By Austin Christensen · Last updated: November 9, 2026
The Best Ways to Use Amex Points
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Quick answer: the top 3 uses
- ANA business or first class to Japan through Virgin Atlantic. 52,500 points each way from the West Coast, 60,000 from the Midwest or East Coast. The booking steps are in how to book ANA with Virgin Atlantic points. Mileage Club and that Virgin route are in How to book ANA with miles.
- Star Alliance business class to Europe through ANA. 50,000 miles each way, since ANA now books one-way partner awards at half its round-trip price.
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to London. Saver awards from 29,000 points each way.
Ranked list of Amex point uses
| Rank | Use | Partner | Points (flights are each way) | Why it's here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANA business class, West Coast to Japan | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, at 1:1 | 52,500 | A seat that often sells for thousands of dollars |
| 2 | Star Alliance business class, US to Europe | ANA Mileage Club, at 1:1 | 50,000 | One of the lowest business prices to Europe |
| 3 | Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to London | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 29,000 | Low points for a flat bed, when saver space opens |
| 4 | Star Alliance business class to Europe | Air Canada Aeroplan, at 1:1 | 60,000 and up | Wide Star Alliance choice |
| 5 | Cathay Pacific and oneworld partner flights | Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, at 5:4 | Varies by route | Opens oneworld airlines that most Amex partners can't book |
| 6 | Hilton award nights | Hilton Honors, at 1:2 | Varies by hotel | Hilton points are worth 0.4¢ each, so check the math first |
| 7 | Flights through Amex Travel | Amex Travel | 1¢ per point | Simple, and any seat works |
Award prices from Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (checked Nov 9, 2026), Upgraded Points (Apr 14, 2026), ANA award rules, Air Canada Aeroplan chart (2026-08) and Frequent Miler (Oct 10, 2025), checked October 29, 2026. Ratios from Amex's transfer partner page.
Worst uses of Amex points
| Use | Value per point |
|---|---|
| Statement credit | 0.6¢ |
| Prepaid hotels through Amex Travel | 0.7¢ |
| Pay with Points at checkout | 0.7¢ to 1¢ |
| Gift cards | 0.5¢ to 1¢ |
Rates from American Express (updated Apr 30, 2026) and The Points Guy (Apr 16, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
All of these sit far below our 2.0¢ average. Use them only if you'll never transfer.
How to book step by step
- Find award space first, on the partner's own site or an award search tool. Lesson 13: How to Search for Award Flights shows how.
- Make a free account with the partner program, in the same name as your Amex account.
- Transfer only the points you need. Amex transfers to 20 partners, all listed with ratios on our transfer partners page, and transfers can't be reversed. Check transfer bonus alerts first, since a bonus adds miles for the same points.
- Book the award as soon as the points arrive. Lesson 14: Booking Your First Award walks through it.
Learn this properly
Lesson 11: Transfer Partners & When to Use Them explains why transfers beat cash-outs, and Amex points to dollars shows what any balance is worth. Moving points to Delta has its own fee and rules, covered in how to transfer Amex points to Delta. SkyMiles and the Delta partner routes are in How to book Delta with miles. An Aeroplan award on a United flight is in How to book United with miles. The glossary defines saver awards, partner airlines and the other terms on this page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best use of Amex points?
A premium cabin flight booked through a transfer partner, such as ANA business class, West Coast to Japan for 52,500 points each way.
What is the worst use of Amex points?
A statement credit, at 0.6¢ per point.
Is it better to use Amex points for flights or hotels?
Usually flights. Amex's best hotel partner is Hilton, at 1:2, but Hilton points are worth 0.4¢ each.
How do I use Amex Platinum points?
Platinum points are Membership Rewards points, so every use on this page applies. The same goes for the Amex Platinum and Amex Gold.
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