Table of Contents
The Short Version
You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to ANA Mileage Club at a 1:1 ratio. Before transferring, however, confirm that the ANA award you want is actually available. Transfers generally cannot be reversed once submitted.
The safest process is simple: find your award flight, confirm the mileage cost, check taxes and fees, then transfer only the points you need.
Introduction
You have enough Amex points for an ANA flight, but there is one important step before you move them. ANA award availability should be confirmed first, because transferring points without a bookable award can leave your points stranded in the airline program.
So, how does transferring Amex points to ANA work? What is the current transfer ratio, how should you check ANA award space, and when should you actually move your points?
American Express Membership Rewards currently transfers to ANA Mileage Club at 1:1, making ANA one of Amex’s direct airline partners.
In this article, we will explain how to transfer Amex points to ANA, verify award availability, understand ANA pricing, and avoid common transfer mistakes.
- Amex Membership Rewards currently transfers to ANA Mileage Club at 1:1.
- Confirm award availability before transferring points because transfers generally cannot be reversed.
- ANA award pricing varies by route, cabin, and season.
- Compare ANA with other programs before committing your Amex points.
- Transfer only after you have identified the specific award you want to book.
How Do You Transfer Amex Points to ANA?
Transferring Amex points to ANA Mileage Club starts with having an eligible American Express Membership Rewards account and an ANA Mileage Club account.
The current transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning 10,000 Amex Membership Rewards points become 10,000 ANA miles.
Before initiating the transfer, make sure your account information matches and that you have enough points for the intended award. You can check current partner ratios and transfer details through Flightpoints’ airline transfer partners.
The basic process is:
- Find the ANA award flight you want.
- Confirm the required ANA Mileage Club miles.
- Check the taxes and fees.
- Confirm that your Amex and ANA account details are correct.
- Transfer the required Membership Rewards points.
- Complete the ANA award booking once the miles arrive.
The important part is not transferring first and searching later. Flightpoints specifically recommends confirming award availability before moving transferable points because most transfers cannot be reversed.
How to Search ANA Award Flights Before Transferring
Award availability should be the first thing you verify before transferring Amex points to ANA. A mileage balance does not help if the flight you want is unavailable.
Start by searching ANA Mileage Club for your preferred route, dates, and cabin. ANA pricing can vary by season, while partner awards follow different pricing rules.
You can also use Flightpoints’ How to Search ANA Award Flights guide to understand the availability search process before transferring.
Flightpoints’ Award Flight Search can also help you compare available award options across supported programs before committing your points.
If your dates are flexible, search multiple days rather than relying on one departure. Award inventory can vary significantly across dates, particularly for premium cabins.
ANA Award Pricing and Sweet Spots
Understanding the redemption cost matters before you transfer Amex points to ANA. ANA Mileage Club uses seasonal pricing for ANA-operated awards, with Low, Regular, and High Season rates.
For North America-Japan awards, Flightpoints currently lists ANA one-way pricing from 20,000 miles in Economy, 50,000 in Business, and 75,000 in First during Low Season. Regular and High Season pricing is higher.
ANA can therefore be particularly relevant for travelers planning premium-cabin trips to Japan. However, the actual value depends on your route, dates, cabin, availability, and applicable taxes.
For a broader breakdown of pricing and redemption opportunities, see Flightpoints’ ANA Sweet Spots: Mileage Club Award Guide.
Amex Points to ANA: What Else Should You Compare?
ANA is not the only way to use points for an ANA-operated flight. Depending on the route and available award inventory, the same flight may also be bookable through other programs.
Flightpoints notes that ANA awards can also appear through programs such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air Canada Aeroplan.
This makes comparing programs worthwhile before transferring your Amex points. The cheapest option may depend on the route, cabin, season, taxes, and whether partner space is available.
You can also explore Star Alliance award options if your itinerary involves ANA or another Star Alliance carrier.
When Should You Transfer Amex Membership Rewards to ANA?
The safest time to transfer Amex Membership Rewards to ANA is after you have found a specific award and confirmed its availability.
Avoid transferring speculative amounts simply because you expect to travel to Japan later. ANA miles follow their own program rules, and transferring points removes them from your flexible Amex balance.
A good workflow is:
This approach gives you a clear redemption target before your points leave American Express.
Flightpoints: Search Before You Transfer
Flightpoints can help with the most important part of the transfer process: finding award availability before moving your points.
Its Award Flight Search lets travelers search supported airline programs and compare award options. You can also use Explore Award Flights to browse routes, loyalty programs, and alternative redemption options.
That comparison is especially useful when your preferred ANA award is unavailable. Rather than transferring Amex points immediately, you can check whether another program offers a viable way to book the same or a similar flight.
The Bottom Line
Learning how to transfer Amex points to ANA is straightforward, but the timing of the transfer matters. American Express Membership Rewards currently converts to ANA Mileage Club at a 1:1 ratio, but award availability should be confirmed before you move your points.
The most practical approach is to search first, compare the mileage and cash costs, then transfer only what you need. Use Flightpoints’ award search tools to check ANA and alternative programs before committing your Amex balance.
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Get Flightpoints ProFAQs
Q. Can you transfer Amex points to ANA Mileage Club?
A: Yes. American Express Membership Rewards currently transfers to ANA Mileage Club at a 1:1 ratio. This means 10,000 Membership Rewards points become 10,000 ANA miles.
Q. How long does an Amex transfer to ANA take?
A: Transfer times can vary by loyalty program and transaction. Because award availability can change while a transfer is processing, confirm your desired award before initiating the transfer.
Q. Can Amex points transferred to ANA be reversed?
A: Generally, points transfers cannot be reversed once completed. That is why Flightpoints recommends confirming award availability before transferring transferable points.
Q. Can I use ANA miles for flights to Japan?
A: Yes. ANA Mileage Club can be used for ANA-operated flights to Japan, with pricing varying by cabin, route, and season. Current Flightpoints benchmarks show North America-Japan ANA awards starting at 20,000 miles in Economy during Low Season.
Q. Should I transfer Amex points to ANA before finding a flight?
A: It is generally safer to find and confirm the specific award first. Once you know the required miles and availability, you can transfer the necessary Amex Membership Rewards points rather than moving points speculatively.
