Dreaming of that American Airlines flight but a few AAdvantage miles short? Or perhaps you've got a mountain of Marriott Bonvoy points and are wondering if they can help you soar? Transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy to American Airlines AAdvantage can be a strategic move for many travelers. But the burning question often is: how long does it actually take? Let's dive deep into the process and set your expectations!
The Reality of Marriott Bonvoy to American Airlines Transfers: Patience is a Virtue
Unlike some other points transfers that are nearly instant, moving your Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage typically isn't. While Marriott states transfers generally take "about a week," various sources suggest it can range from 2 days to even 7+ days. It's rarely instantaneous. This is a crucial detail to keep in mind, especially if you're eyeing a specific award flight with limited availability.
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| How Long Does It Take To Transfer Points From Marriott To American Airlines |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Transfer? Let's Confirm!
Before you even think about initiating a transfer, let's ensure this is the right move for your travel goals.
Sub-heading: Why Transfer Marriott to American Airlines?
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Filling a Gap: This is often the best reason. If you're just a few thousand AAdvantage miles short of an award redemption, transferring Marriott points can be a lifesaver. Purchasing miles directly from American Airlines can be expensive, so leveraging your Bonvoy balance can be a much more economical option.
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Unique Airline Partner: American Airlines is one of those unique partners where Marriott Bonvoy is one of the few (or sometimes the only) external loyalty program from which you can transfer points. This makes Marriott Bonvoy a valuable conduit for topping up your AAdvantage account when other credit card transfer partners aren't an option.
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No Immediate Hotel Stays: If you have a large Marriott Bonvoy balance but no immediate hotel stays planned, converting them to airline miles can unlock new travel possibilities.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations Before Transferring
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Transfer Ratio: Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio. This means 3 Marriott Bonvoy points get you 1 AAdvantage mile.
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No Transfer Bonus for AAdvantage: Crucially, unlike some other airline partners (like United MileagePlus, which offers a 10,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred), American Airlines AAdvantage does NOT offer an additional bonus when transferring 60,000 Marriott points. For most other partners, transferring 60,000 Marriott points yields 20,000 miles + 5,000 bonus miles = 25,000 miles. For American Airlines, 60,000 Marriott points will simply get you 20,000 AAdvantage miles.
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Minimum and Maximums: You must transfer a minimum of 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. The maximum you can transfer per day is 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Transfers must be in increments of 1,000 points.
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Irreversible: Once you transfer points, there's no going back. Make sure you're absolutely certain you want to convert your Bonvoy points to AAdvantage miles.
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Name Matching: The name on your Marriott Bonvoy account and your American Airlines AAdvantage account must match exactly. If they don't, your transfer could be delayed or even rejected. If unsure, it's advised to try a small 3,000-point transfer first to confirm.
Step 2: Initiating the Transfer – Your Digital Journey
Once you've decided to proceed, the process is fairly straightforward online.
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
Sub-heading: Accessing the Transfer Portal
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (marriott.com). You'll need your username and password.
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Navigate to "Redeem Points": Once logged in, look for the "Redeem" or "Redeem Points" section. This is usually found in the main navigation menu or under your account dashboard.
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Select "Travel" then "Flights" or "Transfer Points to Miles": Within the redemption options, you'll typically find a "Travel" category. Under "Travel," look for options like "Flights" or "Transfer Points to Miles." This will lead you to the airline transfer partners page.
Sub-heading: Selecting American Airlines AAdvantage
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Find American Airlines AAdvantage: On the airline transfer partners page, you'll see a list of all participating airlines. Scroll through or use a search function to locate American Airlines AAdvantage.
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Enter Transfer Details: You will be prompted to enter:
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Your American Airlines AAdvantage number. Double-check this for accuracy!
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The amount of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer. Remember the 3:1 ratio and the minimum/maximum transfer amounts. The system will usually show you the corresponding AAdvantage miles you will receive.
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Sub-heading: Review and Confirm
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Review Your Request: Carefully review all the details you've entered. Ensure your AAdvantage number is correct and the number of points/miles aligns with your expectations.
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Confirm the Transfer: You may receive a verification code via email to confirm your identity and the transfer. Enter this code to finalize the request. Once confirmed, you'll usually get a confirmation message on the screen.
Step 3: The Waiting Game – Understanding Transfer Timelines
This is where patience truly comes into play. The transfer isn't instant.
Sub-heading: Typical Transfer Timeframes
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General Expectation: Marriott's terms often state "approximately one week."
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Reported Averages for American Airlines: Based on various traveler experiences, transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage can take anywhere from 2 to 7+ business days. Some reports even suggest it can be unknown or variable, which is why planning ahead is paramount.
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Factors Affecting Speed:
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Day of the Week: Transfers initiated on weekends or holidays may take longer to process as they typically begin processing on the next business day.
