Current Transfer Bonuses and How to Maximize Them

In the world of credit card rewards and point redemptions, transfer bonuses can make a great deal even better. Transfer bonuses are promotional offers that allow you to transfer your points at a more favorable rate, typically from a credit card issuer to a specific loyalty program. For example, a 1:1 transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Air Canada Aeroplan might temporarily increase to 1:1.25, giving you 25% more Aeroplan miles per Chase point.

There are almost always a few transfer bonuses available at any given time. But how do you decide which ones are worth taking advantage of and which ones to skip? In addition to listing all the current ongoing transfer bonuses, this article will discuss the benefits of transfer bonuses and tips on how to maximize them.

Before we get to that, here is our Transfer Partner Cheat Sheet so you can see which of your flexible currencies can be used for the follow transfer bonuses.

Current Transfer Bonuses

To get an idea of previous transfer bonuses that have been available in the past, see our list of expired transfer bonuses. While there’s no way to know for sure if these transfer bonuses will come back around, it can be helpful to see what’s been offered historically, compare it to what’s offered now, see patterns for when some bonuses might come back around and overall it just helps to see these past offers so you can be better informed.

Where to Find Transfer Bonuses

When you log into your credit card account, you’ll be able to see the available transfer bonuses through your credit card rewards program. Airlines might also promote the same transfer bonus on their website, but it’s typically easier to look at what is offered on your card account so you see the transfer bonus options in one place.

Airlines and hotels might also offer their own bonuses, but those will typically be added to your loyalty account rather than show up as an additional amount within your card account during the transfer process.

If you have multiple credit card rewards currencies, a page like this one will come in handy so you can see all the current transfer bonuses for multiple programs in one location. Scroll down to see the list of current transfer bonuses.

Why Transfer Bonuses are Beneficial

The main benefit of transfer bonuses is that they enhance the value of your points. Previously, we gave an example of a 25% transfer bonus, which would turn 10,000 points into 12,500 in the receiving program. Or in other words, a 75,000-point redemption would now only cost 60,000 points.

Transfer bonuses can help you book more flights, stay longer in hotels, and enjoy more travel experiences without spending extra money or points. If you travel frequently, transfer bonuses can result in significant savings over time.

Tips for Maximizing Transfer Bonuses

Here are some tips to help you make the most of a transfer bonus.

Planning Ahead

Transfer bonuses are relatively infrequent and usually last only a month or two. Therefore, it’s unrealistic to be able to pair every upcoming vacation with a transfer bonus.

However, planning ahead can maximize your chances. By having a travel itinerary ready, you can identify which loyalty programs you need points for. Then, follow this page for updates on current transfer bonuses, allowing you to book your travel as soon as a bonus is announced.

Diversifying Your Points Earning

Different credit card issuers can announce transfer bonuses at any time. Because of this, having a diverse portfolio of credit card points is ideal. For example, suppose you need to transfer points to Air Canada Aeroplan. Having points with Chase, Amex, Capital One and Citi is helpful because you can take advantage of any transfer bonus offered by any of these issuers.

Evaluating the Bonus Value

Last but not least, thoroughly assess the overall value of the bonus. Even with a transfer bonus, some redemptions aren’t worthwhile.

To ensure good value, run the numbers. Compare the redemption value you’re getting against metrics like cents per point and the cash price. Take the transfer bonus into account when making your evaluation.

Note: to calculate cents per point, take the cash price of a flight and divide it by the number of points needed for the same flight.

How to Calculate the Right Amount of Points to Transfer with a Bonus

When a bank offers a transfer bonus, you don’t need to transfer the full amount of points required for your redemption. Instead, you can use this simple formula:

Points Needed ÷ (1 + Transfer Bonus Percentage) = Points to Transfer

Example: 20% Transfer Bonus to British Airways Avios

• You need 100,000 Avios to book your flight.
• Chase is offering a 20% transfer bonus (which means you get 1.2 Avios per Chase Ultimate Rewards points transferred).
• Plug it into the formula: 100,000 ÷ 1.2 = 83,333

So instead of transferring 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you only need to transfer 84k (83,333 points have to be rounded up due to needing to transfer in 1,000 point increments) because the 20% bonus will top you up to 100,000 Avios.

Transfer Wisely: Avoiding Speculative Transfers

It can be tempting to try and take advantage of every transfer bonus you see, even if you don’t have immediate plans to use those points. This is called a speculative transfer – moving points from one program to another without a specific redemption in mind, hoping to use them later. This can be risky because the value of points can fluctuate due to increases in redemption rates and overall program devaluations. Even worse, you might not be able to find availability at a later date.

Instead, it’s best to transfer points only when you have a clear plan for their use. Always check availability for your desired travel dates and destinations before initiating a transfer. This ensures that you maximize the benefits of a transfer bonus while avoiding the potential pitfalls.