Do you have a friend or family member who's just a few thousand Marriott Bonvoy points shy of that dream vacation? Or perhaps you've accumulated a surplus of points and want to share the travel love? Good news! Marriott Bonvoy allows members to transfer points to other accounts, making it easier to pool resources for incredible redemptions. But before you start sending points willy-nilly, there are some important rules and limits to understand.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about transferring Marriott Bonvoy points, step-by-step, with all the essential details to ensure a smooth transfer.
How Many Marriott Points Can I Transfer to Someone Else?
Let's get right to the most crucial question! Marriott Bonvoy has specific limits on how many points you can transfer to and receive from another member within a calendar year.
Maximum Transfer Amounts:
You can transfer up to a maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points per calendar year from your account to other Marriott Bonvoy accounts. This is an aggregate limit, meaning it's the total you can send out, regardless of how many different recipients you send them to.
A member can receive up to a maximum of 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points per calendar year from other member accounts. This means if you're the lucky recipient, you can get points from multiple people, but the total incoming points cannot exceed 500,000 in a year.
Minimum Transfer Amounts and Increments:
The minimum transfer amount is 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.
All transfers must be completed in 1,000 Point increments. So, you can transfer 1,000, 2,000, 10,000, etc., but not 1,500 or 2,300.
Important Account Eligibility:
Both the sending and receiving Marriott Bonvoy accounts must be in good standing.
Accounts must have been open for at least 30 days with qualifying activity (like earning or redeeming points) OR 90 days without any qualifying activity. This prevents new accounts from being created solely for point transfers.
Step 1: Are You Ready to Share Your Points? Verify Eligibility!
Before you even log in, let's ensure both you and your recipient meet the basic criteria. This will save you a lot of time and potential frustration.
Sub-heading: Check Your Account Status
Is your account in good standing? Make sure you haven't violated any Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions.
How long has your account been open? If it's less than 30 days, or less than 90 days without any activity, you won't be able to transfer or receive points.
Do you have enough points? Remember, the minimum transfer is 1,000 points, and transfers must be in 1,000-point increments.
Sub-heading: Confirm Recipient's Details
Crucially, you'll need the recipient's exact full name and their Marriott Bonvoy Membership Number as they appear on their account. Any discrepancy could lead to delays or a failed transfer.
Has their account also been open long enough? The same 30-day (with activity) or 90-day (without activity) rule applies to the recipient's account.
Step 2: Accessing the Marriott Bonvoy Points Transfer Tool
Marriott has made the process much easier in recent years by allowing online transfers, eliminating the need for a phone call (which was previously the only option).
Sub-heading: Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website.
Log in using your credentials. Ensure you are logging into the account from which you wish to send points.
Sub-heading: Navigating to the Transfer Page
Once logged in, you'll need to find the "Transfer Points" section. This can sometimes be a bit buried, but generally, you can find it by:
Looking under "My Account" or "Dashboard."
Searching for "How to Use Points" or "Redeem Points."
Many users find it easiest to simply go directly to the Marriott Bonvoy points transfer page (a quick Google search for "Marriott Bonvoy transfer points" often leads you right there, or look for a direct link within the "Help" or "FAQs" section of the Marriott website).
Step 3: Initiating the Point Transfer
Now it's time to actually fill out the transfer details. Pay close attention to accuracy here!
Sub-heading: Enter Recipient Information
On the transfer page, you will be prompted to enter the recipient's details:
First Name: Enter their first name exactly as it appears on their Marriott Bonvoy account.
Last Name: Enter their last name exactly as it appears on their Marriott Bonvoy account.
Marriott Bonvoy Membership Number: Double-check this number for any typos.
Sub-heading: Specify the Amount to Transfer
Enter the number of points you wish to transfer. Remember the minimum of 1,000 points and the requirement for 1,000-point increments.
Keep in mind your 100,000 point annual transfer limit from your account and the recipient's 500,000 point annual receiving limit. The system should warn you if you exceed these.
