You've landed on a common question in the world of points and miles, and I'm here to give you the definitive, step-by-step guide on how to transfer Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles to Marriott Bonvoy points. Let's get started!
The Truth About Transferring Alaska Miles to Marriott: A Crucial First Step!
Before we dive into any "how-to," let's address the elephant in the room: Directly transferring Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles to Marriott Bonvoy points is generally NOT possible.
Yes, you read that right. Most airline loyalty programs, including Alaska's Mileage Plan, do not offer direct transfers of their miles into hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy. This is a common misconception, as many people assume that since both are travel rewards programs, transfers should be simple and reciprocal. Unfortunately, they're not.
Why is this the case? Because airlines and hotel chains operate their loyalty programs largely independently, with their own set of partners and transfer rules. While Marriott Bonvoy allows you to transfer their points to many airline partners (including Alaska Airlines!), the reverse is rarely true.
So, if your goal is to get Alaska miles into your Marriott Bonvoy account, you'll need to explore some indirect strategies. These methods might involve a bit more effort, and often come with a less favorable conversion rate, but they are the only pathways available.
Let's explore these alternative routes in detail.
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| How To Transfer Alaska Miles To Marriott |
Step 1: Understand the Landscape – Why Direct Transfers Are Rare and What Your Options Are
First and foremost, it's vital to grasp the core principle: loyalty programs are designed to keep you within their ecosystem. Airlines want you to fly their planes, and hotels want you to stay in their properties. Direct transfers between competing types of programs (airline to hotel) are usually avoided to maintain the value and utility of their respective currencies.
You might be thinking, "But I've heard of people transferring points!" You're likely thinking of credit card points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Points) that do allow transfers to various airline and hotel partners. Or, perhaps, you're confusing transferring from Marriott Bonvoy to airlines (which is very common and a great benefit of Bonvoy!) with transferring to Bonvoy from an airline.
Your Options (or lack thereof) with Alaska Miles to Marriott:
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Direct Transfer: Not available. There is no mechanism on either Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan website or Marriott Bonvoy's website that allows you to initiate a direct transfer of Alaska miles to Marriott Bonvoy points.
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Third-Party Transfer Services: Extremely rare and not recommended. While some very niche, often less reputable, third-party services might claim to facilitate such transfers, they typically offer abysmal exchange rates, involve high fees, and carry significant risks to your loyalty accounts. Avoid these.
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"Manufactured Spending" (Indirect Methods): This is where you might find some very indirect, and often inefficient, ways to effectively move "value" from your Alaska miles to Marriott, though it doesn't involve a direct "transfer" of the miles themselves. We'll explore these below, but be warned: they're not for the faint of heart and generally result in a significant loss of value.
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
Step 2: Consider Your Goals – Why Do You Want to Transfer?
Before even contemplating these indirect, often value-eroding methods, ask yourself:
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Why do I want Marriott points? Is it for a specific hotel stay? To top off an account for a redemption?
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What is the value of my Alaska miles? Alaska Mileage Plan miles are widely considered some of the most valuable airline miles, especially for international premium cabin redemptions on their partner airlines (like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, or Qatar Airways). Converting them to hotel points typically yields a much lower value.
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Are there alternative ways to get Marriott points? This is often the best solution.
Step 3: The "Indirect" Pathways (Use with Caution!)
Since a direct transfer is out, we're left with highly circuitous and generally unfavorable methods. These aren't "transfers" in the traditional sense, but rather involve cashing out or using your Alaska miles in a way that then allows you to acquire Marriott points.
Sub-heading 3.1: The "Cash Out and Re-earn" Method (Highly Inefficient)
This method is more of a theoretical exercise than a practical recommendation, due to the immense loss of value.
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Sub-sub-heading 3.1.1: Step-by-Step Breakdown
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Identify a flight redemption: Find a flight redemption using your Alaska miles that you might otherwise pay cash for. This could be an Alaska Airlines flight or a partner flight.
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Book the flight with miles: Use your Alaska miles to book this flight.
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Save the cash: Since you used miles for the flight, you effectively "saved" the cash you would have spent.
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Use the saved cash to earn Marriott points: Now, take that cash you saved and use it to earn Marriott points. This could involve:
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Booking Marriott stays with cash: Pay for actual Marriott hotel stays and earn Marriott Bonvoy points on those stays.
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Applying for a Marriott co-branded credit card: Use the saved cash towards everyday spending on a Marriott credit card to earn sign-up bonuses and ongoing points.
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Buying Marriott points (if available and at a good rate): Marriott occasionally sells points, but usually at a high cost.
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Why this is inefficient: You are effectively "selling" your valuable Alaska miles at a terrible rate by avoiding a cash flight. The value of your Alaska miles for a flight redemption is almost certainly higher than the value of the Marriott points you could acquire with the equivalent cash. This is akin to selling a valuable asset for pennies on the dollar just to buy a different, less valuable asset.
