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The Complete Guide to Capital One Transfer Partners (2025)
July 1, 2025
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Your Capital One miles could be worth way more than you think—if you know where to send them.
Capital One has quietly built one of the most flexible transfer partner networks in the industry, with 22 airline and hotel partners as of October 2025. While you can always redeem miles at a fixed rate through Capital One Travel (typically 1 cent per mile), transferring to the right partner can unlock premium travel experiences worth 2-3x more per mile.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Capital One transfer partners, from the best programs to use to which ones you should avoid—plus exactly how to make your first transfer.
What Are Capital One Transfer Partners?
Capital One transfer partners are airline and hotel loyalty programs where you can move your Capital One miles at various conversion ratios. Think of it like exchanging currency—except instead of dollars to euros, you're converting Capital One miles into airline miles or hotel points that can unlock award flights and free hotel stays.
The key advantage? Flexibility. While booking through Capital One Travel gives you straightforward value, partner transfers can get you business class flights to Europe for fewer miles than an economy seat would cost through the portal. Many frequent travelers consider this the secret to stretching their rewards further.
All 22 Capital One Transfer Partners (October 2025)
Capital One's network spans three major airline alliances plus independent carriers and four hotel programs. Most partners transfer at a favorable 1:1 ratio, though a few have different rates.
Airline Partners (18 Total)
Star Alliance Members:
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
- Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5)
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1)
- TAP Portugal Miles&Go (1:1)
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (1:1)
Oneworld Alliance Members:
- British Airways Executive Club (1:1)
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1)
- Finnair Plus (1:1)
- Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (2:1.5) NEW Sept 2025
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1) NEW Sept 2025
- Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
SkyTeam Alliance Members:
- Aeromexico Club Premier (1:1)
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
- Virgin Red (1:1)
Independent Airlines:
- Emirates Skywards (1:1)
- Etihad Guest (1:1)
- JetBlue TrueBlue (5:3)
Hotel Partners (4 Total)
- Accor Live Limitless (2:1)
- Choice Privileges (1:1)
- I Prefer Hotel Rewards (1:2) NEW Sept 2025
- Wyndham Rewards (1:1)
Before applying for a new Capital One card, use Kudos to see which card maximizes your earning potential based on your actual spending patterns. Kudos analyzes your transactions and recommends the optimal card combination—ensuring you're not leaving miles on the table across your entire wallet, not just one card.
Understanding Transfer Ratios: What They Actually Mean
Transfer ratios tell you how many partner miles or points you'll receive for every Capital One mile you transfer. Here's what each ratio means in practice:
- 1:1 ratio (most common) → 50,000 Capital One miles = 50,000 airline miles
- 2:1.5 ratio (JAL, EVA Air) → 50,000 Capital One miles = 37,500 airline miles
- 5:3 ratio (JetBlue) → 50,000 Capital One miles = 30,000 TrueBlue points
- 2:1 ratio (Accor) → 50,000 Capital One miles = 25,000 Accor points
- 1:2 ratio (I Prefer) → 50,000 Capital One miles = 100,000 I Prefer points
Pro tip: Don't let unfavorable ratios scare you away automatically. A "worse" ratio might still deliver better value if that partner offers cheaper award pricing for your route.
The 5 Best Capital One Transfer Partners to Use
Based on redemption value analysis, award chart pricing, and fuel surcharge policies, these five partners consistently deliver the most value:
1. Avianca LifeMiles (Avg. Value: 1.6¢ per mile)
LifeMiles is the hidden gem in Capital One's lineup. This Star Alliance program lets you book award flights on United, Lufthansa, and other partners without fuel surcharges—a huge deal for European routes where British Airways might charge $700+ in fees on the same flight.
Sweet spots: Business class to Europe (87,000 miles one-way), short-haul domestic flights within North America (starting at 7,500 miles).
2. British Airways Avios (Avg. Value: 1.2¢ per point)
While British Airways gets criticized for high fuel surcharges on its own flights, Avios shine when booking partner airlines—especially American Airlines domestic routes and flights to the Caribbean.
Sweet spots: Los Angeles to Hawaii for 13,000 Avios each way, short American Airlines flights (under 650 miles) for just 7,500 Avios.
3. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (Avg. Value: 1.5¢ per mile)
If you're saving up for a bucket-list premium cabin experience, Singapore Airlines offers one of the world's best business and first class products. KrisFlyer miles also offer reasonable pricing on Star Alliance partner flights.
Sweet spots: West Coast to Asia business class (85,000 miles one-way), domestic U.S. flights on United (starting at 15,000 miles roundtrip).
4. Air Canada Aeroplan (Avg. Value: 1.1¢ per point)
Aeroplan's distance-based award chart can deliver excellent value on shorter routes, and it provides access to the entire Star Alliance network without the fuel surcharges you'd pay through some European programs.
Sweet spots: U.S. to Europe business class (60,000-70,000 points one-way), transcontinental U.S. flights (starting at 12,500 points).
5. JetBlue TrueBlue (Avg. Value: 1.4¢ per point)
Despite the unfavorable 5:3 transfer ratio, JetBlue's Mint business class provides lie-flat seats on transcontinental and Caribbean routes at reasonable redemption rates. TrueBlue also has no blackout dates.
