Ever wondered if you can share your Marriott Bonvoy points with a friend or family member for that dream vacation, or perhaps convert them into airline miles for a flight? And more importantly, what's the catch? Let's dive deep into the world of Marriott Bonvoy point transfers and uncover all the details, especially regarding any associated costs!
The Ultimate Guide to Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points
Marriott Bonvoy offers incredible flexibility with its points, allowing you to use them for hotel stays, experiences, and even transfer them to airline partners. Understanding the nuances of these transfers, especially the costs, is key to maximizing your rewards.
Step 1: Decide Your Transfer Goal: To Another Member or to Airline Miles?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, first, consider why you want to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points. Are you pooling points with a loved one for a grand hotel stay? Or are you looking to convert them into airline miles for a flight award? The process and potential "costs" (or lack thereof) differ significantly!
Transferring to another Marriott Bonvoy Member: This is often done to combine points for a larger award stay or to leverage a friend's elite status for benefits like free breakfast or upgrades.
Transferring to Airline Miles: This is ideal when you need to top off an airline mileage account for a specific flight redemption, or if you simply find better value in airline redemptions than hotel stays.
Once you have your goal in mind, proceed to the relevant section below.
Step 2: Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points to Another Member
This is excellent news for families and friends planning trips together!
The Cost: Zero!
That's right, one of the most fantastic perks of the Marriott Bonvoy program is that there is no fee for transferring Loyalty Points to another Marriott Bonvoy Member's Account. This makes it incredibly easy to pool resources and book those more expensive award nights.
Important Rules and Limitations:
While it's free, there are some crucial rules to be aware of:
Minimum Transfer: You must transfer a minimum of 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.
Increments: Transfers must be completed in 1,000 Point increments.
Annual Transfer Limit (Giving): A member can transfer up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year to other Marriott Bonvoy members. This is a combined total, meaning it doesn't matter if you send all 100,000 points to one person or 1,000 points to 100 different people.
Annual Receipt Limit (Receiving): A member can receive up to 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year from other Marriott Bonvoy accounts.
Account Activity: Both Marriott Bonvoy accounts involved in the transfer must have been active for at least 30 days with qualifying activity (earning or redeeming points) or 90 days without any qualifying activity. This helps prevent fraudulent activity.
Information Accuracy: The First Name, Last Name, and Marriott Bonvoy® Number of the Points Recipient must be entered exactly as they appear on their Marriott Bonvoy® Membership Account. Any discrepancy can cause delays or rejection.
Step 2.1: How to Transfer Points to Another Member Online
Marriott has thankfully streamlined this process, allowing you to do it online, often instantly.
Log In: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website and log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account (the account from which you want to send points).
Navigate to Transfer Page: Look for the "Transfer Points" or "Give Points" option within your account dashboard. You might find this under "My Account" or "Redeem Points." A direct link is often available on the Marriott Bonvoy help pages.
Enter Recipient Details: You will be prompted to enter the recipient's information:
Full Name (as it appears on their Bonvoy account)
Marriott Bonvoy Member Number
Specify Amount: Enter the number of points you wish to transfer. Remember, it must be in increments of 1,000, with a minimum of 1,000 and a maximum of 100,000 per year.
Verify Identity: For security purposes, Marriott may ask you to verify your identity via text message or email. Enter the verification code.
Confirm Transfer: Review all the details carefully, agree to the terms and conditions, and confirm the transfer.
Confirmation: You should receive a confirmation message. While Marriott states it can take up to an hour, these transfers are often instantaneous. If the recipient doesn't see the points immediately, advise them to log out and back into their account.
Step 2.2: How to Transfer Points to Another Member via Phone
While the online option is far more convenient, you can still call Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service to initiate a transfer if you prefer.
Gather Information: Have your Marriott Bonvoy membership number, contact information, and the recipient's full name and Marriott Bonvoy member number ready.
Call Customer Service: Dial +1-800-627-7468 (or your regional Marriott Bonvoy customer service number).
Follow Prompts: Explain that you wish to transfer points to another member. The representative will guide you through the process, verifying your identity and the recipient's details.
Step 3: Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points to Airline Miles
This is where the concept of "cost" becomes more about value and conversion rates than direct fees.
The "Cost": Conversion Rate and Potential Bonuses
Marriott Bonvoy points generally transfer to most airline partners at a 3:1 ratio. This means for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points, you get 1 airline mile.
Example: If you transfer 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you'll receive 10,000 airline miles.
Crucial Transfer Bonus:
This is where the value often lies! Marriott offers a significant bonus when you transfer larger chunks of points. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer to an airline partner, Marriott will add an additional 5,000 miles.
Example with Bonus: If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you won't get just 20,000 miles (60,000 / 3). Instead, you'll get 20,000 miles + 5,000 bonus miles = 25,000 airline miles. This effectively makes the ratio 2.4:1 when transferring in 60,000-point increments.
Exceptions to the 3:1 Ratio + Bonus:
While the 3:1 ratio and the 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points are standard for most partners, there are a few exceptions:
United MileagePlus: Marriott has a special "RewardsPlus" partnership with United. When you convert 60,000 Marriott points into United miles, you receive an additional 10,000-point bonus on top of the standard 5,000, bringing the total bonus to 15,000. So, 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 30,000 United miles (20,000 + 10,000 bonus). This makes it a 2:1 effective transfer rate.
