Difference between revisions of "Transferring marriott points to frequent flyer programs"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|marriott airline}} (2018)}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|marriott airline}} (2019)}}
 
{{Page|article|Card Strategies|transferable points}}  
 
{{Page|article|Card Strategies|transferable points}}  
  
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<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
While it is a hotel program, Marriott / SPG has very attractive transfer rates to dozens of different frequent flyer programs, and therefore can be used like the big three transferable credit card point programs (Chase’s Ultimate Rewards, Amex’s Membership Rewards, and Citi’s ThankYou Rewards).
+
While it is a hotel program, Marriott has very attractive transfer rates to dozens of different frequent flyer programs, and therefore can be used like the big three transferable credit card point programs (Chase’s Ultimate Rewards, Amex’s Membership Rewards, and Citi’s ThankYou Rewards).
 
</blockquote>  
 
</blockquote>  
  
Marriott / SPG partners with (by far) the most airline partners and provides a 25% bonus when you transfer blocks of points. You can often get more value by transferring your Marriott points to use for frequent flyer tickets, than you would be using them for free hotel rooms.  
+
Marriott partners with (by far) the most airline partners and provides a 25% bonus when you transfer blocks of 60,000 points at a time. You can often get more value by transferring your Marriott points to use for frequent flyer tickets, than you would by using them for free hotel rooms.  
  
 
However, it is significantly harder to earn Marriott points, than it is to earn Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rewards, and ThankYou Rewards points.  
 
However, it is significantly harder to earn Marriott points, than it is to earn Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rewards, and ThankYou Rewards points.  
  
The other potential drawback of the program is that transfers to frequent flyer programs can take a couple of days, and sometimes much longer. This delay can cause you to miss the opportunity to book available award space, and in the worst cases, strand your points in an airline program you no longer want to take advantage of.  
+
The other potential drawback of the program is that transfers to frequent flyer programs can take a couple of days, and sometimes much longer. This delay can cause you to miss the opportunity to book available award space, and in the worst case, strand your points in an airline program you no longer want to take advantage of.  
  
 
{{TOC}}
 
{{TOC}}
 
*[[#Airline transfer partners|Airline transfer partners]]
 
*[[#Airline transfer partners|Airline transfer partners]]
*[[#Transfers basics|Transfers basics]]
+
*[[#Transfer basics|Transfers basics]]
*[[#Marriott / SPG credit cards|Marriott / SPG credit cards]]
 
*[[#Point transfers and expiration|Point transfers and expiration]]
 
 
{{/TOC}}
 
{{/TOC}}
  
 
{{Main|article}}
 
{{Main|article}}
 
=== Airline transfer partners ===
 
=== Airline transfer partners ===
 
'''Most airline transfers take a few days'''. However, some transfers can take much longer. This makes it difficult to take advantage of limited award availability, when compared to programs like Ultimate Rewards, where transfer happen instantly. By the time the points make it to the partner, the award space may no longer be available. Your miles can become stranded with the partner program, because you can’t transfer the points back to Marriott. You can try to put a "hold" on your tickets, but this isn't always possible.
 
  
 
'''Airlines occasionally offers promotions where you can temporarily get extra miles from your Marriott points''' (beyond the normal 25,000 miles for 60,000 points bonus).  {{Link|transfer bonuses}}.  
 
'''Airlines occasionally offers promotions where you can temporarily get extra miles from your Marriott points''' (beyond the normal 25,000 miles for 60,000 points bonus).  {{Link|transfer bonuses}}.  
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!style='width: 25%;'|Other
 
!style='width: 25%;'|Other
 
|-  
 
|-  
|'''Air Canada'''
+
|'''United''' (10% bonus)
 +
 
 +
'''Air Canada''' (Aeroplan)
  
 
'''Singapore Airlines''' (Kris Flyer)
 
'''Singapore Airlines''' (Kris Flyer)
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'''Lufthansa''' (Miles and More)
 
