Have you been diligently accumulating Marriott Bonvoy points, dreaming of that luxurious hotel stay, but now you're wondering if they can whisk you away on a flight instead? You're in luck! While Marriott Bonvoy is primarily a hotel loyalty program, it offers an incredibly valuable feature: the ability to transfer your hard-earned points to a vast network of airline partners. This can open up a world of possibilities for booking flights, often providing excellent value, especially for premium cabin travel.
This lengthy guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using your Marriott Bonvoy points for flights, from understanding transfer ratios to maximizing your redemption value.
Unlock the Skies: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Using Marriott Points for Flights
Converting your Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles is a fantastic way to leverage your loyalty rewards for more than just hotel stays. Let's dive into the process!
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| How To Use Marriott Points For Flights |
Step 1: Assess Your Marriott Bonvoy Points Balance and Travel Goals
Before you even think about transferring points, take a moment to evaluate your current situation.
A. Check Your Points Stash:
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account. This is the first and most crucial step. See how many points you've accumulated. Do you have a small sum, or a substantial balance? Your point total will dictate what kind of flights might be within reach.
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Consider upcoming Marriott stays: If you have future hotel bookings, remember that these points might be better used for those, especially if you can take advantage of the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" benefit for award nights.
B. Define Your Flight Needs:
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Where do you want to go? Having a specific destination in mind will help you identify which airline partners might serve that route best.
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When do you want to travel? Flexibility with your dates can significantly impact the number of miles required for an award flight. Off-peak travel generally requires fewer miles.
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What class of service are you aiming for? Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First Class? Premium cabins often offer a much higher value for your transferred miles compared to economy tickets.
Step 2: Understand Marriott Bonvoy's Airline Transfer Partners and Ratios
This is where the magic begins! Marriott Bonvoy boasts one of the most extensive lists of airline transfer partners in the loyalty program landscape.
A. The Standard Transfer Ratio:
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For most of Marriott's airline partners, the transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile.
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This means if you transfer 30,000 Marriott points, you'll get 10,000 airline miles.
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Tip: Focus more on ideas, less on words.
B. The 5,000-Mile Bonus:
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Here's where it gets interesting! For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer to most airline partners, Marriott tacks on an additional 5,000 bonus miles.
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So, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott points, you get 20,000 airline miles (from the 3:1 ratio) + 5,000 bonus miles = 25,000 airline miles. This effectively improves your transfer ratio to 2.4:1 (60,000 Marriott points / 25,000 miles).
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This bonus is crucial for maximizing your value. Always aim to transfer in increments of 60,000 points if possible.
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C. Exceptions to the Rule:
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While most partners follow the 3:1 + 5,000 bonus rule, there are a few exceptions:
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United MileagePlus: You get an even better bonus here! For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to United, you'll receive a 10,000 bonus miles, making the effective ratio 60,000 Marriott points to 30,000 United miles (2:1). This is often considered one of the best transfer options.
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Air New Zealand AirPoints: This is a unique one, with a transfer ratio of 200 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 AirPoint. The bonus for 60,000 points is also much smaller (75 AirPoints).
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American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, and Delta SkyMiles: These partners do not receive the 5,000 bonus miles.
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D. Review the Full List of Partners:
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Marriott has nearly 40 airline transfer partners. Some popular ones include:
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
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ANA Mileage Club
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British Airways Executive Club (Avios)
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Cathay Pacific Cathay
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Emirates Skywards
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Etihad Guest
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Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank
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Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Qatar Airways Privilege Club
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Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
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Southwest Rapid Rewards
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Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
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And many more!
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Always check the official Marriott Bonvoy website for the most up-to-date list and any changes to transfer ratios or bonuses.
Step 3: Find Award Availability with Your Chosen Airline
This is perhaps the most critical step before you transfer any points. Once you transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to an airline, the transfer is irreversible. You cannot convert those miles back into Marriott points.
A. The "Golden Rule": Search Before You Transfer!
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Go to the website of your chosen airline partner.
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Search for award availability for your desired flight dates and destination.
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Do not transfer points until you have confirmed that the award seats you want are actually available. Many airline award charts are dynamic, meaning the number of miles required can fluctuate.
B. Consider Airline Alliances:
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Remember that airlines are often part of alliances (Star Alliance, Oneworld, SkyTeam). If your chosen airline is part of an alliance, you might be able to use their miles to book flights on partner airlines within that alliance. For example, if you transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan (Star Alliance), you could book flights on United, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines, among others. This greatly expands your options.
C. Be Flexible:
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If your travel dates are flexible, you'll have a much better chance of finding award availability. Many airline websites have flexible date calendars that can show you when award seats are available at different mileage levels.
Step 4: Initiate the Point Transfer from Marriott Bonvoy to Your Airline Account
Once you've confirmed award availability and are ready to commit, it's time to transfer your points.
QuickTip: Revisit posts more than once.
A. Access the Transfer Page:
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website.
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Navigate to the "Redeem" section, and then look for "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline Partners." You can often find a direct link on the Marriott Bonvoy website under the "Use Points & Awards" or "Travel" sections.
B. Select Your Airline and Enter Details:
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Choose the specific airline frequent flyer program you wish to transfer to from the list.
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Carefully enter your airline frequent flyer number. Ensure the name on your Marriott Bonvoy account exactly matches the name on your airline frequent flyer account. Any discrepancy can delay or even prevent the transfer.
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Specify the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you want to transfer. Remember to aim for increments of 60,000 points to get that valuable 5,000-mile bonus (unless it's an exception like United).
