Transfer bonuses 2025 (December), are here!
If you’re sitting on a pile of credit card points wondering when to transfer them to airlines or hotels, now might be your moment. December has brought some seriously compelling transfer bonuses: including a massive 70% bonus that could save you tens of thousands of points on your next trip.
Transfer bonuses are limited-time promotions where banks give you extra airline miles or hotel points when you move your credit card rewards to travel partners. Instead of the usual 1:1 transfer ratio, you might get 1:1.4 or even better, meaning your points go significantly further.
However, these bonuses expire quickly, and transfers are irreversible. Once you move points from your credit card account to an airline or hotel, there’s no going back. So you need to know exactly what you’re doing before you hit that transfer button.
Let me walk you through every active transfer bonus available right now, show you how to maximize them, and help you decide which ones are actually worth your time.
What are Transfer Bonuses?
Before we dive in, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.
Normal transfer ratio: 1:1 (1,000 credit card points = 1,000 airline/hotel points)
Transfer bonus: You get extra points when you transfer
Example:
- 30% transfer bonus means 1,000 credit card points = 1,300 airline/hotel points
- 40% bonus means 1,000 points = 1,400 points
- 70% bonus means 1,000 points = 1,700 points
Sounds simple, right? More points = better deal?
Wrong.
The percentage of the bonus doesn’t tell you if it’s actually a good deal. You need to look at the underlying value of the points you’re trading versus what you’re getting.
Let me show you exactly what I mean.
Current Transfer Bonuses (December 2025)
American Express Membership Rewards
40% Bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
End Date: December 31, 2025
Transfer Ratio: 1:1.4 (1,000 Amex → 1,400 Virgin points)
Why this is great:
- Amex points: 2.0¢ each
- Virgin points: 1.3-1.4¢ each
- With bonus: You’re trading $20 worth of Amex points for $18.20-19.60 worth of Virgin points
Top redemptions:
- ANA business to Japan: 52,500 Virgin points one-way (West Coast)
- With 40% bonus: Transfer only 38,000 Amex points
- Cash value: $8,000-12,000
- You’re getting 21-31 cents per Amex point
- Virgin Upper Class to London: 29,000 Virgin points one-way (Saver rates)
- With bonus: Transfer 21,000 Amex points
- Cash value: $3,000-5,000
- You’re getting 14-24 cents per Amex point
- Short-haul Delta flights: 7,500 Virgin points for routes under 500 miles
- With bonus: Transfer 6,000 Amex points
- Cash value: $200-400
- You’re getting 3-7 cents per Amex point
My take: This is one of the best transfer bonuses of the year. If you’re planning travel to Japan, Europe, or domestic flights on Delta, jump on this before December 31.
Up to 35% Bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan
End Date: January 5, 2026
Transfer Ratio: Varies from 1:1.15 to 1:1.35
The bonus tier depends on:
- Whether you have the Aeroplan® Credit Card
- How many points you’re transferring (smaller transfers get lower bonuses)
Bonus tiers (with Aeroplan card):
- Transfer 1,000-59,999 points: 15% bonus
- Transfer 60,000-99,999 points: 25% bonus
- Transfer 100,000+ points: 35% bonus
Without Aeroplan card:
- Max bonus is 25% (at 60,000+ points transferred)
Why Aeroplan can be good:
- Fixed award pricing on Star Alliance partners (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, United)
- No fuel surcharges on most partners (huge savings vs. booking through Lufthansa directly)
- Mix and match airlines on one ticket
Sweet spots:
- Business class U.S. to Europe: 70,000-77,500 Aeroplan points one-way
- With 35% bonus: Transfer 52,000-58,000 Chase points
- Business class U.S. to Asia: 75,000-87,500 points one-way
- With 35% bonus: Transfer 56,000-65,000 Chase points
If you’re booking Star Alliance business class to Europe and can hit the 100k transfer threshold, this is solid. Otherwise, there are simpler options.
Important: Aeroplan switched to dynamic pricing for United and some partners in March 2025, so award costs are less predictable on these airlines now.
70% Bonus to IHG One Rewards
End Date: January 15, 2026
Transfer Ratio: 1:1.7 (1,000 Chase → 1,700 IHG points)
- Transfer 10,000 Chase points (worth $200)
- Get 17,000 IHG points (worth $85)
Citi ThankYou Points
No Active Bonuses for December
Citi is sitting this month out. No transfer bonuses currently available.
Capital One Miles
No Active Bonuses for December
Capital One also has no transfer bonuses this month. Their base 1:1 transfers to 18 airline partners remain strong though.
Note: Capital One did have a 30% bonus to Japan Airlines in September-October that was phenomenal. Hopefully we’ll see more bonuses from them in 2026.
Rove Miles
20% Bonus to Finnair Plus
End Date: December 31, 2025
Transfer Ratio: 1:1.2
What is Rove Miles? Rove Miles is a free rewards program that allows you earn transferable points(miles) on daily spending, hotel bookings and flights. You earn miles by booking hotels up to 25X per dollar and flights (1-10x) through the rove portal.
