One of the best ways to maximize your rewards points is by taking advantage of credit card transfer bonuses to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Many of the top credit card issuers offer these promotions, which allow you to get more value from your points when transferring them to partner airlines and hotels.
If you’re looking to boost your points and get more out of your rewards, here’s a comprehensive list of the most significant transfer bonuses from American Express, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Marriott.
American Express Transfer Bonuses
American Express is well-known for offering some of the most generous transfer bonuses, especially during certain times of the year. Here’s a look at their bonuses from 2023-2025:
| Loyalty Program | Transfer Bonus | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 30% | Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2023 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 40% | Dec 1 – Dec 31, 2024 |
| Hilton Honors | 30% | Aug 1 – Aug 31, 2023 |
| Hilton Honors | 30% | Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2024 |
| British Airways Avios | 40% | Jun 1 – Jun 30, 2023 |
| British Airways Avios | 30% | Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2024 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 30% | Dec 1 – Dec 31, 2023 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 35% | Dec 1 – Dec 31, 2024 |
| Aeromexico Club Premier | 25% | Mar 1 – Mar 31, 2023 |
Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Bonuses
Chase Ultimate Rewards often runs promotions with excellent transfer bonuses, particularly for airline partners.
Here’s a look at their 2023-2025 bonuses:
| Loyalty Program | Transfer Bonus | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | 20% | Apr 1 – Apr 30, 2023 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 30% | Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2023 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 20% | Jan 1 – Jan 15, 2025 |
| British Airways Avios | 25% | May 1 – May 31, 2023 |
| Hyatt World of Hyatt | 15% | Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2023 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 25% | Jan 1 – Jan 10, 2024 |
| IHG One Rewards | 70% | Dec 1 – Jan 15, 2025 |
Citi ThankYou Rewards Transfer Bonuses
Citi’s ThankYou Rewards offers a variety of transfer bonuses, especially to some of the most popular airline partners. Here’s a breakdown of their bonuses from 2023-2025:
| Loyalty Program | Transfer Bonus | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 20% | Jul 1 – Jul 31, 2023 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 25% | Feb 1 – Feb 28, 2023 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 30% | Nov 1 – Nov 16, 2024 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 15% | Dec 1 – Dec 15, 2023 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 20% | Nov 1 – Nov 16, 2024 |
| Accor Hotels | 50% | Nov 3 – Nov 30, 2024 |
Capital One Transfer Bonuses
Capital One also provides attractive bonuses, with special offers to major airline partners. Here’s a summary of Capital One’s transfer bonuses for 2023-2025:
| Loyalty Program | Transfer Bonus | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 20% | Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2023 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 20% | Sep 1 – Sep 29, 2024 |
| British Airways Avios | 25% | Nov 1 – Nov 15, 2023 |
| British Airways Avios | 20% | Dec 1 – Dec 15, 2024 |
| Emirates Skywards | 15% | Jan 1 – Jan 15, 2023 |
Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Bonuses
Marriott’s Bonvoy program offers some strategic transfer bonuses, which can provide a great value when transferring to airlines. Here’s a look at their transfer bonuses for 2023-2025:
| Loyalty Program | Transfer Bonus | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | 10% | Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2023 |
| United MileagePlus | 15% | Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2024 |
Current Transfer Bonuses as of January 2025
As of January 2025, these are the ongoing transfer bonuses from the top credit card issuers:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards to Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 20% bonus through January 15, 2025. (frequentmiler.com)
- Chase Ultimate Rewards to Air Canada Aeroplan: 20% bonus through January 15, 2025. (frequentmiler.com)
- Chase Ultimate Rewards to IHG One Rewards: 70% bonus through January 15, 2025. (frequentmiler.com)
Predictions for 2025 Transfer Bonuses Based on Historical Data
Looking ahead to 2025, it’s important to note that many credit card issuers and loyalty programs tend to follow seasonal patterns in offering transfer bonuses. Here’s a forecast for 2025, based on historical trends from previous years:
American Express:
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Historically, American Express has offered a 30-40% transfer bonus in late fall (November and December). Expect a similar promotion in November 2025.
- Hilton Honors: Amex has offered a 30% transfer bonus for Hilton Honors points in the summer and fall months, which could continue in 2025.
- Marriott Bonvoy: Amex regularly offers 30-35% bonuses for Marriott transfers during the holidays, so expect this trend to continue in December 2025.
Chase Ultimate Rewards:
- IHG One Rewards: Chase has offered a 70% transfer bonus at the end of the year (usually in December). It’s likely to see a similar bonus around the same time in 2025.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: The 30% transfer bonus typically seen in October 2023 could very well return in October 2025, followed by a 20% bonus in January 2025.
- JetBlue TrueBlue: Historically, Chase has offered a 25% bonus on JetBlue transfers in early January. Expect this trend to continue in 2025.
Citi ThankYou Rewards:
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Given the 25-30% bonuses offered in February and November, we expect Citi to maintain similar promotions for 2025.
- Accor Hotels: Citi’s 50% bonus to Accor Hotels in November 2024 suggests that they may continue to run similar promotions in the fall of 2025.
Capital One:
- British Airways Avios: Capital One has provided 25% transfer bonuses for British Airways in the fall, and it’s likely we’ll see this again in November 2025.
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue: The 20% bonuses seen in September could very well repeat in September 2025.
How to Take Advantage of Transfer Bonuses
To get the most out of these bonuses, it’s important to plan your transfers strategically. Here are a few tips to maximize the value of your points:
- Monitor Promotions: Many bonuses are announced on short notice. Sign up for email notifications from your card issuer and loyalty programs to stay in the loop.
- Time Your Transfers: If you know a transfer bonus is coming up, hold off on transferring points until the bonus period to maximize your rewards.
- Combine Bonuses: You can often combine multiple bonuses by transferring points to different programs, which can increase your travel options.
- Plan for Future Redemptions: Sometimes, the best time to transfer points is when you know you’ll need them for a future redemption, especially if the bonus allows you to get a better deal on your next flight or hotel stay.
Final Thoughts
By taking advantage of these transfer bonuses, you can unlock even more value from your credit card points, making it easier to book your dream vacation, whether it’s a flight to Europe or a luxury hotel stay. Keep an eye on the issuers and dates listed above, and be ready to transfer your points when the bonuses are available. Maximizing these opportunities will help you make the most of your travel rewards and get more for your money.