How to transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Avios (step by step)

Last checked: 1 November 2026.

The short answer: American Express UK lists the British Airways Club as a Membership Rewards transfer partner at 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Avios. The minimum transfer is 1,000 points, in steps of 500, and Amex estimates BA transfers as instant. You can also send points to Iberia Club or Qatar Airways Privilege Club at the same 1:1 rate. But transfers can't be reversed, so find the reward you want before you move any points.

This guide covers the steps, the official figures and the checks worth making first. It's information, not a recommendation to take out any card.

The official figures

From Amex's public Travel Transfer Partners page:

Qatar timing: Amex's page says "up to 48 hours". A faster time once accounts are linked is reported but Not yet confirmed by American Express, so treat the timing as Not yet confirmed.

First-time linking: if you haven't linked the airline account before, verification adds time. Amex's partner page says to allow a possible extra 3 working days. Its FAQ says up to 14 days. Because Amex's own pages differ, this is Not yet confirmed. Allow for the longer figure if your trip is time-sensitive.

Before you transfer: four checks

1. Find the seat first. Amex says transfers to partners "are irreversible". Search for Reward Flight availability with your BA Club account, and only move points once you know what you're booking.

2. Make sure the names match. Amex says points "can only be transferred into an account in your name". You can't send them to a partner's or relative's account. (Once they're Avios, you can share them through a BA household account. See How Avios household accounts work.)

3. Think about the steps of 500. If you need 10,250 Avios and have 250 Avios already, transfer 10,000. Because transfers go in steps of 500, emptying your balance can leave odd points behind.

4. Check the value. Use our redemption value guide. Every Membership Rewards point becomes one Avios, so the value per Avios is also the value per Amex point.

Step by step: Amex to British Airways Club

1. Join The British Airways Club if you're not already a member. It's free. Use the name that matches your Amex account.

2. Log in to your Amex account online or in the app and open Membership Rewards.

3. Go to Use Points → Transfer Points to Partners and pick British Airways Club.

4. Link your BA Club membership number if this is your first transfer. Amex says you can link accounts "anytime", and there's no limit to how many partner programmes you link.

5. Enter the number of points (at least 1,000, in steps of 500).

6. Check and confirm by clicking "Transfer my points".

7. Check your BA Club balance. Amex estimates BA transfers as instant once accounts are linked.

Amex also offers transfers by phone on its free Membership Rewards line, 0800 917 8053, as published on its UK Membership Rewards page.

Never share your Amex or BA login details with anyone, including us. RewardsSorted will never ask for your loyalty passwords.

Which Avios programme should you send them to?

All three programmes use the same currency, Avios. Avios.com lets you link a BA Club account to Iberia Club, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Finnair or Loganair, with a separate link for Qatar. That lets you move Avios on later. But linked accounts generally can't be unlinked (BA links to Qatar and Finnair are the exceptions), and both accounts must be at least 30 days old. Our guide to moving Avios between BA, Iberia and Qatar explains the rules.

In practice:

• For BA Reward Flights, transfer straight to the British Airways Club. It's the instant route.
• For Iberia or Qatar redemptions, you can transfer to those programmes directly, or go via BA and move the Avios across. Either way, check each programme's own terms first.

Worked examples (official figures only)

Example 1: a short-haul Reward Flight. BA's Reward Flights page (examples "correct as of May 2026") shows Europe, the UK and Ireland "from 10,000 Avios + £2.50 each-way". That's 10,000 Membership Rewards points plus £2.50, transferred at 1:1. Prices vary by date and route, so check the actual flight.

Example 2: what's the fallback value? BA lets you convert 400 Avios into 400 Nectar points. Nectar points are worth 0.5p each at Sainsbury's (500 points = £2.50), so that route values an Avios at about 0.5p. That's a useful floor. If your flight works out below 0.5p per point once you've added the cash charge, think again.

Example 3: working out the value. Say a flight costs £150 in cash, or 10,000 Avios + £2.50. You're using 10,000 points to save £147.50, which is £147.50 ÷ 10,000 = 1.475p per point. The cash price here is a made-up example. Use real prices from your own search.

Keeping your Membership Rewards points safe

• Amex's UK Membership Rewards page says the points "have no expiration date".
• If you close your card account and have no other linked cards, Amex says you have 30 days to redeem your points before they're forfeited.
• Once points become Avios, Avios rules apply. BA Club Avios expire if you don't collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months. See our points expiry guide.

For changes that may affect your Avios, see our explainer on British Airways Club and Avios changes, and sign up for RewardsSorted's free email alerts.

FAQ

What's the Amex to Avios transfer rate in the UK? Amex's partner page lists 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Avios for British Airways Club, Iberia Club and Qatar Privilege Club (checked 1 November 2026).

Can I transfer Avios back to Amex? No. Amex says transfers to partner programmes are irreversible.

Can I transfer my Amex points into my partner's BA account? No. Points can only go to an account in your own name. Once they're Avios, a BA household account lets you pool them.

What's the minimum transfer? 1,000 points to BA Club or Iberia Club, in steps of 500. For Qatar it's 500 points, in steps of 500.

How long does it take? Amex estimates BA transfers as instant and Iberia as 4 working days. Qatar is "up to 48 hours" per Amex, but this is Not yet confirmed (see above). Linking an account for the first time can add time.

Sources and last checked

All checked on 1 November 2026:

• American Express, Travel Transfer Partners (airlines): https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/rewards/membership-rewards/travel/airlines?currenttravelproducttype=Travel
• American Express, Membership Rewards UK (FAQs on linking, irreversibility, phone number, no expiry): https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/benefits/rewards/membership-rewards/
• American Express, About redeeming (30-day rule on closure): https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/rewards/membership-rewards/about-redeeming
• Avios.com, Transfer Avios: https://avios.com/move/transfer-avios
• BA, Reward Flights: https://www.britishairways.com/content/the-british-airways-club/avios/spending-avios/reward-flights
• BA, Spending Avios (Avios to Nectar 400:400): https://www.britishairways.com/content/the-british-airways-club/avios/spending-avios
• Nectar, Points FAQs (spending in £2.50 steps): https://help.nectar.com/help/faqs/points

RewardsSorted is independent and has no commercial relationship with American Express or British Airways. Information only, not financial advice.