Why Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points? The Power of Pooling!
Before we dive into the "how," let's briefly touch upon the "why." There are several compelling reasons why you might want to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points:
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Topping Off for a Dream Redemption: This is perhaps the most common scenario. You're just a few thousand points shy of booking that incredible suite or an extra night at a high-end property. Pooling points with a travel companion or family member can make that redemption a reality.
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Leveraging Elite Status: If one person in your travel party holds a higher Marriott Bonvoy elite status (like Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador), transferring points to their account allows them to book the stay. This way, you can potentially benefit from perks like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout, making your stay even more enjoyable.
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Consolidating Points: Maybe you and a spouse or family member both have small point balances that aren't enough for significant redemptions on their own. Combining them creates a substantial pool for a more valuable award.
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Gifting a Travel Experience: While you can directly gift a paid stay, transferring points allows the recipient the flexibility to book what they want, when they want it.
No matter your reason, the ability to transfer points is a valuable feature of the Marriott Bonvoy program.
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| How To Transfer Marriott Points From One Person To Another |
Important Considerations Before You Begin: The Ground Rules
While the process is easy, there are a few crucial rules and prerequisites you need to be aware of to ensure a smooth transfer. Skipping these details could lead to delays or complications.
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Both Accounts Must Be Active: The transferring member's account and the receiving member's account must both be "active."
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If the account has had qualifying activity (earning or redeeming points) in the past, it needs to have been open for at least 30 days.
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If there has been no qualifying activity, the account must have been open for at least 90 days.
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This is a critical security measure to prevent fraud.
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No Transfer Fees: This is fantastic news! Marriott Bonvoy does not charge any fees for transferring points between members. This makes it an incredibly cost-effective way to pool your loyalty currency.
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Transfer Increments: Points must be transferred in increments of 1,000 points. You cannot transfer, for example, 500 or 1,550 points.
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Annual Transfer Limit (Outbound): A Marriott Bonvoy member can transfer a maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to other members per calendar year. This limit applies to the total points sent from your account, regardless of how many different members you send them to. For instance, you could send 50,000 points to one person and 50,000 to another, reaching your 100,000-point annual limit.
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Annual Reception Limit (Inbound): A Marriott Bonvoy member can receive a maximum of 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from other members per calendar year. This is a generous limit, allowing multiple people to contribute to one person's account for a large redemption.
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Matching Names and Member Numbers: The full name and Marriott Bonvoy member number of the recipient must be entered exactly as they appear on their Marriott Bonvoy account. Even a small typo can cause the transfer to fail.
Understanding these rules upfront will save you time and potential frustration. Now, let's get to the step-by-step process!
Step 1: Get Ready, Get Set! Gather Your Information
Before you even open your browser, make sure you have all the necessary details at your fingertips. Accuracy is paramount here!
Sub-heading: What You'll Need
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Your Marriott Bonvoy Member Number and Password: You'll be logging into the account from which the points will be transferred.
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The Recipient's Full Name (as it appears on their Bonvoy account): This means their first name and last name, including any middle initials if they are registered that way.
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The Recipient's Marriott Bonvoy Member Number: This is their unique loyalty program ID.
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The Exact Number of Points You Wish to Transfer: Remember, this must be in increments of 1,000.
Pro Tip: It's highly recommended to communicate directly with the recipient beforehand to confirm their exact name and member number. A quick screenshot from their Marriott Bonvoy account profile can be incredibly helpful to avoid errors.
Tip: Skim only after you’ve read fully once.
Step 2: Navigate to the Online Transfer Portal
Marriott has made this process much simpler by introducing an online tool. While you can technically still call Member Support, the online method is generally faster and more convenient.
Sub-heading: Accessing the Transfer Tool
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Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (
Marriott.com -
Find the Transfer Points Page: Marriott has a dedicated page for this. The most direct way to access it is to use this specific URL:
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Go to:
https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/redeem/transfer-points.mi -
Alternatively, you can navigate through the website:
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Once logged in, look for "Marriott Bonvoy" or "Loyalty Program" in the main menu (often under your profile icon).
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Click on "How to Use Points/Certificates" or "Redeem Points."
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Scroll down the page, and you should find an option like "Share Your Points" or "Transfer Points to Another Member." This will lead you to the same transfer portal.
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Important Note: While some sources mention the Marriott Bonvoy app having this functionality, many users find the desktop website more reliable and easier to navigate for sensitive transactions like point transfers. We recommend using a computer for this process.
Step 3: Input the Transfer Details
Once you're on the "Transfer Points" page, you'll see a form where you need to enter the required information.
Sub-heading: Filling Out the Form
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Your Information (Sender): Your Marriott Bonvoy member number and name will likely be pre-filled or requested as part of the initial login. Double-check that this is your account.
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Recipient's Information: This is where those accurate details you gathered in Step 1 come into play.
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Recipient's First Name: Enter it exactly as it appears on their account.
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Recipient's Last Name: Enter it exactly as it appears on their account.
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Recipient's Marriott Bonvoy Member Number: Input their 9-digit member number carefully.
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Amount to Transfer: Enter the number of points you wish to send. Remember:
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Minimum: 1,000 points.
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Increments: Must be in multiples of 1,000 (e.g., 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, etc.).
