Do you dream of a world where your airline miles magically transform into hotel points, and your hotel stays unlock flight upgrades? Well, dream no more! United Airlines' MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy have a fantastic partnership that can elevate your travel experience to new heights. Linking your accounts is a smart move for any frequent traveler looking to maximize their rewards. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, explain the incredible benefits, and answer all your burning questions.
Are you ready to unlock a world of reciprocal benefits? Let's dive in!
The Power of Partnership: United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy
Before we get into the "how-to," let's briefly touch upon why this partnership is so valuable. Both United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy are powerhouse loyalty programs in their respective industries. United, a Star Alliance member, offers extensive flight networks, while Marriott Bonvoy boasts an unparalleled portfolio of hotels worldwide. By linking your accounts, you're essentially creating a bridge between your air and hotel loyalty, allowing for:
Status Matching: Depending on your elite status in one program, you might receive complimentary elite status in the other. This means enjoying perks like bonus points, room upgrades, priority boarding, and more, without having to qualify separately!
Point/Mile Transfers: The ability to convert your hard-earned Marriott Bonvoy points into United MileagePlus miles, and vice versa, offers incredible flexibility in how you redeem your rewards. Need a few more miles for that dream flight? Convert your hotel points! Planning a special hotel stay but short on points? Transfer your miles!
Exclusive Promotions: Often, the partnership offers special promotions that allow you to earn bonus points or miles on both flights and stays.
This isn't just about saving money; it's about making your entire travel journey smoother and more rewarding.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility and Gather Your Information
Are you eligible for these fantastic benefits? That's the crucial first question! The enhanced benefits of the United and Marriott partnership are generally reserved for elite members in either program.
Who is eligible for status matching?
Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members: These top-tier Marriott Bonvoy members are invited to receive complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status.
United MileagePlus Premier Gold members and above (Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, Global Services): These elite United flyers are invited to enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
Even if you don't hold these specific elite statuses, you can still link your accounts to facilitate point/mile transfers and participate in other general partnership promotions.
What you'll need before you start:
Your United MileagePlus account number and password.
Your Marriott Bonvoy account number and password.
Make sure you have both sets of credentials readily available to avoid any interruptions during the linking process.
Step 2: Navigate to the Partnership Linking Page
The easiest and most direct way to link your accounts is through the dedicated partnership pages provided by United or Marriott. While both ultimately lead to the same linking mechanism, it's often more intuitive to start from the program where you hold a higher elite status, as that program will guide you toward receiving your reciprocal benefit.
Sub-heading: Option A: Starting from United Airlines' Website
Open your web browser and go to the United Airlines website (united.com).
Look for the "MileagePlus" section. This is usually found in the top navigation bar or under a "Loyalty" or "Programs" menu.
Find the "Partnerships" or "Travel Partners" section. Within MileagePlus, you'll need to locate information about their hotel partners.
Locate the Marriott Bonvoy partnership. There should be a dedicated link or banner for Marriott Bonvoy.
Click on the linking prompt. You'll likely see a button or link that says something like "Link Your Accounts", "Register for Benefits", or "Learn More about Marriott Bonvoy Partnership". This will take you to the specific linking portal.
Sub-heading: Option B: Starting from Marriott Bonvoy's Website
Open your web browser and go to the Marriott Bonvoy website (
marriott.com/loyalty.mi marriott.com/bonvoy Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account. This will ensure you're starting from a personalized perspective.
Navigate to the "Partnerships" or "Travel Partners" section. This might be under "Member Benefits" or a similar heading.
Find the United Airlines MileagePlus partnership. Look for a specific section dedicated to United.
Click on the linking prompt. Similar to United's site, you'll find a clear call to action to link your accounts.
Regardless of which starting point you choose, you will eventually land on a page specifically designed for the MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy linking process. This page is often branded with both loyalty program logos.
Step 3: Initiate the Account Linking Process
Once you're on the dedicated linking page, the process is quite straightforward.
Look for the "Sign In" or "Link Accounts" button. This is your gateway to connecting your loyalty profiles.
You will be prompted to sign in to one of your accounts first. For example, if you started from the United site, it might ask you to sign in to your United MileagePlus account. If you started from Marriott, it will likely ask for your Marriott Bonvoy login.
Enter your credentials (username/account number and password) for the requested loyalty program.
Double-check your entries to avoid any login errors.
If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" option provided by the respective program before proceeding.
Step 4: Authorize the Connection
After successfully logging into one of your accounts, the system will then ask for authorization to connect it with the other program.
You will be redirected or prompted to enter the credentials for your second loyalty account. For instance, if you logged into United first, you'll now be asked for your Marriott Bonvoy account details.
Carefully enter your second account's information.
Review the terms and conditions. Before finalizing the link, you will typically be presented with the terms and conditions of the partnership. It's always a good idea to quickly read through these to understand how your data will be shared and what benefits you are consenting to receive.
Click "Authorize," "Link Accounts," or "Confirm." This final step initiates the actual linking of your two loyalty profiles.
