Do you have Marriott Bonvoy points burning a hole in your virtual pocket, and a Southwest Airlines flight calling your name? You're in the right place! Transferring points between loyalty programs can unlock incredible travel opportunities, but it's essential to understand the process and, most importantly, how long it takes. Let's dive in and demystify the Marriott Bonvoy to Southwest Rapid Rewards transfer.
The Journey of Your Points: How Long Does It Really Take Marriott Points to Transfer to Southwest?
The short answer, based on various reports, is that Marriott Bonvoy points typically transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards within 1-2 days, often appearing as "Immediate" or "within 24 hours" in some transfer time charts. However, it's crucial to understand that "up to a week" is also a possibility according to Marriott's own terms. While Southwest is generally on the faster side of Marriott's many airline partners, predicting exact timing can be tricky. Factors like the day of the week you initiate the transfer, any pending transfers, and even the specific systems involved can influence the actual duration.
The key takeaway? Don't bank on an instantaneous transfer, especially if you're looking to book a flight with limited availability. Always give yourself a buffer!
Why the Wait? Understanding the Mechanics
When you initiate a points transfer, it's not a direct, real-time exchange between your Marriott and Southwest accounts. Instead, a series of automated (and sometimes manual) processes occur:
Marriott's Processing: Marriott first processes your request, deducting the points from your Bonvoy account.
Data Exchange: Information about your transfer, including your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number and the number of points to be transferred, is then sent to Southwest.
Southwest's Acceptance and Posting: Southwest receives this data, verifies your account, and then posts the equivalent Rapid Rewards points to your balance.
Each of these steps takes time, and while technology aims for speed, system updates, daily batch processing, and even human oversight can introduce delays.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Ready to get those points moving? Follow this detailed guide to ensure a smooth transfer.
Step 1: Are Your Accounts Ready for Liftoff? Engage Here!
Before you even think about transferring points, let's do a quick check. Imagine you're about to launch a rocket – you wouldn't just press the button, right? You'd ensure all systems are green!
Do you have both a Marriott Bonvoy account AND a Southwest Rapid Rewards account? If not, pause right here! You'll need to create both. They are free to join and essential for this process. Make sure the names on both accounts match exactly to avoid potential issues.
Do you have enough Marriott Bonvoy points? Marriott typically has a minimum transfer amount, often around 3,000 points.
Do you know your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number? Have it handy!
If you answered "yes" to all, fantastic! Let's proceed. If not, take a moment to get those accounts in order. It's the most crucial pre-flight check!
Step 2: Navigate to the Transfer Portal on Marriott Bonvoy
This is where the magic begins. You'll need to access the dedicated points transfer section within your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website (
marriott.com Find the "Redeem Points" or "Use Points" section: Once logged in, look for a menu option related to "Redeem Points," "Use Points," or "Rewards." This is usually found in the main navigation or within your account dashboard.
Select "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Travel": Within the redemption options, you'll typically find a link specifically for transferring points to airline partners. It might be labeled "Transfer Points to Miles," "Travel," or something similar. Click on it.
Step 3: Choose Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards as Your Transfer Partner
Marriott Bonvoy boasts a vast network of airline partners. You'll need to specifically select Southwest.
Browse the list of airline partners: You'll be presented with a long list of Marriott's airline transfer partners. Scroll through until you find "Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards."
Understand the transfer ratio: Marriott Bonvoy points generally transfer to most airlines at a 3:1 ratio. This means for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you'll receive 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards point.
The 5,000 Bonus Mile Sweetener: This is a very important detail for maximizing your transfer! For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer in a single transaction, you receive an additional 5,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points. This effectively improves your transfer ratio when transferring in these increments. For example:
60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 20,000 Rapid Rewards points (from the 3:1 ratio) + 5,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points = 25,000 Rapid Rewards points total.
This makes the effective ratio 2.4:1 when transferring in 60,000-point blocks. Always aim for these increments if possible!
Step 4: Enter Your Transfer Details and Confirm
Accuracy is key here to prevent any hiccups.
Enter the number of Marriott Bonvoy points to transfer: Input the desired amount of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer. Remember to consider those 60,000-point increments for the bonus!
