---
title: "What is Transfer partner? | Benefit Systems"
description: "A transfer partner is an airline or hotel programme that a bank or card programme can convert its points into."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Transfer partner?

A transfer partner is an airline or hotel programme that a bank or card programme can convert its points into.

## How it works #

The partner list decides what a points balance is practically worth. Two cards with the same earning rate differ mainly in which programmes they can feed and how long a transfer takes. Partner lists are not permanent: programmes join and leave, usually on short notice. That is why availability is checked first and the transfer made second, never the other way round.

## Not to be confused with #

A transfer partner is not the same as an alliance partner: a transfer partner accepts points, while an alliance partner shares routes and recognises elite status.

## In German #

The German term is Transferpartner. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/transferpartner)

## Related terms #

- [Transferable points](/en/glossary/transferable-points): Transferable points are points held by a bank or card issuer that can be converted into the currencies of several airline and hotel programmes.
- [Transfer ratio](/en/glossary/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.
- [Transfer bonus](/en/glossary/transfer-bonus): 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.

## Articles that use this term #

- [How does transferring points to an airline work?](/en/knowledge/points-transfer)
- [Why transferable bank points beat airline miles](/en/knowledge/transferable-points)
- [Why the best redemptions are on partner airlines](/en/knowledge/partner-awards)
- [Can you pool points with your partner or family?](/en/knowledge/pooling-points)