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The ability to transfer miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs has been “down for maintenance” on Capital One’s website since about September 23.
System issues happen from time to time, but they do not usually last for days at a time. And Capital One has been surprisingly quiet about the issue. I’d expect them to be proactively reassuring eligible Venture and Spark cardmembers who are missing out on the opportunity to secure award travel in the meantime.
It’s been clear to me that miles transfers would not go away suddenly and without notice. That’s a concern several customers reached out to me with, and I’d respond to each email. It struck me that the issue had to be technical or security-related. Something happened that the bank hasn’t shared. And it’s not related to the capability to actually transfer points to programs, since Capital One uses a vendor (Ascenda Loyalty) for that and other companies continue to use Ascenda’s platform successfully in the meantime.
I asked Capital One when to expect miles transfer to return, and they tell me the functionality “to be restored online within a week” after they’ve completed “mak[ing] system improvements.”
Capital One miles now transfer 1:1 to:
- Star Alliance: Air Canada Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines Krisflyer, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Avianca LifeMiles, TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
- oneworld: British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Finnair Plus, Qantas Frequent Flyer
- SkyTeam: Air France KLM Flying Blue, Aeromexico Club Premier
- Non-alliance: Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Virgin Red
- Hotels: Wyndham Rewards, Choice Privileges
Capital One miles also transfer at 2-to-1.5 into EVA Air Infinity MileageLands. And they transfer 2-to-1 into ALL Accor Live Limitless.
I have a strong balance, though continue to work to build it into the seven figures to match my totals with Chase and American Express. Their premium travel rewards card has been my go-to for unbonused spend for almost the last year, since it debuted. But I also believe Capital One needs to communicate more proactively and transparently with its customers when a key feature of its rewards proposition becomes suddenly unavailable, because members read concerns into silence and that breeds distrust.
