May 2026 Transfer Bonuses: Which Ones Are Actually Worth It (and Which Are a Trap)

Four transfer bonuses are live in May 2026 — Chase→Marriott +55%, Chase→Southwest +30%, Chase→Flying Blue +20%, and Amex→Hilton +20%. Here's the honest math on which are worth it and which just flatter a weak points currency.

TL;DR

A transfer bonus looks like free money. Move points you already have, get 20–55% more on the other side. Sometimes that's exactly true. Other times you're being nudged to dump flexible bank points into a currency worth half a cent. Here's what's live right now and where the math actually holds up.

What's live this month

From To Bonus 1,000 points becomes
Chase Ultimate Rewards Marriott Bonvoy +55% 1,550 Bonvoy
Chase Ultimate Rewards Southwest Rapid Rewards +30% 1,300 Rapid Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) +20% 1,200 Flying Blue
Amex Membership Rewards Hilton Honors +20% (ends 5/30/2026) 2,400 Hilton

The one rule

Bank points (Chase, Amex) are flexible. Once you transfer them out, they're locked into one program. So the question is never "how big is the bonus?" It's "are the points I'm getting worth more than the points I'm spending?"

Hyatt is the cleanest example. There's no Hyatt bonus this month, yet a plain 1:1 Chase → Hyatt transfer still out-earns a +55% Chase → Marriott transfer for most hotel stays, because a Hyatt point simply buys more room. A bonus doesn't fix a weak currency.

Worth it

Think twice

FAQ

Do transfer bonuses post instantly? The bonus points usually arrive with the transfer, but timing varies by program — confirm in your account before you move a large balance.

Should I transfer speculatively to grab the bonus? No. Transfer only when you have a booking in mind. Locked-in program points can devalue with no warning.

Where can I see current ratios? Our transfer-partner tracker lists live ratios and bonuses across Chase, Amex, Citi, and Capital One.

Sources verified: Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer terms (chase.com); American Express Membership Rewards transfer terms (americanexpress.com); Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Southwest Rapid Rewards program terms. Bonus figures are current as of late May 2026; confirm the live offer in your bank rewards account before transferring.

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