Sub-heading: Review and Confirm
Carefully review all the information you've entered. A single incorrect digit in the membership number or a misspelled name could cause the transfer to fail or be delayed significantly.
Read and agree to the terms and conditions for the point transfer. This usually includes acknowledging that transferred points are non-refundable and become the recipient's property.
Click the "Transfer Now" or similar button to submit your request.
Step 4: Verification and Completion
Marriott often has an additional security step to ensure you are the legitimate account holder initiating the transfer.
Sub-heading: Identity Verification
You may receive a text message or email with a verification code to the contact information on your Marriott Bonvoy account. Enter this code on the website to complete the verification process. This is a crucial security measure.
Sub-heading: Confirmation and Processing Time
Once verified, you should receive a confirmation message that your transfer request has been submitted.
While Marriott states that transfers can take up to 24 hours to process, many users report that transfers are often instantaneous. If the points don't appear immediately in the recipient's account, advise them to log out and then log back in.
Step 5: What Happens Next? (And What to Watch Out For)
Congratulations! You've successfully initiated a point transfer. Here's what else you should know.
Sub-heading: Point Expiration and Activity
Important Note: Transferring points does not count as qualifying activity to extend the expiration date of your Marriott Bonvoy points. If your points are nearing expiration, you'll need to earn or redeem points through other means. Similarly, receiving gifted points does not extend the expiration of your points. Only earning, redeeming, or purchasing points typically extends the expiration date.
Sub-heading: Troubleshooting and Support
If the points haven't appeared after 24 hours, or if you encounter any issues during the transfer process, the best course of action is to contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support. Have your account details and the recipient's details ready. You can usually find their contact information (phone number or chat) on the Marriott website under "Help" or "Contact Us."
Sub-heading: Common Reasons for Transfer Issues
Incorrect Recipient Details: Even a slight mismatch in name or membership number will prevent the transfer.
Account Eligibility: One or both accounts not meeting the 30/90-day rule.
Exceeding Limits: Attempting to transfer more than 100,000 points (from your account) or trying to send points to an account that has already received 500,000 points within the calendar year.
System Glitch: Though rare, technical issues can occur.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about transferring Marriott Bonvoy points, all starting with "How to" for quick reference:
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points for free?
There is no fee charged by Marriott Bonvoy to transfer points between member accounts.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points online?
You can transfer points online by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official website and navigating to the "Transfer Points" section, usually found under "My Account" or "Redeem Points."
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points if I don't know the recipient's exact name?
You must know the recipient's exact full name as it appears on their Marriott Bonvoy account. Without it, the transfer will likely fail.
How to speed up a Marriott Bonvoy point transfer?
While transfers can take up to 24 hours, many are instant. There's no way to "speed up" the process, but ensuring all information is accurate helps prevent delays. If it's been over 24 hours, contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support.
How to find the Marriott Bonvoy points transfer page?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on their website. Look for links related to "My Account," "Redeem Points," "How to Use Points," or directly search for "Transfer Points" within their help section.
How to use transferred Marriott Bonvoy points?
Once the points are in the recipient's account, they can use them just like any other points they've earned – for free night stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or transferring to airline partners (subject to separate rules).
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to an airline?
Transferring to an airline is a separate process from transferring to another member. You would do this from your own account by selecting the "Transfer Points to Miles" option on the Marriott Bonvoy website.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points for a shared trip?
Transferring points to another member is an excellent way to combine points for a shared trip, especially if one person has higher elite status and can secure better benefits for the booking.
How to deal with a failed Marriott Bonvoy points transfer?
If your transfer fails, double-check all the information you entered (name, membership number, amounts, account eligibility). If everything seems correct, contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support for assistance.
How to know if my Marriott Bonvoy account is eligible to transfer points?
Your account needs to be in good standing and have been open for at least 30 days with qualifying activity, or 90 days without activity. If you meet these criteria, you should be eligible to transfer points.