Provide your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number: Double-check, then triple-check, that you enter your correct Southwest Rapid Rewards account number. An incorrect number will cause significant delays or even loss of points.
Confirm your personal details: Ensure your name and other identifying information match exactly on both your Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards accounts. Discrepancies can trigger security flags and hold up the transfer.
Review and confirm the transfer: Carefully review all the details of your transfer request, including the number of points, the recipient airline, and your account information. Once you're confident, confirm the transfer. You may receive an email confirmation from Marriott Bonvoy shortly after.
Step 5: Monitor Your Southwest Rapid Rewards Account
The waiting game begins! Now it's time to keep an eye on your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.
Check your Southwest account frequently: Log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account (
southwest.com Be patient: As mentioned, while some transfers might be very quick (within 24 hours), it's not unusual for it to take a couple of business days. Marriott's terms even state up to a week. Avoid calling customer service too early, as they often can't expedite transfers that are already in process unless a significant amount of time (e.g., more than 7 business days) has passed.
Note the posting date: Once the points appear, make a note of the date. This can be helpful for future planning.
Step 6: Troubleshooting (If Necessary)
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things don't go as smoothly as planned. If your points haven't appeared after a reasonable timeframe (say, 5-7 business days), it's time to investigate.
Check your email for confirmations/notifications: Sometimes, an email from Marriott or Southwest might be stuck in your spam folder, or it might contain important information about a delay.
Contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service: Start with Marriott. They initiated the transfer and can provide information on its status. Have your Marriott Bonvoy account number and the date/time of your transfer handy. Be polite and persistent.
Contact Southwest Rapid Rewards Customer Service (if Marriott can't help): If Marriott confirms the transfer was successfully sent to Southwest and a significant amount of time has passed, then reach out to Southwest. They can check their end for incoming point transfers.
Verify matching information: Reconfirm with both customer service agents that the names and account numbers on both your Marriott and Southwest accounts match exactly. This is a common reason for delays.
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards, with quick answers:
How to transfer Marriott points to Southwest?
You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Southwest Rapid Rewards by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigating to the "Redeem Points" section, selecting "Transfer Points to Miles," choosing Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, and then entering the desired number of points and your Southwest account number.
How to check the status of my Marriott to Southwest point transfer?
You can check the status by logging into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and monitoring your point balance. Marriott Bonvoy's "Activity" section might also show a record of your transfer request.
How to maximize the value when transferring Marriott points to Southwest?
To maximize value, transfer Marriott Bonvoy points in increments of 60,000 points. For every 60,000 points transferred, you receive an additional 5,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points, improving the effective transfer ratio.
How to link Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards accounts?
You don't "link" the accounts in a direct, ongoing way for transfers. Instead, you provide your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number during each individual transfer process on the Marriott Bonvoy website. Ensure the names on both accounts match.
How to get a bonus when transferring Marriott points to Southwest?
You receive a 5,000 Rapid Rewards point bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred in a single transaction.
How to cancel a Marriott to Southwest point transfer?
Once a transfer request is initiated and processed by Marriott, it is generally not possible to cancel or reverse the transfer. Points transfers are typically final.
How to find my Southwest Rapid Rewards account number?
You can find your Southwest Rapid Rewards account number by logging into your account on the Southwest Airlines website or mobile app. It's usually prominently displayed on your profile or dashboard.
How to avoid delays when transferring points?
Ensure your names on both Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards accounts match exactly. Transfer during business days, and allow ample time before you need the points for a specific redemption.
How to transfer Marriott points to another person's Southwest account?
Marriott Bonvoy allows you to transfer points to another Marriott Bonvoy member's account. However, when transferring to airline partners, the name on the frequent flyer account must match the name on the Marriott Bonvoy account initiating the transfer. Therefore, you cannot directly transfer your Marriott points to another person's Southwest account. You would first need to transfer the Marriott points to their Marriott account (if eligible) and then they could initiate the transfer to their Southwest account.
How to use Southwest Rapid Rewards points for flights after transferring?
Once your Marriott points appear as Rapid Rewards points in your Southwest account, you can use them just like any other Rapid Rewards points. Simply log in to your Southwest account, search for flights, and select the "Points" option for payment during the booking process.