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System Glitches: While rare, technical issues can sometimes cause delays.
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Volume of Transfers: During peak travel seasons or promotions, there might be a higher volume of transfers, potentially extending processing times.
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Sub-heading: Monitoring Your Transfer
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Check Your AAdvantage Account: The best way to know if your miles have posted is to regularly log in to your American Airlines AAdvantage account and check your mileage balance.
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Marriott Bonvoy History: You can also often see the status of your transfer request within your Marriott Bonvoy account activity or history. However, this primarily confirms the request was sent by Marriott, not necessarily that it has posted to American Airlines.
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No Direct Tracking: There isn't usually a real-time tracking number or system that shows the exact progress of the transfer once it leaves Marriott's system and before it appears in your AAdvantage account.
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Step 4: Post-Transfer Strategies – Maximizing Your Newly Acquired Miles
QuickTip: Read again with fresh eyes.
Once your AAdvantage miles have landed, it's time to put them to good use!
Sub-heading: Booking Your Award Flight
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Act Quickly (if needed): If you transferred points for a specific award flight with limited availability, try to book it as soon as the miles appear in your account. Award availability can change rapidly.
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Explore Options: American Airlines AAdvantage miles can be used for flights on American Airlines and its Oneworld alliance partners (like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, etc.), as well as other airline partners.
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Consider Upgrades: AAdvantage miles can also be used for upgrading existing cash tickets, which can sometimes offer excellent value.
Sub-heading: What to Do if There's a Delay
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Wait a Full Week: Before panicking, give it the full "about a week" that Marriott suggests.
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Contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service: If a week or more has passed and your miles still haven't appeared, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service. Have your transfer confirmation details ready. They can often investigate the status on their end.
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Contact American Airlines AAdvantage: If Marriott confirms the transfer was successfully sent but the miles are still missing, you might need to contact American Airlines AAdvantage.
Conclusion: Planning is Key!
Transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage is a valuable option, but it's not a last-minute solution. Due to the variable transfer times, it's essential to:
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Plan well in advance of your desired travel dates.
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Initiate the transfer with ample lead time, especially if award availability is scarce.
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Understand the transfer ratio and lack of bonus for American Airlines.
By following these steps and setting realistic expectations, you'll be well on your way to leveraging your Marriott Bonvoy points for your next American Airlines adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check the status of my Marriott to American Airlines transfer?
You can generally check the status of your transfer within your Marriott Bonvoy account's activity or transaction history. However, to see if the miles have actually posted, you will need to log in to your American Airlines AAdvantage account.
QuickTip: Slowing down makes content clearer.
How to get a bonus when transferring Marriott points to American Airlines?
Unfortunately, American Airlines AAdvantage is one of the few Marriott airline partners that does not offer an additional mileage bonus when transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Most other partners receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.
How to transfer Marriott points to American Airlines online?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to "Redeem Points," select "Travel," then "Transfer Points to Miles." Choose American Airlines AAdvantage from the list, enter your AAdvantage number and the desired points to transfer, and confirm the transaction.
How to find my American Airlines AAdvantage number?
Your AAdvantage number can be found on your American Airlines loyalty card (physical or digital), by logging into your AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website or app, or on any past booking confirmations.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points if my names don't match?
The names on your Marriott Bonvoy account and American Airlines AAdvantage account must match exactly. If they don't, the transfer may be rejected. It's recommended to contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service beforehand if there's a discrepancy to see if they can assist. A small 3,000-point test transfer is also an option.
How to cancel a Marriott to American Airlines point transfer?
QuickTip: A quick skim can reveal the main idea fast.
Once a transfer request is submitted and confirmed, it is generally irreversible. Marriott's terms and conditions typically state that transfers are final.
How to transfer the minimum amount of Marriott points to American Airlines?
The minimum transfer amount from Marriott Bonvoy to American Airlines AAdvantage is 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, which will yield 1,000 AAdvantage miles.
How to transfer the maximum amount of Marriott points to American Airlines in a day?
You can transfer a maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage per day, which would result in 80,000 AAdvantage miles.
How to know if a specific American Airlines award flight is available before transferring?
It's highly recommended to check the availability of your desired American Airlines award flight before initiating the transfer. You can do this by searching for award flights on the American Airlines website. This helps ensure the miles aren't transferred for a flight that isn't available.
How to get more AAdvantage miles quickly if a transfer is too slow?
If time is of the essence and a Marriott transfer is too slow, your options are limited. You could consider:
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Purchasing AAdvantage miles directly from American Airlines (often at a higher cost).
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Exploring other credit card points you might have that do transfer instantly or much faster to other airline partners that could get you to your destination. However, American Airlines has very few direct credit card transfer partners.
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