What are American Express Membership Rewards points worth in 2026?
Amex Membership Rewards are the second-most-valuable flexible points currency. The unique partnership with ANA Mileage Club unlocks ANA First Class and ANA business round-trip awards. The 19+ transfer partner network is the broadest among US banks.
Our valuation: 1.7¢ per point · Conservative: 1.0¢ · Best-case: 3.0¢+
Example redemptions and CPP calculations
| Redemption scenario | CPP value |
|---|---|
| ANA business RT US-Japan at 85K MR ($7,500 cash) | ($7,500 - $350 taxes) ÷ 85,000 × 100 = 8.4¢ per point |
| Virgin Atlantic 50K Delta One US-Europe ($4,000 cash) | ($4,000 - $200) ÷ 50,000 × 100 = 7.6¢ per point |
| Singapore Suites 95K KrisFlyer ($18,000 cash) | ($18,000 - $200) ÷ 95,000 × 100 = 18.7¢ per point |
| Aeromexico 1000:1600 transfer for Mexico business 11K MR ($600 cash) | ($600 - $50) ÷ 11,000 × 100 = 5.0¢ per point |
How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points
- Amex Platinum: 80K SUB + 5× on flights/hotels via Amex Travel
- Amex Gold: 60K SUB + 4× at restaurants and US supermarkets
- Amex Business Platinum: 100K SUB + 35% rebate on flights
- Amex Business Gold: 70K SUB + 4× on top 2 categories
- Amex Green: 60K SUB + 3× on broad travel/transit/dining
Best uses for American Express Membership Rewards points
- ANA business RT US-Japan via ANA Mileage Club (85K) or Virgin Atlantic (90K)
- ANA First RT US-Japan via Virgin Atlantic (110K)
- Singapore Suites via KrisFlyer (95K one-way)
- Aeromexico 1.6x ratio for Mexico business
- Flying Blue Promo Awards 50K business to Europe
Why per-point value varies
Amex MR's value is driven by partner choice. The 1¢ Amex Travel portal is the absolute floor; transfers to ANA, Singapore, Virgin, or Air France routinely hit 5-10¢ for premium cabin redemptions.
FAQ
What is American Express Membership Rewards worth?
Conservatively 1¢ per point (Amex Travel portal). Realistically 1.7-3¢ at typical airline transfers. Best-case 8-15¢+ for ANA, Singapore Suites, or premium cabin redemptions.
Calculate your own redemption value
Use our free CPP calculator to grade any award redemption against benchmarks.
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