So, you're sitting on a pile of Marriott Bonvoy points and dreaming of a free flight on Southwest Airlines? Excellent choice! While it's not a direct, one-click transfer, converting your Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards can be a smart move, especially if you're looking to top off an account for a specific redemption or aiming for that coveted Southwest Companion Pass.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of the process, highlight key considerations, and help you decide if this transfer is truly the best use of your valuable points.
How to Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Southwest Airlines: A Step-by-Step Guide
Transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards is a straightforward process once you know where to look. Here's how to do it:
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| How To Transfer Marriott Points To Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are you ready to unlock free flights? Let's check!
Before we dive into the mechanics, let's make sure you're properly set up for success. Do you have both a Marriott Bonvoy account and a Southwest Rapid Rewards account? If not, take a moment to enroll in both programs. It's quick, free, and essential for this process.
Marriott Bonvoy Enrollment: Visit the Marriott Bonvoy website and sign up.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Enrollment: Head over to the Southwest Airlines website and join Rapid Rewards.
Pro-Tip: Ensure the names and dates of birth on both accounts match exactly to avoid any transfer delays or issues.
Step 2: Understand the Transfer Ratio and Bonus
This is a critical step, as it dictates how many Southwest points you'll receive for your Marriott Bonvoy points.
Standard Transfer Ratio: Marriott Bonvoy points generally transfer to most airline partners, including Southwest Rapid Rewards, at a 3:1 ratio. This means 3 Marriott Bonvoy points equal 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards point.
The 5,000 Point Bonus: Here's where it gets interesting and can make the transfer more appealing! For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer to an airline partner, Marriott will add an additional 5,000 bonus airline miles.
Calculation: If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you'll initially get 20,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (60,000 / 3). With the 5,000 point bonus, you'll end up with a total of 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points. This effectively improves your transfer ratio to 2.4:1 (60,000 Marriott points / 25,000 Southwest points).
Important Note on Increments: While the bonus applies at 60,000-point increments, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest in smaller amounts. The minimum transfer is generally 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, which would yield 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points. However, to maximize your value, always aim for increments of 60,000 points to get that valuable bonus.
Step 3: Initiate the Transfer from Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
Tip: Read once for flow, once for detail.
Now that you understand the mechanics, let's get down to the actual transfer.
Sub-heading: Accessing the Transfer Page
Log In: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (Marriott.com) and log in to your account.
Navigate to "Use Points": Once logged in, look for a section like "Use Points," "Redeem Points," or "Marriott Bonvoy Moments." This might be found in your account dashboard or under a main navigation menu.
Find "Transfer Points to Miles": Within the "Use Points" section, you'll typically see an option related to "Flights and Car Rentals" or "Transfer Points to Miles." Click on this.
Sub-heading: Selecting Southwest Airlines
Choose Your Airline Partner: You'll be presented with a list of Marriott Bonvoy's airline partners. Scroll down and locate "Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards."
Enter Account Details: You'll be prompted to enter your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number. Double-check that you've entered it correctly.
Sub-heading: Specifying the Transfer Amount
Input Points to Transfer: This is where you decide how many Marriott Bonvoy points you want to convert. Remember the 60,000-point increment for the best value!
Example: If you want 25,000 Southwest points (including the bonus), you'll input 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
If you need to top off an account with a smaller amount, say 9,000 Marriott points to get 3,000 Southwest points, you can do that too. Just be aware you won't get the 5,000 bonus unless you hit a 60,000-point threshold.
Review and Confirm: Carefully review all the details on the screen, including the number of Marriott points you're transferring and the estimated Southwest points you'll receive. Confirm that everything is accurate.
Step 4: Wait for the Transfer to Complete
This is often the most anxious part of the process for many travelers.
Transfer Time: While some airline transfers from other programs can be instant, Marriott Bonvoy transfers to Southwest Airlines (and most other airline partners) are not instantaneous. They typically take several business days, often ranging from 2 to 7 days. In some cases, it could take longer, especially if there are holidays or weekends involved.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on both your Marriott Bonvoy account (for the deduction of points) and your Southwest Rapid Rewards account (for the arrival of the new points).
Patience is a virtue here! Avoid booking a Southwest flight that requires the transferred points until they officially show up in your Rapid Rewards account, as award availability can change.
Step 5: Book Your Southwest Flight!
Once your Marriott Bonvoy points have successfully landed in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account, you're ready to book your flight!
QuickTip: Read with curiosity — ask ‘why’ often.
Go to Southwest.com: Log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.
Search for Flights: Use the standard flight search tool, selecting "Points" as your currency.
Redeem: Find the flight that suits your needs and use your newly transferred Rapid Rewards points to book it.
Consider the Southwest Companion Pass: If you're strategically transferring points with the aim of earning the Southwest Companion Pass, remember that points transferred from hotel programs like Marriott do count towards the 135,000 qualifying points needed for the Companion Pass. This is a fantastic way to maximize your travel!
