American Express Membership Rewards points are incredibly valuable for booking flights, but if you've been trying to figure out how to transfer them directly to American Airlines you may have hit a roadblock. The truth is, you can't transfer Amex points directly to American Airlines - but don't worry! There are several straightforward ways to use your Amex points for American Airlines flights without needing to understand complex airline jargon. This guide walks you through all your options, with simple steps whether you're planning a quick domestic trip or an international adventure.

Understanding Amex Points and American Airlines

When you're new to credit card points and airline miles, one of the most confusing aspects can be figuring out which points can transfer to which airlines. American Express Membership Rewards is one of the most flexible point currencies available, with many airline transfer partners – but American Airlines isn't one of them.

Why can't you transfer Amex points directly to American Airlines? It comes down to business partnerships. American Airlines has exclusive relationships with other credit card companies like Citi and Barclays, which prevents them from becoming an Amex transfer partner. American Airlines' AAdvantage program is valuable precisely because it's somewhat exclusive – you can't easily transfer points there from multiple credit card programs.

However, American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance – a group of airlines that work together. This alliance includes British Airways, Qantas, Iberia, and others – and Amex DOES let you transfer points to several of these Oneworld partners. This is your key to booking American Airlines flights with Amex points.

The core of the technique goes like this: when you use the site of a Oneworld alliance member to search for a flight, you will see and be able to book flights across every alliance members. So all you need to do is transfer your Amex points to a Oneworld member and you'll easily be able to book a flight on American.

Here are the current airlines in the Oneworld alliance that accept Amex point transfers:

  • British Airways
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Iberia
  • Qantas
  • Qatar Airways

Understanding these partnerships is crucial because it opens up booking options beyond what might initially seem possible. Even without a direct transfer option, you can still access American Airlines' extensive route network using your Amex points through these partner relationships.

Before we dive into the specific methods, it's worth noting that our transfer partners guide provides a comprehensive overview of all the potential point transfers across different credit card programs, which can be especially helpful if you have points in multiple programs.

The Best Option: Transferring Amex Points to Oneworld Partners

This is where the real value and flexibility of Amex points shine when booking American Airlines flights. By transferring your Amex points to a Oneworld alliance airline, you can often book the exact same American Airlines flights as if you were booking with AA directly.

British Airways Avios: Your Best Friend for Short AA Flights

British Airways Executive Club (which uses "Avios" as its currency) is probably the most useful Oneworld partner for booking American Airlines flights with Amex points. That's because:

  1. Amex points transfer to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio
  2. Transfers are typically instant
  3. British Airways uses a distance-based award system, making short and medium-length flights particularly good value

British Airways charges Avios based on the distance of each flight segment. This creates sweet spots for short domestic American Airlines flights. For example:

  • Flights under 650 miles: 7,500-9,000 Avios one-way in economy
  • Flights between 651-1,151 miles: 9,000-11,000 Avios one-way in economy
  • Flights between 1,152-2,000 miles: 11,000-13,000 Avios one-way in economy

This can represent significant savings compared to using the Amex portal. A flight between New York to Washington, D.C. will cost just 8,250 Avios — very cheap considering that distance-based award system.

Iberia Plus: The Best for U.S. to Europe Flights

Iberia Plus is one of the best Oneworld partners for booking American Airlines flights to Europe using Amex points. That’s because:

  1. Amex points transfer to Iberia at a 1:1 ratio
  2. Transfers are usually instant, making it easy to book quickly
  3. Iberia uses a distance-based award chart, with some of the lowest rates for transatlantic flights

Unlike British Airways, which adds high surcharges on long-haul flights, Iberia has much lower fees when flying between the U.S. and Europe. This creates incredible sweet spots for AA flights to cities like Madrid, London, and Paris.

For example, here are Iberia’s one-way business class award rates:

  • East Coast U.S. (JFK, BOS, IAD) to Madrid: 34,000 Avios
  • Chicago to Madrid: 42,500 Avios
  • West Coast U.S. (LAX, SFO) to Madrid: 50,000 Avios

These rates are significantly lower than what you’d pay using AA miles or British Airways Avios. Plus, if you find flights operated by Iberia itself, you’ll get even lower taxes and fees.

For anyone looking to fly to Europe in business class for fewer points, Iberia Plus is the best Amex transfer partner to consider.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: Great for Long-Haul AA Flights

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is a fantastic Oneworld partner for booking long-haul American Airlines flights with Amex points. That’s because:

  1. Amex points transfer to Asia Miles at a 1:1 ratio
  2. Transfers usually take 24-48 hours, so plan ahead
  3. Asia Miles uses a distance-based award chart, making long-haul redemptions competitive

Asia Miles is one of the few programs that still allows AA long-haul business and first-class redemptions at reasonable rates. While not the cheapest program for short flights, it shines for transcontinental and international AA routes.

For example, here are one-way business class award rates for AA flights:

  • U.S. East Coast (JFK, MIA) to Europe: 61,000 Asia Miles
  • U.S. to South America (e.g., DFW to Buenos Aires): 50,000 Asia Miles
  • U.S. to Asia (e.g., LAX to Tokyo): 75,000 Asia Miles

Asia Miles also lets you book mixed-cabin itineraries, sometimes lowering the overall cost if part of the trip is in economy.

For travelers looking to book premium cabin, long-haul American Airlines flights, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is a top Amex transfer partner to consider.

The Worse (But More Flexible) Option: Using the Amex Travel Portal for American Airlines Bookings

The simplest way to use your American Express for American Airlines flights is through the Amex Travel portal. This method doesn't involve any point transfers – you're essentially using your points as cash to purchase a ticket directly.

When you book through the Amex travel portal, you'll typically get a fixed value for your points. For most American Express cards, points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed this way. However, if you have the Amex Business Platinum card, you'll receive a 35% rebate when booking with a pre-selected airline, effectively making your points worth about 1.54 cents each.

By understanding and leveraging these transfer partnerships, you can make the most out of your American Express Membership Rewards points when booking American Airlines flights.

Disclaimer: Always use credit responsibly. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.