Can You Transfer Credit Card Points to Another Person?

Credit card points, earned through spending, are a flexible reward that cardholders accumulate. These points can be redeemed for various benefits, including travel, merchandise, or cash back. As point balances grow, many cardholders wonder about transferring these rewards to another person. This desire often stems from a wish to combine points for larger redemptions, assist family members with travel plans, or simplify household rewards.

Understanding Credit Card Point Transfer Policies

Credit card reward programs primarily structure points for the cardholder’s use and redemption. Direct transfers of points to another individual’s credit card rewards account are generally uncommon, with most programs limiting such actions to specific relationships or scenarios. However, certain programs do permit transfers under defined conditions to facilitate point pooling among connected individuals.

Common allowances for transferring points typically include authorized users on the same account or household members who share a common address. Some programs may also allow transfers to a third-party loyalty program account, such as an airline or hotel program, even if that loyalty account belongs to another individual. These specific permissions are crucial for understanding point transferability.

Despite these possibilities, programs often impose restrictions. Direct account-to-account transfers between unrelated individuals are rare. Transfers might be subject to fees, minimum or maximum transfer amounts, and in some cases, transferred points may have a distinct expiration policy compared to points held by the original earner.

Transferring Points with Major Credit Card Issuers

Policies for transferring points to other individuals vary significantly among major credit card issuers. Each issuer maintains its own set of rules defining who can receive points and under what conditions. Understanding these nuances is important before attempting any transfer.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards allows cardholders to transfer points to one household member who shares the same physical address. A one-time phone call to Chase customer service is required to link accounts; subsequent transfers can be completed online. While direct transfers to another person’s credit card account are limited to household members, points can be transferred to a travel partner’s loyalty program in the name of an authorized user on the primary cardholder’s account.

American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards does not permit direct transfers between cardholders’ Amex accounts. However, points can be transferred to another person’s loyalty program account. This is possible if the recipient has been an authorized user on the primary cardholder’s Membership Rewards-earning card for at least 90 days. American Express applies a federal excise tax offset fee of 0.06 cents per point, up to a maximum of $99, for transfers to U.S. airline partners.

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi ThankYou Rewards allows cardholders to transfer points to any other individual with a ThankYou account. This does not require the recipient to be an authorized user, household member, or related. A cardholder can send and receive a maximum of 100,000 ThankYou points per calendar year. Points shared this way expire 90 days after receipt. Direct transfers to another person’s airline or hotel loyalty program account are not permitted; the recipient must transfer the points themselves from their ThankYou account.

Capital One Miles

Capital One Miles can be transferred to any other Capital One miles-earning cardholder, without a household or family relationship requirement. These transfers have no fees, and the miles do not expire once transferred. Person-to-person transfers of Capital One Miles require a phone call to customer service. Capital One does not allow direct transfers of miles to another person’s airline or hotel loyalty accounts.

The Step-by-Step Point Transfer Process

Once a credit card program’s transfer policy is understood and eligibility for a recipient is confirmed, the actual process of transferring points typically involves a series of straightforward steps. The primary cardholder usually initiates the transfer through their online rewards portal or by contacting customer service.

For online transfers, log in to the credit card issuer’s website and navigate to the rewards section. Look for options such as “Transfer Points,” “Combine Points,” or “Share Points.” If transferring to another individual’s credit card account within the same issuer, you will typically select the recipient’s card and enter the desired point amount. If transferring to a loyalty program, select the specific airline or hotel partner and provide the recipient’s loyalty program account number, ensuring the name on the loyalty account exactly matches the authorized user’s name on your credit card account or the name used for the loyalty program.

After entering the transfer details, the system will prompt a review of the transaction, which includes the number of points to be transferred and any applicable fees. It is important to carefully verify all information before confirming the transfer. Most point transfers to airline or hotel loyalty programs are instant or process within a few minutes, though some may take up to 24-48 hours, or occasionally longer. After completing the transfer, a confirmation message or email is usually provided, and the points should appear in the recipient’s designated account within the expected timeframe.

Key Considerations Before Transferring

Before initiating any point transfer to another individual, several strategic factors warrant careful evaluation to maximize value and avoid potential issues. The primary consideration involves assessing whether transferring points is truly the most advantageous use of your rewards. Sometimes, booking travel or experiences directly for the intended recipient using your own points can yield better value than transferring points, especially if the transfer devalues the points or incurs significant fees.

Another important aspect is understanding the expiration policies of transferred points. While many credit card points generally do not expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing, points transferred to a loyalty program or another individual’s account may become subject to new expiration rules. For instance, Citi ThankYou points transferred to another ThankYou member expire after 90 days, necessitating swift redemption. It is crucial to confirm the recipient’s loyalty program’s specific expiration terms for transferred points.

Re-verifying any applicable fees or minimum/maximum transfer amounts at the time of the transaction is also a prudent step, as policies can change. For example, American Express charges a federal excise tax offset fee for certain airline transfers. Accuracy of recipient information, including names and loyalty program account numbers, is paramount, as discrepancies can cause delays or even loss of points. Finally, due to the irreversible nature of most point transfers, and the value they represent, it is advisable to only transfer points to trusted individuals.