Virgin points in economy. Even better, you can often find one-way premium economy awards for under 15,000 points and business-class awards for as low as 29,000 points. Taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges are fairly high; expect to pay around $163 in economy and $700 in Upper Class business class per one-way ticket.
These are excellent redemption rates, but when combined with a transfer bonus, they are even more amazing. In the past, we've seen transfer bonuses of up to 40% from Amex Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Related: Bringing the fun back to flying: Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Class review
Bottom line
Whether you're looking for first-class airfare, an economy flight home for the holidays or a road trip hotel, you can use Membership Rewards points to cover it all.
Use these examples as inspiration for your next big trip. Not only will you have an upgraded experience, but you'll spend significantly less out of pocket.
Related: Amex Membership Rewards vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Which is best?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.