Capital One Transfer Partners: A Great Way To Maximize Your Rewards
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Written by
Meghan Hunter
Capital One offers remarkable flexibility through its transfer partner program, allowing eligible cardholders to move their rewards to any of its airline and hotel partners. By leveraging these transfer partners, you can turn your everyday spending into extraordinary adventures, often at better values than booking directly through Capital One’s travel portal.
One of the best travel rewards redemptions I’ve had in recent years was transferring Capital One miles to Air Canada Aeroplan and scoring three business class seats to Lisbon for the cost of just taxes and fees.
Understanding a rewards program’s transfer partners is one of the best ways to maximize your travel rewards. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon to Paris with Air France-KLM Flying Blue or a trip to Asia on Singapore Airlines, Capital One’s transfer partners open doors to premium travel experiences that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive.
Who Are Capital One’s Transfer Partners?
Capital One currently partners with 16 airline and 3 hotel loyalty programs, creating a solid network that rivals other transferable points programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards® and American Express Membership Rewards®.
Here’s the breakdown of Capital One’s transfer partners and their conversion rates:
Loyalty Program | Transfer Ratio | Minimum Transfer Amount |
Accor Live Limitless | 2:1 | 1,000 miles |
Aeromexico Club Premier | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
British Airways Club | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Choice Privileges | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Emirates Skywards | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Etihad Guest | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 2:1.5 | 1,000 miles |
Finnair Plus | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Flying Blue (Air France-KLM) | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
JetBlue TrueBlue | 5:3 | 1,000 miles |
Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
TAP Miles&Go | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Virgin Red | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 | 1,000 miles |
How To Earn Capital One Miles
Earning Capital One miles is refreshingly straightforward compared to the complicated bonus structures of some other issuers. The program is great for cardholders who prefer simplicity over strategy.
I remember when I first switched much of my spending from another travel rewards card to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Instead of juggling cards to maximize my bonus spending, I could use one card for all of my expenses and earn a solid 2 miles per dollar. The mental freedom was incredible — no more feeling frustrated for missing out on rewards because I forgot to activate a bonus or hit a spending cap.
Cards That Earn Capital One Miles
Several of the best Capital One cards offer the ability to earn transferable miles, each designed for different types of cardholders based on your spending and travel habits. These are the top options:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Offers unlimited 2x miles on every purchase with 5x miles on hotels, rental cars and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. It’s a no-brainer for those wanting a low-annual-fee card and simple rewards structure.
- Capital One Venture X: An excellent choice for frequent travelers, this premium travel card offers a substantial welcome bonus, high earning rates and valuable perks that justify its steep annual fee.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Provides unlimited 1.25x miles on all purchases and 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars through Capital One Travel, with no annual fee.
Capital One also issues small-business cards that earn transferable miles, including the Capital One Venture X Business and Capital One Spark Miles for Business.
How To Transfer Capital One Miles to Partners
To initiate transfers, log into your Capital One account online or through the app. Navigate to the rewards section and select the transfer option. You’ll see all available partners with their current transfer ratios displayed. The minimum transfer amount is 1,000 miles for all partners, and transfers typically process within 24 to 48 hours.
One crucial detail: transfers are permanent. I always recommend having a specific redemption in mind before transferring, rather than moving miles speculatively. This way, you can minimize the risk of a program devaluation while ensuring you can take advantage of current award availability.
Additionally, the name on your Capital One account must exactly match the name on your airline or hotel loyalty program — a consideration I learned the hard way thanks to a previous name change.
How To Maximize Capital One Miles
Maximizing your Capital One miles requires understanding both earning and redemption strategies:
- Focus on consistent spending: Unlike cards with rotating categories, Capital One cards offer flat-rate earnings structures. Use your Capital One miles-earning card for all purchases to maximize the number of miles you accumulate.
- Time your transfers strategically: Monitor award availability and find confirmed award space before transferring your miles.
- Consider transfer bonuses: Capital One occasionally offers transfer bonuses to specific partners, thereby increasing the value of your miles.
- Book partner awards during sales: Airlines can offer periodic sales on award tickets. Transferring miles during these promotions can significantly increase your redemption value.
Familiarize yourself with transfer partners: Some partners offer better redemption opportunities than others. Understanding the typical value you can get from each partner will help you maximize your rewards.
The information related to Capital One Venture X Business and Capital One Spark Miles for Business was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Capital One Partners
Can I transfer Capital One miles back to my account?
No, all transfers to partner programs are permanent and cannot be reversed. Because of this, it’s wise to always confirm your redemption plans before making a transfer.
How long do Capital One miles transfers take?
Most transfers are completed almost instantly or within 24 to 48 hours, although some may take up to 72 hours.
Do Capital One miles expire?
Capital One miles don’t expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, once transferred to partner programs, they’re subject to those programs’ expiration policies.
What’s the minimum transfer amount?
The minimum transfer is 1,000 Capital One miles to any partner, and transfers must be made in increments of 1,000 miles.
Can family members pool their Capital One miles?
Yes, you can transfer your Capital One miles to someone else’s account, as long as they also have a card that earns Capital One miles. However, you’ll have to call the number on the back of your card to do so.
