If there’s one thing travel rewards enthusiasts wait for each month, it’s the release of credit card transfer bonuses. In May 2025, the lineup is especially strong, featuring a massive 55% bonus to Marriott, 30% to Southwest, 25% to Aeroplan and more. These promotions can turn a modest stash of flexible points into a luxury hotel stay, a last-minute domestic flight, or a premium long-haul award ticket at a fraction of the usual cost.
Most major transferable rewards programs—Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Points—run periodic bonuses to airline and hotel partners. The May window is critical because spring bonuses often overlap with summer travel booking season, letting you lock in outsized value. Whether you’re topping off an account for a specific redemption or speculatively transferring to a program with strong future potential, understanding this month’s credit card transfer bonuses is the key to getting ahead.
In this guide we’ll break down the headline offers, highlight the standout 55% bonus to Marriott, the 30% to Southwest, and the 25% to Aeroplan, and cover additional deals you won’t want to miss. We’ll also share strategies to help you decide when a transfer bonus is truly worth it and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Overview of May 2025 Credit Card Transfer Bonuses
Every issuer structures their credit card transfer bonuses differently, but the underlying logic is the same: you transfer points from a flexible program to a specific airline or hotel partner and receive extra points on top of the standard 1:1 ratio. In May 2025, we’re seeing one of the most diverse sets of offers in recent memory. Issuers are competing aggressively for your points engagement ahead of the summer travel surge.
Here is a summary of the headline promotions available this month:
- Marriott Bonvoy: up to a 55% bonus when transferring from select partners (details below).
- Southwest Rapid Rewards: a 30% bonus on transfers, making it a great time to stock up on points for the airline’s companion pass strategy.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: a 25% transfer bonus, ideal for booking Star Alliance awards with low surcharges.
- Additional bonuses are being offered on programs like Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, and IHG One Rewards, all of which we’ll touch on.
These May 2025 credit card transfer bonuses are typically available for a limited time, often expiring at the end of the month or soon after. Always check the exact terms with your issuer and verify that you’re registered for the promotion if required, as some require opt-in before the transfer is initiated.
The Standout 55% Bonus to Marriott Bonvoy
The most eye-catching deal this month is undoubtedly the 55% bonus to Marriott. Marriott Bonvoy points are already among the most versatile hotel currencies, covering over 8,000 properties worldwide, and can also convert to more than 40 airline partners at a preferred rate. With a 55% boost on transfers, you’re essentially buying Bonvoy points at a steep discount through your flexible rewards currency.
Which issuers are offering a 55% bonus to Marriott in May? As of the current promotion window, American Express Membership Rewards is running the 55% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy. This deal is noteworthy because Amex typically offers transfer bonuses to Marriott only a few times a year, and the percentage is rarely this high. If you’ve been sitting on Membership Rewards points earned from cards like the Platinum Card or Gold Card, this is one of the best conversion opportunities you’ll see.
To put the 55% bonus into perspective, 1,000 Membership Rewards points normally equal 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. During the promotion, 1,000 MR points become 1,550 Bonvoy points. At a conservative valuation of 0.8 cents per Bonvoy point, that turns 1,000 MR points into around $12.40 in hotel value—a solid return, especially if you redeem for aspirational properties like the St. Regis Maldives or the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto.
Another angle is to leverage Marriott’s airline transfer feature. Marriott points convert to airline miles at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. When you factor in the initial 55% bonus, the path becomes even more interesting. For example, transferring 60,000 MR points during this promotion would yield 93,000 Marriott points. If you then move 60,000 of those Marriott points to an airline, you’d end up with 25,000 airline miles plus the remaining Marriott points, essentially getting multiple bites at the value apple. This is a complicated but powerful technique for advanced points collectors.
Of course, speculative transfers are not for everyone. The 55% bonus to Marriott is most compelling when you have a near-term plan for the points—perhaps a five-night stay using Marriott’s “stay for 5, pay for 4” benefit, or an imminent conversion to an airline program with an award sale. If your only plan is to let the points sit, you’re taking on devaluation risk, and the bonus may not be worth the loss of flexibility.
Southwest Rapid Rewards: 30% Transfer Bonus
Coming right after the Marriott headline is the 30% to Southwest transfer bonus. Chase Ultimate Rewards is the primary source here, and this promotion offers a straightforward way to turn your Chase points into Rapid Rewards points at a 30% enhanced rate. Normally 1,000 Chase UR points equal 1,000 Southwest points. With the bonus, 1,000 UR points become 1,300 Rapid Rewards points.
