American Express has announced that it will temporarily suspend the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to Emirates Skywards, effective May 28, 2025. This change means that cardholders looking to use their Amex points for Emirates flights should complete any necessary transfers before that date to avoid inconvenience.
This move mirrors a similar decision by Chase, which will pause Ultimate Rewards point transfers to Emirates Skywards from May 29 through June 30, 2025. Meanwhile, Citi has announced that it will reduce the transfer ratio of its ThankYou Rewards to Emirates Skywards from 1:1 to 5:4, starting July 27, 2025.
The series of changes across multiple credit card issuers points to possible renegotiations between Emirates and its loyalty program partners. It could be an indication of a broader shift in strategy from Emirates regarding how customers use their points for travel.
For now, the exact duration of Amex’s suspension remains unclear. Frequent flyers and loyal Amex users are encouraged to monitor for updates and plan their redemptions accordingly.