- Finnair Plus uses Avios (like British Airways, Iberia)
- Good for booking Finnair flights to Europe or Oneworld partners
- But most people don’t have a large Rove Miles balance
Sweet spots with Finnair:
- Finland to Europe: Starting at 6,500 Avios one-way
- U.S. to Finland: Starting at 33,000 Avios one-way economy
My take: If you happen to have Rove Miles from UAE hotel stays, this is a decent way to convert them to more useful Avios. But this doesn’t apply to most travelers.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE TRANSFER BONUSES
- Amex to Virgin Atlantic (40%) — Best bonus of the month
- Runs through December 31
- Amazing sweet spots (ANA to Japan, Virgin to London, Delta short-haul)
- 10-30 cents per point value possible
- Chase to Air Canada Aeroplan (up to 35%) — If you’re booking Star Alliance business class. Worth it if you transfer 100k+ points AND have Aeroplan card
Real-World Example: How I’d Use the Amex Virgin Transfer Bonuses
Let me show you exactly how I’d maximize the best bonus this month for a round-trip business class to Tokyo for my family (2 adults)
Step 1: Check Award Availability
- Search Virgin Atlantic’s website for ANA flights
- Find: LAX to Tokyo (NRT) on ANA business class
- Dates: March 15-25, 2026
- Pricing: 52,500 Virgin points one-way per person
Step 2: Calculate Total Points Needed
- 52,500 points × 2 people × 2 ways (round-trip) = 210,000 Virgin points total
Step 3: Calculate Amex Transfer Amount
- 210,000 Virgin points ÷ 1.4 (40% bonus) = 150,000 Amex points
- Check my balance: 165,000 Amex points available
Step 4: Transfer on December 15 (Before December 31 Deadline)
- Log into Amex
- Transfer 150,000 points to Virgin Atlantic
- Automatic 40% bonus applied
- Receive 210,000 Virgin points instantly
Step 5: Book Immediately
- Book both round-trip tickets on Virgin’s website
- Total: 210,000 Virgin points + ~$300 in taxes
What I Got:
- 2 people flying round-trip business class to Tokyo
- ANA’s exceptional service, lie-flat seats, kaiseki dining
- Cash price: $16,000-24,000 for both tickets
What I Paid:
- 150,000 Amex points + $300 cash
Value: 10.7-16 cents per Amex point
This is why transfer bonuses matter when used strategically.
3 Critical Rules Before Transferring Points
Rule #1: Have a Specific Redemption in Mind
Don’t transfer speculatively hoping to use points later.
Once you transfer:
- You can’t transfer back
- Points now follow that program’s expiration policy
- The program could devalue with no notice
Exception: Virgin Atlantic points don’t expire, so there’s less risk transferring speculatively during a bonus if you find good availability.
Rule #2: Confirm Award Availability First
Never, ever, ever transfer without confirming flights are available.
- Search partner website for award space
- Find the exact flights you want
- Screenshot or write down the details
- THEN transfer points
- Book immediately after transfer completes
Rule #3: Do the Value Math
A bigger bonus percentage doesn’t mean better value.
Ask yourself:
- What are my credit card points worth? (Chase ~2¢, Amex ~2¢, Citi ~1.6¢)
- What are the airline/hotel points worth? (varies widely)
- Am I gaining or losing value with this transfer?
December 2025 Transfer Bonuses Calendar
Here’s when everything expires so you don’t miss deadlines:
| Transfer Bonus | End Date | Days Remaining |
| Chase → Aeroplan (up to 35%) | Jan 5, 2026 | 32 days |
| Chase → IHG (70%) | Jan 15, 2026 | 42 days |
| Amex → Virgin Atlantic (40%) | Dec 31 | 27 days |
| Rove → Finnair (20%) | Dec 31 | 27 days |
How to Check for Transfer Bonuses
Want to stay updated on new bonuses as they drop?
For Amex Membership Rewards:
- Log into your Amex account
- Go to Membership Rewards
- Click Transfer Points
- Bonuses will show with green Bonus tags
For Chase Ultimate Rewards:
- Log into Chase.com
- Select your Sapphire/Ink card
- Click Travel → Transfer Points to Partners
- Bonuses appear with percentage badges
For Citi ThankYou:
- Log into Citi.com
- Click ThankYou Rewards
- Select Transfer Points
- Bonuses show with promotional banners
My December Recommendations
Here’s my honest take on what you should actually do this month:
If you have Amex Membership Rewards: Jump on the 40% Virgin Atlantic bonus. This is the best offer of the month and runs through December 31. Perfect for booking ANA to Japan, Virgin to London, or Delta domestic flights.
If you’re eyeing the Aeroplan bonus: Worth it if you’re transferring 100k+ points, have the Aeroplan credit card, and are booking Star Alliance business class to Europe or Asia.
Bottom Line
Big percentages don’t equal good deals.
Always run the math on underlying point values. A 70% bonus that turns 2¢ points into 0.5¢ points is worse than a 30% bonus that turns 2¢ points into 1.4¢ points you can redeem for 10¢+ of value.
If you’re planning travel to Japan or Europe in 2026, the Amex to Virgin bonus is your play. Transfer before December 31 and book those ANA business class seats or Virgin Upper Class flights.
Disclaimer: We may receive compensation when you apply for credit cards through our links. Terms apply to all offers. Always verify current bonus information on bank and airline websites before transferring.
FAQ
Q: Can I stack transfer bonuses? A: No. You can’t transfer Chase to Virgin and then Virgin to another partner with both bonuses stacking.
Q: Do transfer bonuses work on existing points or only new transfers? A: All transfers during the promotion period get the bonus, whether you earned the points yesterday or last year.
Q: Should I wait for a better bonus? A: Don’t wait for bonuses if you have immediate travel needs and availability. Bird in hand > waiting for a hypothetical better deal.
Q: How long do transferred points take to arrive? A: Most are instant (Amex/Chase to Virgin, Chase to Aeroplan). Some take 24-48 hours. Check individual program terms.
Q: What if I transferred without checking award availability first? A: You’re stuck with those points in that program. This is why Rule #2 exists; always confirm availability first.