Southwest is one of the most consumer-friendly frequent flyer programs in the United States. Points are revenue-based, meaning the number of points required for a flight is tied directly to the cash fare. There are no blackout dates, bags fly free, and points can be cancelled or changed without penalty—a combination that gives Rapid Rewards almost cash-like flexibility. A 30% to Southwest bonus therefore acts like a 30% discount on any Southwest fare you book with points, which is excellent for families heading to Orlando, Las Vegas, or any of the airline’s beach gateways this summer.
This May 2025 credit card transfer bonus is particularly valuable for travelers working toward a Southwest Companion Pass. While transferred points typically do not count toward Companion Pass qualification, the pass can be earned through credit card sign-ups and actual flight activity. The bonus gives you a larger points balance to actually use with your Companion Pass, cutting your out-of-pocket travel costs even further. If you hold the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card and already have the Companion Pass locked in, the 30% to Southwest bonus is effectively a 30% discount on every flight for two people whenever you choose to redeem.
One thing to watch: Southwest points are not as internationally useful as other programs. If your travel patterns are predominantly domestic or to near-international destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean, this bonus is a no-brainer. If you’re hoping to redeem for premium cabin travel to Asia or Europe, you may be better off targeting a different credit card transfer bonus in the list. Always align the transfer with your actual travel goals rather than just chasing the biggest number.
Air Canada Aeroplan: 25% Bonus and Sweet Spots
The 25% to Aeroplan promotion is another strong offering in May 2025. Both American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One Miles are offering a 25% transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan, meaning a 1,000-point transfer yields 1,250 Aeroplan points. Capital One’s participation is especially interesting because the issuer typically offers fewer transfer bonuses than Amex or Chase, so when Capital One Miles get a boost to a program like Aeroplan, it deserves attention.
Air Canada Aeroplan has emerged over the past couple of years as one of the most valuable Star Alliance frequent flyer programs. Its award chart is distance-based with predictable pricing, it imposes minimal carrier-imposed surcharges on most partners, and it allows stopovers for just 5,000 additional points on one-way awards. The program also partners with a huge array of airlines beyond Star Alliance, including Etihad, Emirates, Gulf Air, and Oman Air. A 25% to Aeroplan bonus essentially lowers the effective miles cost of all these redemptions.
Let’s consider a modern sweet spot: a one-way business class award from the East Coast of the US to Europe can cost as little as 60,000 Aeroplan points. With the 25% bonus, you would need only 48,000 Membership Rewards or Capital One points to book that flight—an exceptional proposition. Similarly, a one-way economy award within North America that usually costs 10,000 points would effectively require only 8,000 transferable points. These are the types of redemptions that make the 25% to Aeroplan offer so compelling for both premium aspirational travel and simple getaways.
As part of your broader May 2025 credit card transfer bonuses strategy, the Aeroplan promotion pairs well with the Marriott bonus. You could transfer flex points directly to Aeroplan at a 25% bonus for a specific booking, or take advantage of Marriott’s 55% bonus and then convert Marriott points to Aeroplan at the standard 3:1 ratio with the 5,000-mile bonus—it’s a second layer of arbitrage for those who love optimizing.
A few practical notes: Transfers to Aeroplan are not always instant. While many go through in minutes, some can take up to 24 hours, so don’t leave a booking to the last minute. Also, always search award availability on the Air Canada website before committing to a transfer. Star Alliance partner availability can be fickle, and you don’t want points stranded in Aeroplan if your intended route suddenly disappears.
Other Notable Credit Card Transfer Bonuses in May 2025
While the 55% bonus to Marriott, 30% to Southwest, and 25% to Aeroplan grab the headlines, there are several other credit card transfer bonuses running this month that deserve a look. Issuers often layer smaller bonuses that can align perfectly with niche travel plans.
Flying Blue (Air France-KLM): 20% transfer bonus. Amex and Capital One are both offering a 20% bonus on transfers to Flying Blue. The program runs monthly Promo Rewards, sometimes discounting business class awards from North America to Europe to as low as 50,000 miles. With a 20% transfer boost from a flexible points currency, that drops to around 42,000 points transferred—a truly bargain rate for a lie-flat seat across the Atlantic.
Avianca LifeMiles: 15% bonus. LifeMiles is often available via Amex and Citi, and a 15% bonus can tip the scales on redemptions that are already a great deal. LifeMiles is famous for non-surcharged Lufthansa first class awards to Europe, US to Japan business class on ANA for 75,000 miles, and other unique sweet spots. Even a modest 15% transfer bonus effectively lowers these award rates, making an already cheap redemption even cheaper.
IHG One Rewards: 40% bonus. Chase Ultimate Rewards is offering a 40% transfer bonus to IHG. While IHG points are generally valued lower than competitors, the 40% bonus significantly shifts the math. A stay at a Holiday Inn resort that costs 25,000 IHG points per night would now require only about 17,900 Chase UR points per night after the bonus—a budget-friendly way to stretch your points for family road trips.
