Amex Membership Rewards Guide: Best Ways to Use MR Points

Understanding Amex MR Points

American Express Membership Rewards (MR) is one of the most flexible points currencies in Canada. Earned through cards like the Cobalt, Gold, and Platinum, MR points can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners.

The baseline value is approximately 1.0 cpp but can reach 2.0+ cpp when transferred to the right partner for the right redemption.

Point Valuation by Redemption

Redemption Method	Estimated Value
Transfer to Aeroplan (flights)	1.5 - 3.0 cpp
Transfer to Marriott Bonvoy	0.7 - 1.2 cpp
Transfer to British Airways	1.0 - 2.0 cpp
Amex Fixed Points Travel	1.0 cpp
Statement credit	0.7 cpp
Gift cards	0.5 - 0.8 cpp

Transfer Partners

This is where MR points shine. Key transfer partners include:

Airlines

• Aeroplan — 1:1 ratio (best all-around option)
• British Airways Avios — 1:1 ratio (great for short-haul)
• Asia Miles — 1:1 ratio
• Etihad Guest — 1:1 ratio
• Delta SkyMiles — 1:1 ratio (Canada-specific partner)

Hotels

• Marriott Bonvoy — 1:1.2 ratio (5 MR = 6 Bonvoy)
• Hilton Honors — 1:2 ratio (good for aspirational stays)

Best Strategies

The Cobalt Earn-and-Transfer Play

The Amex Cobalt earns 5x MR points on dining and groceries. For a household spending $1,000/month on these categories, that is 60,000 MR points per year — enough for a one-way business class ticket to Europe via Aeroplan.

British Airways for Short Flights

BA Avios are distance-based and excellent for short-haul flights. A flight under 1,150 miles costs just 7,500 Avios one-way in economy. This works well for Toronto to Montreal, Vancouver to Seattle, or similar short routes.

Marriott Bonvoy for Hotel Stays

If you prefer hotel redemptions, transferring to Marriott Bonvoy gives a 1:1.2 ratio. Category 1-4 hotels (up to 25,000 points/night) can deliver solid value, especially with the 5th night free benefit on award stays.

Earning MR Points Efficiently

Card	Best Category	Earn Rate
Cobalt	Dining & Groceries	5x
Gold	Travel & Transit	3x
Platinum	Travel	3x
SimplyCash Preferred	Everything	2% cash back

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Redeeming for gift cards — 0.5 cpp is a terrible return
2. Statement credits — only marginally better at 0.7 cpp
3. Ignoring transfer bonuses — Amex runs 15-30% bonus promotions regularly
4. Not pooling points — If your household has multiple Amex cards, pool points for bigger redemptions
5. Letting points expire — MR points expire if you cancel your card with no other MR-earning card active

Transfer Bonus Strategy

Amex periodically offers transfer bonuses (15-30% extra points) to specific partners. When a bonus to Aeroplan appears, that effectively increases your cpp by the bonus percentage. Watch for these and have a plan ready to transfer when they appear.