How to transfer Amex points to airlines in Canada (including the new Flying Blue 1:1)

American Express Canada lets you move your Membership Rewards points into airline loyalty programs, where the value per point can be higher than a statement credit. The headline change in 2026 is the new 1 to 1 transfer ratio to Air France KLM Flying Blue, which sits alongside the long-standing 1 to 1 pipe into Aeroplan. This guide covers how transfers work, the current partner list and ratios, and a few high-value uses, with a focus on Flying Blue.

Nothing here is financial advice, and points programs change without much notice. Always confirm the current ratio, partner list, and transfer time on the official Amex Canada page before you act.

How airline transfers work

A transfer moves points out of your Membership Rewards account and into an airline's own program, where you then book an award seat on that airline's chart. American Express Canada describes the program as letting you "transfer your Membership Rewards points to a third-party points program, like your favourite partner airline and hotel loyalty programs."

Three rules apply to almost every transfer:

• Transfers are one way. Once points land in the airline program, they are airline miles. You cannot move them back.
• You need a linked loyalty account. You add your airline membership number in your Amex account, then choose how many points to transfer.
• Availability is the real constraint. Having miles does not guarantee a seat. Confirm award space on the airline side before you transfer, not after.

Because the move is irreversible, the safe sequence is: find the award seat first, then transfer the exact number of points you need.

The current partner list and ratios

The table below reflects the official Amex Canada airline partner page. Ratios and transfer times are quoted from that page; the Flying Blue figure is the updated 1 to 1 rate reported for early 2026. Amex does not always surface every partner on a single view, so treat this as a snapshot to confirm, not a permanent quote.

Partner	Ratio (1,000 MR to miles)	Transfer time	Notes
Aeroplan (Air Canada)	1,000 (1 to 1)	up to 30 minutes	Strong Star Alliance access
The British Airways Club (Avios)	1,000 (1 to 1)	up to 30 minutes	Distance-based chart, good short-haul
Air France KLM Flying Blue	1,000 (1 to 1)	Check live time	New 1 to 1 ratio reported for early 2026
Delta SkyMiles	750	up to 30 minutes	SkyTeam award bookings
Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)	750	5 business days	Confirm before relying on speed
Etihad Guest	750	10 business days	Slowest of the listed partners

The Aeroplan 1 to 1 ratio is also confirmed on the receiving side: Air Canada's Aeroplan conversion programs page lists Membership Rewards among the programs that convert into Aeroplan at 1 to 1. Partner availability shifts over time, so verify the live list before you transfer.

The new Flying Blue 1 to 1 transfer

The notable 2026 update is the improvement to Air France KLM Flying Blue. According to third-party reporting from Prince of Travel and Milesopedia, American Express Canada raised the Membership Rewards to Flying Blue ratio to 1 to 1, reported as effective early January 2026, up from the previous 1,000 points to 750 miles. That is roughly 33% more Flying Blue miles for the same number of points than before.

We label the exact effective date as reported by those sources rather than the official page, since the per-partner detail is not always published in one place on americanexpress.com/en-ca. Confirm the live ratio in your own Amex account at transfer time. Amex also runs periodic transfer bonuses to Flying Blue, which can push a transfer above 1 to 1 for a limited window, so it is worth checking for an active promotion before you move points.

Flying Blue sweet spots for Canadians

Flying Blue prices most awards dynamically, but third-party reporting points to a few patterns that travellers from Canada tend to like. Treat the numbers below as outside estimates, not guaranteed prices, and always confirm live pricing on flyingblue.com.

• Economy to Europe. Transatlantic economy awards are cited as starting around 25,000 miles one way. With the new 1 to 1 ratio, that is roughly 25,000 Membership Rewards points plus taxes and fees, where the old 0.75 ratio would have required closer to 33,000 points for the same seat.
• Business class to Europe. Business class transatlantic awards are cited as starting around 60,000 miles one way, for example a route like Montreal to Paris.
• Monthly Promo Rewards. Flying Blue runs rotating monthly discounts of up to about 25% off select routes, which can lower a business class award meaningfully when your dates line up.

The catch with dynamic pricing is that the lowest numbers appear only on select dates and routes, so flexibility is what unlocks the value. None of these figures are official Amex quotes, so verify before you commit points.

Should you transfer, or redeem another way?

Transfers are worth the effort only if you will actually book partner award travel. If you want simple value with no planning, a fixed redemption such as a statement credit is easier, though it usually returns less per point. The whole case for transfers is that a well-booked partner award can beat that fixed rate, especially in premium cabins or to Europe through Flying Blue.

For the broader picture of how Membership Rewards works and what a point is worth, see our Amex Membership Rewards in Canada guide. To compare transfers against gift cards and merchandise across programs, read how to redeem points for max value. Our points valuations page shows our cited, normalized per-point figures.

If you are choosing a card, browse our best Amex Membership Rewards cards shortlist, and check current welcome offers on the offers page. As always, confirm every ratio, transfer time, and award price on the official American Express Canada and airline pages before you transfer or book.