A successful link will usually be confirmed with a message on screen, often along with details about your newly acquired reciprocal status or the benefits now available to you.
Step 5: Verify Your Linked Accounts and Benefits
Congratulations! You've likely linked your accounts. Now, it's time to verify that everything is in order and that your benefits are active.
Sub-heading: Check Your Status in Both Programs
Log out and then log back into your United MileagePlus account. Navigate to your profile or "My Account" section. Look for your elite status level. If you were eligible for a status match from Marriott, your new United Premier Silver status should be reflected there. Please note: It can sometimes take a few business days for status changes to fully process.
Log out and then log back into your Marriott Bonvoy account. Similarly, go to your profile or "My Account" section and check your elite status. If you were eligible for a status match from United, your new Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status should be visible. Again, be patient, as updates can take a few days.
Sub-heading: Explore Point/Mile Transfer Options
Once linked, you should find clear options to transfer points and miles between the two programs.
On the United MileagePlus website, look for a section related to "Convert Miles to Partner Points" or "Transfer Miles." Marriott Bonvoy should be listed as an option.
On the Marriott Bonvoy website, look for "Convert Points to Miles" or "Transfer Points to Airlines." United MileagePlus should be an available choice.
Familiarize yourself with the transfer ratios and any minimum/maximum transfer amounts. For example, Marriott Bonvoy offers a 10,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred to United MileagePlus.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While the linking process is generally smooth, you might encounter a hiccup or two. Here are some common issues and their solutions:
"Account Not Found" or "Invalid Credentials": Double-check your account numbers and passwords. It's easy to make a typo. If you're certain your details are correct, try resetting your password for the problematic account.
Error Message During Linking: Take a screenshot of the error message if possible. This will be helpful if you need to contact customer service. Common errors could be due to system glitches or temporary maintenance.
Status Not Reflecting Immediately: As mentioned, it can take up to 10 business days for status changes to update across systems. Give it some time. If it still hasn't changed after that period, proceed to the next step.
Already Linked Message: If you receive a message indicating your accounts are already linked but you don't see the benefits, proceed to verify your status in both programs. It's possible the link was successful previously, but you just weren't aware.
Contacting Customer Service
If you've followed all the steps and are still facing issues, don't hesitate to reach out to customer service for assistance.
For United MileagePlus issues: Visit the United Airlines website and look for their "Contact Us" or "Help Center" section for MileagePlus support.
For Marriott Bonvoy issues: Visit the Marriott Bonvoy website and find their "Contact Us" or "Help" section for Bonvoy member services.
When contacting them, have your account numbers for both programs ready, along with any error messages or screenshots you might have taken. Clearly explain that you are trying to link your United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy accounts for the reciprocal benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to linking United and Marriott accounts, with quick answers:
How to check my current Marriott Bonvoy elite status? You can check your Marriott Bonvoy elite status by logging into your account on marriott.com or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your status level will typically be displayed prominently on your account dashboard.
How to check my current United MileagePlus Premier status? Your United MileagePlus Premier status can be viewed by logging into your account on united.com or via the United Airlines mobile app. Your Premier status level (Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K, etc.) will be shown in your profile.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to United MileagePlus miles? After linking your accounts, log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on marriott.com, navigate to the "Use Points" or "Redeem" section, and look for "Transfer Points to Miles." Select United MileagePlus as your preferred airline partner and follow the prompts to complete the transfer.
How to transfer United MileagePlus miles to Marriott Bonvoy points? Currently, United MileagePlus Premier members can convert miles to Marriott Bonvoy points at a 1:1 ratio. Log into your MileagePlus account on united.com, find the option to "Convert Miles to Partner Points," and choose Marriott Bonvoy to initiate the transfer.
How to get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with United Premier Gold status?
If you are a United MileagePlus Premier Gold member or higher, link your United and Marriott accounts via the dedicated partnership page (often found on
How to get complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status with Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status?
If you are a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite member, link your Marriott and United accounts through the partnership page (often found on
How to earn bonus miles on United flights after linking accounts? While linking provides status benefits, direct bonus mileage earning on flights through the partnership is less common. However, always check for specific limited-time promotions offered by both United and Marriott that might allow you to earn bonus miles on flights or stays after linking.
How to ensure my linked benefits are active for my next trip? Always verify your elite status on both your United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy accounts a few days before your trip. If you don't see the expected status, contact customer service immediately to resolve any issues.
How to unlink United and Marriott accounts? There isn't a direct "unlink" button readily available on the public websites. If you wish to unlink your accounts, you would generally need to contact the customer service of either United MileagePlus or Marriott Bonvoy and request the unlinking of the partnership.
How to maximize benefits from both programs once accounts are linked? Beyond status matching and point/mile transfers, always check for current promotions from both United and Marriott. Consider using co-branded credit cards for accelerated earning, and be aware of any "earn double" promotions on flights and stays that are sometimes offered to linked members.
