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Update: Amex UK has brought back Singapore KrisFlyer as a transfer partner. It is unclear why it went away in the first place or how long it will remain a transfer partner.
If you have a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points, using transfer partners is one of the best ways to maximize your rewards. However, international Amex programs differ from the U.S. version most are familiar with, and the list of transfer partners (and transfer ratios) isn’t always the same.
Without notice, American Express U.K. (not U.S.) removed Singapore KrisFlyer as a transfer partner today. Here’s what Amex U.K. members need to know, plus a look at the remaining transfer partners.
American Express UK Removes Singapore KrisFlyer as a Transfer Partner
This morning, the Amex U.K. Membership Rewards program quietly updated its list of transfer partners, removing Singapore KrisFlyer. Unfortunately, there is no grace period to complete a final transfer or two; Singapore is no longer a direct transferable option from Amex U.K.
This news is undoubtedly disappointing if you relied on transferring Amex points to book one of the world’s best first-class suites or grab a monthly Spontaneous Escapes award. However, there is a potential workaround — you can transfer Amex UK rewards to Marriott Bonvoy at a 400:600 ratio and then convert those points to KrisFlyer miles. While this isn’t the most efficient use of your points, it's still an option nonetheless.
But if you don't want to settle for the loss of value in the two-step transfer, you might find it worth your time to familiarize yourself with the remaining 17 Amex U.K. transfer partners. Here's the complete list and the transfer ratios available to Card Members:
Related: How To Track Your Rewards Using AwardWallet
Final Thoughts
The removal of a transfer partner is unfortunate; there's no way to sugarcoat this. If you depended on Amex U.K. for transfers to Singapore KrisFlyer, you'll need to find an alternative way to redeem your points. While there are still 17 other transfer partners, none are Star Alliance member airlines. Thus, now could be a good time to reassess your long-term credit card strategy and weigh other options that better align with your travel goals.
