![Southwest Companion Pass: A Guide to Earning It For Two Years [2026-2027]](https://yourbestcreditcards.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/southwest-rapid-rewards-premier-credit-card.jpg)
* Suggested credit score ranges for credit cards are supplied by QuinStreet, not from the issuers, and are guidelines, not a guarantee of approval.
* Suggested credit score ranges for credit cards are supplied by QuinStreet, not from the issuers, and are guidelines, not a guarantee of approval.
Transferring credit card points to airline and hotel partners might be the single best way to redeem your rewards for maximum value. However, this can be easier said than done — with six different popular transferable point currencies, dozens of hotel and airline partners, and a multitude of different transfer ratios, where do you start?
Here’s a comprehensive guide that breaks down exactly how you can transfer credit card points to partners and why you might want to do so.
What Are the Different Transferable Point Currencies?
When we talk about a “transferable point currency,” we are talking about a point earned by a credit card that isn’t associated with a specific brand. These points can then be transferred to various hotel and airline partners, allowing you to redeem them for maximum value.
Here are the most popular transferable point currencies that you can earn:
- American Express Membership Rewards®
- Bilt Points
- Capital One Miles
- Citi ThankYou® Points
- Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Wells Fargo Rewards
If possible, you should try to have at least one card that earns each of these points and miles currencies. That way, you can unlock access to the best transfer partners at the best ratios. Additionally, diversifying your credit card portfolio offers numerous benefits, including more statement credits, elite status opportunities, and bonus earnings on everyday spending.
Airline Transfer Partners
Most credit cards partner with far more airlines than hotels, resulting in a lengthy list of potential airline partners. However, you’ll notice most of your favorite U.S. airlines, along with a healthy number of international airlines.
Some airlines, such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have exclusive partnerships with credit card issuers. In other words, that credit card issuer is the only issuer that can transfer points to that airline. For instance, Citi ThankYou Points are the only transferable point currency that can be transferred to American Airlines AAdvantage, while American Express Membership Rewards is the only one that can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles.
In the chart below, you’ll see the airline transfer partner and the transfer ratios for each of the major transferable point currencies. If the point currency cannot be transferred to the airline partner, it is left blank.
| Airline transfer partner | American Express Membership Rewards | Bilt Points | Capital One Miles | Chase Ultimate Rewards | Citi ThankYou Points | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1:1.6 | 1:1 | ||||
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards | 1:1 | |||||
| American AIlrines AAdvantage | 1:1 | |||||
| ANA Mileage Club | 1:1 | |||||
| avianca lifemiles | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Cathay Pacific | 1:0.8 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1:1 | |||||
| Emirates Skywards | 1:0.8 | 1:1 | 2:1.5 | 1:0.8 | ||
| Etihad Guest | 1:1 (until June 30, 2026) | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| EVA Air | 2:1.5 | 1:1 | ||||
| Finnair Plus | 1:1 | |||||
| Iberia Plus | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | 1:1 | 2:1.5 | ||||
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:0.8 | 5:3 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| SingaporeAirlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||||
| TAP Miles&Go | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||||
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | 1:1 | |||||
| British Airways Club | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| United MileagePlus | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||||
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| Virgin Red | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
Note that only select Citi cards (Citi Strata Elite℠, Citi Strata Premier®, Citi Prestige®) can transfer at the above ratios. Other cards offer reduced ratios.
How to maximize airline transfer partners
If the chart above is overwhelming, don’t worry. It’s a lot of information. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
There are a few airlines that you can only transfer from one credit card issuer:
- Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards (Bilt)
- American Airlines AAdvantage (Citi)
- ANA Mileage Club (Amex)
- Delta SkyMiles (Amex)
- Finnair Plus (Capital One)
- Thai Royal Orchid Plus (Citi)
If you frequently fly with any of these airlines, and you want to be able to transfer your hard-earned points to them, you’ll need to plan accordingly.