C. Confirm and Submit:
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Review all the details one last time. Transfers are non-reversible.
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Confirm the transfer. You might receive an email or on-screen confirmation of your request.
D. Be Patient: Transfer Times:
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While some transfers can be instant, most transfers take anywhere from a few hours to a few business days. In some rare cases, it can take up to a week.
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Factor in this transfer time when you're planning to book an award ticket, especially if availability is limited. It's often recommended to place an award ticket on hold with the airline (if they allow it) while you wait for the miles to transfer.
Step 5: Book Your Flight with the Transferred Airline Miles
Once your airline miles have landed in your frequent flyer account, you're ready to book!
A. Log In to Your Airline Account:
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Access your airline frequent flyer account and confirm that the transferred miles have appeared.
B. Book Your Award Flight:
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Proceed to book your flight using the miles, just as you would normally book an award flight directly with the airline.
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Pay attention to any taxes and fees associated with the award ticket. These are usually paid in cash, even when booking with miles.
Step 6: Review and Enjoy Your Award Flight!
QuickTip: Ask yourself what the author is trying to say.
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Double-check your flight confirmation and ensure all details are correct.
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Congratulations! You've successfully leveraged your Marriott Bonvoy points to take to the skies.
Maximizing the Value of Your Marriott Bonvoy Points for Flights
While transferring points to airlines is a great option, here are some tips to ensure you're getting the most bang for your Bonvoy buck:
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Aim for Premium Cabin Redemptions: The value of airline miles typically increases significantly when redeemed for Business or First Class flights compared to Economy. A 3:1 (or even 2.4:1 with the bonus) transfer might not yield stellar value for an economy ticket, but it can be a fantastic deal for a lie-flat seat.
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Utilize the 60,000 Point Bonus: As mentioned, the 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred is critical. Always try to transfer in these increments.
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Consider United MileagePlus: The 10,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred to United makes it a particularly attractive option, especially if you can find good award availability on United or its Star Alliance partners.
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Look for Airline Transfer Bonuses: Occasionally, Marriott or its airline partners will offer promotional bonuses for transferring points. Keep an eye out for these, as they can further enhance the value of your transfer.
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Compare Against Cash Fares: Before transferring, always compare the cost of the flight in miles versus the cash price. Calculate your "cents per mile" (CPM) value to see if it's a good redemption. Generally, anything above 1.5-2 cents per mile is considered a good value for economy, and significantly higher for premium cabins.
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Top Off an Existing Account: If you're just short of enough miles for a desired award flight with a specific airline, transferring a smaller amount of Marriott points to top off that account can be an excellent strategy.
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Understand Expiration Policies: Be aware of both Marriott Bonvoy's and the airline's point/mile expiration policies. Transfers usually reset the clock on mile expiration in the airline program.
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Consider Award Charts and Dynamic Pricing: Some airlines still use fixed award charts (which can be great for finding sweet spots), while others use dynamic pricing (where the mileage cost fluctuates with the cash price). Be sure to understand the system your chosen airline uses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Using Marriott Points for Flights
How to: Convert Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles?
You can convert Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account online, navigating to the "Transfer Points to Miles" section, selecting your desired airline partner, and specifying the amount of points to transfer.
How to: Find the best airline partners for Marriott Bonvoy transfers?
The "best" partners depend on your travel goals. United MileagePlus often offers the best effective transfer ratio (2:1 when transferring 60,000 points), while other partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer can be excellent for specific premium cabin redemptions due to their strong award charts.
How to: Get the 5,000 bonus miles when transferring Marriott Bonvoy points?
To get the 5,000 bonus miles, you need to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points in increments of 60,000 points to most participating airline partners.
How to: Check award availability before transferring Marriott points?
Always check award availability directly on the airline's website before you initiate the transfer from Marriott Bonvoy. Once transferred, the miles cannot be converted back to Marriott points.
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
How to: Know if my Marriott Bonvoy and airline account names must match?
Yes, your first and last name on your Marriott Bonvoy account must exactly match the name on your airline frequent flyer account for a successful transfer.
How to: Understand the value of Marriott Bonvoy points for flights?
The value varies, but generally, transferring to airline partners yields about 0.8 to 1 cent per point. You can get significantly higher value (2-5 cents per point or more) for premium cabin redemptions.
How to: Avoid common mistakes when transferring Marriott points to airlines?
The most common mistake is transferring points before confirming award availability with the airline. Other mistakes include not transferring in 60,000 point increments (missing the bonus) or having mismatched names on accounts.
How to: Speed up a Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to an airline?
Transfers typically take a few business days. While you can't significantly speed it up, contacting Marriott Bonvoy Member Support or the airline after a few days if the miles haven't appeared might help. Placing a hold on the award ticket with the airline, if allowed, is the best strategy.
How to: Use Marriott Bonvoy points for flight and hotel packages?
Marriott Bonvoy used to offer "Travel Packages" that bundled hotel stays with airline miles, often providing exceptional value. However, these packages have been discontinued. Now, you primarily transfer points to airlines and book flights separately, or you can use "Air + Car" on the Marriott Bonvoy website for cash bookings with points as a payment option (though this usually offers lower value).
How to: Determine if transferring Marriott points for flights is a good deal for me?
Compare the cash price of the flight you want to book against the number of miles required after the transfer. If the cents per mile (CPM) value you're getting is higher than what you'd typically get for a Marriott hotel stay (around 0.7-0.9 cents per point), it could be a good deal. Premium cabin redemptions often offer the best value.
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