Airline Alliances

Summary

Airline alliances and transfer partners are the key to unlocking more value and flexibility from your credit card points. While programs like Chase only list 11 direct airline partners, you actually have access to dozens more airlines through partnerships and alliances—allowing you to book the same flights for far fewer points.

Where Do Transfer Partners Come In?

Transfer partners are primarily tied to credit card banks like Chase, American Express, Capital One, and Citi. These banks allow you to move your points to airline frequent flyer programs. Although it may seem limiting at first glance, the magic lies in airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and Oneworld. These alliances let you redeem points with many other airlines—not just the ones listed directly by your bank.

For example, Chase doesn’t partner with ANA—but since ANA is in Star Alliance, you can still book ANA flights using Chase points by transferring to United.

Why Alliances and Partners Are Key

Using airline alliances and transfer partners can save you huge amounts of points. You might find the exact same seat on the exact same flight costs:

• 20,000 miles when booked through United
• Only 10,000 miles when booked through Turkish

Same plane, same seat—half the cost in points. This is the power of understanding how transfer partners work.

Plus, programs like British Airways Avios allow you to move points between family airlines like Qatar, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. These flexible options multiply your opportunities to book smart.

Who Can Benefit?

Anyone earning points through transferable credit cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Membership Rewards can benefit from learning these partner strategies. Whether you're planning a once-a-year vacation or booking regular international trips, knowing how to use alliances can help you stretch your points significantly further.

Who Should Wait Before Diving In?

If you’re new to travel rewards, this might seem a bit advanced. It’s helpful to first get familiar with how points transfer and understand basic redemption strategies before diving into partner award bookings. And as always, if your credit score needs work or your spending isn’t under control, focus on improving those areas before opening new cards to earn points.

Building a Foundation for Smarter Redemptions

Learning how to leverage alliances and partner redemptions is one of the most valuable skills in travel hacking. It’s the difference between spending 60,000 points on a flight—or just 30,000. As you build on the basics, this knowledge will open doors to better deals, more destinations, and more value from every point you earn.

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