Have you ever been just a few thousand points shy of booking that dream Marriott Bonvoy redemption? Or perhaps you want to help out a friend or family member snag a fantastic stay, but their points balance just isn't quite there? The good news is, Marriott Bonvoy makes it incredibly easy to transfer points between members, and what's even better, it's absolutely free! Gone are the days of having to call customer service and endure long wait times. Now, with just a few clicks online, you can share your valuable points.
This lengthy guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, ensuring you can seamlessly transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to someone else.
Step 1: Are You Eligible to Transfer Points? Let's Find Out!
Before you even think about logging in, let's quickly check if both you (the sender) and the recipient meet Marriott Bonvoy's eligibility criteria for point transfers. Don't worry, they're pretty straightforward!
Account Status: Both the sender's and receiver's Marriott Bonvoy accounts must be in good standing. This generally means no fraudulent activity or outstanding issues.
Account Age with Activity:
If your account (or the recipient's) has had qualifying activity (like earning or redeeming points) in the past 30 days, then the account must have been open for at least 30 days.
If there's been no qualifying activity, both accounts must have been open for at least 90 days.
Minimum Transfer: You must transfer a minimum of 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Transfer Increments: All transfers must be in increments of 1,000 points. So, you can transfer 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, etc., but not 1,500 or 2,345 points.
Annual Transfer Limit (Sender): You can transfer a maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from your account to other members per calendar year. This is a combined total, meaning it doesn't matter if you send all 100,000 to one person or split it among several.
Annual Receive Limit (Recipient): A single Marriott Bonvoy account can receive a maximum of 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from other members per calendar year.
If you and your recipient meet these simple criteria, you're ready to proceed!
Step 2: Navigating to the Marriott Bonvoy Points Transfer Page
The first actual step in the process is to locate the correct page on the Marriott Bonvoy website. While the Marriott Bonvoy app is fantastic for bookings and managing your stays, it does not currently support point transfers. You'll need to use a web browser on your computer or mobile device.
Access the Website: Open your preferred web browser and go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (marriott.com).
Log In: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account (the account that will be sending the points). Make sure you have your member number or email and password handy.
Find the Transfer Page: Once logged in, the easiest way to find the points transfer page is to directly navigate to it. You can often find a link to "Share Your Points" or "Transfer Points" within your Marriott Bonvoy account profile or under the "Use Points" section. However, to save you time, the most direct way is to use the specific Marriott Bonvoy points transfer page. Consider bookmarking this page for future ease!
Step 3: Initiating the Point Transfer Request
Now that you're on the dedicated points transfer page and logged into your account, it's time to input the details for the transfer.
Locate the Transfer Form: On the transfer page, you'll see a form where you'll enter the necessary information.
Enter Recipient Details: This is a crucial step where accuracy is paramount. You will need to provide the following information for the person receiving the points:
Recipient's Full Name: This must exactly match the name on their Marriott Bonvoy account. Pay close attention to spelling and any middle initials.
Recipient's Marriott Bonvoy Member Number: Double-check this number to ensure it's correct. A single digit off could delay or prevent the transfer.
Specify Transfer Amount: Enter the number of points you wish to transfer. Remember the rules from Step 1:
Minimum: 1,000 points
Increments: Must be in multiples of 1,000 (e.g., 2,000, 5,000, 10,000)
Maximum (Annual): Up to 100,000 points per calendar year from your account.
Review and Agree to Terms: Carefully review all the information you've entered. Mistakes here can lead to delays or issues. Once you're certain everything is accurate, you'll need to check a box to agree to the Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions for point transfers. It's always a good idea to quickly skim these terms if you haven't before.
Click "Transfer Now" or Similar Button: After reviewing and agreeing, click the button to initiate the transfer.
Step 4: Security Verification and Confirmation
Marriott Bonvoy takes security seriously, so you'll likely go through a quick verification step to confirm your identity.
Identity Verification: As an added layer of security, Marriott will typically ask you to verify your identity. This usually involves receiving a code via text message to the phone number associated with your Marriott Bonvoy account or an email to your registered email address.
Enter Verification Code: Once you receive the code, enter it into the provided field on the website.
Confirmation Message: After successfully entering the verification code, you should receive a confirmation message stating that your transfer request has been made.
Step 5: What to Expect After the Transfer
Congratulations! You've successfully initiated the point transfer. Now, let's talk about what happens next.
Processing Time: While Marriott states that transfers can take up to 24 hours to process, many users report that the points appear in the recipient's account almost instantly. In some cases, it might take a few hours.
Recipient's Action: Advise the recipient to log out of their Marriott Bonvoy account and then log back in after a short while. Sometimes, a fresh login is needed for the updated point balance to reflect.