Some credit cards offer better transfer ratios than others. For instance, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards to Aeromexico at a rate of 1,000 MRs to 1,600 Aeromexico Rewards. While you can also transfer your Capital One Miles and Citi ThankYou Points to Aeromexico, the transfer ratio is 1:1.
Another thing to understand is airline alliances. There are three main airline alliances: SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld. Each alliance has a dozen or more member airlines. You can often book award flights for a member airline through another member airline’s loyalty program.
For example, the only credit card currency that transfers directly to American Airlines is Citi ThankYou Points. Does that mean it is impossible to book an American-operated flight with your American Express Membership Rewards? Not quite.
American Airlines is a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance. Other members include British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways — each of which is a transfer partner of American Express. So, you can transfer your Membership Rewards to The British Airways Club and book an American-operated flight using your new Avios. Plus, you can freely move your Avios between any of the seven loyalty programs that use Avios as the point currency.
Take advantage of airline sweet spots
Airline sweet spots are exactly what they sound like: you can redeem fewer points for flights that would otherwise be very expensive in cash. You can often find sweet spots for programs that use a fixed award chart. However, even if an airline employs dynamic pricing, you can still find some phenomenal deals. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Virgin Atlantic flights to London: You can find flights from the East Coast for just 6,000 Flying Club points each way in economy or 29,000 points each way in Upper Class. It’s not often you can book a transatlantic flight for just a few thousand miles. (But do watch out for surcharges which can be quite steep on the Upper Class fares!)
- Qatar Qsuites to Doha: Qatar offers an excellent business class product with Qsuites. You can find tickets from the East Coast to Doha for just 70,000 Avios.
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards: I love taking advantage of Air France-KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards, which offer up to 25% off award tickets on a rotating list of routes. You can frequently get one-way economy flights for just 18,750 Flying Blue miles, or business class awards between South America and Europe for just 63,750 miles.
- Japan Airlines flights to Japan: You can transfer your Citi ThankYou Points to American Airlines to book business class flights to Japan operated by Japan Airlines for just 52,500 points from Hawaii.
Related: How to Get Free Flights in 2026
Hotel Transfer Partners
Although the list of potential hotel transfer partners is much shorter than the list of airline partners, don’t write it off. You can score some excellent stays around the world by leveraging your points and miles.
| Hotel transfer partner | American Express Membership Rewards | Bilt Points | Capital One Miles | Chase Ultimate Rewards | Citi ThankYou Points | Wells Fargo Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accor | 3:2 | 2:1 | 2:1 | |||
| Choice Privileges | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1.5 | 1:2 | ||
| Hilton Honors | 1:2 | 1:1 | ||||
| I Prefer Hotel Rewards | 1:2 | 1:2 | ||||
| IHG Hotells and Resorts | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||||
| Leaders Club | 5:1 | |||||
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| World of Hyatt | 1:1 | 1:1 | ||||
| Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:2 |
How to maximize hotel transfer partners
When you’re ready to transfer your points to hotel partners, you need to pay close attention to the transfer ratios. For instance, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One Miles to Choice Privileges at a 1:1 ratio, but you can transfer Wells Fargo Rewards at a 1:2 ratio. In other words, you’ll get double the Choice Privileges points when utilizing Citi as a transfer partner.
Citi is also particularly valuable for I Prefer Hotel Rewards, offering a 1:2 transfer ratio. You can book reward nights for as low as 15,000 I Prefer points, or just 7,500 Citi ThankYou Points.
How To Earn Transferable Points
Now that you know how to transfer your points to partners, it’s time to earn those points. Here’s everything to know about earning transferable points.
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express offers several different points-earning credit cards. Membership Rewards are an incredibly powerful point currency, and with so many ways to earn them, nothing is stopping you.
I’m a cardholder of the Platinum Card, and I was able to earn a targeted welcome offer of 150,000 bonus Membership Rewards points. I don’t know exactly how I’ll use these points, but I hope a first class international long-haul flight or a luxury hotel stay is in my near future.
