A transfer bonus is a temporary uplift on the transfer ratio: the same number of points briefly arrives as more miles in the destination programme.
A transfer bonus is a temporary uplift on the transfer ratio: the same number of points briefly arrives as more miles in the destination programme.
Also called: Transfer promotion.
How it works#
A transfer bonus only pays off when the redemption is already decided and the seat is available. Without a booking in hand, the bonus trades flexibility for a discount: the points end up locked in one programme and carry that programme’s devaluation risk alone. Moving balances out of a flexible bank currency into a tied programme currency is precisely what the promotion is designed to achieve.
Not to be confused with#
A transfer bonus is not the same as a welcome bonus: the transfer bonus improves the conversion rate of points you already hold, while a welcome bonus credits new points for opening a card.
In German#
The German term is Transferbonus. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Transfer partner: A transfer partner is an airline or hotel programme that a bank or card programme can convert its points into.
- Transfer ratio: The transfer ratio is the rate at which one programme’s points convert into another currency, such as one to one or three to one.
- Devaluation: A devaluation is a worsening of a programme’s redemption terms: the same award costs more miles afterwards, or it stops being bookable at all.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onPoints and miles.