During normal times, points transfer bonuses by Amex or any other issuer gain a lot of traction. However, we live in surreal times. Travel is nowhere close to normal and only a small minority is actively looking to book travel. Amex Membership Rewards points, along with Chase Ultimate Rewards points are two of my favorite transferable points currencies. Amex, in particular, has the edge over Chase when it comes to international airline partners. At the moment, Amex is running two lucrative points transfer bonuses with their Membership Rewards points. However, should you grab this deal? Let’s have a look.
Amex Points Transfer Bonuses
Amex is currently running points transfer bonuses for Hilton and Marriott. These limited time offer expire on October 31, 2020.
Hilton Honors
The standard points transfer ratio for Hilton Honors is 1:2. With this bonus, you’ll get a ratio of 1:2.8. For example, if you transfer 1,000 Membership Rewards points, you’ll get 2,800 Hilton Honors points.
Marriott Bonvoy
The standard points transfer ratio for Marriott Bonvoy is 1:1. With this, bonus you’ll get a ratio of 1:1.4. For example, if you transfer 1,000 Membership Rewards points, you’ll get 1,400 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Crunching the Numbers
During normal times, many frequent travelers tend to jump on these limited time transfer bonuses. However, how lucrative are these bonuses during the current situation?
For example, let’s say you want to book a top tier Hilton hotel. One night will cost you at least 95,000 points for a standard room. With this bonus, you’ll need 39,000 Membership Rewards points instead of 48,000.
Similarly, let’s say you want to book a top tier Marriott hotel. One night will cost you at least 85,000 points for a standard room. With this bonus, you’ll need 61,000 Membership Rewards points instead of 85,000.
In short, the higher the category of the hotel, the more lucrative these transfer bonuses become for you.
The Pundit’s Mantra
In most cases, I don’t recommend transferring points speculatively. However, if you do have a trip on the horizon, then it makes sense to use these Amex points transfer bonuses to your advantage.
In the past, I’ve used transfer bonuses to book some really cool trips. For example, I used a transfer bonus to British Airways in order to book a last minute trip to Colombia. However, given the current scenario, not many of us are planning such trips on the go.
Do you plan to make use of either of these points transfer bonuses by Amex? Tell us in the comments section.
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This travel credit card is one of my favorite hotel credit cards. You can earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 points when you apply for this card using the link below!
With this card, you’ll not only earn a free night each year when you renew the card, but If you pair it with this limited time offer, you’ll also earn 25% points back when you redeem your points until October 8, 2020.
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Disclosure: The Points Pundit receives NO compensation from credit card affiliate partnerships. Support the blog by applying for a card through my personal referral links. This article is meant for information purposes only and doesn’t constitute personal finance, health or investment advice. Please consult a licensed professional for advice pertaining to your situation.
I’d argue that these aren’t worth it for most people. For instance your example of 61,000 points for a Marriott hotel could be used instead for a round trip award ticket from the US to Europe, which would generally provide more value. There’s exceptions of course, like people that have tons of Amex points or using the points at hotels that are very cheap on points but expensive with cash but those are more outliers IMO.
Hi Christian,
Thanks for reading. Yes, an airline transfer would be a better option in certain cases. However, before Covid-19 hit, I was actually looking to make use of one of these Hilton transfer bonuses. In the past, I’ve used them to stay at top notch Hilton hotels like Conrad Koh Samui and Waldorf Astoria Rome. I basically use the transfer bonuses to get the extra points I need for a 5th night free to book stays at top tier Hilton properties like Conrad and WA.
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