Best Credit Card Transfer Partners in 2026

Transferable credit card points become truly powerful when you move them to the right airline or hotel partner. A point that is worth 1 cent as a statement credit can be worth 2, 3, or even 5 cents or more when transferred to a partner and used for a specific award booking. But with dozens of transfer partners spread across Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One Miles, knowing which partners deliver the most value is critical.

This guide identifies the best transfer partners for 2026, including the specific sweet spot redemptions that make each partner worth your attention.

How Transfer Partners Work

When you transfer points from your credit card to an airline or hotel loyalty program, the points typically convert at a 1:1 ratio. So 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points become 50,000 Hyatt points, or 50,000 United miles, or 50,000 British Airways Avios.

The value you get depends entirely on how you redeem those partner miles or points. A transfer to United that books a $300 domestic flight at 12,500 miles yields 2.4 cents per point. A transfer to Hyatt that books a $600 hotel night at 25,000 points yields 2.4 cents per point as well. But a transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan that books a $5,000 business class flight at 75,000 miles yields 6.7 cents per point. The partner and redemption you choose drive the value.

Transfers are typically instant or take a few minutes, though some partners can take up to 24 hours. Importantly, transfers are irreversible. Once you move points to a partner, you cannot move them back. This is why you should only transfer when you have confirmed award availability and are ready to book.

Best Airline Transfer Partners

World of Hyatt (Chase Ultimate Rewards)

Hyatt is technically a hotel partner, but it deserves the top spot in any transfer partner discussion. Hyatt points are consistently the most valuable hotel points in the industry, delivering 1.5 to 2.5 cents per point on most redemptions and occasionally exceeding 3 cents per point at premium properties.

Why it stands out: Hyatt’s award chart is the most generous among major hotel chains. Properties that charge $400 to $600 per night often require just 15,000 to 25,000 points. The brand portfolio includes Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara resorts, giving you options from luxury city hotels to beachfront resorts.

Sweet spot redemptions: Category 1 through 4 properties offer exceptional value, with nightly rates of 3,500 to 15,000 points for hotels that charge $100 to $300 per night. The all-inclusive resorts at Hyatt Ziva and Zilara are some of the best values in the points world, as the award rate covers all meals, drinks, and activities.

Transfer source: Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1 ratio)

Air Canada Aeroplan (Chase, Amex, Capital One)

Aeroplan is one of the most versatile airline programs because it has transfer partnerships with all three major credit card currencies and offers access to flights across the entire Star Alliance network plus partner airlines.

Why it stands out: Aeroplan’s award chart offers competitive rates on long-haul flights, and the program frequently has excellent business and first class availability on partner airlines like Lufthansa, Swiss, EVA Air, ANA, and Turkish Airlines. The ability to book mixed-cabin itineraries and stopover awards adds flexibility that most programs lack.

Sweet spot redemptions: North America to Europe in business class for 60,000 to 70,000 miles is a strong value. Flights to Japan in business class on ANA or EVA Air for similar rates deliver even more value given the premium cabin product quality. Short-haul flights within North America at 6,000 to 12,500 miles for economy are also competitive.

Transfer sources: Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1), Amex Membership Rewards (1:1), Capital One Miles (1:1)

Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles (Capital One)

Turkish Airlines operates one of the most rewarding frequent flyer programs for long-haul business class travel, and it has become a favorite among Capital One cardholders.

Why it stands out: Miles and Smiles offers remarkably low rates for Star Alliance partner flights, particularly in business class. The program also allows round-trip awards, which means a single booking covers both directions at a rate that often undercuts one-way pricing on other programs.

Sweet spot redemptions: Round-trip business class flights between North America and Europe for approximately 45,000 miles are some of the best values available. Domestic United flights can be booked for as few as 7,500 miles one-way in economy.

Transfer source: Capital One Miles (1:1)

British Airways Avios (Chase, Amex)

British Airways Executive Club uses a distance-based award chart that makes short-haul flights incredibly cheap while still offering decent value on longer routes.

