Amex Membership Rewards Pauses Points Transfers to ANA Mileage Club — What to Know

Why It Matters

The outage disrupts travel plans for points‑savvy flyers and may signal upcoming changes to the ANA partnership, affecting the broader rewards ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

• Transfers to ANA suspended Feb 25 – Mar 2 MST.
• 1:1 MR to ANA ratio resumes after maintenance.
• Hotel partners have poor ratios and slow transfers.
• United and Aeroplan transfers stay operational during pause.
• Previous pauses foreshadowed devaluations for other carriers.

Pulse Analysis

American Express' Membership Rewards program has long been a cornerstone for premium travelers seeking to leverage points for international flights. The recent announcement that point transfers to All Nippon Airways' Mileage Club will be unavailable from 1 PM MST on February 25 until 7 PM MST on March 2 marks the first full‑partner outage in years. The suspension affects the 1:1 transfer ratio that many users rely on to book premium cabin seats on ANA’s extensive Japan‑to‑North‑America network.

\n\nWith ANA off‑limits, savvy members must turn to secondary routes for mileage accumulation. Hotel loyalty programs such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and World of Hyatt do allow ANA transfers, but the ratios range from 3:1 to 10:1 and processing times stretch from four to seven days, diminishing their appeal for time‑sensitive itineraries. Conversely, Star Alliance partners like United MileagePlus and Air Canada Aeroplan remain fully functional, offering instant 1:1 transfers from Amex and other credit‑card points. \n\nThe pause also revives concerns rooted in previous temporary suspensions that preceded devaluation moves for Emirates and Cathay Pacific.

Industry observers note that Amex’s maintenance windows sometimes serve as a prelude to renegotiated partnership terms, which could alter transfer ratios or introduce fees. Travelers should monitor upcoming communications from both Amex and ANA, especially as the March 2 deadline approaches. Maintaining a diversified points portfolio—spreading credit‑card rewards across multiple airline and hotel programs—remains the safest hedge against unexpected partner disruptions.