Hey there, fellow traveler! Are you sitting on a mountain of Marriott Bonvoy points, dreaming of that luxurious Korean Air flight to Seoul, or perhaps beyond? You're in the right place! Transferring points from your Marriott Bonvoy account to Korean Air SkyPass can be a fantastic way to unlock some incredible travel experiences. However, it's not always an instant gratification process, and there are some critical details you need to know right now before you even think about hitting that transfer button.
Important Update: The partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and Korean Air SkyPass for point transfers has officially ended as of June 17, 2024. This means you can no longer directly transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Korean Air SkyPass miles. The information below details the process as it was, for historical context and to highlight what was involved, but please be aware that this specific transfer option is no longer available.
While the direct transfer is no longer an option, understanding the general process of points transfers can still be valuable if you're looking at other airline partners from Marriott Bonvoy or other points programs.
Let's dive into what the process used to be like and why transfer times are crucial, even for other programs.
The Journey of Your Points: Understanding Transfer Times
Transferring points between loyalty programs, especially from a hotel chain to an airline, is rarely an instantaneous affair. It's more like sending a letter through a slow, but reliable, postal service rather than an instant message. While some programs boast "instant" transfers, the reality is often a few business days, and sometimes, it can stretch much, much longer. For Marriott Bonvoy to Korean Air SkyPass, in particular, this was a transfer known for its leisurely pace.
Historically, the transfer time for Marriott Bonvoy points to Korean Air SkyPass miles was notoriously long, often taking up to 7 days, and in some reported cases, even up to 6 weeks! This significant delay was a crucial factor to consider when planning your award travel.
Why the Wait? The Mechanics Behind Point Transfers
Several factors contribute to these transfer times:
Manual Processing: While many steps are automated, there can still be manual checks and approvals on both the Marriott and airline sides.
Batch Processing: Loyalty programs often process transfers in batches, meaning your request might sit in a queue until the next scheduled transfer window.
System Integrations: The technical integration between different loyalty program systems can vary in efficiency.
Fraud Prevention: Security protocols are in place to prevent unauthorized transfers, which can add to processing time.
Business Days: Transfers typically only occur on business days, so initiating a transfer on a Friday afternoon means your points won't likely start moving until the following Monday.
Step-by-Step Guide (Historical Process for Context)
Here's how the process used to work when you could transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Korean Air SkyPass, along with considerations that apply to other transfers.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility and Check Your Balances (Engage!)
Alright, before we even think about moving points, let's get organized! Are you ready to turn those hard-earned hotel stays into incredible flights? First things first, you'll need two active loyalty accounts: a Marriott Bonvoy account with enough points and a Korean Air SkyPass account.
Marriott Bonvoy Account: Ensure you have the required minimum number of points. The general transfer ratio for most airlines from Marriott Bonvoy is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. For Korean Air, this was also the ratio: 3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 Korean Air SkyPass mile.
Korean Air SkyPass Account: Make sure your SkyPass account is active and you know your membership number. It's crucial that the name on your Marriott Bonvoy account exactly matches the name on your Korean Air SkyPass account to avoid transfer issues.
Step 2: Calculate Your Desired Transfer Amount and Understand the Ratio
As mentioned, the standard transfer ratio was 3:1. However, Marriott Bonvoy had a fantastic bonus that applied to most airline partners (though not to Korean Air SkyPass in its later stages).
The 3:1 Ratio: For every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points you transferred, you would receive 1 Korean Air SkyPass mile.
The "No Bonus" for Korean Air: Historically, Marriott offered a 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred to most airline partners. This effectively improved the transfer ratio. However, for Korean Air SkyPass, this 5,000 bonus mile incentive was removed in October 2022. This made the transfer less attractive.
Therefore, if you wanted 20,000 Korean Air SkyPass miles, you would have needed to transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (20,000 miles x 3).
Step 3: Initiate the Transfer on the Marriott Bonvoy Website
This is where the magic (or the waiting game) begins.
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website.
Navigate to "Transfer Points to Miles": Look for sections like "Redeem Points," "Travel," or "Transfer Points" within your account dashboard. You'll typically find an option specifically for transferring points to airline miles.
Select Korean Air SkyPass: From the list of airline partners, select "Korean Air SkyPass."
Enter Your SkyPass Number and Transfer Amount: Carefully input your Korean Air SkyPass membership number. Double-check this! Then, enter the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer. The system should automatically display the corresponding number of Korean Air SkyPass miles you will receive.
Review and Confirm: Before finalizing, carefully review all the details. Ensure the airline is correct, the SkyPass number is accurate, and the point amount is what you intended.
Submit Your Request: Confirm the transfer. You'll usually receive an email confirmation from Marriott Bonvoy acknowledging your request.
Step 4: Monitor the Transfer Process (and Practice Patience!)
This is arguably the most challenging step when dealing with Korean Air transfers.
Keep Your Confirmation Handy: Save the confirmation email from Marriott Bonvoy. It will contain a transfer reference number that can be useful if you need to inquire about the status.
Check Your SkyPass Account: Regularly log into your Korean Air SkyPass account to see if the miles have posted. Do not expect them to appear instantly.
Be Patient: As previously stated, the transfer time for Korean Air was known to be slow. If a critical award flight is dependent on these miles, you would have needed a significant buffer of time.