Why it stands out: The distance-based pricing means that short flights cost very few Avios regardless of the airline operating the flight. Since British Airways partners with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and other oneworld carriers, you can use Avios to book flights on domestic US routes operated by American Airlines at rates that are far below what American charges through its own program.

Sweet spot redemptions: Short domestic US flights on American Airlines for 7,500 Avios one-way in economy. Hawaii to the mainland for 13,000 Avios. Short European flights on BA or Iberia for 6,000 to 10,000 Avios. Off-peak awards can be even cheaper.

Transfer sources: Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1), Amex Membership Rewards (1:1)

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (Chase, Amex, Capital One)

Singapore Airlines offers some of the best premium cabin products in the world, including their famous Suites Class, and their miles program is one of the few ways to book these products with points.

Why it stands out: If flying Singapore Airlines Suites, First Class, or Business Class is on your bucket list, KrisFlyer miles are the primary way to make it happen. The program also offers access to Star Alliance partner awards, giving it broader utility beyond Singapore Airlines flights.

Sweet spot redemptions: Singapore Airlines business class from the US to Southeast Asia for 86,000 to 92,000 miles offers exceptional value given the $5,000 or more cash price. Partner economy awards on Star Alliance carriers can also be competitive for specific routes.

Transfer sources: Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1), Amex Membership Rewards (1:1), Capital One Miles (1:1)

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (Chase, Amex, Capital One)

Virgin Atlantic’s program is often overlooked, but it offers some of the best value for booking specific partner airlines, particularly ANA and Delta.

Why it stands out: Virgin Atlantic is one of the cheapest ways to book ANA first class and business class between the US and Japan. The program also allows booking Delta flights, sometimes at rates lower than Delta’s own SkyMiles program charges.

Sweet spot redemptions: ANA business class from the US to Japan for 55,000 to 60,000 miles one-way is outstanding value. ANA first class for 110,000 to 120,000 miles round-trip is one of the most celebrated sweet spots in the entire points and miles world. Delta domestic flights can sometimes be found at competitive rates as well.

Transfer sources: Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1), Amex Membership Rewards (1:1), Capital One Miles (1:1)

Best Hotel Transfer Partners

World of Hyatt (Covered Above)

Already discussed as the top partner overall. The value is simply unmatched among hotel programs.

Marriott Bonvoy (Amex)

Marriott has the largest hotel portfolio in the world, with over 8,000 properties across 30 brands. While Marriott points are worth less per point than Hyatt, the sheer number of properties means you can almost always find a Marriott option wherever you travel.

Sweet spot redemptions: Off-peak Category 1 through 3 properties at 7,500 to 17,500 points per night offer solid value at budget-friendly hotels. The ability to convert Marriott points to airline miles (typically at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 transferred) adds a useful escape valve if you accumulate more hotel points than you need.

Transfer source: Amex Membership Rewards (1:1, though Amex to Marriott transfers are less efficient than Amex to airline partners)

Strategy: How to Choose the Right Partner

When deciding where to transfer your points, follow this decision process.

Start with the trip. Decide where you want to go and when before looking at transfer options. Search for award availability on the airlines and hotels that serve your route.

Compare redemption value. If multiple partners have availability, calculate the cents-per-point value of each option. Transfer to the partner that delivers the highest value.

Check for transfer bonuses. Credit card issuers periodically offer bonus miles when transferring to specific partners (for example, a 30% bonus on transfers to British Airways). If a bonus is active for a partner you plan to use, the effective value of your points increases.

Transfer only what you need. Since transfers are irreversible, only move the exact number of points required for your booking. If the award costs 60,000 miles, transfer 60,000 points, not 75,000.

Confirm availability before transferring. Many programs let you hold award space temporarily or check availability in detail before committing points. Always confirm that the flights or nights you want are bookable before initiating a transfer.

The transfer partner ecosystem is what makes flexible credit card points so powerful. Understanding which partners deliver the best value for your specific travel goals transforms generic reward points into business class flights, luxury hotel stays, and travel experiences that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.