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Miles & Points 101
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When it comes to unlocking travel rewards, transfer partners are the ultimate game-changer. Here’s everything you need to know, broken down into the classic who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Transfer partners are airlines or hotels that partner with banks, allowing you to convert credit card points into rewards like miles. For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points let you transfer to specific airlines and hotels. Knowing your transfer partners is crucial since not every airline is connected to every bank.
The process starts with research. Begin by running award searches on the airline's website to check for flights that can be booked with points. Use tools like FlightConnections to find routes, or award search tools like Seats.aero, SeatSpy, and Point.me to simplify the hunt for available flights. Once you’ve identified a deal, transfer your points to the airline to book—but remember, transfers are final, so plan carefully.
Award availability fluctuates. The best times to search are typically when seats first open (330-365 days in advance) or close to departure (1-4 weeks before). If those windows don’t align with your plans, consider booking a “safety flight”—a backup option you can later adjust if better availability appears. Just make sure to check refund policies before booking.
Always transfer points to the airline offering the deal, not the operating airline. For example, if you find a flight on United’s site, transfer to United, even if the flight is operated by Lufthansa. Once transferred, points cannot be sent back to your credit card account.
While points in a bank’s travel portal have fixed values, transferring points to an airline often unlocks far better value. Airlines price award flights dynamically, which means savvy searches can reveal incredible deals—think first-class seats for economy-level points.