Is Transferring Marriott Points to Southwest Worth It?
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This is the million-dollar question, and the answer isn't always a simple "yes" or "no." It depends heavily on your specific travel goals and how you value your points.
Advantages:
Southwest Companion Pass: This is arguably the biggest reason to transfer Marriott points to Southwest. Points from these transfers do qualify for the Companion Pass, which allows a designated companion to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) on both paid and award flights for up to two full calendar years. This can unlock immense value.
Topping Off Your Account: If you're just a few thousand Rapid Rewards points shy of booking a desired flight, transferring a small amount from Marriott can be a lifesaver.
No Blackout Dates (on Southwest): Southwest Rapid Rewards points offer excellent flexibility with no blackout dates, as long as a seat is available for purchase with cash, it's generally available for points.
Variable Pricing: Southwest's award pricing is tied to the cash price of the ticket, so if you find a cheap cash fare, it will also be a cheap points redemption.
Disadvantages:
Suboptimal Transfer Ratio (Without Bonus): The standard 3:1 transfer ratio means you're giving up a lot of Marriott points for a relatively smaller number of Southwest points. Marriott Bonvoy points typically have a value of around 0.7-0.9 cents per point when redeemed for hotel stays. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are generally valued around 1.3-1.7 cents per point. Without the 60,000-point bonus, you're losing a significant amount of value in the transfer.
Loss of Marriott Hotel Stays: By converting your points to airline miles, you're forfeiting the ability to use them for free hotel nights at Marriott properties, which can often provide excellent value, especially with the "Stay 4 nights, Get 1 free" benefit.
Transfer Time: The several-day transfer time can be a disadvantage if you need to book a flight immediately and award availability is limited or fluctuating.
When Should You Consider Transferring?
You're Chasing the Southwest Companion Pass: This is the prime reason. The value of the Companion Pass often far outweighs the potential loss in point value from the transfer.
You Need to Top Off for a Specific Redemption: If you're just short of enough Rapid Rewards points for a high-value flight, a small transfer can be worth it.
You Have a Surplus of Marriott Points: If you have an abundance of Marriott points and no immediate hotel redemptions planned, converting some to airline miles for a specific flight could make sense.
You've Exhausted Other Southwest Earning Methods: If you've maximized Southwest credit card bonuses and other earning opportunities, Marriott Bonvoy can be a viable alternative.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy point balance?
QuickTip: Pause after each section to reflect.
You can easily check your Marriott Bonvoy point balance by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on Marriott.com or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your point total will be prominently displayed on your dashboard.
How to find the Marriott Bonvoy transfer page for airlines?
After logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to the "Use Points" or "Redeem Points" section, then look for an option like "Flights and Car Rentals" or "Transfer Points to Miles."
How to ensure my Southwest Rapid Rewards account number is correct for the transfer?
Carefully double-check the Rapid Rewards account number you enter on the Marriott transfer page. It's advisable to log into your Southwest account separately and copy-paste the number to ensure accuracy.
How to know if the 5,000 bonus points have been applied?
The 5,000 bonus Southwest Rapid Rewards points will automatically be added when you transfer in increments of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. You'll see the total amount, including the bonus, reflected in your Southwest account after the transfer is complete.
How to track the status of my Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest transfer?
Marriott Bonvoy generally doesn't provide a detailed real-time tracker for point transfers. The best way to monitor is by regularly checking both your Marriott Bonvoy account (to see points debited) and your Southwest Rapid Rewards account (to see points credited).
Tip: Check back if you skimmed too fast.
How to cancel a Marriott Bonvoy point transfer to Southwest?
Once initiated, point transfers from Marriott Bonvoy to airline partners are generally irreversible. Therefore, it's crucial to be absolutely certain before confirming the transfer.
How to calculate the value of my Marriott points when transferring to Southwest?
To estimate the value, divide the number of Southwest points you'll receive (including the 5,000 bonus for every 60k Marriott points) by the cash value of the Southwest flight you're eyeing. Compare this to the approximate cash value of your Marriott points if redeemed for hotel stays (typically 0.7-0.9 cents per point).
How to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points for future transfers?
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points through hotel stays, co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards (issued by Chase and American Express), dining programs, and sometimes through promotions or by purchasing points.
How to maximize the value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points?
Maximize Southwest Rapid Rewards points by booking flights when cash fares are low, leveraging the Southwest Companion Pass, and taking advantage of various Rapid Rewards earning opportunities like credit cards, shopping portals, and dining programs.
How to determine if transferring points is better than booking a hotel stay with Marriott points?
Evaluate the cash cost of the flight you want versus the cash cost of a hotel stay you could book with the same amount of Marriott points. Compare the "cents per point" value you'd get from each redemption to make an informed decision. Often, for general redemptions, direct hotel stays offer better value, but the Southwest Companion Pass can significantly shift the equation.
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