Ready to turn those Marriott Bonvoy points into exciting Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles and unlock incredible travel experiences? You're in the right place! Transferring points can sometimes feel a bit like navigating a maze, but with this detailed, step-by-step guide, you'll be converting your hotel stays into flight adventures in no time.
Let's dive in and get you soaring!
The Power of Points: Why Transfer Marriott to Alaska?
Marriott Bonvoy is one of the largest hotel loyalty programs in the world, offering a vast network of properties. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, on the other hand, is renowned for its valuable miles, especially when redeemed on their diverse range of airline partners (including many Oneworld alliance members and other non-alliance partners like Singapore Airlines and Korean Air). By transferring your Marriott points, you can tap into fantastic award travel opportunities, often for destinations and cabins that might otherwise be out of reach.
The standard transfer ratio from Marriott Bonvoy to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 Alaska Airlines mile. However, here's a crucial tip to maximize your value: for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, Marriott adds a bonus of 5,000 Alaska Airlines miles. This effectively boosts your transfer ratio for those 60,000-point increments, making it 60,000 Marriott points equivalent to 25,000 Alaska miles (a 2.4:1 ratio for that specific chunk).
Now, let's get to the practical steps!
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility and Account Information
Before you even think about transferring, let's make sure you're set up for success!
Sub-heading: Are Your Accounts Ready?
Have you got active accounts with both Marriott Bonvoy and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan? If not, that's your very first task! It's quick and free to sign up for both.
Marriott Bonvoy Account: Ensure you have your Marriott Bonvoy membership number readily available.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Account: Similarly, have your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number handy.
Sub-heading: Name Match is Crucial
This might seem minor, but it's incredibly important: The first and last names on your Marriott Bonvoy account and your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account MUST match exactly. If there's any discrepancy, even a middle initial difference, your transfer could be delayed or rejected. It's always a good idea to double-check this before initiating any transfer. If they don't match, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service to update your details before proceeding.
Sub-heading: Minimum Transfer Requirements
Marriott Bonvoy has a minimum transfer requirement. You need to transfer at least 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a successful transfer to airline partners. Keep in mind the 60,000-point bonus increment for optimal value!
Step 2: Access the Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Page
This is where the magic begins!
Sub-heading: Navigate Online
The easiest way to transfer your points is directly through the Marriott Bonvoy website.
Go to the Marriott Bonvoy Website: Open your web browser and navigate to the official Marriott Bonvoy website.
Log In: Enter your Marriott Bonvoy account credentials (email or membership number and password) to log in to your account.
Find the "Transfer Points" Section: Once logged in, look for the section related to "Use Points," "Redeem Points," or specifically "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline & Travel Partners." This can sometimes be found under your account summary or a dedicated "Redeem" tab. A direct link is often provided on the Marriott website, usually under "Redeem Points" -> "Transfer Points to Miles."
Look for a link like "Transfer points to miles" or "Watch Your Points Take Off."
Step 3: Initiate the Transfer to Alaska Airlines
Now, let's select Alaska and put in the details!
Sub-heading: Choose Alaska Airlines
On the "Transfer Points to Miles" page, you'll see a list of Marriott Bonvoy's airline partners.
Select "Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan": Scroll through the list and click on "Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™" from the available options.
Enter Your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Number: Carefully input your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account number into the designated field. Double-check for any typos!
Enter the Number of Marriott Bonvoy Points to Transfer: This is a critical step for maximizing your value.
Consider the 60,000-point increments: To get the most bang for your buck, aim to transfer in multiples of 60,000 points (e.g., 60,000, 120,000, 180,000, 240,000). For every 60,000 Marriott points, you'll receive 25,000 Alaska miles (20,000 standard + 5,000 bonus).
Minimum and Maximum: Remember the minimum of 3,000 points. There's also a maximum daily transfer limit of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to airlines.
Sub-heading: Confirm and Submit
Before you hit that final button, review everything!
Review Transfer Details: Carefully review the amount of Marriott points you are transferring and the corresponding Alaska miles you expect to receive. Make sure your Mileage Plan number is correct.
Agree to Terms and Conditions: You'll likely need to check a box indicating you agree to the terms and conditions of the transfer.
