How to Convert Credit Card Points to Airline Miles for Maximum Rewards

Imagine turning your everyday credit card spending on groceries, bills, or online shopping into free or discounted flights. With the right strategy, your reward points can go beyond mere cashback or shopping vouchers and be transformed into valuable airline miles.

This not only helps you save on flight tickets but also opens doors to upgrades, lounge access, and premium travel experiences. While the process is straightforward, it varies depending on your card’s reward program. 

In this guide we will walk you through how to convert credit card points to airline miles efficiently, maximising your travel benefits without breaking the bank.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Transfer Credit Card Points to Airlines

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to convert credit card points to airline miles hassle-free:

Step 1: Check Out the Transfer Partners in Advance

Keep note that each transferable points currency comprises a limited partner set to whom you can transfer credit points. While you plan further for redemption, start your research with frequent flyer programs. Knowing how to convert credit card points to airline miles in advance ensures you do not miss out on bonus offers.

The table below highlights the airline for each transfer currency along with their transfer ratios:

Transfer currency/Airline partner	American Express Membership Rewards	Bilt Rewards	Brex Rewards	Capital One miles	Chase Ultimate Rewards	Citi ThankYou Rewards	Wells Fargo Rewards
Aer Lingus AerClub (Avios)	1:1	1:1			1:1		1:1
Aeromexico Club Premier	1:1.6		1,670:1,000	1:1		1:1
Air Canada Aeroplan	1:1	1:1		1:1	1:1
Air France-KLM Flying Blue	1:1	1:1	1,670:1,000	1:1	1:1	1:1	1:1
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan		1:1
American Airlines AAdvantage
ANA Mileage Club	1:1
Avianca LifeMiles	1:1	1:1	1,670:1,000	1:1		1:1	1:1
British Airways Executive Club (Avios)	1:1	1:1		1:1	1:1		1:1
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	1:1	1:1	1,670:1,000	1:1		1:1
Delta SkyMiles	1:1
Emirates Skywards	1:1	1:1	1,670:1,000	1:1	1:1	1:1
Etihad Guest	1:1			1:1		1:1
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands				4:3		1:1
Finnair Plus (Avios)				1:1
HawaiianMiles	1:1
Iberia Plus (Avios)	1:1	1:1			1:1		1:1
JetBlue TrueBlue	250:200				1:1	1:1
Qantas Frequent Flyer	1:1		1,670:1,000	1:1		1:1
Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios)	1:1*					1:1
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	1:1		1,670:1,000	1:1	1:1	1:1
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards					1:1
TAP Miles&Go				1:1
Thai Royal Orchid Plus						1:1
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles		1:1		1:1		1:1
United MileagePlus		1:1			1:1
Virgin Atlantic/Red Flying Club	1:1	1:1		1:1	1:1	1:1
Total airline transfer partners	18	12	7	15	11	14	5

Note: British Airways, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Qatar Airways and Iberia consider Avios as their reward currency. There is easy access to transferring miles between their programs as well.

Step 2: Set Up Loyalty Program Accounts for the Relevant Programs (in Advance)

Creating a loyalty program account is mandatory before transferring points. You can create a frequent flyer account for free online. Use the same name you have used while setting up your credit card (includes the middle name as well). A mismatch in name might slow down the transfer process.

For frequent travellers, understanding how to convert credit card points to airline miles is a must before setting up accounts. Here is a list of several loyalty programs well known among points and miles travellers for the value offered and wide variety of travel partners:

1. British Airways Executive Club

2. Avianca Life Miles

3. Air Canada Aeroplan

4. Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles

5. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

6. Air France-KLM Flying Blue

7. Virgin Atlantic/Red Flying Club

Step 3: Add Loyalty Programs to Your Credit Card Account (in Advance)

Adding the loyalty program to your credit card account is not necessary in advance, but it makes booking easier and hassle-free. Every credit card program follows its own process, but the approach is similar. Let us find out how each of them works and why learning how to convert credit card points to airline miles can simplify travel bookings.

1. American Express Membership Rewards

Once you have signed in, you will be directed to the Transfer points page. You will be presented with a list of airline and hotel partners and transfer rates. Click on Show Details, fill in your partner loyalty number, choose the cardholder, fill in your 3-digit CSC, and get a one-time password delivered to your email. You will receive a confirmation message once processed.

2. Chase Ultimate Rewards

Log in to your Chase account and then visit the Ultimate Rewards portal. Go to the section labelled Redeem Rewards, and then go to the Travel section and select Transfer to Travel Partners. Choose the partner, fill in the loyalty number and proceed with the instructions.

3. Bilt Rewards

Go to the Bilt App, sign in, and select the Travel tab. Select Transfer and then either Flights or Hotels. Swipe to choose the loyalty program you wish to connect to and get the loyalty number. Connect an account and get 100 Bilt points.

4. Citi ThankYou

Once you log in to thankyou.com, click on the "Travel" option and then go to "Points Transfer". Choose the partner program and then click on the "Continue" option, providing your loyalty membership number. Make sure the name on both accounts matches before you confirm.

However, for Capital One and Brex, a linking account is not needed beforehand. Just confirm the names match and keep your loyalty number ready while transferring points.

