【July 17, 2026 update】 Amex MR will be able to transfer to Accor hotel points at 2:1. Transfers are expected to open this summer.
Introduction
If you collect credit-card points, you need to know how to transfer them into airline miles and book business- and first-class awards. This post summarizes the airline transfer partners for Canada’s main bank currencies so you can compare them.
My personal ranking:
- First: Amex MR (Amex Membership Rewards Canada). You can earn it from many cards, the cost is low, and it transfers to Air Canada Aeroplan.
- Second: RBC Avion. Airline partners include Cathay Pacific and British Airways.
Third: HSBC WEMC. Its earning power dropped in the February refresh and it is no longer appealing.- Last: Marriott points. They have the most airline partners and the most flexibility, but everyday earn is poor. Welcome offers are the realistic way to stockpile them.
Transfer ratios are not fixed. Bonuses show up from time to time, and this blog updates when they do. Follow this post plus the live deal roundups: airline promotions and hotel promotions.
The rest of the post walks through each program in that order.
1, Amex MR (Canada) (Membership Rewards)
Cards that earn MR:
| Frequent Flyer Programs | Points to Miles |
|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1:1 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:0.75 |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1:0.75 |
Transfers to Etihad Guest ended on June 20, 2026.
The Flying Blue ratio rose from 1:0.75 to 1:1 on January 3, 2026.
MR can also transfer to Hilton (1:1) and Marriott (1:1.2). In most cases, that is not recommended.
Further reading: 🇨🇦 Canadian Amex Membership Rewards explained
2, RBC Avion Rewards
Cards that earn Avion:
- Avion Visa Infinite
- Avion Visa Platinum
- Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
- ION Visa
- ION+ Visa
- U.S. Dollar Visa Gold
- Avion Visa Infinite Business
- Avion Visa Business
- Visa CreditLine for Small Business
| Frequent Flyer Programs | Points to Miles |
|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 1:0.7 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1:1 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 |
| WestJet | 1:1 |
A slightly higher-fee Avion card is enough to transfer to Cathay Pacific and British Airways. That is genuinely useful. When award space back to China was tight, plenty of readers booked Cathay itineraries connecting in Hong Kong.
Further reading: RBC Avion Rewards explained
3, HSBC Rewards
【2024 update】 HSBC Canada was bought by RBC, and the points moved to Avion.
The one card that earned HSBC Rewards was the HSBC WEMC.
| Frequent Flyer Programs | Points to Miles |
|---|---|
| British Airways Executive Club | 1:0.4 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:0.32 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:0.36 |
Earning power was only average.
4, Marriott Bonvoy
There are two Amex Marriott cobranded cards:
Marriott has many airline partners. The detailed rules are on this page.
As a rule, every 60,000 Marriott points transferred also get a 5,000-mile bonus.
⚠️ 1. Starred airline programs below do not get the extra bonus.
⚠️ 2. United MileagePlus gets an extra 10,000 miles.
| Frequent Flyer Programs | Points to Miles |
|---|---|
| AEGEAN Miles+Bonus | 3:1 |
| Aer Lingus AerClub | 3:1 |
| Aeromexico ClubPremier | 3:1 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 3:1 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 3:1 |
| Air New Zealand AirPoint | 200:1 |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | 3:1 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage** | 3:1 |
| ANA Mileage Club | 3:1 |
| Asiana Airlines Asiana Club | 3:1 |
| Avianca LifeMiles** | 3:1 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 3:1 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 3:1 |
| Copa Airlines ConnectMiles | 3:1 |
| Delta SkyMiles** | 3:1 |
| Emirates Skywards | 3:1 |
| Etihad Guest | 3:1 |
| FRONTIER Miles | 3:1 |
| Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club | 3:1 |
| Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles | 3:1 |
| Iberia Plus | 3:1 |
| InterMiles | 3:1 |
| Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank | 3:1 |
| LATAM Airlines LATAM Pass | 3:1 |
| Multiplus Fidelidade LATAM Pass | 3:1 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 3:1 |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 3:1 |
| Saudia Alfursan | 3:1 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 3:1 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 3:1 |
| TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go | 3:1 |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | 3:1 |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 3:1 |
| United MileagePlus | 3:1.1 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 3:1 |
| Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer | 3:1 |
| Vueling Club | 3:1 |
**The offer of 5,000 bonus miles does not apply to these airlines.
【June 18, 2024 update】 Marriott ended its Korean Air partnership. Marriott Bonvoy points can no longer transfer to Korean Air SKYPASS.
Extra
🇺🇸 U.S. credit-card points to airline miles and hotel points
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