Do you frequently travel with American Airlines and stay at Marriott properties? If so, you're in luck! While there isn't a direct "linking" of accounts in the sense of merging them, there are powerful ways these two loyalty programs, American Airlines AAdvantage and Marriott Bonvoy, can work together to supercharge your rewards. Imagine earning airline miles while you sleep in a comfortable hotel bed, or using your hotel points to unlock incredible flight experiences. This guide will show you exactly how to make the most of this symbiotic relationship.
Ready to unlock a world of travel benefits? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understand the Synergies – Why Link (or Connect) American Airlines and Marriott?
Before we get into the "how," let's understand the why. The primary way American Airlines AAdvantage and Marriott Bonvoy connect is through points transfers and earning miles/points on partner activities. This isn't a direct account link like some airline-hotel partnerships, but rather a strategic use of each program's strengths.
Earn AAdvantage Miles on Marriott Stays: Did you know you can choose to earn AAdvantage miles instead of Marriott Bonvoy points for your hotel stays? This is a fantastic option if you're trying to top up your AAdvantage balance for a specific award flight.
Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to AAdvantage Miles: Marriott Bonvoy points are incredibly versatile. They can be transferred to over 40 airline partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage, often with a bonus when you transfer larger quantities. This is a game-changer for unlocking premium cabin award flights.
Loyalty Points for AAdvantage Status: When you earn AAdvantage miles through hotel stays (including Marriott), those miles often count as Loyalty Points towards earning AAdvantage elite status. This means your hotel stays can help you reach a higher tier with American Airlines, unlocking perks like complimentary upgrades, preferred seating, and priority boarding.
Potential for Status Benefits (Indirectly): While there's no direct status match between American Airlines and Marriott Bonvoy that's openly published, having high elite status in one program can sometimes indirectly lead to benefits or targeted offers from the other. Keep an eye on your email for special promotions!
In essence, you're not just earning rewards in isolation; you're building a comprehensive travel strategy that leverages both programs for maximum benefit.
Step 2: Ensure You Have Accounts with Both Programs
This might seem obvious, but it's the foundational step!
Sub-heading 2.1: Joining American Airlines AAdvantage
If you don't already have an AAdvantage account, it's quick and free to sign up.
Visit the American Airlines Website: Go to aa.com.
Locate the "Join AAdvantage" Option: Look for a "Sign In / Join" or "AAdvantage" link, usually in the top right corner.
Complete the Enrollment Form: Provide your personal details. Make sure your name matches your passport/ID for future travel.
Receive Your AAdvantage Number: You'll be assigned a unique AAdvantage number. Keep this handy!
Sub-heading 2.2: Joining Marriott Bonvoy
Similarly, if you're not a Marriott Bonvoy member, sign up is simple.
Visit the Marriott Bonvoy Website: Go to
marriott.com/loyalty Find the "Join Now" Button: This is usually prominently displayed.
Fill Out the Registration Form: Enter your information. Again, consistency with your travel documents is key.
Get Your Marriott Bonvoy Member Number: You'll receive a member number for your Bonvoy account.
Step 3: Connect Your Accounts (Earning Preferences)
This is where the direct "linking" happens for earning purposes. You need to tell Marriott Bonvoy that you prefer to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on your eligible stays.
Sub-heading 3.1: Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account
Go to marriott.com: Navigate to the Marriott Bonvoy website.
Sign In: Enter your Marriott Bonvoy member number or email and password.
Sub-heading 3.2: Navigate to Earning Preferences
Access Your Profile/Account Settings: Once logged in, look for a link to your "Profile," "Account," or "Settings." This is often found by clicking your name or a small icon in the top right corner.
Find "Earning Preferences" or "Airline Partners": Within your profile settings, there should be a section related to earning preferences or airline partners. It might be under "Earn Points" or a similar heading.
Sub-heading 3.3: Select American Airlines AAdvantage
Choose Airline Miles as Your Earning Preference: Marriott Bonvoy members typically earn Bonvoy points by default. You'll need to change this preference to earn airline miles for future stays. Be aware: you generally cannot earn both Bonvoy points and airline miles for the same stay.
Select American Airlines AAdvantage: From the list of airline partners, choose "American Airlines AAdvantage."
Enter Your AAdvantage Number: Carefully input your American Airlines AAdvantage number. Double-check for accuracy!
Save Your Changes: Confirm and save your updated earning preferences.
Important Note: This change applies to future eligible stays. For existing bookings, you might need to manually update your earning preference on each reservation or contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service.
Step 4: Maximizing Your Rewards Through Point Transfers
This is arguably the most powerful way to leverage both programs. Marriott Bonvoy points are incredibly valuable because of their transfer flexibility.
Sub-heading 4.1: Accumulate Marriott Bonvoy Points
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points in several ways:
Hotel Stays: Earn points on eligible paid stays at Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels worldwide. The earning rate varies by brand and your elite status.
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards: Co-branded credit cards (like those from Chase or American Express) are excellent for accelerating your Bonvoy point earnings through everyday spending and generous sign-up bonuses.
