How to Transfer Starwood Preferred Guest Points to Airline Miles

Starwood Preferred Guest points is one of my favorite flexible currencies. Not only are they extremely valuable for hotel stays on every single continent, but they also transfer to 30 different airline partners at a generous ratio. With most airline transfer partners, Starwood points transfer at a 1:1 ratio (excluding, unfortunately, my favorite points program United Mileage Plus). Even better, for every 20,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points you transfer, Starwood adds a 5,000 point bonus. 20,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points will convert to 25,000 airline miles or at a ratio of 1:1.25.

I previously posted similar tutorials for transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to airline partners as well as transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to airline partners:

• How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Airlines and Hotels.
• How to Transfer American Express Membership Rewards To Airline Miles

These other currencies will transfer mostly at a 1:1 ratio, though they are easier to earn. Starwood Preferred Guest points can only be earned through Starwood hotel stays or through the Starwood Preferred Guest credit cards. Each of these cards currently comes with a 25,000 Starwood Preferred Guest point sign-up bonus after spending $5,000 within 6 months. 

• American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Personal Card
• American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card

I have to admit that I don’t transfer Starwood Prefered Guest points to airline partners very much myself simply because I find them so valuable for hotel stays. Last year, I stayed at the Rio Sheraton Hotel & Resort for 12,000 points a night when rates were close to $1,000 a night around New Year’s. Later this year, I am using 10,000 points a night at Le Meridien Phuket when rates are $600. The Starwood Preferred Guest card was my first credit card 10 years ago and it’s been a long journey of amazing rewards. Regardless, it’s nice to have that option to transfer to 30 different partners getting 1.25 miles for every point.

Starwood Airline Partners and Transfer Ratios:

Aeromexico Club Premier	1:1
Aeroplan/Air Canada	1:1
Air Berlin	1:1
Air China Companion	1:1
Air New Zealand & Air Points	65:1
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	1:1
Alitalia MilleMiglia	1:1
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club	1:1
American Airlines AAdvantage	1:1
Asia Miles	1:1
Asiana Airlines	1:1
British Airways Executive Club	1:1
China Eastern Airlines	1:1
China Southern Airlines’ Sky Pearl Club	1:1
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles	1:1
Emirates Skywards	1:1
Etihad Airways	1:1
Flying Blue	1:1
Gol Smiles	2:1
Hawaiian Airlines	1:1
Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank	1:1
LAN Airlines LANPASS Kms	1:1.5
Miles and More	1:1
Qatar Airways	1:1
Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan	1:1
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	1:1
Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus	1:1
US Airways Dividend Miles	1:1
United Mileage Plus	2:1
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	1:1

How to Transfer Starwood Points to Airline Partners

Step One: Go to the Starwood Preferred Guest website and log into your account. You need to have online access for your Starwood account to be set up first. If you don’t have this set up, contact Starwood customer service.

Step Two: Click on My Account. Under Starpoints Awards, click on Redeem/Transfer points.

 

Step Three: On the next screen, you will see different options for what you can do with your Starpoints. You will first see ‘Redeem for flights.’ This is not what you want. That option allows you to use your Starpoints to be paid as cash for flights, but the rate you receive is not very good. You want the further down option ‘Transfer to Miles’.

 

Step Four: The next page will list all the transfer ratios for the various airline partners. Click on Transfer Now.

Step Five: Here, you can finally select your airline partner. As an example, I can transfer Starwood Preferred Guest points to American Airlines. Once you hit Continue, you will then enter how many points to transfer. Members without status must transfer a minimum of 2500 points. Those with Gold status transfer a minimum of 1500 points. Platinum members have no minimum.

 

After you’ve confirmed your transfer, it usually takes about a week for the miles to show up in your account. For this reason, it’s important not to rely on transferring from Starwood Preferred Guest for an award ticket you need to book immediately where seats may disappear.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I do receive a referral if you apply for some cards in this post through my links. I will never recommend a card that I am not interested in myself and always include the best offer, regardless of referral. If you do decide to apply for any cards through my links, as always, thank you very much for your support!)

Now that you know how to transfer Starwood Preferred Guest points to airlines, let’s take a look at some great ways to use miles on the Starwood Preferred Guest airline partners:

• West Coast to Hawaii for 12,500 British Airways Avios Each Way!
• How to Redeem British Airways Miles on American Airlines Flights
• Redeeming British Airways Miles on Alaska Airlines Flights
• Adding “Better Than Free” One-Ways on American Airlines: Fly to South America for 20,000 Miles All Year!
• From Caribbean in Winter + to Europe in Summer for 20,000 American Airlines miles TOTAL

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