Starwood American Express Airline Mile Transfer: How it works

Transfer points to over 30 airline mile programs

Starwood Hotels has agreements with over 30 airlines to let you convert your Starwood points into miles in the native airline programs of your choice. The Starwood Preferred Guest American Express is the only mile credit card that lets you earn points in Starwood’s program.

You don’t pay any fees for transferring, and can request a transfer either by telephone or on the Starwood website at spg.com. You can generally transfer in 2,500 point increments. On most airlines, 1 point = 1 mile. Starwood also offers an additional benefit: if you transfer in 20,000 point increments, they will provide a 5,000 point bonus, so your 20,000 points turn into 25,000 miles. This is one of the most valuable features of the card and there is no limit to how often you use that bonus.

Click here to apply for the card 

What airlines can I transfer my points into miles?
Aeroplan/AirCanada – Varies
Air China Companion – 1 point = 1 mile
Air France Flying Blue – 1 point = 1 mile

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan – 1 point = 1 mile

Alitalia MilleMiglia – 1 point = 1 mile

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club – 1 point = 1 mile

American Airlines AAdvantage – 1 point = 1 mile

Asia Miles – 1 point = 1 mile
Asiana Airlines - 1 point = 1 mile

British Airways Executive Club – 1 point = 1 mile

Continental Airlines(R) OnePass - 2 points = 1 mile

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles – 1 point = 1 mile

Emirates and Sri Lankan Airlines Skywards – 1 point = 1 mile

Flying Blue – 1 point = 1 mile

Hawaiian Airlines  – 1 point = 1 mile

Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank  – 1 point = 1 mile
KLM Flying Blue – 1 point = 1 mile

LAN LANPASS - 1 point  =  2 miles (good deal)

Lufthansa Miles and More - 1 point = 1 mile

Qantas Airways Frequent Flyer  – 1 point = 1 mile

Qatar Airways  – 1 point = 1 mile

Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan  – 1 point = 1 mile

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer  – 1 point = 1 mile

Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus  – 1 point = 1 mile

US Airways Dividend Miles  – 1 point = 1 mile

United Mileage Plus - 2 points = 1 mile

VARIG Smiles - 2 points = 1 miles

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club  – 1 point = 1 mile

What restrictions are there?
Not many. Most airlines limit your transfer to 99,999 points in one day. If you want to transfer more points, simply place your request on a later day. In addition, the name on your Starwood account needs to match the name on the airline mile account you wish to transfer points into. You can still book tickets for a friend or relative — just put the ticket in their name when you go to redeem your miles at the airline. The miles come out of your account.

Click here to apply for the card 

A lower annual fee than most airline miles cards
The Starwood Preferred Guest credit card has the lowest annual fee of any credit card that offers 1:1 earning into airline miles accounts of major U.S. airlines. With no fee the first year, and just $65 after, it is about half of what most single airline miles cards charge for an annual fee.

You can also use your points for hotels
Points are also good at all Sheraton, Westin, W, Sheraton, St. Regis, Le Meridien, and Four Points hotels with no capacity restrictions. If there’s a room to buy, you can book it with points. For many travelers, hotel stays are a better use of points than domestic airline tickets in any program. Learn about special Cash and Points redemptions here that are an exceptional value, or see below how few points you need for a completely free night:

3,000 points = 1 free night at “Category 1″ hotels (midpriced, suburban locations)
4,000 points = 1 free night at “Category 2″ hotels (metropolitan and many resorts)
7,000 points = 1 free night at “Category 3″ hotels (large cities, premium resorts)
10,000 points = 1 free night at “Category 4″ hotels (high demand areas, luxury resorts)

20,000 points = free roundtrip U.S. plane ticket when transferred to most airline miles program for redemption

And many other redemption options, including a $100 gift card at Amazon, Nordstrom, Starbucks, and other retailers for 9,500 points.

Annual Fee
No fee the first year, only $65 afterward. The low fee makes this road warrior proven card great for even light travelers looking to earn points just through purchases.

Point bonuses
10,000 points with first purchase. 5,000 mile bonus for every 20,000 points you transfer to an airline. This makes this card better than most standard airline cards for earning points on your favorite airline…and is why it’s the choice of some of the most seasoned travelers.

Dollars spent before your first reward
$1. With a 10,000 point bonus for your first purchase, you’ve earned two nights at any Category 1 or 2 Starwood hotel…with no restriction.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.