Can I use air miles with any Oneworld airline?

OneWorld is an airline alliance consisting of 13 member airlines to which credit card rewards points can be easily transferred. It consists of airlines like American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, etc. Miles earned for one airline can be transferred across the alliance, which means that rewards points can also be transferred and can be easily used to get the best deal. 

How do I transfer points? 

Points can be earned through your credit card rewards program and transferred to airlines that the company has a partnership with. These points can be earned either on the proprietary cards of airlines or on rewards cards that have partnerships with these airlines. 

Which airline credit cards can I use? 

American Airlines

1. AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard: 

• Annual fee: $99
• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus points for any purchase made within the first 90 days of account opening
• Rewards Program: 2 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines purchases, 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases
• Other travel benefits: Priority boarding, 25% off inflight food and beverages, free checked bag for you and up to four companions 

1. AAdvantage Mile Up Card

• Annual fee: $0
• Sign-up bonus: 10,000-mile signup bonus, $50 statement credit for $500 spent within the first 3 months of account opening
• Rewards Program: 2 miles per dollar spent on groceries and American Airlines purchases 
• Other travel benefits: 25% off inflight food and beverages 

1. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee, then $99 per year 
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months of account opening
• Rewards program: 2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations, restaurants, and eligible American Airlines purchases, $125 American Airlines discount after spending $20,000 or more during the first year with a card renewal
• Other travel benefits: Preferred boarding, free checked bag for you and up to four companions on domestic flights

British Airways 

1. BA Visa Signature

• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 Avios miles for $3,000 spent in the first 3 months of account opening and 50,000 additional Avios for $20,000 spent in the first year 
• Rewards program: 3 Avios miles per dollar spent on British Airways purchases, 1 Avios mile per dollar for all other purchases 

What other cards can I use? 

Chase: Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to British Airways and Iberian 

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve 

• Annual Fee: $550
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 bonus points after $4,000 spent in the first three months
• Rewards Program: $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases charged on each account anniversary, 3x points on travel and dining and 1x points for all other purchases, 50% bonus when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards 
• Other Travel Benefits: Up to $100 application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, access to airport lounges around the world through Priority Pass, 1:1 point transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs, trip cancellation and interruption insurance of up to $20,000 per trip

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred 

• Annual Fee: $95
• Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 points after $4,000 spent in the first three months 
• Rewards Program: 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on other purchases, 25% bonus when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Other Travel Benefits: Trip cancellation and interruption insurance of up to $20,000 per trip

Citi: Citi ThankYou rewards can be transferred to American Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas 

1. Citi Premier Credit Card: 

• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening 
• Rewards program: 3x points on travel and gas, 2x points on restaurants and entertainment
• Other travel benefits: World Elite Mastercard benefits (access to Luxury Hotels and Resorts portfolio, concierge services, personal travel services, lowest hotel stays, Onefinestay discounts, etc), Citi Private Pass (exclusive tickets)

1. Citi Prestige Credit Card 

• Annual fee: $495
• Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within three months of account opening
• Rewards program: 5x points on air travel and restaurant purchases, 3x points on hotels and cruises and 1x on all other purchases 
• Other travel benefits: Up to $250 of annual travel credit, $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, Priority Pass lounge access 

1. Citi Rewards+ Credit Card

• Annual fee: $0 
• Sign-up bonus: 15,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within three months of account opening
• Rewards Program: 2x points on supermarket and gas station purchases for first $6,000 spent in a year (then 1x), 1x points on all purchases
• Note: you must have a Citi Premier or Prestige account to be able to travel points from this card or the Rewards+ Student Card

HSBC: HSBC Rewards Cash can be transferred to Cathay Pacific and for Premier members, it can be transferred to BA Executive Club Avios 

1. HSBC Advance Mastercard Credit Card 

• Annual fee: $45 or $0 for Advanced and Premier customers
• Sign-up bonus: 3x introductory points on dining and select entertainment, 2x points on all other purchases in the first 12 months up to the first $25,000 of purchases
• Rewards program: 2x points on dining and select entertainment, 1x points on all other purchases 
• Other travel benefits: 10% off at Onefinestay, Mastercard Travel, and Lifestyle services

1. HSBC Premier World Mastercard Credit Card 

• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: 35,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening 
• Rewards program: 2x points on travel purchases, 1x points on all other purchases
• Other travel benefits: complimentary global WiFi, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, 10% off at Expedia, Agoda, and Onefinestay 

1. HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard Credit Card 

• Annual fee: $395
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 bonus points after $4,000 spent in first 3 months of account opening 
• Rewards program: 3x points on travel purchases, 2x points on dining, 1x points on all other purchases
• Other travel benefits: $100 annual airfare credit, LoungeKey access, 10% off at Expedia, Agoda, and Onefinestay

American Express: American Express miles can be transferred to British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia (Avios miles) and CathayPacific 

1. Platinum Credit Card

• Annual Fee: $550 
• Sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus points after $5,000 spent in the first 3 months of account opening 
• Rewards program: 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amex.com, 1x points on all other purchases
• Other travel benefits: $200 airline fee credit per year when incidental fees are charged, access to 1,200+ points, $85-$100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, platinum travel service, trip delay, and cancellation insurance as well as many hotel benefits

1. Amex Gold Credit Card 

• Annual fee: $250
• Sign-up bonus: 35,000 bonus points after $4,000 spent on eligible purchases within three months of account opening 
• Rewards program: 4x points earned at restaurants and US supermarkets, 3x points earned on flights
• Other travel benefits: $100 airline fee credit per year when incidental fees are charged, personalized travel service, baggage insurance as well as hotel benefits 

Capital One: Capital One miles can be transferred to Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways Privilege Club 

1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card 

• Annual fee: $95 
• Sign-up bonus: 50,000 points on $3,000 spent within the first three months of account opening 
• Rewards program: 2x miles per dollar on all purchases 
• Other travel benefits: $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry 

1. Capital One Venture One Rewards Credit Card

• Annual fee: $0 
• Sign-up bonus: 20,000 bonus miles on $1,000 spent within the first three months of account opening 
• Rewards program: 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase 

Which Card should I choose? 

There’s no right or wrong answer to this, especially since miles can be transferred across airlines. Moreover, this is not an exhaustive list. However, if you are an avid flyer of a specific airline and want your card exclusively for gaining miles and travel benefits, it’s probably better to get a specific airline credit card. Otherwise, go with the card whose annual fee, APR, and other benefits fit your lifestyle best.