How to Combine Two People’s Points Without Violating T&Cs

You have 45,000 miles. Your spouse has 35,000 miles. The Business Class ticket to Tokyo costs 80,000 miles.

Separately, you are both stuck in Economy. Combined, you are flying lie-flat.

This is the “Two-Player Mode” dilemma. Most beginners treat loyalty accounts like individual bank vaults, assuming points are locked to the earner. That is a mistake that costs you value.

In 2026, the most efficient way to book high-value awards is by pooling balances. However, loyalty programs have complex Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) regarding this. Some allow it freely, some charge exorbitant fees, and others will shut down your account if you try it incorrectly.

I don’t care about “sharing is caring.” I care about the math. If pooling points increases your Redemption Value (RV) by unlocking a sweet spot, you need to do it. If it triggers a 1.0 cent per point transfer fee, you need to avoid it.

Here is the analytical guide to combining points without getting banned, flagged, or ripped off.

The Math: Why You Must Combine Accounts

Why go through the hassle of linking accounts? Because points are non-linear assets.

In cash, two piles of $500 equal $1,000. In points, two piles of 40,000 miles are often worth less than a single pile of 80,000 miles.

The “Threshold” Concept:
Airline award charts are tiered. Low-tier redemptions (Economy) often yield 1.0–1.2 cents per point. High-tier redemptions (Business/First) can yield 4.0+ cents per point.

Example Calculation:

• Scenario A (Separate): You each redeem 40k points for domestic Economy tickets worth $400 each.
  • Total Value: $800.
  • CPM (Cents Per Mile): 1.0.
• Scenario B (Pooled): You combine 80k points to book one Qsuite one-way ticket worth $4,500.
  • Total Value: $4,500.
  • CPM: 5.6.

By failing to pool, you lose 82% of the potential value. This is why understanding Points vs. Cash calculations is critical before you redeem.

Method 1: Credit Card Points (The “Authorized User” Strategy)

Banks are the most sensitive about transfers because they suspect people of selling points. However, they also offer the best legal backdoors.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase is the most “household friendly” ecosystem. If you are playing Two-Player Mode, this is where you start.

The Policy: You can move Ultimate Rewards points to one other household member or joint business owner for free.

How to do it:

• Log in to the Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Select “Combine Points.”
• Click “Add Household Member.”
• Enter their card number and last name.

The Strategy:
Person A earns the sign-up bonus. Person B earns the sign-up bonus. Both transfer points to Person A’s premium card (like the Sapphire Reserve) to unlock the 50% redemption bonus or transfer to partners. For a deeper dive on this ecosystem, read our Chase Ultimate Rewards 2026 Guide.

American Express Membership Rewards

Amex is stricter. You cannot transfer MR points from Person A’s Amex account to Person B’s Amex account.

The Loophole:
You can transfer points from Person A’s Amex account directly to Person B’s Frequent Flyer account, BUT only if Person B has been an Authorized User (AU) on Person A’s card for at least 90 days.

Step-by-Step:

1. Add your spouse as an Authorized User on your Amex card today (do not wait until you need to book).
2. Wait 90 days.
3. Link their British Airways/Delta/Air Canada account to your Amex portal.
4. Transfer points directly to their airline account.

Warning: Amex charges an excise fee on transfers to US airlines (Delta, JetBlue), capped at $99. Plan accordingly.

Method 2: Airline “Family Pooling” & Household Accounts

Historically, airlines charged massive fees (1.0–1.5 cents per mile) to transfer points. In 2026, many have adopted “Pooling” to compete for family travelers.

United Airlines MileagePlus

United allows you to create a “pool” with up to 5 people. While useful, it comes with a major restriction regarding partner airlines.

• Pros: No fees. Anyone can contribute.
• Cons: Pooled miles can only be used for flights operated by United and United Express. You generally cannot use pooled miles for Star Alliance partners (like ANA or Lufthansa).
• Action: Set up a pool on the United MileagePlus Pooling page.

British Airways Executive Club

British Airways uses “Household Accounts.” When you form a Household Account, everyone’s Avios are pooled automatically when you search for a flight.

• The Catch: Once you create a Household Account, you can only book tickets for members of that Household (or a strictly limited “Friends & Family” list). You lose the flexibility to book for random friends easily.
• Best Use: Combining small balances to book short-haul flights on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines (a classic sweet spot).

JetBlue & Aeroplan

• JetBlue: Offers “Points Pooling” for up to 7 people. It is seamless and one of the most user-friendly systems.
• Air Canada Aeroplan: Offers “Family Sharing.” This has been paused and restarted historically due to fraud, but as of 2026, it allows up to 8 members to pool points. Critical Warning: If you join a pool, you are locked in for a set period. Do not join a random pool; only join with trusted family.

Method 3: Hotel Programs (The Hidden Gems)

Hotel loyalty programs are generally superior to airlines for point combining. They treat points more like currency and less like a status symbol.

World of Hyatt

Hyatt has the single best policy in the industry, but it is manual.

• Rule: You can combine points with any other World of Hyatt member (no household requirement) once every 30 days.
• Requirement: You must be combining points for the purpose of a redemption (though they rarely ask for proof of the booking).
• The Process: You must fill out the Hyatt Point Combining Request Form (PDF) and email it to their support team.
• Why it wins: This effectively makes Hyatt points fully transferable between friends.

Hilton Honors

Hilton allows “Points Pooling” completely online.

• Limits: You can pool with up to 10 other members.
• Caps: You can transfer up to 500,000 points per year and receive up to 2,000,000.
• Speed: Transfers are usually instant.

This is crucial for maximizing Hilton Free Night Certificates where you might need to top off a balance to book a 5th Night Free award.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott allows transfers, but with stricter caps.

• Limit: You can transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year to another member.
• Exception: If you are booking a specific award that costs more than the recipient’s balance, you can sometimes exceed this cap by calling customer service (mileage varies by agent).
• Process: This can now be done online, unlike the old days of calling support.

If you are chasing status, read our analysis on Is Marriott Platinum Status Worth the Effort? to see if pooling helps you reach a redemption that utilizes your elite benefits.

Comparison: Fees vs. Free

The “Booking for Others” Workaround

What if your airline doesn’t allow pooling (like Delta or American) without a fee?

Do NOT transfer the points. Instead, simply book the ticket for the other person.

Almost every airline T&C allows you to use your miles to book a ticket in anyone’s name. You do not need to be traveling with them.

The Strategy:

• Scenario: You need two tickets. You have 50k miles; your spouse has 50k miles. The flight costs 50k miles per person.
• Wrong Way: Spouse transfers 50k to you (paying $500 in fees). You book two tickets.
• Right Way: You book your ticket from your account. Spouse books their ticket from their account. You select seats next to each other.

This sounds obvious, but many people burn money on transfer fees thinking they “need” the points in one account.

Conclusion: Optimize Your Household

The “Two-Player” strategy is the most powerful tool in travel hacking. By combining sign-up bonuses and pooling points for high-value redemptions, you effectively double your purchasing power.

Start by auditing your accounts today. If you have orphaned points in a spouse’s account, set up a household pool (British Airways/United) or fill out the transfer form (Hyatt). Don’t let 10,000 miles sit idle when they could be the difference between Economy and Business Class.

Finally, ensure you keep these accounts active. If you pool points into an account that expires, you lose everything. Check our 2026 Guide to Mile Expiration Policies to keep your hard-earned currency safe.