If you want to transfer Amex points to Hyatt, the answer is now technically yes, but only through a workaround, and only if you hold Aeroplan elite status. American Express Membership Rewards has never partnered directly with World of Hyatt, and that hasn’t changed. What has changed is the new partnership between Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt, which just opened an indirect path from Amex to Hyatt for the first time.
Before you get excited, know this: the path exists, but the math is rough. You’ll give up half your points in the conversion, and most people can’t access it at all. Here’s exactly how it works and why you should almost certainly do something else instead.
How the Amex to Aeroplan to Hyatt Workaround Works
The route runs through Air Canada. Amex transfers to Aeroplan at 1:1, which is a standard transfer available to any Membership Rewards cardholder. From there, the new partnership allows Aeroplan points to convert to World of Hyatt points at a 2:1 ratio.
The fine print matters here. The Aeroplan to Hyatt conversion is an exclusive benefit for Aeroplan Elite Status Members who have linked their Aeroplan and World of Hyatt accounts. If you don’t hold Aeroplan elite status, this door is closed to you entirely. Conversions require a minimum of 500 Aeroplan points and are capped at 100,000 Aeroplan points per day or 250,000 per week.
So the full chain looks like this: Amex points transfer to Aeroplan at 1:1, then Aeroplan converts to Hyatt at 2:1, meaning every 2 Amex points becomes 1 Hyatt point. And that’s only if you’ve earned elite status with Air Canada’s program first.
The Real Math on This Transfer
Let’s put real numbers on it. Transfer 20,000 Amex points to Aeroplan and you have 20,000 Aeroplan points. Convert those to Hyatt and you’re left with 10,000 World of Hyatt points.
Third-party valuations estimate Hyatt points at around 1.7 cents each and Amex points at around 2 cents each when transferred well. By those estimates, you’d be trading roughly $400 worth of Amex points for about $170 worth of Hyatt points. That’s giving up more than half your value before you’ve booked a single night.
Always do the math on your specific redemption. There are definitely some cases where this could still be worth it.
Better Ways to Get Hyatt Points
If your goal is topping off a World of Hyatt account, the established routes remain the right ones. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Hyatt at 1:1, and Bilt Rewards transfers at 1:1 as well. Either option gets you twice the Hyatt points per transferred point compared to the Aeroplan workaround, with no status requirement attached.
If you’re sitting on Amex points and dreaming of Hyatt redemptions, the honest answer is that you’re holding the wrong currency. The fix is opening the right card, not forcing a bad conversion. If you want the full picture of what the new Air Canada tie-up does beyond this workaround, we broke it down in our Hyatt Aeroplan partnership analysis.
Amex’s Actual Hotel Transfer Partners
Membership Rewards does transfer directly to three hotel programs: Hilton Honors at 1:2, Marriott Bonvoy at 1:1, and Choice Privileges. If you want to move Amex points into a hotel program without losing value in translation, those are your options.
The 1:2 Hilton ratio is the standout, particularly when Hilton runs transfer bonuses that push the ratio even higher. Amex points are best spent on airline transfers and Hilton, and pretending otherwise is how people burn great points on bad redemptions.
Who Should Skip This
Almost everyone. If you don’t have Aeroplan elite status, this isn’t available to you, full stop. If you do have Aeroplan elite status but also hold Chase or Bilt points, use those for Hyatt instead and keep your Amex points for transfers that respect their value.
The only person who should even consider this: an Aeroplan elite with a stranded Amex balance, no Chase or Bilt points, and a specific Hyatt award sitting a few thousand points out of reach. In that narrow case, eating the 2:1 loss to unlock a booking you couldn’t otherwise make can be rational. As a strategy for moving points at scale, it never is.
Bottom Line
You can now transfer Amex points to Hyatt for the first time, but the route runs through Aeroplan at an effective 2:1 ratio and requires Aeroplan elite status to use. It’s a top-off tool for a rare edge case, not a real transfer path. For Hyatt points, stick with Chase or Bilt at 1:1. For your Amex points, stick with the partners where they shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Transfer Amex Points to Hyatt Directly?
No. World of Hyatt has never been an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner, and the new Aeroplan partnership doesn’t change that. The only path from Amex to Hyatt runs through Air Canada Aeroplan, and it comes with a 2:1 conversion penalty and an elite status requirement.
What Is the Transfer Ratio From Amex to Hyatt?
Effectively 2:1. Amex transfers to Aeroplan at 1:1, then Aeroplan converts to World of Hyatt at 2:1. Every 20,000 Amex points becomes 10,000 Hyatt points by the time it lands in your World of Hyatt account.
Do I Need Aeroplan Elite Status to Convert Points to Hyatt?
Yes. The Aeroplan to Hyatt conversion is exclusive to linked Aeroplan Elite Status Members. Any Aeroplan Elite tier qualifies, from 25K up through Super Elite. If that sounds out of reach, note that 25K status comes automatically in the first year of the U.S.-issued Aeroplan credit card, and Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador Elite members can claim it through the Marriott status match.
Are There Limits on the Aeroplan to Hyatt Conversion?
Yes. Conversions require a minimum of 500 Aeroplan points and are capped at 100,000 Aeroplan points per day or 250,000 Aeroplan points per week. Your Aeroplan and World of Hyatt accounts must also be linked, and the names on both accounts need to match.
What Is the Best Way to Get Hyatt Points From a Credit Card?
Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards both transfer to World of Hyatt at 1:1, with no status requirement and no value lost in the conversion. Either one delivers twice the Hyatt points per point compared to routing Amex through Aeroplan.
Which Hotel Programs Does Amex Transfer to Directly?
Membership Rewards transfers directly to Hilton Honors at 1:2, Marriott Bonvoy at 1:1, and Choice Privileges. The Hilton ratio is the standout, since it doubles your points instead of halving them.
Is Transferring Amex Points to Hyatt Ever Worth It?
Only in one narrow case: you already hold Aeroplan elite status, you have Amex points but no Chase or Bilt points, and you’re a few thousand points short of a specific Hyatt award you can’t otherwise book. As a routine strategy, the 2:1 loss makes it a bad trade every time.
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