Oh, the allure of turning those hard-earned Marriott Bonvoy points into a free flight with Southwest! It's a fantastic way to stretch your rewards, but like many points transfers, it's not always an instant gratification situation. Let's dive deep into how long it takes for Marriott points to transfer to Southwest, along with a comprehensive step-by-step guide to make sure you're well-prepared for your next adventure.
The Great Point Migration: How Long Does It Really Take?
So, you've accumulated a stash of Marriott Bonvoy points, and you're eyeing that dream Southwest flight. The big question is: how long until those points magically appear in your Rapid Rewards account?
While some credit card point transfers (like Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest) can be instantaneous, Marriott Bonvoy points transfers to airline partners, including Southwest Rapid Rewards, are generally not immediate.
Marriott's official stance is that transfers typically take "about a week" or within "one week". However, based on user experiences and various reports, the actual transfer time for Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards can range from 2 to 7 days, and in some cases, it could even take longer. Some sources even report average times of 1-2 days for certain airlines, but it's always safer to err on the side of caution with Marriott transfers.
Why the variability? Several factors can influence the transfer time:
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Processing Cycles: Marriott and Southwest likely have specific days or batches for processing these transfers, which aren't always transparent to the user.
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Weekends and Holidays: Transfers initiated late in the week or on holidays can take longer as they might not be processed until the next business day.
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System Glitches: While rare, technical issues can sometimes delay transfers.
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Volume: High volumes of transfer requests might also contribute to longer processing times.
The most crucial takeaway here is: Do NOT wait until the last minute if you need those Southwest points for a specific flight! Award availability can disappear quickly, and flight prices can increase. Plan your transfer well in advance to avoid disappointment.
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| How Long Does It Take For Marriott Points To Transfer To Southwest |
Your Comprehensive Guide: Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Ready to make those points work for you? Let's walk through the process step by step.
Step 1: Are You Ready to Fly? Confirm Your Travel Plans & Point Needs!
Before you even think about transferring points, let's engage with a crucial first question: Do you know exactly which Southwest flight you want to book and how many Rapid Rewards points it costs?
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
This is perhaps the most important preliminary step. Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is revenue-based, meaning the points cost of a flight is generally tied to its cash price. This also means award availability is typically good as long as there are seats for sale.
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Check Flight Availability and Cost: Go to Southwest.com and search for your desired flight. Note down the exact number of Rapid Rewards points required.
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Calculate Your Transfer: Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 3:1 ratio. This means for every 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you'll receive 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
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Pro-Tip: Marriott offers a bonus! For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer to an airline partner, you'll receive an additional 5,000 miles (or points, in this case, with Southwest). This effectively makes the ratio for a 60,000 Marriott point transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (20,000 from the 3:1 ratio + 5,000 bonus). Maximize this bonus whenever possible!
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Do the Math: Determine the exact number of Marriott Bonvoy points you need to transfer to cover your Southwest flight. It's generally best to transfer in increments that maximize the 5,000-point bonus (i.e., multiples of 60,000).
For example, if a Southwest flight costs 20,000 Rapid Rewards points, you'd ideally want to transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to get those 20,000 Rapid Rewards points PLUS an extra 5,000 for a future booking!
Step 2: Accessing Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
This is where the actual transfer process begins.
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Log In: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (Marriott.com) and log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account. You'll need your username/email and password.
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Navigate to Redemption: Once logged in, look for the "Redeem" or "Use Points" section. This is typically found under your account dashboard or a main navigation menu.
Step 3: Initiating the Transfer to an Airline Partner
Marriott Bonvoy has a dedicated section for converting points to airline miles.
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Find "Transfer Points to Miles": Within the "Redeem" section, you'll need to locate the option to "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline Transfer Partners." This may be under a "Travel" or "Flights" sub-menu.
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Select Southwest Rapid Rewards: You'll be presented with a list of Marriott Bonvoy's extensive airline partners. Scroll down or use a search function to find "Southwest Rapid Rewards®". Click on it to proceed.
Step 4: Entering Your Transfer Details
This is where you specify how many points you want to send.
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Enter Marriott Bonvoy Points: You will see a field where you input the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer.
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Remember the 3:1 ratio and the 60,000 point bonus!
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Marriott typically has a minimum transfer amount (often 3,000 points) and a maximum transfer amount per day (up to 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per day).
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Confirm Rapid Rewards Points: As you enter your Marriott Bonvoy points, the system should automatically display the corresponding number of Southwest Rapid Rewards points you will receive, including any applicable bonus points if you're transferring in multiples of 60,000. Double-check this amount!