'''Lufthansa''' (Miles and More)
 +
 +
'''Aegean'''
  
 
'''Air China'''
 
'''Air China'''
  
'''Thai Airways'''
+
'''Air New Zealand''' (200:1)
 +
 
 +
'''COPA'''
 +
 
 +
'''South African'''
  
'''Aegean'''
+
'''TAP Air Portugal'''
  
'''Air New Zealand''' (65:1)
+
'''Thai Airways'''
  
'''United''' (2:1)
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'''Turkish Airlines'''
  
 
|'''Delta'''
 
|'''Delta'''
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'''Korean Air'''
 
'''Korean Air'''
 +
 +
'''Aeroflot'''
 +
 +
'''Aeromexico'''
  
 
'''Alitalia'''
 
'''Alitalia'''
  
 
'''China Eastern'''
 
'''China Eastern'''
 +
 +
'''China Southern'''
  
 
'''Saudia'''
 
'''Saudia'''
  
'''Aeromexico'''
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|'''American'''
 
|'''American'''
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'''LATAM''' (South American)
 
'''LATAM''' (South American)
  
'''Virgin Atlantic'''
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'''Qantas'''
  
 
'''Qatar Airways'''
 
'''Qatar Airways'''
  
 
|'''Alaska'''
 
|'''Alaska'''
 +
 +
'''Southwest'''
 +
 +
'''JetBlue''' (6:1)
  
 
'''Hawaiian'''
 
'''Hawaiian'''
 +
 +
'''Frontier'''
 
   
 
   
 
'''Emirates'''
 
'''Emirates'''
  
 
'''Etihad'''
 
'''Etihad'''
 +
 +
'''Virgin Atlantic'''
 
   
 
   
''Virgin Australia''
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'''Virgin Australia'''
 
   
 
   
'''GOL''' (2:1)
 
 
 
'''Hainan Airlines''' (China)
 
'''Hainan Airlines''' (China)
 
   
 
   
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{{/Table}}
 
{{/Table}}
  
=== Transferring to airlines via Marriott ===
+
=== Transfers basics ===
  
Marriott currently has its own program where you can transfer points to airline partners.  
+
<ul class="bulletlist">
 +
<li>'''You'll receive 1 mile for every 3 points, with a 25% transfer bonus for blocks of 60,000 points'''. This is the same conversion rate as the old SPG program (as each SPG point transferred into 3 Marriott points), and is a better conversion rate than the old Marriott program.</li>
  
<blockquote>
+
<li>'''You can transfer between 3,000 - 240,000 points per day''' (for 1,000 - 100,000 miles).  Once you've exceeded the 3,000 point minimum, you can transfer the exact amount of points you need. If you need more than 100,000 miles, you can transfer points on subsequent dates.</li>
If you have Starwood points, you can take advantage of a few additional airline partners, by transferring to Marriott first, and then transferring Marriott points to the Airline program. In addition, you can often get better value from your Starwood points by taking advantage of Marriott’s Hotel + Air packages, rather than transferring them directly to an airline.
 
</blockquote>
 
  
Starwood to Marriott transfers happens almost immediately, but the Marriott to Airline partner transfer will take longer. We haven’t done it ourselves, and there isn’t much information on the web, but reports are that transfers to United take a couple of days. According to Marriott’s terms of use, transfers to their partners can take up to six weeks. But, they should usually take place much more quickly.  
+
<li>'''Most airline transfers take a few days or longer'''. Some transfers can take a few weeks, or in rare cases, even longer. According to the official terms, transfers can take up to six weeks. This makes it difficult to take advantage of limited award availability, when compared to programs like Ultimate Rewards, where transfer happen instantly. By the time the points make it to the partner, the award space may no longer be available. Your miles can become stranded with the partner program, because you can’t transfer the points back to Marriott. You can try to put a "hold" on your tickets, but this isn't always possible,, especially for so long.</li>
  
Apart from United Airlines, if an airline is a transfer partner of both Starwood and Marriott, it is a better deal to transfer directly from Starwood, where you’ll get 25,000 miles for every 20,000 points.  
+
For the best available information on transfer times, check out [//thepointsguy.com/guide/marriott-rewards-transfer-times/ this article] from The Points Guy.  
  