Airlines with Different Ratios: A very small number of airline partners might have slightly different base conversion rates (e.g., Air New Zealand at 200:1, which is generally not advisable). Always double-check the specific partner's conversion rate on the Marriott Bonvoy website.
Airlines Excluded from 5,000 Bonus: The 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points typically does not apply to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Avianca, or Korean Air.
Step 3.1: How to Transfer Points to Airline Miles Online
Log In: Go to the official Marriott Bonvoy website and log in to your account.
Navigate to Transfer Points: Look for the "Transfer Points to Miles" or "Redeem Points" section, specifically under travel partners or airlines.
Select Airline Partner: Choose the airline loyalty program to which you want to transfer your points from the extensive list of Marriott's partners.
Enter Airline Loyalty Number: Input your frequent flyer number for the selected airline. Ensure the name on your Marriott Bonvoy account exactly matches the name on your airline loyalty account. Mismatches can cause delays or rejection.
Specify Amount: Enter the number of Marriott Bonvoy points you wish to transfer. It's often strategic to transfer in multiples of 60,000 to maximize the 5,000-mile bonus.
Review and Confirm: Carefully review the conversion rate and the total number of miles you will receive. Agree to the terms and conditions and confirm the transfer.
Processing Time: Unlike member-to-member transfers which are often instant, transferring to airline miles can take longer. Marriott states it can take up to 7 business days, though many transfers go through within 2-3 business days. Plan accordingly, especially if you have an urgent flight redemption in mind.
Understanding the Value of Your Transfer
While there's no direct "cost" in terms of money for most Marriott point transfers, the real cost lies in the opportunity cost and the value you get from your points.
Marriott Bonvoy Point Value: Many travel experts estimate Marriott Bonvoy points to be worth around 0.7 to 0.9 cents per point when redeemed for hotel stays.
Airline Mile Value: The value of airline miles varies greatly by airline and how you redeem them (economy vs. business/first class, domestic vs. international). It can range from less than 1 cent per mile to upwards of 5-10 cents per mile for premium cabin international travel.
When deciding to transfer to airline miles, always do the math. Are you getting equivalent or better value by converting your Marriott points into airline miles compared to using them for a hotel stay? For example, if 60,000 Bonvoy points (worth ~$420-$540 as hotel stays) get you 25,000 airline miles, are those 25,000 miles enough for a flight that would cost more than ~$420-$540 if paid in cash? If so, it might be a good transfer.
Final Thoughts
Transferring Marriott Bonvoy points can be a powerful tool in your travel hacking arsenal. Whether you're combining points for a luxurious hotel getaway with family or converting them to miles for a flight, understanding the process and the "cost" (or lack thereof) will ensure you get the most out of your valuable rewards. Always double-check the latest terms and conditions on the official Marriott Bonvoy website as program rules can change.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to transfer Marriott points to another member without a fee?
There is no fee for transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to another Marriott Bonvoy member. You can do this online through your Marriott Bonvoy account by navigating to the "Transfer Points" section.
How to find the Marriott Bonvoy point transfer page online?
You can typically find the transfer page by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the official website, then looking under "My Account," "Redeem Points," or by searching the help section for "Transfer Points."
How to combine Marriott Bonvoy points from different accounts?
To combine points, one member logs into their account and initiates a transfer of points to another member's account. The recipient member's points are then effectively combined with the transferred points.
How to check the status of a Marriott Bonvoy point transfer?
For member-to-member transfers, they are often instant. For airline transfers, you can sometimes see the status in your Marriott Bonvoy account activity. If not, you may need to wait the stated processing time (typically 2-7 business days) or contact customer service.
How to transfer Marriott points to United Airlines with the best bonus?
Transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United MileagePlus. You will receive 20,000 United miles (3:1 ratio) plus an additional 10,000 bonus miles from the RewardsPlus partnership, totaling 30,000 United miles.
How to ensure my Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to an airline quickly?
Ensure the names and account numbers precisely match between your Marriott Bonvoy account and your airline loyalty account. While transfers can take up to 7 business days, accuracy in details can help avoid delays.
How to avoid issues when transferring Marriott points between family members?
Double-check that both accounts meet the activity requirements (30 days with activity or 90 days without), and that the recipient's full name and Bonvoy number are entered exactly as they appear on their account.
How to calculate the value of Marriott points when transferring to airline miles?
Divide the cash cost of a flight you want to book by the number of airline miles required. Then, compare this value to the estimated cash value of the Marriott points you would use for the transfer (e.g., 60,000 Marriott points = ~$420-$540).
How to transfer Marriott points if the online option isn't working?
If you encounter issues with the online transfer tool, you can call Marriott Bonvoy Customer Service at +1-800-627-7468 (or your regional number) to complete the transfer over the phone.
How to maximize the bonus when transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to airline partners?
Always aim to transfer in increments of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This will trigger the additional 5,000 bonus miles (or 10,000 for United), significantly improving your effective conversion rate.
