Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Points

Latest posts by Candis Pope (see all)

When it comes to hotel reward programs, Marriott is at the top of its game. What I like about being a Marriott Bonvoy member is that I can do so much with my points. Not only that but there are numerous ways to earn points. If you’re just getting started with your Bonvoy membership, you may not know the ins and outs of how to get the most out of your account.  But…don’t fret.

In the content below, I’ll explain how to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points and give you insight into some other cool things that you can do with your points. This is an exciting topic, so let’s get into it!

The Bottom Line Up Front 

There may be a few reasons why you’d want to transfer your Marriott points. The good news is, Marriott allows you to do so. But I will say, there are some rules and guidelines that you must follow to ensure that you transfer your points with no issues.

Also, when it comes to converting Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles, you may want to be a little careful. The conversion rate is tricky, and I’ll explain more about that later. 

How to Transfer Marriott Points to Another Member

Marriott bonvoy

If you want to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to another member, the only way to do so is by calling Marriott directly. When you call them, you have to verify your account ownership. There’s a contact support page with a list of numbers for guests to call the hotline that’s closest to their region. For the United States and Canada, the telephone number is 1-800-627-7468.

Be aware that before you request a transfer of your points, you also need the membership number of the person that you’re wanting to transfer the points to. Also, both of your accounts have to be in good standing. Each account must be open for at least 30 days with qualifying activity.

You have to transfer at least 1,000 Bonvoy points, and you can’t transfer more than 100,000 points within a calendar year. Members can receive a max of up to 500,000 Marriott points per calendar year from other member accounts. But again, that’s if the account of the recipient and sender are in good standing for at least 30 days.

How to Transfer Marriott Points to Airline Miles

marriott points to miles

If you don’t need your points for hotel stays, that’s okay! Marriott allows you to transfer your points to miles for flights. With this program, you can transfer your points to a frequent flyer program, plus get an additional 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points that you transfer.

There are at least 38 airlines that are partnered with Marriott, and you can transfer up to 240,000 points per day. To convert your Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles, sign into your account and hit the Transfer Points button. From there, choose your preferred airline transfer partner from the drop-down menu. You’ll need to enter your frequent flyer number for the airline, along with the number of Marriott points that you want to transfer. 

On the Marriott website, there’s a calculator that’ll help you understand how many miles you’ll get in exchange for the number of hotel points. There’s a question on the form that asks, “How many points do you want to convert?”, and you’ll enter the amount. Next, it’ll show you how many miles you’ll receive. 

Once you put in all of the required information, hit continue. After you’ve submitted your request, it’ll take up to 24 hours to see the miles in your account. However, that timeframe is generally for U.S. airlines. It could take a little longer for non-US air carriers.

Marriott Bonvoy and United Mileage Plus

If you really want to get the most out of your transfer points, it’s best to go with United Airlines. Marriott has a partnership with them, so you’ll get a 10% bonus on miles when you use United Mileage Plus.

Other Things to Do With Marriott Points

marriott offers

Combine Your Points

As a Marriott Bonvoy member, you can pool your points with other members to book a stay faster. There are no fees to combine points. However, there are a few restrictions. First, you can only transfer points in 1,000-point increments. Secondly, you can only transfer 100,000 points per calendar year and receive 500,00 points per calendar year.

The process for combining points is relatively the same as transferring. You have to call Marriott customer service and request the transfer. You will need the account number of the person you are transferring your points to. It’s a good idea to combine points because it’s easier to book a reward night. Not to mention, if the other account member has a higher elite status,  you could receive additional perks when you go on vacation.

Donate Points

If you want to do a good deed, you can also donate your Marriott points to charity. There are a few different charities you can choose from like Unicef, the American Red Cross, and Fisher House.

Gift Points

If you have a friend or family member who’s a Marriott Bonvoy member, you can gift them points. Marriott allows up to 100,000 points to another person. Just keep in mind that gifted points are non-refundable.

How to Earn Marriott Points

earn marriott points

If you want to transfer Marriott points, then you have to have points to use. With that said, here are some ways to earn them:

Hotel Stays

Of course, one of the main ways to earn points is by staying at Marriott hotels. You can earn anywhere from 2.5 to 10 points per dollar spent on your room rate, depending on the hotel brand. Keep in mind that if you want to get your points for hotel stays that you book directly through Marriott. If you reserve through a third-party site, you won’t earn any points.

Airlines

Believe it or not, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points when you book flights. Marriott has two preferred airline partners, which are Emirates and United. However, they also have partnerships with numerous others. So, if you’re someone who frequently flies, make sure to sign up for a Marriott Bonvoy account. That way, you can start earning points that you can use towards your next hotel stay.

Tours and Activities

You can collect points while having amazing experiences through Marriott’s tours and activities program. You can book different types of activities like cooking classes, private wine tastings, water sports, and more.

Purchasing Points

Sometimes it takes a while to earn enough points to book a stay. If you don’t want to wait, you always have the option of purchasing points. Marriott sells points in 1,000-point increments. The price per point depends on how many points you purchase.