Sub-heading 3.2: Transferring FROM Marriott Bonvoy to Alaska Miles (The Reverse – for Context)
It's important to understand that while you cannot transfer Alaska miles to Marriott, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This is a common and often valuable redemption for Marriott Bonvoy members. The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 Alaska mile, with a 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred (meaning 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 Alaska miles).
This information is crucial because it highlights the one-way nature of these relationships. If you're consistently finding yourself wanting to move miles in this direction, it might be worth re-evaluating your overall points and miles strategy or exploring other ways to accumulate Marriott Bonvoy points.
QuickTip: Scan the start and end of paragraphs.
Step 4: Focus on Earning Marriott Points Directly
Given the lack of a direct transfer option and the inefficiency of indirect methods, the best strategy is to focus on earning Marriott Bonvoy points directly.
Sub-heading 4.1: Top Ways to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points
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Marriott Bonvoy Stays: The most straightforward way. You earn points for every eligible stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels worldwide. Elite status members earn bonus points.
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Marriott Bonvoy Co-branded Credit Cards: This is often the fastest way to accumulate a significant number of Marriott points, especially through lucrative sign-up bonuses.
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In the US, consider cards like:
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card (Chase)
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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
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Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
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These cards offer excellent earning rates on Marriott stays and often provide annual free night certificates and elite night credits.
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Transferring from Flexible Point Currencies: If you have points with programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, you can transfer these to Marriott Bonvoy.
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Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy: Typically 1:1 ratio.
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American Express Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy: Typically 1:1 ratio.
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This is a much more efficient way to get hotel points if you have these flexible credit card points.
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Marriott Bonvoy Promotions: Keep an eye out for special promotions that offer bonus points for stays, or opportunities to earn points through partners.
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Marriott Bonvoy Dining Program: Earn points when dining at participating restaurants.
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Marriott Bonvoy Shop with Points: While not ideal for value, you can earn points through various shopping portals.
Step 5: Re-evaluate Your Travel Strategy
If you have a significant balance of Alaska Airlines miles and a need for Marriott Bonvoy points, consider if there's a way to fulfill your travel goals by leveraging each program's strengths.
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Can you use your Alaska miles for flights to a destination where you then pay cash for a Marriott stay?
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Can you find a flight redemption on an Alaska partner that saves you cash, which you can then use to book Marriott stays or earn Marriott points?
Remember, the goal of points and miles is to maximize their value for your personal travel goals. Trying to force a transfer that isn't natively supported often leads to significant value erosion.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska miles?
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles through the Marriott Bonvoy website. The standard ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 Alaska mile, with a bonus of 5,000 miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points (totaling 25,000 Alaska miles).
QuickTip: Read a little, pause, then continue.
How to find Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan partners?
You can find a comprehensive list of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan partners on the official Alaska Airlines website under their "Mileage Plan" section, typically in a "Partners" or "Earn Miles" area. They are part of the oneworld alliance and also have numerous non-alliance partners.
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points quickly?
The quickest ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points are through co-branded Marriott credit card sign-up bonuses, frequent stays at Marriott properties, and transferring points from flexible credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards.
How to determine the value of Alaska Airlines miles?
The value of Alaska Airlines miles varies depending on how you redeem them. They are generally considered very valuable for international business and first-class redemptions on partner airlines, often yielding 1.5-2 cents per mile or more. Economy redemptions might yield less.
How to determine the value of Marriott Bonvoy points?
Marriott Bonvoy points typically have a value ranging from 0.7 to 0.9 cents per point when redeemed for hotel stays. Their value can fluctuate based on the specific property, time of year, and cash rates.
Tip: Let the key ideas stand out.
How to avoid losing value when transferring points?
To avoid losing value, generally aim for direct, favorable transfer ratios between programs. Avoid indirect transfers or "cashing out" one currency to buy another, as these often come with significant devaluations. Research redemption values before initiating any transfer.
How to use Alaska miles for hotel stays (indirectly)?
You cannot directly use Alaska miles for hotel stays. The only indirect way would be to use your Alaska miles for a flight redemption, thereby saving cash you would have spent on that flight, and then using that saved cash to book a hotel stay or earn hotel points. This is highly inefficient.
How to maximize Marriott Bonvoy point redemptions?
Maximize Marriott Bonvoy redemptions by aiming for award stays where the cash price is high, especially during peak seasons or at luxury properties. Utilize the "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" benefit on award stays to get a free night.
How to earn Alaska Airlines miles without flying?
You can earn Alaska Airlines miles without flying through co-branded Alaska Airlines credit cards, shopping portals, dining programs, and transfers from certain hotel loyalty programs (like Marriott Bonvoy, though the transfer to Alaska is more common than the reverse).
How to link airline and hotel loyalty accounts for benefits?
Some airline and hotel programs have reciprocal elite status benefits or earning opportunities (e.g., Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus's "RewardsPlus" program, or Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards). Check the specific loyalty program websites for details on linking accounts and available benefits.
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