Do you dream of swapping plush hotel stays for exciting flights with Southwest Airlines? You're in luck! Marriott Bonvoy, the loyalty program for Marriott hotels, offers a pathway to transfer your hard-earned points directly to Southwest Rapid Rewards. While it's not always the most lucrative redemption, it can be incredibly useful in specific situations, especially if you have a surplus of Marriott points or need a top-up for your next Southwest adventure.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth and successful transfer. Get ready to turn your hotel nights into flight miles!
The Great Points Exchange: Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's understand the core of this transfer. Marriott Bonvoy boasts a vast network of airline partners, and Southwest Rapid Rewards is one of them. This means you can convert your Marriott Bonvoy points into Southwest Rapid Rewards points, which you can then use to book flights.
Understanding the Transfer Ratio and Bonus
This is perhaps the most crucial detail. Marriott Bonvoy points generally transfer to airline partners at a 3:1 ratio. This means for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you'll receive 1 airline mile.
But here's where it gets interesting! Marriott offers a bonus when you transfer points in specific increments. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer to most airline partners, including Southwest, you'll receive an additional 5,000 airline miles.
Let's break that down:
Standard Transfer: 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Optimal Transfer with Bonus: 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 20,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points + 5,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points = 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points total
This bonus significantly improves the effective transfer ratio to 2.4:1 (60,000 Marriott points / 25,000 Southwest points). Therefore, it's highly recommended to transfer in increments of 60,000 points if you want to maximize your value.
Minimum and Maximum Transfer Limits
Minimum: You must transfer a minimum of 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per transaction.
Maximum: You can transfer a maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per day.
Step 1: Get Ready! Confirm Your Account Details
Before you initiate any transfer, let's make sure you're properly set up.
1.1 Are you a Marriott Bonvoy Member?
If you're reading this, chances are you are! But just in case, ensure you have an active Marriott Bonvoy account and remember your login credentials. You'll need access to your account to initiate the transfer.
1.2 Do you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards Account?
This is non-negotiable! To receive the transferred points, you must have an active Southwest Rapid Rewards account. If you don't have one, it's quick and free to sign up on the Southwest Airlines website. Make sure the name on your Marriott Bonvoy account exactly matches the name on your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Discrepancies can cause significant delays or even prevent the transfer. A small initial transfer (like 3,000 points) can be a good way to test if your names match before a larger transfer.
1.3 Check Your Marriott Bonvoy Point Balance
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and verify your current point balance. This will help you determine how many Southwest Rapid Rewards points you can expect to receive based on the transfer ratio and bonus structure.
1.4 Understand the Value Proposition
It's always smart to consider the value you're getting.
Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued around 0.9 cents per point when redeemed for hotel stays.
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are typically valued around 1.3-1.4 cents per point for flights.
When you transfer 60,000 Marriott points (worth approximately $540) for 25,000 Southwest points (worth approximately $325-$350), you are taking a hit on the raw cash value. However, the flexibility of using points for flights and the possibility of getting higher per-point value on certain Southwest redemptions might make it worthwhile for your specific travel needs.
Step 2: Navigating the Transfer Process Online
Marriott Bonvoy has made the transfer process relatively straightforward via their website.
2.1 Head to the Marriott Bonvoy Website
Open your web browser and go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (marriott.com).
2.2 Log In to Your Account
Click on the "Sign In" or "Log In" button and enter your Marriott Bonvoy member number or email and password.
2.3 Find the "Transfer Points to Miles" Section
Once logged in, look for the section related to redeeming points. This might be under a "Use Points" or "Redeem" menu. Specifically, you're looking for an option like "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline Transfer Partners."
Pro Tip: A direct link can often be found by searching "Marriott Bonvoy transfer points to miles" on Google, but always ensure you're on the official Marriott website. As of July 2025, a common direct link is
marriott.com/loyalty/redeem/travel/points-to-miles.mi.
2.4 Select Southwest Rapid Rewards
On the airline transfer partners page, you'll see a long list of Marriott's airline partners. Scroll down or use a search function to find "Southwest Rapid Rewards®" and select it.
2.5 Enter Transfer Details
Enter your Southwest Rapid Rewards Account Number: Double-check this number to ensure it's accurate. A wrong number will result in lost points or significant delays.
Enter the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer: Remember the 3:1 ratio and the 5,000 bonus for every 60,000 points.
Example: If you enter 60,000 Marriott points, the system should display that you will receive 25,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points. If you enter 9,000 Marriott points, you should see 3,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points.
2.6 Review and Confirm
Carefully review all the details on the confirmation page: the number of Marriott points being transferred, the number of Southwest points you'll receive, and your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number. This is your last chance to catch any errors!
2.7 Authorize the Transfer
You will likely need to agree to the terms and conditions and then click "Transfer" or "Confirm Transfer" to finalize the request. Marriott may also send a verification code to your email for security purposes, which you'll need to enter to complete the transaction.