Sweet spots: Mint business class to the Caribbean (often under 40,000 points one-way), any JetBlue route without blackout restrictions.
Capital One Transfer Partners to Avoid
Not all transfer options provide good value. Skip these three unless you have a specific, compelling redemption:
- Accor Live Limitless – The 2:1 transfer ratio combined with relatively low point values (around 0.5¢ each) means you're better off booking directly through Capital One Travel or paying cash.
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands – The 2:1.5 ratio is unfavorable, and EVA's award chart is more expensive than other Star Alliance partners like Avianca or Air Canada.
- Emirates Skywards – High redemption costs and recent restrictions on first-class awards to elite members make this partner less attractive for most travelers.
How to Transfer Capital One Miles (Step-by-Step)
Transfers typically process instantly, but it's smart to set up your accounts in advance. Here's the complete process:
Before You Transfer:
- Create loyalty program accounts with your desired airline/hotel partners
- Ensure your name matches exactly on both your Capital One account and loyalty program account
- Have at least 1,000 Capital One miles available (minimum transfer amount)
- Confirm award availability for your specific flight or hotel before transferring
Transfer Process:
- Log into your Capital One account at CapitalOne.com
- Select your rewards credit card from the dashboard
- Click "View Rewards" below your card balance
- Select "Convert Rewards" from the redemption options
- Choose your transfer partner from the list
- Enter your loyalty program account number (first-time only)
- Enter the amount of miles you want to transfer
- Review and confirm the transfer
Remember: Transfers are permanent. Once you move miles to a partner program, you cannot transfer them back to Capital One.
Which Capital One Cards Earn Transferable Miles?
Not every Capital One card earns miles that can be transferred to partners. Only these cards participate in the Capital One Miles program with transfer capabilities:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – 2X miles on everything, $395 annual fee, premium perks
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2888", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "Luxurious Travel Benefits" } ]]
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 2X miles on everything, $95 annual fee
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "438", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "High Travel Rewards" } ]]
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card – 1.25X miles on everything, $0 annual fee
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "440", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "No Annual Fee"} ]]
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business – 2X miles on everything, $95 annual fee
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3055", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Business Travelers", "headerHint": "Zero Transaction Fees"} ]]
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business – 1.5X miles on everything, $0 first year then $95
Cards like the Capital One Quicksilver earn cash back, which cannot be transferred to airline partners (though some Capital One cards allow cash back conversion to miles).
Capital One vs. Chase vs. Amex: How Transfer Partners Compare
Capital One's 22 transfer partners put it in the middle of the pack compared to competitors:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: 14 partners, includes Hyatt (highly valued hotel program)
- American Express Membership Rewards: 20+ partners, includes Delta and Hilton
- Capital One Miles: 22 partners, strongest in Star Alliance coverage
Capital One's advantage: You get access to all three major airline alliances (Star Alliance, Oneworld, SkyTeam) plus JetBlue and Emirates, which don't partner with other major U.S. credit card programs.
Capital One's gap: No domestic airline partners. You can't transfer directly to United, American, or Delta—but you can book these airlines using alliance partners.
Advanced Strategy: When to Transfer vs. Book Through the Portal
The 1 cent per mile baseline from Capital One Travel is your floor. Transfer only when you can beat this value.
Transfer makes sense when:
- You're booking premium cabins (business or first class)
- Cash prices exceed $1,000+
- You've found award availability on a specific flight
- The partner offers routes Capital One Travel doesn't
Book through the portal when:
- You're booking economy on domestic routes
- Award availability is limited
- Transfer ratios are unfavorable for your route
- You value simplicity over maximum value
Quick math: If a flight costs $1,200 cash or 60,000 partner miles (after transferring 60,000 Capital One miles at 1:1), you're getting 2 cents per mile in value—double the portal rate. That's when transfers shine.
Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Get Strategic
If you're new to transfer partners, start with British Airways or Avianca LifeMiles. Both offer straightforward award charts and access to major airline partners without confusing restrictions. As you gain experience, branch out to programs like Singapore Airlines for aspirational redemptions.
The key is having a specific trip in mind before transferring. Check award availability, compare the miles cost to the cash price, and ensure you're getting at least 1.2-1.5 cents per mile in value. With 22 partners to choose from, Capital One miles are more flexible than ever—you just need to know where to send them.
FAQ
Can I transfer Capital One miles back after sending them to a partner?
No. All transfers are permanent and cannot be reversed. Only transfer miles when you have confirmed award availability for a specific trip.
How long do Capital One mile transfers take?
Most transfers are instant. A few partners like Cathay Pacific (up to 24 hours) and EVA Air (up to 36 hours) take longer.
Do transferred miles expire?
Yes, but expiration policies vary by partner. Most airline programs require account activity every 12-24 months to keep miles active.
Can I transfer miles from Capital One cash back cards?
Some Capital One cards allow one-way conversion from cash back to miles (like Savor to Venture). Check your specific card terms.
What's the best Capital One transfer partner for Europe?
Avianca LifeMiles for zero fuel surcharges, or Air Canada Aeroplan for flexibility. Avoid British Airways due to high fees on transatlantic routes.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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