For United Airlines, transferring via Marriott is a better deal. Starwood’s normal rate for United is only 1 mile for every 2 Starpoints (rather than 1:1), and Marriott gives a special bonus on its own normal rates. The transfer rate in the table that follows is based on starting with Starpoints, and assumes you are transferring enough points to get the best conversion rate.  
+
<li>'''You can only transfer to your own frequent flyer account'''. From there you can usually purchase a ticket for someone else.</li>
  
{{Table|center|6in}}
+
<li>'''With Marriott's Hotel + Air packages you can get a discounted 7-night hotel certificate along with your miles'''. You have up to a year to use your certificate—you don't have to make the hotel reservation when you transfer your points. Under the old Marriott program these packages were incredibly lucrative. Now, they are only interesting if you can get good value from the hotel certificate. {{Link|Marriott Packages}}.</li>
!style="width: 25%;"|Star Alliance<br/>(United)
 
!style="width: 25%;"|SkyTeam<br/>(Delta)
 
!style="width: 25%;"|Oneworld<br/>(American)
 
!style="width: 25%;"|Other
 
|-
 
|'''United''' <br/>(1000:1340)
 
|'''Aeroflot''' <br/>(1000:750)
 
|'''Qantas''' <br/>(1000:750)
 
|'''Southwest''' <br/>(1000:1070)
 
|-
 
|'''COPA''' <br/>(1000:1070)
 
|''' '''
 
|''' '''
 
|'''JetBlue''' <br/>(1000:535)
 
|-
 
|'''South African Airways''' <br/>(1000:750)
 
|''' '''
 
|''' '''
 
|'''Frontier''' <br/>(1000:1070)
 
|-
 
|'''TAP Air Portugal''' <br/>(1000:750)
 
|''' '''
 
|''' '''
 
|''' '''
 
|-
 
|'''Turkish Airlines''' <br/>(1000:750)
 
|''' '''
 
|''' '''
 
|''' '''
 
{{/Table}}
 
 
 
=== Transfers under the new unified Marriott / SPG program ===
 
 
 
Starting in August, the frequent flyer transfer program will transition to a new unified Marriott / SPG program.
 
  
Points will be based on Marriott point values. You'll get 1 mile for every 3 points, with a 25% transfer bonus for blocks of 60,000 points. This is the same conversion rate as today. 20,000 SPG points will become 60,000 points in the new program, which can be transferred for the same 25,000 frequent flyer miles.  
+
<li>'''You probably don't want to use a Marriott credit card for your spending'''. Base earning rates are 2x Marriott points per dollar. Even if you can take full advantage of the 25% transfer bonus, you'll need to spend $30,000 to earn 25,000 miles (.833 miles per dollar). With the Ultimate Rewards combo or the Amex Everyday Preferred card, you can earn 1.5 Ultimate Rewards or Membership Rewards points per dollar. At that rate, you'd only need spend $16,667 to earn 25,000 miles. And you'll have many more opportunities to earn even higher reward rates on bonus category spending.</li>  
 
 
Even better, the transfer rates for the airlines that are currently only part of the Marriott program will be increased to match the other airlines, and they are adding two new programs (China Southern and El Al). For example, you'll now get 25,000 Turkish Airline miles from 60,000 points, rather than only 15,000 miles. The only downside is that United Airlines had a preferred conversion rate from Marriott, which was better than the standard SPG conversion rate, and will now be slightly lower.
 
 
 
Marriott's lucrative Hotel + Air packages will remain part of the program. However, they are being modified and simplified, so we aren't sure what will happen to their relative value. Marriott does say that they will remain a valuable option.
 
