Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
American Express Membership Rewards points are some of the best rewards to earn if you're interested in domestic travel within the U.S.
A large reason Amex points are so valuable is their flexibility. With 17 airline partners, you can use Amex points to book awards with several major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta, United and JetBlue. If you can't find open award seats on the days you want to travel, no problem. You can book any seat that's available to buy with cash and use Amex points to pay for the ticket when you book through the Amex Travel Portal.
Below, CNBC Select details the best ways to redeem Amex points to fly for free (or nearly free) across the U.S.
How to book domestic flights with Amex points
Best Amex cards for earning Membership Rewards points
American Express has a strong lineup of personal and business cards that earn transferable Membership Rewards points.
The cards with some of the best benefits and highest welcome bonuses include:
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
- Access to 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Hotel and rental car elite status perks
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
- High annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
- Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Larger annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026
Min balance to open = $0
1.00% APY as of 06/24/2024
Min balance to open = $0
Booking domestic flights with Amex points
You can only transfer Amex points to two U.S.-based airline programs: Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue. However, by taking advantage of airline partnerships, you can use Amex points to book award flights with other major carriers, including United Airlines and American Airlines.
In most cases, you can move your Amex points to partner airlines at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000-point increments. Occasionally, Amex even offers bonuses for transferring points to select partners. Keep in mind that transferring Amex points is a one-way street. Once you've moved your points to a partner, you can't return them to your Amex account.
Many transfers are instant, so you can find an open award flight first and then transfer points to the airline. A handful of frequent flyer programs even allow you to put awards on hold while you wait for the points to transfer.
These aren't the only ways to use Amex points for flights within the U.S., but they represent the best combination of value, flexibility and ease of booking.
Booking United flights with Amex points
Amex Membership Rewards points don't transfer to United MileagePlus, but you can book United award flights through United's Star Alliance partners, such as Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan.
Better yet, sometimes, these programs charge far fewer miles than United would through its MileagePlus program for the same flights. But, United doesn't have a fixed award chart, so its award prices can vary.
Comparing prices will take a little legwork because Avianca LifeMiles does not publish an official award chart for partner awards and charges an award booking fee of up to $25 in addition to the taxes. To find the price of a specific flight, you'll have to roll up your sleeves and directly search the route on LifeMiles.com.
Meanwhile, Aeroplan has a distance-based award chart for flights within North America and charges a flat $39 CAD per ticket partner booking fee in addition to the taxes.
Aeroplan award chart for select partner flights within North America
| Distance (miles) | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 500 | Starting at 6,000 pts | Starting at 15,000 pts |
| 501 - 1,500 | Starting at 10,000 pts | Starting at 20,000 pts |
| 1,501 - 2,750 | Starting at 12,500 pts | Starting at 25,000 pts |
| 2,751 + | Starting at 17,500 pts | Starting at 35,000 pts |
Don't miss: How to access United Club airport lounges
Booking Delta flights with Amex points
The simplest way to book Delta flights with Amex points is by transferring your points to Delta's SkyMiles loyalty program.
Delta SkyMiles uses dynamic award pricing, so you'll often get a relatively consistent value of around 1.2 cents per mile, although it fluctuates. For instance, Delta also has ongoing SkyMiles Award Deals and runs regular flash sales often featuring domestic flights for 5,000 miles one-way or less.
That said, there are times when transferring your points to one of Delta's SkyTeam alliance partner airlines may be a cheaper option. Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club and Flying Blue (Air France and KLM), can be better programs for booking Delta flights in some situations.
Unlike the SkyMiles program, Virgin Atlantic has fixed, distance-based redemption rates for domestic Delta awards. If you're not sure what zone your flight falls into, the Great Circle Mapper is an excellent tool for determining the distance for any route.
The cost of your award is calculated based on the distance flown per segment, so if you have a connection, you're essentially paying for two one-way awards. However, there are plenty of nonstop flights where booking with Virgin Atlantic is cheaper.
Don't miss: How to access Delta Sky Club airport lounges
Booking American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights with Amex points
Airlines such as British Airways and Qantas are members of the oneworld alliance and you can use these programs to book awards with American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Both programs price awards based on distance, so the cheapest option will depend on your flight's price band.