Submit Your Request: Click on the "Submit" or "Transfer Now" button to initiate the transfer. You may receive an email or on-screen confirmation of your request. Marriott may also send a verification code to your email, which you'll need to enter to complete the transfer.
Step 4: Await Your Miles and Confirm Arrival
Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to points transfers!
Sub-heading: Understanding Transfer Times
While some transfers can be quick, others take a bit longer. For Marriott Bonvoy to Alaska Airlines, transfer times can vary. Based on past data, it can take around 4 days for the miles to reflect in your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account. However, some sources indicate it could be up to a week.
Don't panic if they don't appear instantly.
It's always a good practice to plan your award travel with these transfer times in mind, especially if you're eyeing a specific flight that might have limited availability.
Sub-heading: Verify Your Balance
Once the estimated transfer time has passed:
Log in to Your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Account: Visit the Alaska Airlines website and log in to your Mileage Plan account.
Check Your Mile Balance: Your newly transferred miles should now be visible in your account balance.
Confirm Bonus Miles (if applicable): If you transferred in 60,000-point increments, ensure the 5,000 bonus miles per increment have also posted.
Step 5: Plan Your Alaska Airlines Redemption!
Congratulations! Your Marriott points are now Alaska miles, ready for some fantastic travel.
Sub-heading: Exploring Alaska Airlines Redemptions
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is known for its sweet spots, particularly on partner airlines.
Diverse Partners: Alaska Airlines has a robust network of partners, including members of the Oneworld alliance (like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways) and other non-alliance partners (like Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, Icelandair, Condor, Aer Lingus, and LATAM).
Sweet Spots: Research specific award charts and redemption values for partner airlines. For example, some popular redemptions include:
Business class flights to Asia on Cathay Pacific.
Flights to Europe on Aer Lingus or British Airways.
Intra-Asia flights on JAL.
Free Stopovers: A unique and highly valuable perk of Alaska Mileage Plan is the ability to add a free stopover on one-way international award tickets. This means you can visit an extra city on your way to your final destination for no additional miles!
Remember to search for award availability on Alaska Airlines' website for both Alaska-operated flights and their partner flights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy points balance?
You can easily check your Marriott Bonvoy points balance by logging into your account on the Marriott Bonvoy website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your balance will be displayed on your account dashboard.
How to find the Marriott Bonvoy points transfer page?
Navigate to marriott.com, log in, and look for "Redeem Points" or "Use Points." Within that section, you should find "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline & Travel Partners."
How to ensure my name matches on both accounts?
Log in to both your Marriott Bonvoy and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan accounts and verify that your first and last names are identical. If not, contact the respective loyalty program's customer service to request a name correction before initiating a transfer.
How to get the 5,000 bonus miles from Marriott?
To earn the 5,000 bonus Alaska Airlines miles, you must transfer Marriott Bonvoy points in increments of 60,000. For example, if you transfer 60,000 points, you'll receive 20,000 Alaska miles plus a 5,000-mile bonus, totaling 25,000 miles.
How to know the transfer ratio from Marriott to Alaska?
The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 Alaska Airlines mile. However, with the 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred, the effective ratio for those 60,000-point increments becomes more favorable (60,000 Marriott points = 25,000 Alaska miles).
How to know how long the transfer will take?
While Marriott states transfer times can vary, anecdotal evidence suggests that transfers to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan typically take around 4 days, but can sometimes extend up to a week. It's best to allow ample time.
How to find award availability on Alaska Airlines partner flights?
You can search for award availability for Alaska Airlines and its partners directly on the Alaska Airlines website. Use their "Use Miles" search function and input your desired origin, destination, and dates.
How to add a stopover to an Alaska Airlines award ticket?
Alaska Airlines allows one free stopover on one-way international award tickets. To book a stopover, you generally need to use the multi-city search tool on the Alaska Airlines website or call Alaska Airlines reservations.
How to determine if transferring points is a good value?
Compare the cash cost of a flight you want to book with the number of miles required and the equivalent Marriott points needed. If the value you get per Alaska mile (after the transfer) is significantly higher than the typical value of a Marriott point (around 0.9 cents), then it's likely a good transfer.
How to contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service for transfer issues?
If you encounter any issues during the transfer process or if your miles don't post within the expected timeframe, you can contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Services. Their contact information can typically be found on the Marriott Bonvoy website under the "Contact Us" section.
