So, you've accumulated a healthy stash of Marriott Bonvoy points and are now eyeing those incredible flight redemptions with Avios? Excellent choice! Converting your hotel points to airline miles can unlock fantastic travel opportunities, from short-haul economy flights to luxurious long-haul business or first-class experiences.
This guide will walk you through every single step of converting your Marriott Bonvoy points into Avios, ensuring you're well-equipped to maximize your travel rewards. Let's get started, shall we?
The Art of Conversion: Turning Marriott Bonvoy into Avios
The process of converting Marriott Bonvoy points to Avios is relatively straightforward, but understanding the nuances, ratios, and potential bonuses is key to getting the most value. Avios is the loyalty currency used by several airlines, primarily British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. By converting to Avios, you gain access to redemption options across this entire network, including the Oneworld alliance.
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| How To Convert Marriott Points To Avios |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Fly? Understanding the Value Proposition
Before you even think about hitting that "transfer" button, let's consider why you're doing this. Converting points from a hotel loyalty program to an airline program is a strategic move. While Marriott Bonvoy points are excellent for free nights at over 8,900 hotels and resorts worldwide, Avios excels when it comes to flights.
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Consider your travel goals: Are you saving for a specific flight redemption? Do you have enough Avios for that dream trip to Europe or an exciting domestic getaway?
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Evaluate the conversion ratio: It's crucial to understand that Marriott Bonvoy points convert to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. This means for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points you convert, you'll receive 1 Avios.
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Look for bonuses! This is where it gets exciting. Marriott Bonvoy offers a 5,000 bonus Avios when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Avios in a single transaction. This effectively improves your conversion ratio for larger transfers. So, 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points becomes 20,000 Avios + 5,000 bonus Avios = 25,000 Avios. This makes the effective ratio for 60,000 point transfers 2.4:1 (60,000 / 25,000).
Think carefully about whether a flight redemption truly offers more value than a hotel stay for your specific needs. Sometimes, a free hotel night can save you more cash than a flight.
Step 2: Ensure You Have the Right Accounts & Information
To successfully convert your points, you'll need to have accounts set up and readily accessible.
Sub-heading: Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
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Active Membership: Make sure your Marriott Bonvoy account is active and in good standing. You'll need your Marriott Bonvoy membership number.
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Sufficient Points: Verify that you have enough points for the transfer you intend to make. Remember the minimum conversion is 9,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for 3,000 Avios. To maximize the bonus, aim for increments of 60,000 points.
Tip: Don’t just glance — focus.
Sub-heading: Your Avios Program Account (e.g., British Airways Executive Club)
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Executive Club Membership: You'll need an active British Airways Executive Club account (or Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, or Qatar Airways Privilege Club account). Avios is interchangeable between these programs (with some caveats and linking steps often required, especially for Qatar Airways). For simplicity, we'll generally refer to British Airways Executive Club here as a common point of entry for Avios.
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Membership Number: Have your Avios program membership number handy.
Step 3: Initiating the Transfer from Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
This is where the magic happens! The primary way to convert your Marriott Bonvoy points to Avios is directly through the Marriott Bonvoy website.
Sub-heading: Navigating the Marriott Bonvoy Website
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Log in: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (marriottbonvoy.com) and log in to your account using your credentials.
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Find the "Transfer Points" Section: Once logged in, navigate to the "Redeem" or "Use Points" section. Look for an option related to "Transfer Points to Airline Miles" or "Airline Partners." The exact phrasing might vary slightly, but it's usually quite intuitive to find. You might find it under "Earn & Redeem" -> "Transfer Points."
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Select Your Airline Partner: From the list of airline partners, select British Airways Executive Club (or the specific Avios program you wish to transfer to, like Iberia Plus or Qatar Airways Privilege Club).
Sub-heading: Entering Transfer Details
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Enter Avios Program Details: You will be prompted to enter your British Airways Executive Club (or other Avios program) membership number. Double-check this number carefully to avoid any delays or misdirected transfers.
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Specify Transfer Amount: Enter the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to convert.
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Remember the 3:1 ratio.
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And don't forget that 5,000 bonus Avios for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred in a single transaction! This is a significant incentive, so if you're close to a 60,000-point increment, it's often worth topping up your Marriott Bonvoy account to reach it.
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The system should automatically calculate the corresponding Avios amount you will receive.
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Confirm the Transfer: Review all the details carefully: the number of Marriott Bonvoy points being transferred, the Avios you will receive, and your Avios account number. Once everything looks correct, confirm the transfer.
Step 4: The Waiting Game – Transfer Timeframes
Once you've initiated the transfer, it's time for patience. Marriott Bonvoy transfers to airline partners are not instant.