Personal cards:
- The Platinum Card® is one of the most famous credit cards out there, offering top-tier benefits for an $895 annual fee. As a cardholder, you can utilize a suite of statement credits, from purchases with Lululemon to hotels booked through American Express Travel. You’ll also enjoy elite status benefits with Marriott and Hilton, and have access to the most comprehensive airport lounge collection out there: The American Express Global Lounge Collection.
- The American Express® Gold Card is the perfect card for foodies. With sky-high earning rates on restaurant and grocery purchases, combined with a collection of dining-related statement credits, you really can’t go wrong.
- The American Express® Green Card is the forgotten sibling of the Membership Rewards lineup. It arguably has the best earning potential among all the Amex point-earning cards — travel, transit, and dining all earn 3X Membership Rewards points per $1 spent. However, it’s light on benefits.
American Express is an Advertising Partner
The Platinum Card® from American Express
(4.33) Our Review
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- A wide array of travel and lifestyle credits and exclusive access that can enhance your life.
- There is no better card for the breadth and variety of airport lounge access worldwide. Plus, the Centurion Lounge network is the largest amongst credit card issuers.
- One of the best cards to earn points on airfare: 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year).
Cons
- High annual fee that will require a bit of work to fully maximize.
- Besides airfare and select hotels, it's not the best card to use for other purchases as it only earns 1X on categories outside of flights booked directly with the airlines (5X) or through the Amex Travel portal (5X on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year) and 5X points for prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.
- Car rental insurance is only secondary, not primary as it is with premium cards from Chase and Capital One.
-
5x
Airfare
-
1x-5x
Hotels
-
1x
All Other Eligible Purchases
Business cards:
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is an excellent option for small businesses, blending the best features of the personal version with top-tier business benefits. The standout feature is the ability to receive a 35% rebate on flights booked with points operated by your chosen airline through the Amex Travel portal. Although you typically get maximum value from your points by transferring them to partners, a 35% point rebate can undoubtedly come in handy from time to time.
- American Express® Business Gold Card is unique in that it allows you to earn 4X points on your top two spending categories (out of six available options). Plus, you can take advantage of several business statement credits, like a Walmart+ monthly membership credit and flexible business credit.
American Express is an Advertising Partner
American Express® Business Gold Card
(4.3) Our Review
You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Find out your offer. Terms Apply.
- As High As 200,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx (through 10/01/2026), Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Gold Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. purchases with Squarespace. Subscription purchases subject to auto-renewal.
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- Terms Apply
- As High As 200,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx (through 10/01/2026), Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Gold Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. purchases with Squarespace. Subscription purchases subject to auto-renewal.
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- Terms Apply
Pros
- You can't beat the 4X points on 2 out of the following 6 categories each month: U.S. advertising and media, U.S. gas stations, U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, U.S. restaurants, U.S. wireless telephone service providers, and U.S. Transit
- Although the annual fee seems high, if you max out the 4X on $150,000 in purchases, that earns you 600,000 Membership Rewards points which Your Best Credit Cards values at around $10,000
- Card membership includes the very well regarded American Express customer service
Cons
- The high annual fee, despite being worth it for high spenders
- If you spend well over $150,000 a year in these categories, you may max it out and remaining spend earns at just 1X.
- Car rental CDW coverage is secondary to your own auto insurance
-
4x
Gas Stations
-
4x
Dining Out / Food Delivery
-
4x
Advertising (Online / TV / Radio)
-
4x
U.S. Electronic Goods Retailers / Software / Cloud System Providers
-
4x
Cellular Phone Service
-
4x
Transit
-
3x
Airfare
-
3x
Hotels
-
1x
All Other Eligible Purchases
Bilt Rewards
When Bilt 2.0 was launched in early 2026, Bilt Rewards members got three new ways to earn Bilt Points on everyday purchases. With each card, you can unlock the ability to earn up to 1.25X points on your rent and mortage payments. Or, you can opt for 4% Bilt Cash on your day-to-day purchases, which can then be used in a variety of ways.
