Member Resource · Award Search Tools
Find the seat first.
Then move the points.
Transfers are one-way. These curated tools confirm award space exists — for flights, hotels, and every transfer path — before a single point leaves your account.
Check before you transfer. Always.
Award space evaporates. These three tools let you confirm a seat exists before a single point moves out of your account.
seats.aero
Award Availability Search
Search award seat availability across 30+ airlines and transfer partners before you commit to moving any points. This is where every award flight search starts.
Before transferring points on any flight route
Check multiple programs for the same route — availability varies significantly
30+ airlines, surfaces transfer partner options side-by-side
Roame Travel
Search award flights across multiple loyalty programs simultaneously. Surfaces active transfer bonuses — so you know when moving points gives you extra value before you click transfer.
Visit Roame →PointsYeah
Clean, fast award flight search across programs. Good for a quick look at availability on a route. Use it alongside seats.aero when you want a second data point before committing.
Visit PointsYeah →The search order: Confirm availability on seats.aero → identify the program with the best positioning → check Roame to see if a transfer bonus is active → transfer points → book directly on the airline's website. Never transfer speculatively.
Hotel awards live on each program's own site.
Unlike flights, no single aggregator shows real-time hotel award availability across all programs. You search each program directly — but you only need to know three.
World of Hyatt
Highest-Value Hotel Program
The highest-value hotel redemptions in the system. Category 1–4 properties start at 3,500–15,000 points per night. Transfer from Bilt at a full 1:1 — Chase is 1:1 only on Sapphire Reserve (4:3 on other cards as of 2026). No other ecosystem reaches Hyatt, which limits supply and keeps award availability relatively open.
~1.7–2.0¢ per point on luxury properties
Bilt at 1:1 · Chase at 1:1 (Reserve) or 4:3
Book the night before or after a flight through points — cash rates spike on those nights
IHG One Rewards
Broad footprint in the UK and Asia-Pacific. Award bookings with the Chase IHG card get the 4th night free. Transfer Chase UR at 1:1. Search directly on ihg.com to check award availability before transferring.
Search IHG Awards →Marriott Bonvoy
Widest hotel selection for award bookings. PointSavers offer 25–30% discounts on select properties. Transfer in from Amex, Chase, Bilt, Citi, or Capital One at 1:1. Search at marriott.com.
Search Marriott Awards →The search order: Start with Hyatt — if the destination is covered, the value is almost always better. If Hyatt doesn't have a property there, check IHG for Asia and UK, Marriott for broader global coverage. Always confirm award availability before transferring.
Points you never earned can’t be redeemed.
Three tools that add points to purchases you were making anyway — and keep every balance in one view.
Rakuten
Earn Amex MR points at 3,500+ stores. Stack on top of card earnings. Link your Amex account to earn transferable points instead of cash.
Visit Rakuten →Cashback Monitor
Compare shopping portal rates across all major portals before purchasing. Shows 15 months of rate history so you know if today’s rate is actually good.
Visit Cashback Monitor →AwardWallet
Track all points balances in one place. Also shows how a store is categorized so you know which card earns the most before you swipe.
Visit AwardWallet →Sometimes cash is the right answer.
Check the cash price and the route map before you decide a redemption is worth it.
Google Flights
Best free tool for cash fare search. Use the Explore map, the price calendar, and set price alerts. Search here — book direct with the airline.
Visit Google Flights →Kayak Explore
Budget-first destination discovery. Set a home airport and a price range to see everywhere reachable within that budget.
Visit Kayak Explore →FlightConnections
Every route and airline connecting any two airports worldwide. Essential for understanding hub routing before you search for awards.
Visit FlightConnections →Where this fits: earning happens before any of it — portals and multipliers build the balance. Cash tools set the bar: if the cash fare is cheap, pay cash and keep the points for the trip that isn’t.
Member Resource · Updated July 5, 2026
The Transfer Guide
Every airline and hotel program worth knowing — 35 airlines, 9 hotels — matched to the points you hold. Tap your ecosystems and see exactly where your points can go, with verified ratios and join links.
Four steps. One system.
Earn into a flexible ecosystem
Through your credit card into Chase UR, Amex MR, or Bilt — currencies that can move anywhere.
Join free loyalty programs
Airlines and hotels each run their own accounts. Free to join. You don't need to fly the airline to have an account.
Transfer when you have a confirmed award
Transfers are one-way and irreversible. Only move points when you have an award confirmed and available — never speculatively.
Book directly on the airline or hotel site
Once points arrive in your loyalty account — usually within minutes — book directly on the airline's or hotel's own website.
A 1:1 ratio means 1,000 card points = 1,000 airline miles. A 3:1 ratio means you need 3,000 points to get 1,000 miles — a significant disadvantage. Transfer from primary ecosystems at 1:1 whenever possible.
| Program | Chase UR | Amex MR | Bilt | Citi TY | Capital One | Marriott | Alliance | Why Join | Join |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aeroplan
Air Canada
Search first
|
1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | — | Star Alliance | Most flexible for Star Alliance. Partners with United, Lufthansa, ANA & more. | Join → |
|
Flying Blue
Air France / KLM
Search first
|
1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | — | SkyTeam | Best for SkyTeam and Europe. Promo awards to Europe regularly dip below 20K RT. | Join → |
|
British Airways Avios
British Airways Executive Club
Search first
|
1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | — | 3:1 | OneWorld | Distance-based pricing. Great for short hops on AA, Iberia, JAL, Cathay. | Join → |
|
United MileagePlus
United Airlines
|
1:1 | — | 1:1 | — | 1:1 | 3:1 | Star Alliance | No close-in fees. Good saver space on United metal and Star Alliance partners. | Join → |
| Program | Chase UR | Amex MR | Bilt | Citi TY | Capital One | Marriott | Why Join | Join |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
World of Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels
Join first
|
1:1 | — | 1:1 | — | — | — | Highest value in hotel programs. Points worth ~1.7–2¢. Start here. | Join → |
|
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott International
|
1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | Native | Widest global footprint. PointSavers offer 25–30% discounts on select properties. | Join → |
|
IHG One Rewards
IHG Hotels & Resorts
|
1:1 | — | 1:1 | — | — | — | Strong in UK and Asia-Pacific. 4th night free on award stays with the Chase IHG card. | Join → |
Three programs to join first.
Before anything else, open accounts in these three programs. Free to join, no commitment. Having the account open means you can act quickly when award space appears.