There's a 30% transfer bonus from Amex to British Airways running right now. It expires September 27, 2026. Here's why this matters more than you think.
The normal transfer rate is 1:1. During this bonus, 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards become 1,300 British Airways Avios. That changes the math on short-haul American Airlines flights dramatically.
Why Avios matter for Florida and Texas flyers
British Airways Avios can book American Airlines flights. This is the part most people miss.
AA has massive hubs in Miami (MIA) and Dallas (DFW). Both are airports we monitor daily. When you use Avios to book AA flights under 1,150 miles, the cost is just 6,500 Avios one-way plus $5.60 in taxes.
With the 30% bonus, you only need to transfer 5,000 Amex points to get 6,500 Avios. That's a $200+ flight for 5,000 points.
The routes that work best
Any American Airlines flight under 1,150 miles from MIA or DFW qualifies for the lowest Avios tier. Here are the ones where cash fares are highest (meaning best value per point):
From MIA: Key West, Nassau, San Juan, Havana, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans
From DFW: Houston, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Denver, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Nashville
From IAH: Dallas, New Orleans, Austin, San Antonio, Memphis, Oklahoma City
Cash fares on these routes typically run $180 to $350 round trip. Your cost with the bonus: 10,000 Amex points (which becomes 13,000 Avios) plus $11.20 in taxes. That's it.
Step by step
1. Log into your Amex account 2. Go to Membership Rewards and select "Transfer Points" 3. Choose British Airways Executive Club as the partner 4. Transfer 10,000 points (you'll receive 13,000 Avios with the bonus) 5. Wait 1-2 minutes (Amex to BA transfers are nearly instant) 6. Log into ba.com and search for AA-operated flights on your route 7. Book the round trip for 13,000 Avios + $11.20
The value breakdown
Without the bonus: 13,000 Avios requires transferring 13,000 Amex points.
With the bonus: 13,000 Avios requires transferring only 10,000 Amex points.
If the cash fare is $280 round trip, you're getting 2.8 cents per Amex point. That's nearly 3x what you'd get redeeming through the Amex travel portal at 1 cent each.
Which Amex cards earn transferable points?
Membership Rewards points that transfer to BA come from these cards: - Amex Gold (4x dining, 4x groceries) - Amex Platinum (5x flights, great for transfers) - Amex Green (3x travel, 3x transit) - Amex Business Gold (4x in top 2 categories)
If you have the Amex Gold and spend normally on dining and groceries, you're earning 4,000-6,000 points per month. Two months of natural spending gives you enough for a round-trip AA flight.
Important notes
The 30% bonus expires September 27, 2026. After that, it reverts to 1:1.
Only transfer what you need for a specific booking. Once points are in BA's system, they're locked there. Don't transfer speculatively.
Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity. As long as you earn or spend at least 1 Avios every 3 years, they stay alive.
The bottom line
If you have Amex points and fly American Airlines from Florida or Texas, this bonus is one of the best uses of your points available right now. Transfer 10,000 points, get 13,000 Avios, book a $200-300 AA flight for basically free.
The window closes September 27. Move before then.
For more on how Avios work with AA flights, check our Chase transfer partner playbook (British Airways is also a Chase partner at 1:1, though no bonus currently). And if you want the full Amex strategy, our Amex to ANA sweet spot guide covers the best long-haul redemption.
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