Step 5: What to Do if There's a Delay
If the transfer seems to be taking longer than the estimated timeframe (or what you might expect for other partners), here's how you would have approached troubleshooting:
Check Marriott Bonvoy Account Activity: Sometimes, the points might show as debited from your Marriott account before they appear in your airline account. This indicates the transfer has been initiated from Marriott's end.
Contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service: If a reasonable amount of time has passed (e.g., beyond the typical 7 days for Korean Air when it was active), reach out to Marriott Bonvoy customer service. Provide them with your transfer details and reference number. They can often provide insights into the transfer status from their end.
Contact Korean Air SkyPass Customer Service: If Marriott confirms the transfer has been sent, but the miles haven't appeared, your next step would have been to contact Korean Air SkyPass. Be ready to provide them with the transfer details from Marriott.
Why This Information Still Matters (Even for Ended Partnerships)
Understanding the past process for Marriott Bonvoy to Korean Air transfers highlights several key lessons for anyone looking to transfer points in the future:
Transfer Times Vary Wildly: Not all point transfers are created equal. Always research the specific transfer time for the partners you're interested in.
Check for Bonuses: Bonuses can significantly alter the value of a transfer. Always confirm if a bonus is active for your desired airline partner.
Name Matching is Critical: A mismatch in names between loyalty accounts is a common reason for transfer delays or failures.
Have a Backup Plan: Especially for time-sensitive award bookings, never rely solely on a single point transfer. Have alternative ways to accumulate miles or a backup redemption strategy.
Partnerships Can Change: As seen with Korean Air, loyalty program partnerships can evolve or terminate without much notice. Stay updated on the latest news from your favorite programs.
10 Related FAQ Questions (How to...)
Here are 10 frequently asked questions, framed with "How to," related to transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to airline partners in general, and the implications of the Korean Air situation.
How to Check the Current Transfer Ratio for Marriott Bonvoy to Airlines?
To check the current transfer ratio for Marriott Bonvoy to any of its current airline partners, log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official website. Navigate to the "Redeem Points" or "Transfer Points to Miles" section. The transfer ratios for all participating airlines will be clearly listed there.
How to Find Out Which Airlines Marriott Bonvoy Currently Partners With?
You can find the most up-to-date list of Marriott Bonvoy's airline partners on the official Marriott Bonvoy website. Look for the "Transfer Points to Miles" page, which typically lists all available airlines.
How to Speed Up a Marriott Bonvoy Point Transfer to an Airline?
Unfortunately, there's no official way to "speed up" a Marriott Bonvoy point transfer. The processing times are largely determined by the systems and procedures of both Marriott and the airline partner. Always initiate transfers well in advance of when you need the miles.
How to Track the Status of a Marriott Bonvoy Point Transfer?
After initiating a transfer, you'll usually receive a confirmation email from Marriott Bonvoy with a reference number. While there isn't a live tracking system, you can monitor your Marriott Bonvoy account activity to see if the points have been debited, and regularly check your airline loyalty account to see if they have posted. If a significant delay occurs, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service with your reference number.
How to Avoid Issues When Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points?
To avoid issues, ensure the name on your Marriott Bonvoy account exactly matches the name on your airline loyalty account. Double-check the airline program selected and the membership number entered. Also, be aware of minimum transfer requirements and daily transfer limits.
How to Redeem Korean Air SkyPass Miles Now That Marriott Transfers Are Over?
Since the Marriott Bonvoy partnership with Korean Air SkyPass has ended, you'll need to look for other ways to earn SkyPass miles. This typically includes flying with Korean Air or its SkyTeam partners, using Korean Air co-branded credit cards (if available in your region), or transferring from other hotel programs that might still partner with SkyPass (though options are very limited).
How to Determine if Transferring Points is the Best Redemption Option?
Before transferring points, compare the value you'd get from the flight redemption versus other Marriott Bonvoy redemption options (like hotel stays). Also, consider the cost of purchasing the flight directly with cash. Sometimes, the value of hotel points is higher when redeemed for hotel stays, especially if a bonus is not offered on the airline transfer.
How to Handle Expiring Marriott Bonvoy Points If I Can't Transfer Them to My Desired Airline?
If your Marriott Bonvoy points are expiring and your preferred airline transfer option is unavailable or too slow, consider other redemption options such as booking hotel stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments experiences, or using them for gift cards or merchandise. You can also typically extend point expiry by having qualifying activity in your account, such as a paid stay or using a Marriott co-branded credit card.
How to Find Alternative Ways to Earn Korean Air SkyPass Miles?
Since direct Marriott Bonvoy transfers are no longer an option, primary ways to earn Korean Air SkyPass miles now include flying with Korean Air and its SkyTeam alliance partners (like Delta, KLM, Air France), using Korean Air's co-branded credit cards (such as those issued by U.S. Bank), or potentially through limited hotel or car rental partners directly with Korean Air.
How to Use Marriott Bonvoy Points for Flights if Not Directly with an Airline Transfer Partner?
While direct transfers to Korean Air SkyPass are no longer possible, Marriott Bonvoy does have a "Hotel + Air Packages" option, which allows you to redeem a large sum of points for a significant number of airline miles and a hotel stay certificate. This can offer a better effective transfer ratio for certain airlines and might be worth exploring for other airline partners, though it requires a substantial points balance. You can also simply use Marriott Bonvoy points to book hotel stays, and then purchase your flights separately.