No Fees: It's worth reiterating: Marriott Bonvoy does not charge any fees for transferring points between members. This is a fantastic benefit and makes pooling points incredibly cost-effective.
Transfer is Final: Once points are transferred, they cannot be transferred back or reversed. So, be absolutely sure before you click that final transfer button!
Points Expiration: While earning or redeeming points resets your Marriott Bonvoy points expiration clock (which is generally 24 months of inactivity), transferring or receiving points does NOT count as qualifying activity to extend the expiration date of your points. If your points are nearing expiration, you'll need to earn more points, redeem some, or purchase points to keep them active.
Sub-Heading: Why Transfer Points? Common Scenarios
There are several excellent reasons why transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to another member can be a game-changer:
Pooling for a Bigger Redemption: Perhaps you and a travel companion are combining forces for a high-value redemption, like a luxurious suite or a longer stay at a desirable property. Transferring points allows you to pool your resources to reach that goal faster.
Leveraging Elite Status: If one person in your travel party has a higher Marriott Bonvoy elite status (e.g., Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador Elite), transferring points to their account allows them to make the booking. This way, you can collectively benefit from their elite perks, such as complimentary breakfast, lounge access, or potential room upgrades.
The "Fifth Night Free" Benefit: Marriott Bonvoy offers a fantastic "fifth night free" benefit on award stays. If you have enough points for four nights in one account and your friend has enough for a fifth, transferring points to combine them into a single reservation allows you to utilize this valuable perk.
Preventing Point Expiration: While point transfers don't extend the expiration date for the sender, if a friend or family member has a small amount of points nearing expiration that they don't plan to use, they can transfer them to your account. This way, the points aren't lost (just remember that your points expiration won't be extended by receiving them).
Sub-Heading: Important Considerations and Tips
Double-Check Everything: We cannot stress this enough. Verify the recipient's full name and Marriott Bonvoy member number twice, thrice, or even four times! A small typo can cause significant headaches and delays.
Communicate with the Recipient: Let the person you're transferring points to know when you've initiated the transfer so they can keep an eye on their account and check for the updated balance.
Be Aware of Calendar Year Limits: Remember the 100,000 points transferred from your account and 500,000 points received into an account per calendar year limits. Plan your transfers accordingly, especially if you anticipate multiple transfers throughout the year. The calendar year resets on January 1st.
Elite Night Credits and Certificates are NOT Transferable: While points are easily transferable, elite night credits, lifetime status, and free night certificates are personal to each account and cannot be transferred to another member.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions with quick answers to further assist you:
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy points balance? You can check your Marriott Bonvoy points balance by logging into your account on the Marriott Bonvoy website or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. Your current points total will be prominently displayed on your dashboard.
How to find the Marriott Bonvoy points transfer page? The Marriott Bonvoy points transfer page can be found by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website and looking for options like "Share Your Points" or "Transfer Points" within your profile or the "Use Points" section. A direct link is often available on the Marriott Bonvoy help pages.
How to ensure the recipient's name is correct for the transfer? To ensure the recipient's name is correct, ask them for their full name exactly as it appears on their Marriott Bonvoy account. This includes any middle names or initials.
How to verify the recipient's Marriott Bonvoy member number? Ask the recipient to provide their Marriott Bonvoy member number directly from their account details to ensure accuracy. Double-check each digit before entering it.
How to confirm if my points transfer was successful? After initiating the transfer, you should receive a confirmation message on the Marriott Bonvoy website. The recipient can then log into their account to see if the points have appeared in their balance.
How to contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service if I have issues with a transfer? If you encounter any issues or have questions about a point transfer, you can contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service through their dedicated phone lines or online chat support, which can be found on the "Contact Us" section of the Marriott website.
How to tell if my Marriott Bonvoy account is in good standing? Generally, if you can log in, earn, and redeem points without issues, your account is in good standing. If there are any problems, Marriott would typically notify you or restrict account functions.
How to reactivate an inactive Marriott Bonvoy account? To reactivate an inactive Marriott Bonvoy account, you can perform any qualifying activity such as earning points (e.g., staying at a Marriott property, using a co-branded credit card) or redeeming points. This will usually reset the activity clock.
How to avoid Marriott Bonvoy points expiration? To avoid points expiration, ensure you have qualifying activity (earning or redeeming points) at least once every 24 months. Purchasing points also counts as qualifying activity.
How to transfer more than 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a calendar year? You cannot transfer more than 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from your account per calendar year. This is a strict limit. If you need more points in another account, the recipient might consider purchasing points directly from Marriott (with certain limits and costs) or having other family members transfer points to them.
