Current credit card transfer bonuses (May): Get more from your rewards
If you truly want to maximize your points and miles, periodic transfer bonuses can offer lucrative opportunities for fantastic award redemptions. You can sometimes get significantly more value from your rewards by transferring them to a specific airline or hotel partner during one of these bonuses.
However, these are limited-time offers.
We’ve compiled the transfer bonuses for the major programs with transferable rewards to make tracking these offers easier. Just note that transfer bonuses are sometimes targeted, so some may not be available to you.
Amex Membership Rewards transfer bonus
American Express has a pair of active transfer bonuses right now.
First, Amex rolled out a new transfer bonus in April. You can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club with a 30% transfer bonus from now through May 31.
Since you can typically transfer Amex Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio, this transfer bonus raises the value of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 1,300 Virgin points.
Additionally, the issuer is offering a 20% transfer bonus to Aeromexico Rewards through the month of May.
Membership Rewards normally transfer to Aeromexico at a 1:1.6 ratio, so the 20% boost raises that to a 1:1.92. The offer makes it so 1,000 Membership Rewards points are equivalent to 1,920 Aeromexico Rewards points. This transfer bonus will also end May 31.
| Partner program | Transfer bonus | Effective transfer ratio | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 30% | 1:1.3 | Until May 31 |
| Aeromexico Rewards | 20% | 1:1.92 | Until May 31 |
How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points
You’ll need Membership Rewards points to maximize Amex transfer bonuses. If you’re looking to earn Membership Rewards points, the following Amex cards could be useful additions to your wallet:
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Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome offer (subject to change at any time).
You can also earn extra Membership Rewards points when you enroll in Amex Offers and shop with Rakuten.
Based on TPG’s valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, and our tests indicate that they transfer instantly to most programs.
Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer bonus
You can currently transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Marriott Bonvoy with a bonus.
Chase is offering a 30% bonus when you transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Since Ultimate Rewards points typically transfer to Virgin Atlantic at a 1:1 ratio, this bonus means that 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points would turn into 1,300 Virgin points.
Ultimate Rewards points will currently transfer at a 40% bonus to Marriott Bonvoy. Ultimate Rewards points usually transfer to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio, so 1,000 Chase points will convert into 1,400 Marriott points with this bonus.
Both of these Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer bonuses expire June 15.
| Partner program | Transfer bonus | Effective transfer ratio | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 30% | 1:1.3 | Until June 15 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 40% | 1:1.4 | Until June 15 |
How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points
If you want to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the following Chase cards could make good additions to your wallet:
If you have one (or more) of the above cards, you can combine your Ultimate Rewards points in a single account. Then, you can effectively convert the cash-back earnings on the following cards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points:
- Chase Freedom Flex℠: Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn up to $750 bonus cash back; earn $350 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG’s valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each when maximized with travel partners. Most Ultimate Rewards transfers will process instantly.
Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Capital One miles transfer bonus
Capital One does not have any active transfer bonuses.
How to earn Capital One miles
For a future transfer bonus, the following Capital One cards could make good additions to your wallet:
TPG’s valuations peg the value of Capital One miles at 1.85 cents each, and most transfers from Capital One will process instantly.
For more details, check out our guides to the Capital One transfer partners and how to transfer Capital One miles to airline partners.
Raffles Dubai. JOSEPH HOSTETLER/THE POINTS GUY
Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer bonus
You can currently get a 50% bonus when you transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Accor Live Limitless. The promotion runs through May 11.
Citi ThankYou points typically transfer to Accor at a 1,000:500 ratio. However, with this 50% bonus, the value is raised, so you’d get 750 Accor points for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points transferred.
| Partner program | Transfer bonus | Effective transfer ratio | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accor Live Limitless | 50% | 1,000:750 | Until May 11 |
How to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points
These Citi credit cards could make useful additions to your wallet for earning Citi ThankYou Rewards points:
- Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases with your card within three months of account opening.
- Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 on purchases with your card within three months of account opening. Plus, earn 5 bonus ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions on the Citi travel portal through Dec. 31, 2025. (Note: You must pair this card with a premium Citi ThankYou card to access a full-fledged, transferable ThankYou points account.)
Based on TPG’s valuations, Citi ThankYou Rewards points are worth about 1.8 cents each. However, note that some Citi transfers will not process instantly. So, factor in the transfer time if you’re trying to book an award with scarce availability.
FAIRFIELD ANAHEIM RESORT/FACEBOOK
Marriott Bonvoy transfer bonus
Marriott Bonvoy is not running any transfer bonuses at this time.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points
If you’re looking to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points, the following Marriott Bonvoy cards may be of interest:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn three Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn three Free Night Awards after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Each award can be used for one night at a redemption level at or under 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from account opening.
TPG’s valuations peg the value of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.84 cents each. Before transferring points, review our tests of Marriott transfer times since some airlines take a few days (or even weeks) to receive the points.
Related: Marriott Bonvoy program: How to redeem points for hotel stays, airfare and more
Should you transfer points?
We only recommend transferring points or miles if you have a short-term plan to use them. Many programs have implemented devaluations over the last few years, so any speculative transfers could be a losing proposition.
Transfers are irreversible, and you don’t want to be stuck with thousands of points or miles in a program you have little use for.
If you don’t have a specific redemption in mind but still want to earn points or miles, you’re likely better off earning rewards through credit card welcome bonuses and everyday spending.
Bottom line
When a program with a transferable currency offers a transfer bonus, running the numbers is important to see whether it is worthwhile.
Generally, you won’t want to transfer your points or miles without a specific redemption in mind. After all, a large part of the value of transferable points and miles comes from their flexibility — which you’ll give up the moment you convert them to a partner’s currency.
However, if you use the program frequently or plan to redeem soon, a transfer bonus can help you get more value from your points and miles.
