How to Combine Miles Across Programs (Without Losing Value)

Why You Can’t Just “Merge” Airline Miles

Let’s clear the biggest misconception first. Airline loyalty programs are walled gardens. They are designed to keep you loyal to one airline. For this reason, directly transferring miles from one airline program to another (e.g., United MileagePlus to Delta SkyMiles) is almost never possible. And in the rare instances where a third-party service allows it, the exchange rates are so poor it amounts to financial malpractice.

Think of your miles as distinct currencies. You wouldn’t expect to trade 100 Japanese Yen for 100 U.S. Dollars. The same logic applies here. Forgetting this rule is the fastest way to destroy the value you’ve worked hard to earn.

The real question isn’t “how do I move miles from Airline A to Airline B?” The correct, strategic question is: “How do I consolidate purchasing power from multiple sources into a single airline program to book a specific award?”

The 4 Methods for Combining Miles (Effectively)

Now, let’s get to the actionable strategies. These are the systematic approaches to pool your rewards without setting their value on fire.

Method 1: Use Flexible Credit Card Points (The Central Hub Strategy)

This is the most effective and efficient strategy. Flexible point currencies from credit cards (like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Points) are the key. These programs have agreements with numerous airlines, allowing you to transfer your points, usually at a 1:1 ratio.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Identify Your Award: Find the specific flight you want to book on an airline’s website. For example, a business class ticket to Europe on Air France for 70,000 miles.
2. Check Transfer Partners: Air France’s Flying Blue program is a transfer partner of Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi. This means you can funnel points from any of those programs into your Flying Blue account.
3. Consolidate Your Points: Let’s say you have 40,000 Amex points and 30,000 Chase points. You can transfer both balances to your Flying Blue account to reach the 70,000 miles needed for the ticket.
4. Execute the Transfer & Book: Log into your Amex and Chase accounts, link your Flying Blue account, and initiate the transfers. Most transfers are instant, but some can take time. Once the miles land, book your award flight immediately.

I remember booking a last-minute trip on ANA First Class. I had points scattered across my Amex and Marriott accounts. By moving 90,000 points from Amex and topping it off with a 60,000-point transfer from Marriott (which became 25,000 airline miles), I was able to consolidate them into my Virgin Atlantic account and book the seat. Without this strategy, those points would have been useless for that goal.

Method 2: Leverage Hotel Program Transfer Partners

Hotel loyalty programs can serve as a secondary hub, though their transfer ratios are often less favorable. The most notable is Marriott Bonvoy, which partners with 38 airlines.

Most transfers are at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott points = 1 airline mile). However, Marriott adds a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer. So, 60,000 Bonvoy points become 25,000 airline miles (20,000 from the transfer + 5,000 bonus). This makes the effective ratio 2.4:1, which can be strategic for topping off an account for a high-value redemption.

For their preferred partner United they add 10,000-mile bonus when transferring 60,000 Bonvoy points.

When to use this: Only use this method to bridge a small gap in your airline account or if you have a massive balance of hotel points you don’t plan to use for stays.

Method 3: Book Partner Awards Through Airline Alliances

This is an “indirect” way of combining power. You can’t move miles between alliance partners, but you can use one airline’s miles to book a flight on a partner airline.

The three major airline alliances are:

• Star Alliance: (United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, etc.)
• Oneworld: (American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, etc.)
• SkyTeam: (Delta, Air France/KLM, Korean Air, etc.)

For example, if you have a large balance of United MileagePlus miles, you can use them to book a flight operated by Lufthansa. You don’t need any Lufthansa miles. This is powerful because some programs offer better redemption rates for the exact same partner flight. Your research here can save you tens of thousands of miles.

Method 4: Pool Miles with Family and Friends

A few airline programs allow you to create a “family pool” where multiple members can combine their miles into a single account for free. This is true mileage combination, but it’s limited to specific programs.

• Air Canada Aeroplan: Allows up to 8 family members to share points.
• British Airways / Avios: Their “Household Account” lets up to seven people at the same address pool Avios.
• JetBlue TrueBlue: Points Pooling allows up to 7 friends and family members to contribute.
• United MileagePlus: Allows groups of up to five members to pool miles.

If you and your travel companions frequently fly these airlines, setting up a pool is a zero-cost way to consolidate your earning power. If you need more info on maximizing your current points, check out our guide to point valuations and how to maximize points and miles.

Final Thoughts: The Right Way to Combine Miles

To effectively know how to combine miles across programs (without losing value), you must shift your mindset. Stop thinking about merging miles and start thinking about consolidating purchasing power through a central hub. The most efficient system is to earn flexible credit card points, identify your desired award flight, and only then transfer the exact number of points needed from your various “hub” accounts into that specific airline’s program to make the booking.

This approach maintains maximum flexibility, protects you from devaluations, and ensures every point is deployed for maximum impact. Anything else is just inefficient. If you’re ready to get started, consider looking into the best travel rewards credit cards for 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions