American Airlines Transfer Partners: The Complete 2026 Guide

TL;DR

• AAdvantage had no major bank transfer partner until mid-2025, unlike every other big U.S. airline program.
• Citi ThankYou Points became AAdvantage’s first transfer partner on July 27, 2025, at 1:1 or 1:0.7 depending on the card.
• Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG also convert to AAdvantage miles, though at fairly weak ratios.
• AAdvantage’s real value is still its oneworld network, like JAL business class to Tokyo from 60,000 miles.
• Citi is becoming AAdvantage’s exclusive card issuer, cementing its role as the main American Airlines transfer partner.

American Airlines transfer partners work differently from what you’d expect if you’re used to Amex, Chase, or Capital One. For years, AAdvantage simply didn’t have a bank points partner at all, forcing collectors to earn miles the slow way. That changed in 2025, and the current lineup of American Airlines transfer partners is worth understanding in detail, since it’s still thinner than Delta’s or United’s.

This guide covers every current option, the ratios involved, and how to actually put AAdvantage miles to use once you have them.

Why American Airlines Transfer Partners Are Different

Most major airline programs have transferred in miles from Amex, Chase, or Capital One for over a decade. AAdvantage was the outlier.

• Until July 2025, American Airlines had no major bank transferable-points partner at all, a notable gap compared to Delta, United, Alaska, and JetBlue.
• Collectors had to rely on AA’s own co-branded credit cards, direct flying, or a handful of shopping and dining portals to build a mileage balance.
• That gap closed when Citi ThankYou Points became American Airlines’ first bank transfer partner in nearly four years.
• Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Capital One miles still don’t transfer to AAdvantage as of mid-2026.

Rather than tracking every American Airlines transfer partner change yourself, you can search award flights across AAdvantage and its oneworld partners directly on Flightpoints.

Citi ThankYou: The Main American Airlines Transfer Partner

Citi ThankYou Points is currently the only major bank currency among American Airlines transfer partners, and the ratio you get depends on which Citi card you hold.

• Transfers require a minimum of 1,000 ThankYou points and typically post within minutes.
• The 1:0.7 ratio means you lose 30% of your points in transit, so premium ThankYou cards are the better source if you’re transferring often.
• Citi Prestige is no longer open to new applicants, but existing cardholders can still transfer their points at the 1:1 rate.
• This partnership only reopened in July 2025 after a roughly four-year gap, so don’t assume older articles about AAdvantage transfers are still accurate.

Not sure if a Citi transfer beats booking with cash? Run the comparison through Flightpoints’ points value calculator before you move any points.

Hotel Transfer Partners for AAdvantage Miles

Beyond Citi, three hotel loyalty programs round out the list of American Airlines transfer partners, though none of the ratios are especially generous.

• These transfers make the most sense when you have leftover hotel points you’re not planning to use for a stay.
• Marriott’s usual 5,000-mile bonus for transferring 60,000 points at once doesn’t apply to AAdvantage transfers.
• None of these three ratios come close to matching the value of booking a hotel stay directly with points.

Why Citi Is Becoming AAdvantage’s Exclusive Card Partner

The Citi ThankYou transfer partnership isn’t a standalone event. It’s part of a much bigger deal between Citi and American Airlines.

• In December 2024, Citi and American extended their co-branded card partnership, which has run for more than 37 years, for another decade.
• As part of that extension, Citi is set to become the exclusive issuer of AAdvantage-branded credit cards in the United States.
• Existing Barclays-issued AAdvantage cards are expected to transition over time rather than disappearing overnight.
• This deal is the direct reason Citi ThankYou Points now shows up on the list of American Airlines transfer partners in the first place.

American Airlines’ Own Partner Airlines

Credit card transfers aside, most of AAdvantage’s real redemption value comes from American’s oneworld partner network, not from any bank currency.

• American also holds smaller, non-alliance partnerships with airlines like Cape Air and Etihad Airways, letting you earn or redeem AAdvantage miles outside the oneworld network.
• American’s earlier partnership with JetBlue, the Northeast Alliance, was dismantled by regulators in 2023 and no longer offers reciprocal AAdvantage benefits.
• Most of AAdvantage’s best sweet spots come from booking these partner airlines rather than American’s own metal.

Curious what a specific oneworld route actually costs in AAdvantage miles? Search live award availability across American’s partners on Flightpoints.

Best Ways to Redeem AAdvantage Miles

American still publishes baseline award pricing for many routes, especially on partner airlines, even though it prices some of its own flights dynamically.

• TPG’s July 2026 valuations price AAdvantage miles at 1.4 cents each on average, though strong partner premium-cabin redemptions can be worth several times that.
• Avoid long-haul British Airways redemptions when possible, since carrier-imposed surcharges can add more than $700 each way; Finnair or Iberia often cover the same route for far less.
• Basic Economy tickets purchased on or after December 17, 2025 earn zero AAdvantage miles, so factor that into which fare class you book.
• AAdvantage miles expire after 24 consecutive months without qualifying activity, longer than some competing programs but still worth tracking.

Once you’ve found a redemption worth booking, set up instant, unlimited alerts on Flightpoints so you know the moment that award space opens up.

Conclusion

American Airlines transfer partners are still a shorter list than what Delta, United, or Alaska offer, but the gap has closed meaningfully since Citi ThankYou Points joined in July 2025. Between Citi’s growing role as AAdvantage’s exclusive card issuer and a handful of hotel programs rounding out the options, there are now real ways to build a mileage balance beyond flying American directly. The bigger prize, though, is still the oneworld partner network, where sweet spots like Japan Airlines business class or Qatar Qsuites deliver far more value than any credit card transfer alone.

FAQs

Q: Which credit cards transfer to American Airlines?
A: Citi ThankYou Points is currently the only major bank currency among American Airlines transfer partners, transferring at 1:1 on premium cards like Citi Strata Elite and Citi Strata Premier, and 1:0.7 on no-annual-fee ThankYou cards.

Q: Does Amex or Chase transfer to AAdvantage?
A: No. As of mid-2026, neither Amex Membership Rewards nor Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage.

Q: What hotel programs transfer to American Airlines?
A: Marriott Bonvoy (3:1), World of Hyatt (2.5:1), and IHG One Rewards (5:1) all convert points into AAdvantage miles, though the ratios are weaker than booking a hotel stay directly.

Q: Why didn’t American Airlines have a bank transfer partner before 2025?
A: AAdvantage went years without one, relying instead on its co-branded credit cards and direct flying. That changed when Citi ThankYou Points became a transfer partner on July 27, 2025.

Q: What is the best way to use AAdvantage miles?
A: Booking oneworld partner premium cabins tends to deliver the most value, including Japan Airlines business or first class to Tokyo and Qatar Airways Qsuites, rather than redeeming for domestic AA economy flights.

Q: Do AAdvantage miles expire?
A: Yes, after 24 consecutive months without any qualifying activity, such as a flight, a transfer, or a redemption.