Transferring Marriott Bonvoy Points to Airline Miles
- Noboundlife
- May 19
- 9 min read
Marriott Bonvoy enables members to transfer their hotel points into airline miles across 39 different loyalty programs. If you find yourself with a surplus of Bonvoy points and are unsure how to use them, it might be worth exploring the option of converting those points into miles rather than reserving them for future hotel stays.
However, converting hotel points into airline miles is most beneficial when you have a clear redemption goal in mind. Depending on your travel plans and priorities, this strategy could be a smart move, but it’s essential to evaluate whether it aligns with your specific needs before making the transfer.
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What is Marriott Bonvoy Points transfer to Airline Miles Feature?
Marriott’s longstanding partnerships with airlines offer members a variety of flexible options. For instance, you can opt to earn airline miles instead of hotel points on eligible stays, and you can even convert miles from certain airline loyalty programs into Marriott Bonvoy points.
Yet, the most compelling feature is the ability to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles. This unique benefit opens up a world of possibilities for travelers looking to maximize their rewards across both hotel and airline loyalty programs.
Among hotel loyalty programs, the ability to convert hotel points into airline miles isn’t exclusive to Marriott Bonvoy. However, Marriott stands out among major hotel chains by offering the most favorable transfer rates.
In most cases, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to airline miles at a 3:1 ratio. The only exception is Air New Zealand’s AirPoints Dollars, which has a less favorable rate of 200:1.
In contrast, Hilton Honors also allows point transfers to airline miles, but at a much less advantageous 10:1 ratio.
For instance, transferring 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Air France KLM Flying Blue would yield 10,000 Flying Blue miles.
Additionally, Marriott offers an extra perk: when you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points at once, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus with nearly all airline partners.
For example, transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Air Canada Aeroplan would give you 25,000 Aeroplan points—20,000 from the standard 3:1 transfer rate and an extra 5,000 as a bonus for converting 60,000 points. This makes Marriott’s program particularly appealing for travelers looking to maximize their rewards.
Here’s the complete list of airline loyalty programs to which you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points:
1. Aegean Airlines – Miles+Bonus
2. Aer Lingus – AerClub
3. Aeromexico – ClubPremier
4. Air Canada – Aeroplan
5. Air China – PhoenixMiles
6. Air France KLM – Flying Blue
7. Air New Zealand – AirPoints
8. Alaska Airlines – Mileage Plan
9. American Airlines – AAdvantage
10. ANA – Mileage Club
11. Asiana Airlines – Asiana Club
12. Avianca – LifeMiles
13. British Airways – Executive Club
14. Cathay Pacific – Asia Miles
15. China Southern Airlines – Sky Pearl Club
16. Copa Airlines – ConnectMiles
17. Delta Air Lines – SkyMiles
18. Emirates – Skywards
19. Etihad Airways – Etihad Guest
20. Frontier Airlines – Frontier Miles
21. Hainan Airlines – Fortune Wings Club
22. Hawaiian Airlines – HawaiianMiles
23. Iberia – Iberia Plus
24. InterMiles
25. Japan Airlines – JAL Mileage Bank
26. LATAM Airlines – LATAM Pass
27. Multiplus Fidelidade – LATAM Pass
28. Qantas – Frequent Flyer
29. Qatar Airways – Privilege Club
30. Saudia – Alfursan
31. Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer
32. Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards
33. TAP Air Portugal – Miles&Go
34. Thai Airways – Royal Orchid Plus
35. Turkish Airlines – Miles&Smiles
36. United Airlines – MileagePlus
37. Virgin Atlantic – Flying Club
38. Virgin Australia – Velocity Frequent Flyer
39. Vueling – Vueling Club
This extensive list provides Marriott Bonvoy members with a wide range of options to convert their points into airline miles, catering to various travel preferences and destinations.
It’s important to note that not all airline programs offer the bonus 5,000 miles when transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Specifically, the following three airline programs do not provide this bonus, and you’ll only receive the standard 3:1 transfer ratio, regardless of the number of points transferred:
1. American Airlines AAdvantage
2. Avianca LifeMiles
3. Delta SkyMiles
Additionally, if you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points to **Air New Zealand AirPoints Dollars**, you won’t receive the 5,000-mile bonus either. This is due to the unique 200:1 transfer ratio structure. Instead, you’ll receive a 25% bonus in AirPoints Dollars. For example, transferring 60,000 Bonvoy points would typically yield 300 AirPoints Dollars, but with the bonus, you’ll receive **375 AirPoints Dollars**.
This distinction is crucial to keep in mind when planning your point transfers, as the bonus structure varies depending on the airline program.
Lastly, Marriott Bonvoy has a special partnership with United MileagePlus, the loyalty program for United Airlines. Instead of the standard bonus of 5,000 miles, you’ll receive 10,000 United miles if you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points at one time.
With the transfer bonus for converting 60,000 Bonvoy points at a time taken into consideration, you’ll end up with a stronger transfer ratio of 2.4:1 to most airlines, or 2:1 to United MileagePlus.
Therefore, if you plan to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles, it’s best to do so in increments of 60,000 points. This way, you’ll benefit from the strongest transfer rate, with the exception of the three loyalty programs that don’t benefit from the bonus, as well as Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars.
Keep in mind that you have to transfer a minimum of 3,000 Bonvoy points to airline miles, and you can only transfer up to 240,000 Bonvoy points per day.
Another stipulation is that the names on both your Marriott Bonvoy account and the airline loyalty program to which you transfer points must match.
If you want to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to someone else’s airline loyalty program account, you’ll have to first transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to their Marriott Bonvoy account.
