By Amanda Smith
Business Reporter
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Just as earning and redeeming airline miles has a language of its own, so does pooling and transferring them—and the two are very different things.
Pooling lets members combine miles into one shared balance at no cost, but only a few airlines offer it. Transferring moves miles from one member’s account to another’s, and it comes with a fee. While neither is hard to do, the question is whether it’s worth it.
Can You Transfer Airline Miles to Someone Else?
Most airlines let you transfer miles to another member, but the fees can be steep.
Read More on Business
“Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily always be able to combine miles,” Clint Henderson, managing editor at The Points Guy, told Newsweek.
He advises travelers to do the math on whether it’s worth paying a fee to transfer miles. Much of the time, it doesn’t make sense.
You generally can’t move miles from one airline or hotel program to another, since each program has its own currency. Henderson said families may be better off collecting flexible bank points, which can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel programs.
Every family member, including children, should also be enrolled in the loyalty programs the family uses, since kids can earn miles, too.
Which Airlines Allow Family Mile Pooling?
Among U.S. airlines, the most family-friendly for pooling are United, which lets up to five people pool miles, and JetBlue, which allows up to seven. Both are free, and children can join. Among international carriers, British Airways and Air Canada Aeroplan are very helpful.
American Airlines, Delta and Southwest don’t allow family pooling, and HawaiianMiles has been folded into Alaska’s Atmos Rewards program. Alaska doesn’t offer traditional family pooling, but holders of the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card and certain Hawaiian Airlines credit cards can share points free with up to 10 other Atmos Rewards members.
Which Airlines Charge the Most to Transfer Miles?
What’s the Cheapest Way for Families to Use Miles Together?
In many cases, booking a ticket for a family member from your own account is easier than transferring miles. Other workarounds include using household accounts where available or transferring points from flexible rewards programs.
Transfer fees are rarely worth paying. Henderson said a transfer makes sense only if you need a few more miles to complete a big redemption.
“Do the math carefully. I'd rather have a consumer open a new credit card to get those points they need.”
What Families Should Do Before Booking a Trip
Before you travel, use this checklist when deciding whether to pool or transfer miles:
- Verify pooling rules before transferring miles
- Check transfer fees carefully
- Compare transfer costs with booking directly for a family member
- Confirm account names and eligibility requirements
- Look into transferring points from a flexible rewards program or opening an airline co-branded credit card.
Start this process well before your travel dates so you don’t end up paying for convenience.
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Catherine Clark.
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