Qantas' award costs vary depending on the airline you're flying with and if your itinerary involves multiple airlines. However, for most domestic flights, you'll likely be traveling with a single partner airline, so here's what you'll pay for one-way American Airlines flights:
Qantas award chart for flights with American Airlines
| Economy class | Business Class | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 600 | 9,200 | 19,300 |
| 601 to 1,200 | 13,800 | 29,000 |
| 1,201 to 2,400 | 20,700 | 43,600 |
| 2,401 to 3,600 | 23,300 | 68,400 |
| 3,601 to 4,800 | 29,000 | 82,100 |
Qantas has a slightly more expensive award chart for one-way Alaska Airlines awards:
Qantas award chart for flights with Alaska Airlines
| Economy class | Business class | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 600 | 11,500 | 21,000 |
| 601 to 1,200 | 16,100 | 31,500 |
| 1,201 to 2,400 | 23,000 | 46,000 |
| 2,401 to 3,600 | 28,200 | 73,400 |
| 3,601 to 4,800 | 34,700 | 90,000 |
In certain situations, you'll need fewer Amex points to book American Airlines or Alaska Airlines flights using British Airways Avios points. However, since British Airways doesn't publish an award chart and applies peak pricing, it can be more difficult to tell where you could be saving money.
Pay with Amex points
The biggest drawback to booking flights with points or miles is that most airlines limit the number of seats you can book with points, especially through partner programs. The most convenient flight schedule or the most popular travel days will be harder to book with rewards.
However, you can circumvent these restrictions and book any open seat when you pay with Amex points using the Amex Travel Portal. You simply search for flights through Amex Travel, the same way you would with another online travel agency like Expedia.
When it comes time to pay for the airfare, you can use your Amex points to pay for all or some of the costs. With this option, you'll have unlimited flexibility and you'll even earn frequent flyer miles on your flight.
To ensure the best deal, you'll want to price-check any flights you book through Amex Travel. You have to call to book with certain carriers, like Southwest or Spirit Airlines, but the phone agent may not be able to book the cheapest or most direct flights for you.
When booking flights with the Amex travel portal, you typically get a value of one cent per point. However, the deal is sweeter for anyone with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Amex Business Platinum cardholders receive a 35% points rebate (up to 1,000,000 points per calendar year) on eligible airfare booked using Amex's Pay with Points program. Eligible airfare includes any flight with your selected airline, which is the same airline you choose for your card's airline fee credit of up to $200 each year.
Things to know about booking awards through partner airlines
Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to 17 airline frequent flyer programs and three hotel loyalty programs, allowing you to pick and choose the best program for the specific trip you want to book. Amex's transfer partners include the following:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Aeromexico Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
- ANA Mileage Club
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Delta SkyMiles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore KrisFlyer
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Choice Privileges
- Hilton Honors
- Marriott Bonvoy
While partner airline programs can offer exceptional deals, there are tradeoffs. Not every award flight is open to partner bookings. Partner programs only have access to the lowest-priced saver-level awards, so it's often more difficult to find awards to book with partner miles.
Also, if you need to cancel or change a partner award booking, it's not always straightforward. You'll need to contact the airline you booked through, not the airline you're traveling with.
For example, you need to contact Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to change a Delta flight booked with Virgin points. That ticket would also be subject to all of Virgin Atlantic's rules. In some cases, this is an advantage, but not always.
Outside of the miles or points cost, there are other things to consider when choosing a partner program to book through. Some airlines allow stopovers for free or a small fee on award tickets, although this rarely applies to U.S. domestic flights. The change and cancellation fees also vary from one airline to the next. By understanding the opportunities and costs, outside of just the points you're using to book your flights, you'll be able to choose the best overall deal for your trip.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
FAQs
What are Amex Membership Rewards points worth?
American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 0.5 to one cent per point for most redemptions, but you can easily get two cents or more in value per Amex point by using them to book travel through an airline or hotel transfer partner.
How do I get more Amex points?
American Express Membership Rewards points are earned by spending on eligible American Express rewards cards. The quickest way to earn a large number of points is by taking advantage of welcome bonus offers when opening a new card.
How do I convert Amex points to dollars?
While American Express Membership Rewards points can't be redeemed for straight cash back, they can be used to offset card charges at a rate of 0.6 cents per point through Cover Your Card Charges. You will get a statement credit in your account that reduces your card balance. However, you can get far better value from your points when using them for travel.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card rewards guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel rewards. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