Marriott Bonvoy Events: Earn points for planning meetings and events at Marriott properties.
Other Partners: Marriott Bonvoy has various partners where you can earn points (e.g., car rentals, tours).
Sub-heading 4.2: Initiating a Marriott Bonvoy to AAdvantage Transfer
Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Go to marriott.com and sign in.
Navigate to "Transfer Points to Miles": Look for a "Redeem Points" or "Use Points" section. Within that, there should be an option for "Flights," "Airline Partners," or "Transfer Points to Miles."
Select American Airlines AAdvantage: Choose American Airlines from the list of transfer partners.
Enter the Transfer Amount: Marriott Bonvoy points typically transfer to airline miles at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 airline mile) for most partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage.
Bonus Alert! Marriott Bonvoy offers a 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer. So, if you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points, you'll receive 25,000 AAdvantage miles (20,000 base + 5,000 bonus). This makes transferring in 60,000-point increments highly advisable for maximum value.
Confirm Your AAdvantage Number: Ensure your AAdvantage number is correctly displayed.
Review and Submit: Double-check the transfer amount and the corresponding miles you'll receive. Confirm the transfer.
Processing Time: Transfers typically take a few business days, but can take up to a week in some cases. Plan accordingly, especially if you're trying to book a time-sensitive award flight.
Step 5: Leveraging Status and Elite Benefits (Indirectly)
While direct status matching isn't a standard, there are ways your engagement with one program can indirectly benefit you in the other.
Sub-heading 5.1: AAdvantage Loyalty Points from Hotel Stays
As mentioned, when you choose to earn AAdvantage miles on your Marriott stays (Step 3), those miles also contribute as Loyalty Points.
Monitor Your Loyalty Points: Keep an eye on your AAdvantage account to track your Loyalty Points progress. The more Loyalty Points you earn, the closer you get to AAdvantage Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum status.
Benefits of AAdvantage Status: Higher AAdvantage status unlocks valuable perks like:
Complimentary upgrades on American Airlines flights (Gold and above).
Priority check-in, security, and boarding.
Free checked bags.
Lounge access (for certain tiers or with Admirals Club membership).
Bonus miles on flights.
Sub-heading 5.2: Targeted Promotions and Offers
Keep an Eye on Your Email: Both American Airlines and Marriott Bonvoy occasionally send out targeted promotions to their members. If you're a high-value customer in one program, you might receive special offers from the other, such as fast tracks to elite status or bonus earning opportunities.
Co-branded Credit Card Benefits: Some premium co-branded credit cards for American Airlines or Marriott Bonvoy might offer reciprocal benefits or shortcuts to status, so explore those options if they align with your spending habits. For example, some American Express Platinum cardholders receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
Remember, loyalty programs are dynamic. Always check the official American Airlines and Marriott Bonvoy websites for the most up-to-date information on partnerships, earning rates, and transfer ratios.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about linking American Airlines and Marriott, along with quick answers:
How to link American Airlines and Marriott for earning points?
You don't directly "link" them for earning, but you can set your Marriott Bonvoy earning preference to American Airlines AAdvantage miles for eligible hotel stays through your Marriott Bonvoy account settings.
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines AAdvantage miles?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account, navigate to "Transfer Points to Miles" under "Redeem Points," select American Airlines AAdvantage, enter the desired amount (ideally in 60,000-point increments for the 5,000-mile bonus), and confirm the transfer.
How to earn AAdvantage Loyalty Points from Marriott stays?
When you choose to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles for your eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotel stays, these miles will also count as Loyalty Points towards your AAdvantage elite status.
How to check the transfer ratio from Marriott Bonvoy to American Airlines AAdvantage?
The standard transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 American Airlines AAdvantage mile. Plus, you get a 5,000 bonus AAdvantage miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.
How to know if my Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to American Airlines is complete?
Check your American Airlines AAdvantage account balance. Transfers typically take a few business days, but can take up to a week. If it hasn't appeared after that time, contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service.
How to change my Marriott Bonvoy earning preference back to Bonvoy points?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account, go to your profile/account settings, find "Earning Preferences," and select Marriott Bonvoy points as your preferred earning currency.
How to get American Airlines elite status through Marriott Bonvoy?
While there's no direct status match, earning AAdvantage miles on your Marriott stays contributes Loyalty Points to your AAdvantage account, which helps you qualify for American Airlines elite status.
How to use AAdvantage miles for Marriott hotel stays?
You cannot directly use AAdvantage miles for Marriott hotel stays. AAdvantage miles are for flights and other airline-related redemptions.
How to troubleshoot issues with linking or transferring points?
First, double-check that your AAdvantage and Marriott Bonvoy account names match exactly. If issues persist, contact the customer service for the respective program (Marriott Bonvoy for transfer issues, American Airlines for mileage posting issues).
How to maximize value when transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to AAdvantage?
Always transfer Marriott Bonvoy points in increments of 60,000 to take advantage of the 5,000 bonus AAdvantage miles, effectively making the transfer ratio 3:1.25.