These additional May 2025 credit card transfer bonuses serve as reminders that the second-tier offers can sometimes deliver more personal value than the flashier headline percentages. A 55% bonus to a program you don’t use is worth far less than a 15% bonus to a program where you have an immediate, high-value redemption lined up.
Strategies to Maximize Credit Card Transfer Bonuses
Understanding the available credit card transfer bonuses is only half the battle. Executing a transfer that genuinely enhances your travel experience requires discipline and a few guardrails. Here are some strategies to get the most from the May 2025 credit card transfer bonuses:
1. Have a near-term redemption in mind. The cardinal rule of transfer bonuses is never to transfer speculatively unless you have a specific, near-term plan. Hotel and airline programs devalue their currencies over time, and points sitting idle can lose value while you wait. Before initiating a transfer, confirm award availability, and ideally, put the itinerary on hold if the program allows.
2. Check the math on transfer times. Sometimes a flash sale or award space can disappear in the hours it takes for a transfer to post. Understand whether the transfer partner processes instantly (like Southwest from Chase) or can be delayed (like Aeroplan from Capital One). If you’re up against a tight booking window, prioritize programs with historically fast transfer times.
3. Don’t forget fees and surcharges. A bonus can make a redemption look cheaper in points, but if the program charges high carrier surcharges, you might still pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket. Aeroplan is relatively low-surcharge; others, like some Flying Blue awards on certain partners, can attract significant cash co-pays. Always check the total cost before transferring.
4. Stack with other promotions. The credit card transfer bonuses in May don’t exist in isolation. Marriott might be running its own buy-points promotion, Southwest could have a fare sale, and Aeroplan frequently offers points purchase bonuses. When you can stack a transfer bonus from your issuer with a redemption discount from the program itself, you multiply the value.
5. Track your transfers carefully. With many offers running simultaneously, it’s easy to forget how many points you moved where. Keep a simple spreadsheet or use a portfolio tracker to record the date, amount, bonus percentage, and intended use. This helps you avoid orphaned points and makes it easier to evaluate your overall points strategy later.
By applying these tactics, you’ll be able to separate noise from genuine opportunity and ensure that every May 2025 credit card transfer bonus you take advantage of contributes to a trip you’ll actually love.
FAQ: Credit Card Transfer Bonuses for May 2025
What are credit card transfer bonuses? They are limited-time promotions from flexible rewards programs (like Chase UR, Amex MR, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou) that give you extra points when you transfer to specific airline or hotel partners. Instead of a 1:1 ratio, you receive a bonus percentage, such as 30% or 55%, on top of your transfer.
Do I need to register for the May 2025 transfer bonuses? Some offers require you to opt-in or register before you transfer. In many cases, the bonus is automatically applied, but you should read the terms from your issuer to be certain. It’s always better to check than to assume.
Is the 55% bonus to Marriott the best deal this month? It’s the highest percentage, but “best” depends on your travel goals. If you frequently stay at Marriott properties or plan to convert Marriott points to airline miles, the 55% bonus to Marriott is outstanding. If you fly Southwest domestically, the 30% to Southwest might deliver more tangible value.
How long do these May transfer bonuses last? Most expire between late May and early June 2025. Because exact end dates vary by partner and issuer, review each promotion’s fine print. Some may be extended, but plan to transfer well before the stated deadline to avoid last-minute issues.
Can I transfer points back if I change my mind? No. All transfers from flexible rewards programs to airline and hotel partners are irreversible. Once you complete a transfer, the points are in that program’s ecosystem and subject to its rules. That’s why having a firm plan is so important.
Will transferred points count toward elite status? Generally, transferred points do not count toward elite status qualification in either the flexible program or the partner program. They go into your account as redeemable points only, without elite night credits or qualifying miles. Exceptions are rare, so don’t count on them.
Conclusion: Make the May Credit Card Transfer Bonuses Work for You
May is shaping up to be a powerhouse month for points collectors, with a 55% bonus to Marriott, 30% to Southwest, 25% to Aeroplan and more creating rare opportunities to multiply your flexible rewards. These credit card transfer bonuses don’t come along every day, and when they do, the smart move is to act decisively—but thoughtfully.
Take stock of your points balances across Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi. Look at your upcoming travel plans for the summer and fall. If you find a match between a bonus and an award you’d actually book—whether it’s a Marriott beach resort, a Southwest flight to see family, or an Aeroplan business class seat to Europe—then go for it. The May 2025 credit card transfer bonuses are here for a limited window, and the travelers who use them wisely will be the ones sitting in premium seats and checking into upgraded rooms without paying cash.
Bookmark this guide, check back for updates, and get ready to turn your points into something incredible.