 
 
The big negative change is on the credit card earning side of the equation. Starting in August, the earning rate of the SPG credit cards changes to 2x points, from the equivalent of 3x points today. In other words, earning 25,000 miles will take $30,000 worth of spending, rather than $20,000 worth of spending. Even with today's earning rate, we felt it was better to earn 1.5x Ultimate Rearward points or 1.5x - 2x Membership Reward points with other cards. In the future, that will be even more true.
 
 
 
=== Starwood credit cards ===
 
 
 
You can freely transfer points between Starwood and Marriott. Any Marriott points in the table below are converted into their SPG values.
 
 
 
As of now, the SPG cards earn 1x SPG point (3x Marriott points), the new Marriott card earns 2x Marriott points, and the Marriott Business card earns 1x Marriott points, on non-bonus-category spending. Starting in August, the SPG cards will switch to the equivalent of 2x Marriott points (and we expect the Marriott Business card to do the same).
 
 
 
{{Table|basic|6in}}
 
!Card
 
!style="width: 1in;"|Typical Signup Bonus
 
!style="width: 2.5in;"|Bonus Categories
 
!style="width: .75in;"|Effective Annual Fee
 
|-
 
|{{Card|SPGcard|short}}
 
|25-30,000
 
|<nowiki>-</nowiki>
 
|$95
 
|-
 
|{{Card|SPGbiz|short}}
 
|25-30,000
 
|<nowiki>-</nowiki>
 
|$95
 
|-
 
|{{Card|Marriott|short}}
 
|33,333
 
|
 
|$95
 
|-
 
|{{Card|Marriottbiz|short}}
 
|26,667
 
|2/3x travel and restaurants
 
 
 
2/3x office supply and telecom
 
|$99
 
{{/Table}}
 
  
The SPG cards are issued by Amex, and you can only earn the signup bonus once per lifetime. The Marriott cards are from Chase, and you can only earn the signup bonuses once every two years. However, the personal version of the Marriott card is affected by the Chase 5/24 rule. There is a good chance that you won’t have “room” for it, as you prioritize getting other cards.  
+
While you probably don't want to generate points by using these cards for spending, transferring your Marriott points to a frequent flyer program can be a great use of points you earn from signing up for the cards.
  
'''None of these cards earn particular good rates for your credit card spending'''.
+
<li>'''On the other hand, you can transfer your Marriott points to many more frequent flyer programs'''. If you need to accumulate miles in a program that isn't associated with the main credit card programs, Marriott may be your only option. However, even then, you might be better off earning cash back with another card and simply purchasing the airline miles or Marriott points you need. For example, if you can earn 2.5% cash back or value the points you earn from other credit card at 2.5 cents per dollar, buying airline miles at up to 3 cent per dollar is a better deal than earning 2 Marriott points per dollar.</li>
  
=== Point transfers and expiration ===
+
</ul>
  
'''You can freely transfer SPG points to other people living at the same address'''. You won’t lose your Starwood or Marriott points when you cancel your credit card. However, like most other hotel and airline points, you can lose them after a period of inactivity. 
 
  
 
{{/Main|article}}  
 
{{/Main|article}}  
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{{Next|Credit Cards 101}}  
 
{{Next|Credit Cards 101}}  
 
{{Next|best offers}}
 
{{Next|best offers}}
{{Next|spg}}
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{{Next|marriott}}
 
{{/NextPages}}
 
{{/NextPages}}
 
{{/Page|article}}
 
{{/Page|article}}

Latest revision as of 01:11, 19 February 2021

  Credit Card ReferenceIntroduction to 'Transferable' Reward Points

SPGTransfer.jpg

While it is a hotel program, Marriott has very attractive transfer rates to dozens of different frequent flyer programs, and therefore can be used like the big three transferable credit card point programs (Chase’s Ultimate Rewards, Amex’s Membership Rewards, and Citi’s ThankYou Rewards).

Marriott partners with (by far) the most airline partners and provides a 25% bonus when you transfer blocks of 60,000 points at a time. You can often get more value by transferring your Marriott points to use for frequent flyer tickets, than you would by using them for free hotel rooms.