Step 3: The Waiting Game: When Will Your Points Arrive?
Once you've submitted your transfer request, it's time to play the waiting game.
3.1 Typical Transfer Time
While some airline transfers can be instant, Marriott Bonvoy point transfers to airline partners are generally not immediate. For Southwest Rapid Rewards, transfers typically take around 7 days. However, it can sometimes be quicker (a few days) or longer (up to two weeks or more) depending on various factors, including the volume of transfers and specific system processing times.
3.2 Keep an Eye on Your Southwest Account
Periodically log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account to check for the deposited points. You won't receive an email notification from Southwest when the points land, so you'll need to check your balance directly.
3.3 What if the Points Don't Arrive?
If it's been more than 7-10 business days and your points still haven't appeared in your Southwest account:
Check your Marriott Bonvoy transfer history: Confirm that the transfer was successfully initiated from Marriott's end.
Contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service: Have your Marriott Bonvoy account number and the transfer confirmation details ready. They can investigate the status of your transfer.
Contact Southwest Rapid Rewards Customer Service: If Marriott confirms the transfer was sent, Southwest might be able to provide more information on their end.
Step 4: Booking Your Southwest Flight with Your Newly Acquired Points
Once your Southwest Rapid Rewards points have landed, you're ready for the exciting part – booking your flight!
4.1 Log In to Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Account
Go to southwest.com and log in.
4.2 Search for Flights
Use the flight search tool on the Southwest website. Be sure to select "Points" instead of "Dollars" when searching for your desired route and dates.
4.3 Select Your Flight
Southwest has a simple, revenue-based redemption system. The number of points required for a flight is directly tied to the cash price of the ticket. This means there are no blackout dates, and if a seat is available for purchase with cash, it's available with points. Choose the flight that best suits your travel plans.
4.4 Complete the Booking
Follow the prompts to finalize your booking. Remember that even when paying with points, you will still be responsible for the $5.60 per one-way flight segment in U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fees (or equivalent international taxes/fees).
Important Considerations Before Transferring
Irreversibility: Once you transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards, the transfer is final and cannot be reversed. Make sure you are committed to using those points for Southwest flights.
Point Expiration: Marriott Bonvoy points typically don't expire as long as you have qualifying activity every 24 months. Southwest Rapid Rewards points do not expire.
Promotions: Occasionally, Marriott Bonvoy or Southwest may offer transfer bonuses or promotions. Keep an eye out for these, as they can significantly increase the value of your transfer. However, these are rare for the Marriott-Southwest pairing specifically, so don't bank on them.
Southwest Companion Pass: While transferring points to Southwest can help you accumulate Rapid Rewards points, these transferred points do not count towards earning the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. Only points earned from flying, Southwest credit card spending, or through Rapid Rewards partners (like hotel stays booked directly through Southwest's hotel partners not transferred from another loyalty program) qualify for the Companion Pass.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about transferring Marriott points to Southwest, along with quick answers:
How to check my Marriott Bonvoy point balance?
Simply log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on marriott.com, and your current point balance will be prominently displayed on your dashboard.
How to sign up for a Southwest Rapid Rewards account?
Visit southwest.com and look for the "Rapid Rewards" section. You'll find an option to "Enroll" or "Join" where you can create a free account.
How to ensure my names match on both accounts?
Carefully review the full name (first, middle, last) and date of birth on both your Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards accounts. If there's a discrepancy, contact the respective program's customer service to have it corrected before initiating a transfer.
How to find the "Transfer Points" option on Marriott's website?
After logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to the "Use Points" or "Redeem" section. Within that, you should see an option like "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Airline Transfer Partners."
How to calculate the number of Southwest points I'll receive?
Divide your Marriott Bonvoy points by 3. If your transfer amount includes increments of 60,000 Marriott points, add 5,000 Southwest points for each 60,000 Marriott points transferred. For example, 120,000 Marriott points = (120,000/3) + (2 * 5,000) = 40,000 + 10,000 = 50,000 Southwest points.
How to track the status of my Marriott to Southwest point transfer?
Marriott's website may have a transfer history section. Otherwise, the best way to track it is by regularly checking your Southwest Rapid Rewards account balance.
How to deal with a delayed point transfer?
If points don't appear within 7-10 business days, first verify the transfer on your Marriott account, then contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service with your transfer details.
How to know if a transfer bonus is available?
Keep an eye on travel blogs, loyalty program news sites, and the official Marriott Bonvoy promotions page. These bonuses are usually announced publicly.
How to avoid common transfer mistakes?
Always double-check the recipient airline program and account number. Confirm the transfer amount, and understand the ratio and any bonus structures before you click confirm.
How to maximize the value of my transferred points?
Aim to transfer in increments of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to get the 5,000 Rapid Rewards bonus. Use the Southwest points for flights where the cash price is high, allowing you to get a better cents-per-point value.