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Typical Processing Time: While some transfers can be quicker, the official guidance often suggests it can take approximately 3 days for British Airways. However, it can occasionally take up to six weeks for the Avios to reflect in your account.
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Plan Ahead: This means it's crucial to plan your Avios redemption well in advance. Do not transfer points if you need to book a flight immediately, as you might miss out on availability.
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No Reversals: Once a transfer is initiated, it's generally irreversible. So, be absolutely certain of your decision before confirming.
Step 5: Verifying Your Avios Balance
After the estimated transfer time, log in to your British Airways Executive Club account (or other Avios program account) to confirm that the Avios have been credited.
Tip: Look for small cues in wording.
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Check Your Activity: Look for a "Points Activity" or "Transaction History" section within your Avios account. The transferred Avios should appear there.
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Troubleshooting: If the Avios haven't appeared after a reasonable amount of time (e.g., beyond the typical 3 days, and certainly if it's been more than a week), contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service first, as they initiated the transfer. Have your transaction reference number ready.
Step 6: Maximizing Your Avios (Optional, but Recommended!)
Now that you have your shiny new Avios, here's how to make them go even further:
Sub-heading: Linking Avios Accounts
Avios is a highly flexible currency! You can often link your Avios accounts across different programs (British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club) and move Avios between them at a 1:1 ratio. This is particularly useful for finding better redemption rates or accessing unique award charts for specific routes. For example, Iberia Plus often has lower surcharges for transatlantic flights.
Sub-heading: Using the British Airways "Reward Flight Finder"
British Airways has a useful "Reward Flight Finder" tool that helps you locate award availability. This is invaluable when planning your Avios redemptions.
Sub-heading: Understanding Peak and Off-Peak Pricing
Avios redemptions often have peak and off-peak pricing. If your travel dates are flexible, aim for off-peak dates to use fewer Avios for the same flight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Tip: Focus on sections most relevant to you.
Here are 10 common questions about converting Marriott Bonvoy points to Avios, with quick answers:
How to Check the Current Marriott Bonvoy to Avios Conversion Rate?
The standard conversion rate is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 Avios. Additionally, you get a 5,000 bonus Avios for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred in a single transaction. You can always confirm this on the Marriott Bonvoy website's "Transfer Points to Airline Miles" section or the British Airways Executive Club website under "Collect Avios."
How to Get the Best Value When Converting Marriott Bonvoy to Avios?
The best value is achieved by converting in increments of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to trigger the 5,000 bonus Avios, effectively improving your conversion ratio.
How to Expedite the Marriott Bonvoy to Avios Transfer Process?
Unfortunately, there's no way to expedite the transfer process. It's an automated system, and the stated processing times (typically 3 days to several weeks) should be anticipated. Plan your transfers well in advance of your desired redemption.
How to Link My Avios Accounts (British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways)?
You can typically link your Avios accounts through the British Airways Executive Club website's "Combine My Avios" feature. This allows you to move Avios freely between your linked accounts. For Qatar Airways, you may need to link your Privilege Club and British Airways Executive Club accounts directly on the Qatar Airways website.
QuickTip: Reading twice makes retention stronger.
How to Avoid Mistakes When Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points?
Double-check your Avios program membership number and the amount of points you intend to transfer. Once initiated, transfers are irreversible.
How to Know if There Are Any Transfer Bonuses Beyond the Standard 5,000 Avios?
While the 5,000 Avios bonus for transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points is standard, Marriott Bonvoy occasionally runs limited-time promotional transfer bonuses to specific airline partners. Keep an eye on Marriott Bonvoy and British Airways/Avios program announcements, and reputable points and miles blogs for these infrequent offers.
How to Use Avios for Flights After Conversion?
Once Avios are in your account, you can use them to book award flights directly through the British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, or Qatar Airways websites. Log in, select "Book with Avios" or "Spend Avios," and search for your desired flights.
How to Determine How Many Avios I Need for a Flight?
Avios redemptions vary based on distance, cabin class, and peak/off-peak dates. Most Avios programs have award charts or pricing tools on their websites that allow you to estimate the required Avios for a specific route.
How to Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Someone Else's Avios Account?
Marriott Bonvoy allows members to transfer points to another Marriott Bonvoy member's account. However, these points must then be transferred from that member's Marriott Bonvoy account to their own Avios account. You cannot directly transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to someone else's Avios account.
How to Contact Marriott Bonvoy or Avios Support for Transfer Issues?
If you encounter any issues with your transfer, first contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service, as they initiated the transfer. Have your transaction details readily available. If the issue persists, you can then contact the customer service of your Avios program (e.g., British Airways Executive Club).
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