Here are the 3 Bilt Card options:
- The Bilt Blue Card is a no-annual-fee option that allows you to earn 1X Bilt Points on everyday purchases. It’s a simple, no-fuss option for renters or homeowners.
- The Bilt Obsidian Card is the best sweet spot for most people. You’ll earn 3X on your choice of dining or grocery purchases each year (if you choose grocery, you’ll earn 3X on up to $25,000 spent each year), 2X on travel, and 1X on all other purchases. It charges a $95 annual fee, but you’ll also receive a twice annual $50 Bilt Travel Hotel credit.
- The Bilt Palladium Card is the top-of-the-line Bilt Card, offering supreme benefits in exchange for a reasonable annual fee of $495. You’ll earn 2X Bilt Points on your day-to-day purchases, and you’ll also receive a $200 twice annual Bilt Travel Hotel credit, $200 of Bilt Cash each year, and a Priority Pass membership.
Bilt Palladium Card
(4.25) Our Review
Earn 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash. Subject to approval.
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value).
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value).
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
Pros
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
Cons
- Earning points on rent requires spending Bilt Cash
- No bonus categories higher than 2X, although 2X points plus 4% Bilt Cash on everything makes it an easy choice for everyday spend
- Annual fee
-
0x-1x
Rent / Mortgage
-
2x
Everyday Spend
Capital One Miles
Capital One Miles are my favorite transferable points currency, thanks to the numerous international airline transfer partners. These miles are also incredibly easy to earn, so I always have a stash waiting for my next redemption.
Personal cards that earn Capital One Miles:
- The Capital One Venture X is one of the best premium credit cards on the market due to its valuable benefits and low annual fee. For just $395 per year, you’ll receive a $300 annual travel credit valid for bookings through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus anniversary miles. These two perks alone make the card worthwhile.
- The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is great for those who want to earn double miles on every purchase while keeping the annual fee low. You’ll also receive a statement credit for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, as well as Hertz Five Star status.
- The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a solid option for anyone seeking to earn Capital One Miles without incurring an annual fee. You’ll earn 1.25 miles on all of your purchases, plus 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
(4.38) Our Review
- With a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 miles (worth $100) each year at renewal, the credits you receive are actually worth more than the annual fee.
- Access to Capital One lounges and Landings and participating Priority Pass™ lounges
- Capital One Miles are extremely flexible, with the option to redeem for travel at a value of one cent per point, or transfer to a wide range of excellent air and hotel partners.
- With a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 miles (worth $100) each year at renewal, the credits you receive are actually worth more than the annual fee.
- Access to Capital One lounges and Landings and participating Priority Pass™ lounges
- Capital One Miles are extremely flexible, with the option to redeem for travel at a value of one cent per point, or transfer to a wide range of excellent air and hotel partners.
Pros
- The annual fee is more than covered by annual credits
- Comes with access to Capital One lounges and Landings and participating Priority Pass™ lounges
- Authorized users also get the upgraded Hertz status like the primary card holder
Cons
- The annual fee, while effectively negative $5 after credits, can feel like a lot.
- Aside from bonus points for booking through Capital One Travel, there are no bonus categories. Still, all eligible purchases do earn 2X miles per dollar spent which is great.
- Points don't transfer to any domestic airlines, although you can use other partners to book domestic award tickets on domestic airlines.
-
2x-5x
Airfare
-
2x-10x
Car Rentals
-
2x-10x
Hotels
-
2x
Everything Else
Business cards:
- The Capital One Venture X Business is quite similar to the personal version. The biggest difference is that the business card doesn’t have a preset spending limit, which also means it’s a pay-in-full card — you cannot carry a balance from month to month. It still has the annual travel credit and solid earnings.
- The Capital One Venture Business card is the newest addition to the Capital One business card family, and honeslty, it’s a fantastic choice. You’ll earn 2X miles on all of your purchases, plus 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel. To help offset the $95 annual fee, you’ll receive a $50 travel credit for Capital One Business Travel bookings and a $50 credit for purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants.
Capital One Venture Business
(4.43) Our Review
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—no limits, no category restrictions, and miles never expire.
