This is the third transfer bonus American Express has rolled out this quarter, and it zeroes in on the Avios ecosystem. A 30% bump means every 1,000 Membership Rewards points you move becomes 1,300 Avios in the airline program of your choice.
The offer applies to three Avios programs – British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus – and there’s no minimum transfer amount. Any Amex card that earns Membership Rewards points can be used, whether it’s the Platinum, Gold, or a co‑branded card.
The promotion runs until September 27, 2026, so you’ll need to act before the clock runs out. Once the points land in an Avios account, you can pool them across the three airlines, which makes it easy to top up the account you plan to redeem from.
Where the bonus shines
- Domestic short‑haul flights on American Airlines can be booked with relatively low Avios balances, turning a modest transfer into a free round‑trip.
- Premium‑cabin seats on Qatar Airways, Finnair and other partners are often priced in Avios, so the extra 30% can shave off a few thousand points from a business‑class redemption.
- Lie‑flat seats to Europe are among the most valued Avios redemptions; the bonus helps you reach the required balance faster.
How to make it work for you
- Check your Membership Rewards balance. If you have 20‑30 k points, a single transfer will net you an extra 6‑9 k Avios.
- Transfer to the Avios program you plan to use, then combine any existing Avios you already have across the three airlines.
- Book your award flight before September 27 to lock in the bonus. After that date, transfers revert to the standard 1:1 rate.
Bottom line: If you have any Membership Rewards points sitting idle, the 30% transfer bonus is a straightforward way to boost your Avios stash before the deadline.