Amex transfer partner
How to Transfer Amex Points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (2026 Guide)
Amex Membership Rewards points still transfer to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, but not at the 1:1 rate you may remember. Since March 2026 the ratio is 5:4, and that changes which redemptions are worth chasing.
By the Point Finder team · Updated 2026-07-17 · Ratios and transfer times verified against issuer transfer pages
- Ratio
- 5:4
- Transfer speed
- Up to 48 hours
- Alliance
- Oneworld
- Type
- Airline
The short version
Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at 5:4, up to 48 hours. Ratio was cut from 1:1 in March 2026, but Asia Miles still has one of the more flexible Oneworld charts.
The March 2026 Ratio Cut: What Changed and Is It Still Worth It
For years, Amex points moved to Asia Miles at a straight 1:1 ratio. That ended March 1, 2026 — transfers now convert at 5:4, meaning 50,000 Membership Rewards points become 40,000 Asia Miles, an effective 20% cut.
Cathay Pacific also revised its own Asia Miles award chart in May 2026, nudging most distance-based pricing bands upward, so travelers absorbed two separate hits within a few months.
Is it still worth transferring? Generally yes, but with more selectivity — a 5:4 ratio still beats worse-value partners, and Asia Miles' distance-based chart remains forgiving for Oneworld business and first class. Price the specific redemption first.
Asia Miles' Distance-Based Chart and Stopovers
Under the chart in effect since May 2026, business-class one-way awards run roughly 27,000 miles for short-haul (up to 2,750 miles), 60,000 for medium-haul (2,751-5,000 miles), 91,000 for long-haul (5,001-7,500 miles), and 119,000 for ultra-long-haul beyond 7,500 miles.
Asia Miles stopovers are available only on round-trip awards (one stopover total, placeable in either direction), not on one-way awards.
Oneworld Redemption Strategy
Asia Miles' real strength is redeeming across Oneworld — American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Japan Airlines, and other partners.
Cathay also publishes a separate Oneworld multi-carrier award chart for itineraries combining multiple alliance partners, capped at 50,000 total flown miles, with up to five stopovers.
Sweet spots worth booking
| Route | Cabin | Points |
|---|---|---|
| US West Coast (LAX/SFO) - Hong Kong | Business | 182,000 Asia Miles round-trip (~227,500 Amex points at 5:4)5,001-7,500 mile band; efficient long-haul business redemption. |
| US East Coast (JFK/EWR) - Hong Kong | Business | 238,000 Asia Miles round-trip (~297,500 Amex points at 5:4)Ultra-long-haul band; compare against cash or other partners. |
| Hong Kong - Sydney | Business | 120,000 Asia Miles round-trip (~150,000 Amex points at 5:4)Strong intra-Oneworld redemption if positioning through Hong Kong. |
| Hong Kong - Bali (Denpasar) | Business | 64,000 Asia Miles round-trip (~80,000 Amex points at 5:4)Prices at the "Short-Type 2" rate (routes touching Indonesia, among others), not the cheaper "Short-Type 1" rate; the Type 2 business-class one-way rate held at 32,000 miles, unchanged by the May 2026 chart revision. |
How to transfer Amex points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- 1Price out the specific award space before transferring anything — irreversible.
- 2Open or confirm you have an active Cathay Pacific Asia Miles account.
- 3Log in to Amex, go to Transfer & Redeem, and select Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
- 4Enter your Asia Miles membership number and confirm the conversion at 5:4.
- 5Allow up to 48 hours for the miles to post.
- 6Search availability on Cathay Pacific's own site, then book online or call for complex multi-carrier itineraries.
Tips before you transfer
- •Never transfer speculatively — confirm award seats first.
- •Check whether a connecting routing lands in a cheaper mileage band.
- •Round-trip Asia Miles awards include one free stopover, placeable in either direction — but Cathay Pacific removed the free stopover on one-way awards back in April 2020, so it can't be used to combine two destinations on a one-way ticket.
- •Asia Miles expire after 18 months of inactivity, but activity of any kind resets the clock.
- •Compare the 5:4 cost against other Membership Rewards airline partners before transferring.
Frequently asked questions
Which Amex cards can transfer points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles?
Platinum, Gold, Business Platinum, and Business Gold.
How long does an Amex-to-Asia Miles transfer take?
Typically within 48 hours.
Why did the Amex-to-Cathay Pacific transfer ratio change?
Amex cut it from 1:1 to 5:4 effective March 1, 2026, a roughly 20% devaluation.
Is Cathay Pacific Asia Miles still worth transferring Amex points to?
It depends on the redemption — price it in Amex points first and compare against other partners.
What alliance can I redeem Asia Miles on besides Cathay Pacific?
Oneworld, including American, British Airways, Qantas, and Japan Airlines.
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