Major Transferable Points Programs (UR,MR,TYP)

Below is an analysis of transfers from the three major bank programs along with Starwood’s program. This analysis assumes that you have a premium card (generally with an annual fee) from the issuer allowing the maximum benefits.

  • Chase Ultimate Rewards (“Chase”)
    • Chase Sapphire Preferred®
    • Ink Plus®
    • Ink Bold® (no longer accepting new cardholders)
    • J.P. Morgan Select Card
    • J.P. Morgan Palladium Card
    • Chase Corporate Flex Card(SM)
  • American Express Membership Rewards (“AMEX”)
    • Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
    • Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
    • Gold Card from American Express
    • American Express® Green Card
    • American Express® Senior Gold Card ($40 fee)
    • American Express® Senior Green Card ($40 fee)
    • American Express® Traditional Gold Card ($40 fee)
    • American Express® Traditional Green Card ($40 fee)
    • Ameriprise Gold Card
    • Centurion® Card (aka the Black Card)
    • Fidelity American Express® Gold Card ($40 fee)
    • Fidelity American Express® Green Card ($40 fee)
    • Mercedes-Benz Credit Card from American Express
    • Morgan Stanley Credit Card from American Express
    • Platinum Card from American Express®
    • Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express
    • Business Centurion® Card from American Express OPEN®
    • Business Gold Card ($40 fee)
    • Business Gold Rewards Card
    • Business Green Cards (Not all cards are eligible; $40 fee)
    • Business Green Rewards Card
    • Business Membership Rewards® Card
    • Business Platinum Card®
    • Business Purchase Account ($40 fee)
    • Costco Business Cards (Not all cards are eligible; $40 fee)
    • Executive Business Card ($40 fee)
    • Small Business Card℠
    • American Express® Corporate Green Card (Check with Employer, $90 fee)
    • American Express® Corporate Gold Card (Check with Employer, $90 fee)
    • Corporate Centurion® Card from American Express (Check with Employer)
    • Corporate Platinum Card® from American Express (Check with Employer)
    • Global Dollar Card – American Express® Corporate Platinum Card (Check with Employer)
    • Global Dollar Card – American Express® Corporate Card (Check with Employer, $75 fee)
    • Global Dollar Card – American Express® Corporate Executive Gold Card (Check with Employer, $90 fee)
  • Citibank Thank You Points (“Citi”)
    • Citi ThankYou® Premier
    • Citi Prestige®
    • Citi Chairman®

All are 1:1 unless otherwise noted. Note that Starwood transfers at 4:5 when transferring in 20k point increments.

I have bolded the programs that I tend to use. These are more heavily weighted to the US partner in a global alliance as I usually default to going through an airline domestic to me for convenience.

Chase AMEX Citi Starwood
Star Alliance Singapore Airlines, United AirCanada, ANA, Singapore EvaAir, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways AirCanada, AirChina, Air New Zealand (65:1), ANA, Asiana, Luftansa, Singapore, Thai Airways, United (2:1)
OneWorld British Airways (1:1) Asia Miles(Cathay), British Airways (5:4), Iberia (5:4) Asia Miles(Cathay), Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Air Berlin, American, Asia Miles(Cathay), British Airways, JAL, LAN, Qatar
Skyteam KoreanAir Delta, AeroMexico, AirFrance/KLM, Alitalia AirFrance/KLM, Garuda Indonesia AeroMexico, AirFrance/KLM, Alitalia, China Eastern, China Southern, Delta, KoreanAir, Saudia
Independents Southwest, Virgin Atlantic El Al (50:1), Emirates, Hawaiian, JetBlue (5:4), Virgin America (2:1), Virgin Atlantic Ethiad, Virgin America (2:1), Virgin Atlantic Alaska, Emirates, Ethiad, Gol, Hainan, Hawaiian, Jet Airways, Velocity, Virgin Atlantic
Marriott Family Marriott/Ritz
Hilton Family Hilton 1:1.5 Hilton 1:2(limited time)
Starwood Starwood 3:1 Of course
Hyatt Family Hyatt
IHG IHG
Best Western Ending
Choice Choice
Cash Travel 1.25c/point Limited to Amex Biz Platinum 1.25c/point(1.33-1.66 w/Prestige)

Note that Chase also had the ability to transfer to Amtrak but that is ending on December 8, 2015.