- Up to $220 in credits: $50 annual travel credit through Capital One Business Travel, up to $50 statement credit on purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants, plus up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Terms apply.
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.
- Flexible redemption: Transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs or redeem instantly for any travel-related purchases, including flights, hotels, and rideshares.
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—no limits, no category restrictions, and miles never expire.
- Up to $220 in credits: $50 annual travel credit through Capital One Business Travel, up to $50 statement credit on purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants, plus up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Terms apply.
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.
- Flexible redemption: Transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs or redeem instantly for any travel-related purchases, including flights, hotels, and rideshares.
Pros
- Unlimited 2X Miles on purchases with no cap and a low annual fee
- Capital One Miles transfer to a nice range of air and hotel partners
- Available Statement credits can be worth more than the annual fee
Cons
- No bonus categories outside of bookings via Capital One Business Travel
-
2x-5x
Hotels
-
2x-5x
Car Rentals
-
2x
Everything Else
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards are a fan-favorite, and for good reason. Although the list of transfer partners is shorter than some of the other card issuers, these partners often represent phenomenal value.
Personal cards:
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card underwent a refresh in 2025, introducing an elevated annual fee in exchange for additional statement credits and benefits. It still offers the easiest-to-use travel credit in the industry, along with IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status, up to $300 in dining credits, up to $300 in StubHub credits, and more.
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card is arguably the most popular travel rewards card available, thanks to its array of benefits and low annual fee. Between the annual hotel credit for bookings through Chase Travel and the bonus earnings on dining, it’s a great card to keep in your wallet.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
(4.05) Our Review
- Earns valuable and highly flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points
- Extensive travel protections — including lost luggage insurance, emergency evacuation, and a collision damage waiver on rental cars, primary in most states.
- 3X points on dining means you can rack up points quickly!
- Earns valuable and highly flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points
- Extensive travel protections — including lost luggage insurance, emergency evacuation, and a collision damage waiver on rental cars, primary in most states.
- 3X points on dining means you can rack up points quickly!
Pros
- You can more than offset the annual fee by more than half with the $100 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠
- Earns valuable and highly flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
- Extensive travel protections — including lost luggage insurance, emergency evacuation, and a collision damage waiver on rental cars, primary in most states.
Cons
- A low earning rate of 1x point per dollar on other purchases keeps it from being an ideal everyday spending card.
- High credit scores required for account opening.
- Lack of additional travel benefits, though it now has a Global Entry application fee credit and Emergency Evacuation coverage.
-
3x
Dining Out / Food Delivery
-
3x
Streaming Services
-
3x
Gas Stations
-
3x
EV Charging
-
2x-5x
Airfare
-
2x
Transit
-
2x-5x
Car Rentals
-
2x-5x
Hotels
-
2x-3x
Cruises
-
1x
Everything Else
Business cards:
- The Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Credit Card is the perfect blend of features you love with the personal Sapphire Reserve and benefits any business can enjoy. You can easily earn over $2,500 in annual value from the card, which comes with a $795 annual fee.
- The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card often offers a very lucrative welcome bonus, making it an appealing option for a business that needs a chunk of Ultimate Rewards Points for a future booking. For a low $95 annual fee, you’ll earn 3X points on travel, shipping, advertising, and phone services (up to $150,000 spent in combined purchases).
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
(4.5) Our Review
Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and access more than $7,000 in total business and travel value in your first year.