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Maximum: Up to 100,000 points per calendar year from your account.
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QuickTip: Go back if you lost the thread.
Sub-heading: Review and Agree
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Review All Details: This is a critical step! Before proceeding, carefully review all the information you've entered. A single incorrect digit in the member number or a misspelled name could lead to the transfer failing or, worse, points being sent to the wrong account (though Marriott does have safeguards).
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Agree to Terms and Conditions: You'll see a checkbox to acknowledge and agree to the Marriott Bonvoy program's terms and conditions regarding point transfers. Make sure to tick this box.
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Step 4: Verify Your Identity
For security purposes, Marriott will require you to verify your identity before finalizing the transfer.
Sub-heading: The Verification Process
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Choose Your Verification Method: Marriott will typically offer options to send a verification code to your email address or phone number associated with your Marriott Bonvoy account. Select your preferred method.
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Enter the Code: You'll receive a one-time password (OTP) or a verification code. Enter this code into the designated field on the transfer page.
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Click "Transfer Now": Once the code is successfully entered and verified, click the "Transfer Now" or similar button to initiate the transfer.
Step 5: Confirmation and Anticipation (or Instant Gratification!)
After you've successfully completed the verification, you'll receive a confirmation message.
Sub-heading: What to Expect Next
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Confirmation Message: You should see a message on your screen confirming that your transfer request has been made. You might also receive a confirmation email.
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Transfer Time: While Marriott states that transfers can take up to one hour to process, the reality is that most transfers are instant. Many users report seeing the points appear in the recipient's account within seconds or minutes.
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Recipient Verification: Advise the recipient to log out of their Marriott Bonvoy account and then log back in to see if the points have appeared. Sometimes a simple refresh of the browser or app is all that's needed.
What if the points don't appear immediately? Don't panic! Give it the full hour that Marriott suggests. If after an hour the points still haven't transferred, double-check that all the information you entered was correct. If everything looks right, then it's time to contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support (details on how to do this are in the FAQ).
Tip: Bookmark this post to revisit later.
Key Rules and Limitations: A Quick Reference
To reiterate the most important aspects of transferring Marriott Bonvoy points:
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Cost: Absolutely FREE! Marriott charges no fee for member-to-member point transfers.
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Minimum Transfer: You must transfer at least 1,000 points.
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Transfer Increments: Transfers must be in increments of 1,000 points.
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**Maximum Sent (Outbound): 100,000 points per calendar year from your account.
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**Maximum Received (Inbound): 500,000 points per calendar year into an account.
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Account Age with Activity: Both accounts must be at least 30 days old with qualifying activity.
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Account Age without Activity: Both accounts must be at least 90 days old if there has been no qualifying activity.
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Required Information: Recipient's exact full name and Marriott Bonvoy member number.
By following these guidelines and the step-by-step instructions, you can easily transfer Marriott Bonvoy points and unlock even more incredible travel experiences!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to transferring Marriott Bonvoy points:
How to Check My Marriott Bonvoy Points Balance?
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Quick Answer: Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website or app. Your current points balance is prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to Find a Recipient's Marriott Bonvoy Member Number?
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Quick Answer: The easiest way is to ask the recipient directly. They can find it by logging into their own Marriott Bonvoy account, where it's typically displayed near their name on their profile or dashboard.
Tip: Don’t overthink — just keep reading.
How to Transfer Marriott Points Online?
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Quick Answer: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on Marriott.com, navigate to the "Transfer Points" page (often found under "Redeem Points" or your account profile), enter the recipient's exact name and member number, choose the amount, and verify your identity.
How to Transfer Marriott Points by Phone?
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Quick Answer: While online transfer is recommended, you can still call Marriott Bonvoy Member Support. Be prepared to provide your account details and the recipient's exact name and member number.
How to Confirm a Successful Marriott Point Transfer?
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Quick Answer: You'll typically receive an on-screen confirmation message and possibly an email. The recipient can log in to their account and refresh their balance. Most transfers are instant, but allow up to an hour.
How to Reverse a Marriott Point Transfer?
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Quick Answer: Marriott Bonvoy point transfers are generally final and irreversible. Double-check all details carefully before confirming the transfer. If an error occurs, immediately contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support, but a reversal is not guaranteed.
How to Transfer More Than 100,000 Marriott Points in a Year?
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Quick Answer: You cannot transfer more than 100,000 points from your account in a single calendar year. The limit resets on January 1st. If you need to transfer a large sum, you might need to spread it across two calendar years or have multiple individuals transfer to the recipient.
How to Receive More Than 500,000 Marriott Points in a Year?
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Quick Answer: You cannot receive more than 500,000 points into your account in a single calendar year. If more points are needed, another recipient could be used, or the remaining points could be transferred in the following calendar year.
How to Transfer Marriott Points if My Account is New?
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Quick Answer: Your account must be active for at least 30 days with qualifying activity, or 90 days without any activity, before you can initiate or receive a point transfer.
How to Contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support for Transfer Issues?
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Quick Answer: Visit the "Contact Us" section on Marriott.com, or use the phone number provided on your account page or in the Marriott Bonvoy app. Have your account details and the transfer specifics ready when you call.
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