Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partners: Complete Canadian Guide
A full breakdown of every Amex MR transfer partner available in Canada — which offer 1:1 ratios, which have surcharges, and which sweet spots are worth chasing.
American Express Membership Rewards is the most flexible points currency in Canada. With nine transfer partners including Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Marriott Bonvoy, Amex MR gives Canadian cardholders access to a breadth of redemption options no other domestic bank currency can match. Here's exactly what you can do with your points.
Key rule: transfers are one-way and irreversible
Once you transfer Amex MR to any partner, those points cannot be returned. Only transfer when you have a specific redemption in mind and have already confirmed award availability in that program.
All Canadian Amex MR Transfer Partners at a Glance
| Partner | Type | Ratio | Transfer Time | Fuel Surcharges? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1:1 | Instant | Minimal on AC |
| British Airways Avios | Airline | 1:1 | 3–5 days | High on BA flights |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | Airline | 1:1 | 3–5 days | Moderate |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 24 hrs | Yes on SQ |
| Delta SkyMiles | Airline | 1:1 | 3–5 days | No — but dynamic pricing |
| Etihad Guest | Airline | 1:1 | 3–5 days | Minimal |
| Emirates Skywards | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 24 hrs | Moderate |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Hotel | 1:1.2 | Up to 5 days | N/A |
| Hilton Honors | Hotel | 1:2 | Up to 5 days | N/A |
Aeroplan — The Default Best Choice for Canadians
Aeroplan should be your first consideration when deciding where to send Amex MR points. The instant 1:1 transfer ratio, combined with Aeroplan's access to 40+ Star Alliance airlines and a well-structured distance award chart, makes it the most versatile destination. A 70,000-point transfer books a business class seat to Europe worth $3,500–$5,000 in cash. If Amex runs a transfer bonus (typically 20–30% bonus to Aeroplan, offered periodically), this becomes even more compelling.
British Airways Avios — Best for Short-Haul and Iberia Redemptions
Avios uses a distance-based chart that prices short-haul redemptions exceptionally well. A Toronto–New York City flight (under 500 miles) costs just 4,500 Avios in economy. The real power move: transfer Avios to Iberia and book Madrid–New York in business class for 34,000 Avios one-way — one of the best transatlantic business class deals available anywhere. The catch is that Iberia and BA availability is separate and requires time to find.
Flying Blue — Best for Air France Business Class to Europe
Air France-KLM Flying Blue runs monthly "Promo Rewards" that discount certain routes by 25–50%. When an Air France business class promo hits Paris routes — which happens several times per year — you can book for as few as 40,000–50,000 miles one-way from North America. Set a Flying Blue Promo Rewards alert and jump when one appears.
Flying Blue Promo Rewards — how to find them
Flying Blue releases monthly promo awards on the 15th of each month. Sign up for the Flying Blue newsletter and check flyingblue.com/en/promo-rewards on the 15th. Promo seats are limited and sell out fast — have your Amex MR ready to transfer the moment you spot a route you want.
Singapore KrisFlyer — For Premium Suites Redemptions
Singapore Airlines First Class Suites is widely considered the best commercial flying experience in the world. The catch: KrisFlyer points are notoriously hard to use for Suites redemptions, as Singapore Airlines releases very limited award space. That said, business class ("Business Class") is more achievable and is still a world-class product. KrisFlyer is worth transferring to if you're specifically targeting a Singapore Airlines cabin.
Hotel Partners: Marriott and Hilton
The two hotel transfer options are rarely the best use of Amex MR, but they have their place. Marriott Bonvoy at 1:1.2 (you receive more points than you send) can help top off a Bonvoy balance for a luxury redemption. Hilton Honors at 1:2 sounds generous, but Hilton points are worth ~0.5¢ each, so the effective value is roughly 1¢ per Amex MR point — less than you'd get from airline transfers. Use hotel transfers only when chasing a specific property redemption.
Watch for Transfer Bonuses
Periodically — usually 2–4 times per year — American Express runs transfer bonuses to select partners. A 20% bonus to Aeroplan means 60,000 Amex MR becomes 72,000 Aeroplan miles instead of 60,000. These bonuses are not publicized far in advance; the best way to catch them is subscribing to SmartCardOffers's newsletter or following Canadian points blogs. The bonuses typically run for 2–4 weeks.
- Transfer bonuses have historically ranged from 15% to 30%
- Both standard Amex MR cards and the Cobalt are eligible for transfer bonuses
- Minimum transfer amounts vary by partner (usually 1,000 or 5,000 points)
- You cannot transfer fractional amounts — transfers must be in whole multiples of the minimum
Cards Mentioned in This Article
Advertiser Disclosure: SmartCardOffers may earn a referral fee when you apply for products through links on this page. This does not affect the way we evaluate or rank products. Rates, fees, and offer details are subject to change — always verify with the card issuer before applying. Learn more about how we make money.