Step 4: Search for Award Availability and Determine the Number of Points You Need

The next step is to find out if the award ticket you want is available. You can look for this directly on the official website of airline's loyalty program. If the flight is not visible, it's likely not available. Even if you find the flight details, make sure to call for confirmation, as there is a "phantom availability" option sometimes.

Once you locate the flight details, calculate the points you need. Majority of transfers consider a 1:1 ratio in 1,000-point increments, though it differs across programs. Having a clear plan for how to convert credit card points to airline miles makes this stage much easier.

For instance, the Brex transfer ratio is 1,670:1,000, while for Amex to Aeromexico, it is 1:1.6. However, for transfer bonus, adjust points as required. For example, if you have a requirement of 210,000 points and already have 1,200, you will then transfer likely 174,000 points, turning the bonus to be 208,800 along with your existing balance.

To make the process easier, provide your travel details like dates, location, booking class, passenger and it will display flights available and calculate the exact points you need. This way, you have a plan and book efficiently without further confusion.

Step 5: Decide If It’s a Good Use of Your Points

Before transferring credit card points to a partner airline program, it is important to ensure you are getting good value. Treat your points like money you have worked to earn so maximise their payoff. 

Start by calculating the redemption value. You can divide the cash price of a ticket by the points required. The higher the value per point, the better the deal. Remember, award tickets usually do not earn miles, so factor in the opportunity cost if you would otherwise earn miles with cash.

Consider other benefits too. Some programs allow cash bookings, while award tickets often come with more flexibility for changes or cancellations. Align your points usage with long-term travel goals for example, saving points for an international or premium-class flight can be more rewarding than short domestic trips. Finally, check transfer ratios and promotional bonuses to stretch your points further and make smarter redemptions.

Step 6: Transfer Your Points

Once you are sure of the points you need, you can begin with the transfer process. To begin with, log in to your credit card account. Select the airline of your choice to send points to by going into the section of transfer points. Enter the number of points you wish to transfer and place the order.

You may be asked to verify your identity and provide the card number for confirmation of transfer. Prior to this, look into the availability of your award space for the flight.

Once you make the transfer, it can take several minutes or so. Once you finish, exit your loyalty program account, rejoin and view the new balance of the points. Some programs update immediately, whereas others require a delay. Rechecking will ensure that you have correctly moved over your points and are ready to use for booking flights.

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Transferable Credit Card Points and How to Convert Them to Airline Miles in India

If maximising credit card rewards is your goal, your best option is to transfer points to an airline loyalty program, which can save you a lot on flights, upgrades and premium travel components for Indian travellers. Here is what you need to know about how to convert credit card points to airline miles within Indian credit card rewards points systems.

• There are many Indian credit cards that allow point conversion to airline partners such as HDFC, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra and American Express. You can use point transfers to frequent flyer programs that include Air India, Emirates, and Jet Airways, among others, so that these points may also be redeemed for flights or seat upgrades.
• Although U.S. credit cards offer transferable points into popular programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Amex Membership Rewards, banks in India provide comparable value through their frequent flyer programs and allows for value with hotel loyalty points like Marriott Bonvoy, that can also be converted but may offer typically less value.
• Be sure to review the airline programs associated to your card prior to transferring points, as some cards may only work with an airline or some of the airline partners for flights and upgrades. Many credit cards will also run promotional transfer bonuses (meaning an additional 25-50% more miles) which can have a measurable impact on your overall value through the transfer.
• Please also be aware that most point or rewards transfers from credit cards to airline programs are one-way transfers, therefore please have a plan on how to utilize your miles prior to transferring, as you do not want to lose those redeemable rewards. Also, please be mindful of expiry dates, as you want to ensure that you don't lose rewards due to expiry dates.
• In an ideal scenario, transferring points out for a free ticket or seat upgrade is usually the best value option, however transferring points without a plan can waste points. 

You can maximise your points if you know your card's transfer options, keep up with transfer bonuses, and if you have a travel plan. Understanding how to transfer credit card points to airline miles will help you make your every transaction contribute to an affordable and upgraded travel experience.

When Is It Worth Transferring Credit Card Points to Airline Partners?

Transferring points to your airline partner is ideal when the cash fare is high and you are booking in a premium category cabin. Here are a few reasons consider this:

• High Cash Price: A high cash price provides better value while transferring points to airlines.
• Last Minute Booking: When you are booking on an urgency basis, availing points allows you to save more in comparison with high cash rates.
• Premium Category Tickets: Booking any first-class or business category flights will be cheaper through transfer points.
• Good Value Per Point: Transferring points yields a high value per point in comparison to direct booking through the official portal.
• Fixed Award Charts: Make use of airline programs through fixed award charts where the points stay fixed, even with fluctuation of cash prices.
• Flexible Ticket Policy: Award flights include cancellation policies. This can be beneficial if your plans are not set.

Conclusion

To utilise most of your rewards, make sure to convert credit card points to airline miles. Doing this, you can travel hassle-free without additional costs and experience the benefits of boarding on priority and seat upgradation. However, always look into the transfer rate before transferring points, as there are some cards providing better value compared to others.

For example, some cards convert 1,000 points to 1,000 miles, while others provide less value. Keep a note of the airline partners involved and promotions they offer to avail the best deals. Familiarising yourself with how to convert credit card points to airline miles lets you plan trips smartly.

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