- Up to $2,500 in annual value from benefits and statement credits
- Airport lounge access for you and up to two guests at both Chase Sapphire lounges and Priority Pass lounges
- Too many benefits and statement credits to list! It comes with IHG Platinum status for a start…
- Up to $2,500 in annual value from benefits and statement credits
- Airport lounge access for you and up to two guests at both Chase Sapphire lounges and Priority Pass lounges
- Too many benefits and statement credits to list! It comes with IHG Platinum status for a start…
Pros
- Up to $2,500 in annual value from benefits and statement credits
- Airport lounge access for you and up to two guests at both Chase Sapphire lounges and Priority Pass lounges
- Too many benefits and statement credits to list! Comes with IHG Platinum status for a start…
Cons
- Very high annual fee
- Only one business related (non-travel) bonus category
-
5x
Lyft
-
4x-8x
Airfare
-
4x-8x
Hotels
-
3x
Advertising on Search Engines and Social Media
-
1x-8x
Car Rentals
-
1x
Everything Else
Citi ThankYou Points
Citi ThankYou Points are a relatively underrated point currency. For a long time, frequent travelers have focused on American Express and Chase as leaders in the space, but Citi has emerged as a worthy contender.
Although there are additional cards that earn Citi ThankYou Points, here are the two that are open to new applicants and transfer points at the best ratio:
- The Citi Strata Elite℠ is one of the newest premium credit cards to hit the market. It offers several powerful statement credits, including a hotel credit, Splurge Credit, Blacklane credit, as well as 4 Admirals Club lounge passes each year.
- The Citi Strata Premier® offers a $100 hotel credit on a hotel stay of $500 or more booked through Citi Travel, which already covers the $95 annual fee. It also has a great earning potential, making it a valuable card to have in your wallet.
This content is not provided by the issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of Your Best Credit Cards alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.
Citi Strata Elite℠
(3.88) Our Review
- Citi's ThankYou points now transfer to the American Airlines AAdvantage® program
- Earn 12 points per dollar spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com
- Receive 4 American Airlines Admirals Club® Lounge Access Passes each year
- Citi's ThankYou points now transfer to the American Airlines AAdvantage® program
- Earn 12 points per dollar spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com
- Receive 4 American Airlines Admirals Club® Lounge Access Passes each year
Pros
- Citi's ThankYou points now transfer to the American Airlines AAdvantage® program
- Earn 12 points per dollar spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com
- Receive 4 American Airlines Admirals Club® Lounge Access Passes each year
Cons
- High annual fee
- No bonus multipliers on travel not booked in Citi's travel portal
- 6X points on dining is limited to two 12 hour periods each week
-
3x-6x
Dining Out / Food Delivery
-
1.5x-12x
Hotels
-
1.5x-12x
Car Rentals
-
1.5x-6x
Airfare
-
1.5x
Everything Else
Wells Fargo Rewards
Wells Fargo has a limited list of transfer partners. However, Wells Fargo still has some excellent credit cards that are worth considering:
- The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card might have the best earning potential for travel of any sub-$100 annual fee card out there — 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, and 3X points on other travel. You’ll also earn a $50 annual airline credit with a qualifying purchase.
- Similar to its sibling, the Wells Fargo Autograph has solid earning potential — 3X points on restaurants, travel, transit, and more — all with no annual fee.
How to Complete a Transfer
Although the specific steps to complete a transfer may vary depending on the card you have and the points you want to transfer, they all follow the same basic steps.
- Log in to your account
- Navigate to your rewards section
- Click “transfer rewards” (some issuers require 2-step authentication at this point)
- Select the transfer partner
- Enter your membership number with the partner’s loyalty program
- Enter the number of miles you wish to transfer
- Accept the terms and conditions
- Complete the transfer
In only a couple of minutes, you can easily transfer your rewards from your credit card to your favorite airline or hotel loyalty program. Note that transfer times vary between partners. While most are instant, some take a few days to post to your account. Whenever possible, put your award redemption on hold before transferring your rewards to avoid any issues. The last thing you want is to transfer your rewards, wait a few days, and see that the cost of your award redemption has doubled overnight.
Bottom Line
Having a firm grasp on hotel and airline transfer partners enables you to fulfill your travel goals, regardless of what they may be. Whether you want to fly around the world for as cheaply as possible or you prefer to travel in style in business class, your credit card rewards can get you there.
As any points and miles expert would tell you, try to diversify your credit card lineup as much as possible to ensure you are earning all of the transferable point currencies. Then, you’ll unlock all of the best transfer partners at the best ratios.