As per Marriott’s website, points transferred to miles will be posted to your frequent flyer account within seven business days.
It’s worth noting that some transfers may post sooner, but if you need miles for an immediate booking, you shouldn’t rely on the miles to show up right away.
How to transfer Marriott Points to Airline Miles?
Before starting the transfer process, ensure you have an account with the airline loyalty program you want to transfer points to. If you need to create one, make sure the name on both your Marriott Bonvoy and airline accounts matches exactly.
Here’s how to proceed:
1. Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and go to the “Transfer Points to Miles” page.
2. Scroll down to find the “Transfer Points” button and click it.
3. Select your preferred frequent flyer program from the drop-down menu and enter your airline loyalty program account number in the provided field.
4. Choose the number of Bonvoy points** you’d like to convert.
5. Click “Continue” to finalize the transfer.
Following these steps ensures a smooth and accurate transfer of your Marriott Bonvoy points to airline miles.
When you enter the number of Bonvoy points you’d like to convert, the corresponding number of miles will automatically populate in the “Miles” field. However, if you’re transferring 60,000 points to an airline program that qualifies for the 5,000-mile bonus, the calculator will only display 20,000 miles initially.
Rest assured, the bonus miles will still be added to your account after the transfer is completed—unless you’re transferring to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, or Delta SkyMiles, as these programs do not offer the bonus.
This means that for eligible programs, transferring 60,000 Bonvoy points will ultimately give you 25,000 miles (20,000 from the standard 3:1 ratio plus the 5,000-mile bonus). Always double-check the terms of your chosen airline program to confirm whether the bonus applies.
Should you transfer Marriott Points to Airline Miles?
Deciding whether to convert Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles ultimately depends on how much you value Bonvoy points and your personal travel preferences.
We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.6 cents per point (USD). Based on this valuation, you’d want to ensure that the airline miles you receive are worth at least 1.8 cents (USD) per mile to make the transfer worthwhile.
It’s also important to note that you can often achieve excellent value by redeeming Bonvoy points for hotel stays. However, if you don’t typically use your points for hotel stays, converting them into airline miles can be a viable option—as long as you have a specific redemption plan in mind.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your travel goals and how you prefer to maximize the value of your rewards.
Loyalty programs frequently undergo changes, often unexpectedly, and flight award availability can shift rapidly. As a result, you wouldn't want to keep all your miles in one program, risking the chance to redeem them for good value if the program alters or if an award seat becomes unavailable.
Additionally, once you transfer your Bonvoy points to airline miles, you can't revert them at the same rate. Once they're out of your Bonvoy account, they become less flexible since they're subject to the airline loyalty program's limitations.
For these reasons, it's wise to have a specific redemption in mind before transferring your points.
Accessing Sweet Spots in Difficult-to-Reach Programs
One of the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy's airline transfer program is the extensive selection of 39 transfer partners available.
Many of these airline partners are not easily accessible through other transferable points programs, as they either do not participate in transfers or offer less favorable transfer ratios.
For example, some airline loyalty programs are simply difficult to access.
On both sides of the border, American Airlines AAdvantage miles are also relatively difficult to come by. To access some of the program’s sweet spots, such as booking Qatar Airways Qsuites from North America to Asia and Africa, you could consider transferring Marriott Bonvoy points into AAdvantage miles.
Or, if you’ve ever had your eyes on Etihad Apartments – one of the most exclusive aviation experiences out there – you could convert 187,500 Bonvoy points into 62,500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, and book Etihad Apartments from Abu Dhabi to London.
Consequently, if you're aiming for a desirable redemption with a program that is challenging for you to access, you might think about converting your Bonvoy points into airline miles. This can open up a new flying experience that would otherwise be unavailable to you.
Top Up Your Account
Another possible use for converting Bonvoy points into airline miles is to supplement your account for a booking.
If you've depleted all your points from other transferable currencies or through credit card spending, converting Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles can help you reach a sufficient balance for a redemption.
For instance, if you want to redeem for ANA business class through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for a trip from the Eastern United States to Japan, it will cost 60,000 Virgin Points.
If you have 50,000 Virgin Points in your Flying Club account, you would need an additional 10,000 points to complete the redemption. If you have 30,000 Bonvoy points available, you could transfer them to your Flying Club account at a 3:1 ratio, allowing you to finalize your booking.
It's important to note that many airline loyalty programs offer the option to purchase points directly, so it’s advisable to compare both options to determine which is the best choice for you.
Additionally, some airline loyalty programs permit award holds, allowing you to temporarily secure an award seat while you transfer points into your account to finalize the booking.
Transferring to United MileagePlus
With an effective 2:1 transfer rate when converting 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points into United miles, it’s worth considering boosting the balance in your United MileagePlus account.
For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you’ll receive 30,000 United miles.
However, it's important to mention that due to a recent global devaluation, award prices through United MileagePlus are significantly less competitive compared to booking the same flights through other Star Alliance loyalty programs like Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a better use for your Bonvoy points, you might consider converting them into United miles for flight redemptions.
For example, 30,000 United miles can be used for a one-way economy flight between the United States and Europe, or you could book several short-haul domestic flights for as little as 5,400 miles.
Conclusion
In addition to hotel redemptions, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to 39 different airline loyalty programs. The standard transfer rate is 3:1, and most airlines offer an additional 5,000 bonus miles when you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points.
Some optimal uses include gaining access to loyalty programs that are otherwise hard to reach, topping up your account for a redemption, or taking advantage of the favorable transfer ratio to United MileagePlus.
Just be sure to have a specific plan for the miles before transferring points from your Marriott Bonvoy account, as the transaction cannot be reversed once completed.
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