I love this option because it helps me to book a free stay faster. If you know you have an upcoming trip, then purchasing points could be a good option for you. Plus, it could help you reach a higher Bonvoy tier. The higher the tier, the more benefits you receive, like free room upgrades and complimentary breakfast.

Marriott Credit Cards

Marriott Credit Cards

Marriott has several credit cards that you can use to earn points fast. Here’s a closer look at each one:

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase:

With this card, you’ll earn 6X points per dollar spent on Marriott purchases, and 3X on gas, dining, and groceries. You’ll also earn 2X points on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll get a free night award every year after your account anniversary. This card has a $95 annual fee.

You’ll earn three free nights after spending $3,000 in your first three months with this card.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase:

With this card, you’ll earn 3X points per dollar spent on Marriott purchases. You’ll also earn 2X points on travel and dining, and 1X point on all other purchases. Also, you’ll get a free night award every year after your account anniversary. This card doesn’t have an annual fee.

As a bonus, you’ll receive 30,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card:

This card allows you to earn 6X points per dollar spent on Marriott purchases. You’ll also earn 4X points on groceries and dining, and 2X on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll automatically get Gold status with this card, and it has a $250 annual fee.

You’ll receive 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first 3 months of account opening.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card:

This card allows you to earn 6X points per dollar spent on Marriott purchases. You’ll also earn 3X points on dining and airfare, and 2X points on all other purchases. With this card, you’ll also get complimentary Platinum status and a $100 luxury hotel credit. This card has a $650 annual fee.

As a bonus, you’ll receive 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points when you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months of account opening.

Marriott Bonvoy Membership Tiers

marriott membership tiers

If you want to maximize your points, the best way to do so is by elevating to higher tiers. Here are the details:

Membership

The first level is simply the membership level. By signing up for Marriott Bonvoy, you’ll receive basic member benefits, like 10% off at participating Marriott hotels and the ability to earn and redeem points. This tier comes with complimentary Wi-Fi, mobile check-in, and mobile checkout. You’ll also get free in-room bottled water at select locations.

Silver Elite Status

The second level is Silver Elite Status. You can achieve this level by staying 10 Marriott nights or earning 2,000 Marriott points in a calendar year. With this level, you’ll receive a 10% point bonus on stays, 10 nights toward Elite status, and complimentary enhanced Wi-Fi. You’ll also get space-available room upgrades, and late checkout when available.

Gold Elite Status

The third level is Gold Elite Status. You can achieve this level by staying 25 Marriott nights in a calendar year. With this level, you’ll receive a 25% point bonus on stays, 25 nights toward Elite status, and complimentary enhanced Wi-Fi.

You’ll also get space-available room upgrades, free breakfast at select locations, and late checkout when available.

Platinum Elite Status

The fourth level is Platinum Elite Status. You can achieve this level by staying 50 Marriott nights in a calendar year. With this level, you’ll receive a 50% point bonus on stays, 50 nights toward Elite status, and a welcome gift.

You’ll get lounge access, space-available room upgrades, exclusive member rates, and dedicated elite support.

Titanium Elite Status

The fifth level is Titanium Elite Status. You can achieve this level by staying 75 Marriott nights in a calendar year. With this level, you’ll receive a 75% point bonus on stays, 75 nights toward Elite status, and a welcome gift.

You’ll get lounge access, 48-hour guarantee, late check-out at 4 pm, exclusive member rates, dedicated elite support, and complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver Status.

Ambassador Elite Status

The sixth and final level is Ambassador Elite Status. You can achieve this level by staying 100 Marriott nights and generating $20,000 USD in a calendar year. With this level, you’ll receive a 75% point bonus on stays, ambassador service, and a welcome gift. You’ll get lounge access, and the option to choose your own 24-hr check-in and check-out window.

FAQs

Question: Do I Have to Pay a fee to Transfer Marriott Points?

Answer: No, you don’t. There’s no fee for transferring loyalty points to another member.

Question: Do I get the Same Point Value when I Transfer my Marriott points to Airline Miles? 

Answer: No, you don’t. With the majority of the airlines that are partnered with Marriott, the points-to-miles ratio is 3 to 1. Honestly, that’s not very much. Therefore, I recommend that you only transfer the points when you absolutely have to. You get the most value for your points when you use them to book Marriott hotel rooms.

Question: What if I want to use my Marriott points, but I don’t Have Enough for a Free Room?

Answer: Marriott has a points+cash option. If you have a significant amount of points, but they’re not enough for a free night, or you want a discounted rate on your room, you can apply those points and pay the remainder in cash.

Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Points: My Final Thoughts

For the most part, I think that transferring Marriott points is a great idea, especially if you’re doing it to combine points with another person. But, as I mentioned above, make sure that when you convert your points to airline miles, you’re strategic about it. You don’t want to put all your efforts into earning points and not get much value from them.

Hopefully this content provided some helpful tips for you, and I hope you enjoy your Marriott reward nights!

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