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Enter Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Account Number: Carefully input your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number. Accuracy is paramount here! A wrong number means your points could go to the wrong place, and reversing a transfer is often impossible.
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Review and Confirm: Take a moment to thoroughly review all the details: the number of Marriott points, the number of Southwest points you'll receive, and your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number.
Step 5: Finalizing the Transfer
Tip: Reread sections you didn’t fully grasp.
The last step involves submitting your request.
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Agree to Terms and Conditions: You'll likely need to agree to Marriott's terms and conditions for points transfers. Read them if you haven't already.
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Submit Transfer Request: Click the "Submit" or "Confirm Transfer" button. You may receive an email confirmation of your transfer request.
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Save Confirmation: It's always a good idea to save a screenshot of the confirmation page or the confirmation email for your records. This can be invaluable if there are any issues with the transfer.
Step 6: The Waiting Game (and What to Do While You Wait)
Now comes the part that requires patience.
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Monitor Your Southwest Account: Regularly check your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. You can do this by logging into Southwest.com and viewing your Rapid Rewards activity.
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Be Patient: As mentioned, transfers can take anywhere from 2-7 days, possibly longer. Avoid panicking if they don't appear immediately.
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What if it's Taking Too Long? If more than 7 business days have passed and your points still haven't appeared, it's time to contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service. Have your transfer confirmation details ready. They can investigate the status of your transfer.
Important Considerations Before You Transfer
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Value Proposition: While transferring Marriott points to Southwest can be useful, it's generally not the highest value redemption for Marriott Bonvoy points. Marriott points are often best used for hotel stays, especially at higher-end properties where you can get significant value. A 3:1 transfer ratio means you're losing significant value compared to what you might get from hotel redemptions.
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Non-Reversible Transfers: Once you transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to an airline program, the transfer is almost always final and irreversible. You cannot get your Marriott points back. This reinforces the need to be absolutely sure of your flight booking before initiating the transfer.
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Companion Pass Qualification: Historically, points transferred from hotel partners like Marriott to Southwest did not count towards the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. As of the latest information, this still holds true. If your goal is the Companion Pass, focus on earning Rapid Rewards through Southwest flights, co-branded credit card spending, or Southwest's shopping and dining portals.
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Alternative: Buying Southwest Points: If you only need a small top-up of Southwest points for an immediate booking, sometimes buying points directly from Southwest can be a quicker, albeit often more expensive, option than waiting for a Marriott transfer. Compare the cost.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions, starting with "How to," with quick answers to help you navigate Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards.
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy points balance?
You can check your Marriott Bonvoy points balance by logging into your account on Marriott.com. Your total points will be displayed prominently on your account dashboard.
QuickTip: A quick skim can reveal the main idea fast.
How to check my Southwest Rapid Rewards points balance?
Log in to your Southwest.com account, and your Rapid Rewards points balance will be visible on your main account page.
How to find the transfer page on Marriott Bonvoy's website?
After logging in to Marriott.com, navigate to the "Redeem Points" section, and then look for "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline Transfer Partners."
How to ensure I get the 5,000 bonus miles when transferring Marriott points?
To get the 5,000 bonus miles, you must transfer Marriott Bonvoy points in increments of 60,000 (e.g., 60,000, 120,000, 180,000, 240,000 points).
How to link my Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards accounts?
You don't directly "link" them in the traditional sense. When transferring points, you provide your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number during the transfer process to direct the points to the correct account.
How to reverse a Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Southwest?
QuickTip: Pause when something clicks.
Unfortunately, Marriott Bonvoy points transfers to airline partners like Southwest are generally non-reversible. Once the transfer is submitted, it's final.
How to contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service for a delayed transfer?
If your points haven't appeared after 7 business days, you can contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service via phone or their online help center. Have your transfer confirmation details ready.
How to determine if transferring points is the best value?
Compare the cash cost of the Southwest flight to the number of Rapid Rewards points required. Then, consider the value you could get from those same Marriott Bonvoy points by using them for hotel stays. If the hotel redemption provides significantly more value, transferring might not be the best option.
How to earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points quickly?
Consider applying for a Southwest Airlines co-branded credit card, flying more with Southwest, or utilizing their shopping and dining portals to earn Rapid Rewards points directly.
How to find out if my transferred points count towards the Southwest Companion Pass?
Points transferred from hotel loyalty programs, including Marriott Bonvoy, do not count as qualifying points for the Southwest Companion Pass. Only certain types of points, primarily those earned from flights, Southwest credit card spending, and specific partner activities, qualify.
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