However, it is significantly harder to earn Marriott points, than it is to earn Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rewards, and ThankYou Rewards points.

The other potential drawback of the program is that transfers to frequent flyer programs can take a couple of days, and sometimes much longer. This delay can cause you to miss the opportunity to book available award space, and in the worst case, strand your points in an airline program you no longer want to take advantage of.


Airline transfer partners

Airlines occasionally offers promotions where you can temporarily get extra miles from your Marriott points (beyond the normal 25,000 miles for 60,000 points bonus). Take Advantage of Transfer Bonuses to Get More Value from Your Reward Points.

Star Alliance
{United}
SkyTeam
{Delta)
Oneworld
(American)
Other
United (10% bonus)

Air Canada (Aeroplan)

Singapore Airlines (Kris Flyer)

ANA (Japan)

Asiana

Avianca (Columbia)

Lufthansa (Miles and More)

Aegean

Air China

Air New Zealand (200:1)

COPA

South African

TAP Air Portugal

Thai Airways

Turkish Airlines

Delta

Air France / KLM (Flying Blue)

Korean Air

Aeroflot

Aeromexico

Alitalia

China Eastern

China Southern

Saudia


American

British Airways

Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles)

Japan Airlines (JAL)

Iberia

LATAM (South American)

Qantas

Qatar Airways

Alaska

Southwest

JetBlue (6:1)

Hawaiian

Frontier

Emirates

Etihad

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Australia

Hainan Airlines (China)

Jet Airways (India)

Transfers basics

  • You'll receive 1 mile for every 3 points, with a 25% transfer bonus for blocks of 60,000 points. This is the same conversion rate as the old SPG program (as each SPG point transferred into 3 Marriott points), and is a better conversion rate than the old Marriott program.
  • You can transfer between 3,000 - 240,000 points per day (for 1,000 - 100,000 miles). Once you've exceeded the 3,000 point minimum, you can transfer the exact amount of points you need. If you need more than 100,000 miles, you can transfer points on subsequent dates.
  • Most airline transfers take a few days or longer. Some transfers can take a few weeks, or in rare cases, even longer. According to the official terms, transfers can take up to six weeks. This makes it difficult to take advantage of limited award availability, when compared to programs like Ultimate Rewards, where transfer happen instantly. By the time the points make it to the partner, the award space may no longer be available. Your miles can become stranded with the partner program, because you can’t transfer the points back to Marriott. You can try to put a "hold" on your tickets, but this isn't always possible,, especially for so long.
  • For the best available information on transfer times, check out this article from The Points Guy.

  • You can only transfer to your own frequent flyer account. From there you can usually purchase a ticket for someone else.
  • With Marriott's Hotel + Air packages you can get a discounted 7-night hotel certificate along with your miles. You have up to a year to use your certificate—you don't have to make the hotel reservation when you transfer your points. Under the old Marriott program these packages were incredibly lucrative. Now, they are only interesting if you can get good value from the hotel certificate. Use Marriott Hotel + Air Packages to Get More Value From Your Points.
  • You probably don't want to use a Marriott credit card for your spending. Base earning rates are 2x Marriott points per dollar. Even if you can take full advantage of the 25% transfer bonus, you'll need to spend $30,000 to earn 25,000 miles (.833 miles per dollar). With the Ultimate Rewards combo or the Amex Everyday Preferred card, you can earn 1.5 Ultimate Rewards or Membership Rewards points per dollar. At that rate, you'd only need spend $16,667 to earn 25,000 miles. And you'll have many more opportunities to earn even higher reward rates on bonus category spending.
  • While you probably don't want to generate points by using these cards for spending, transferring your Marriott points to a frequent flyer program can be a great use of points you earn from signing up for the cards.

  • On the other hand, you can transfer your Marriott points to many more frequent flyer programs. If you need to accumulate miles in a program that isn't associated with the main credit card programs, Marriott may be your only option. However, even then, you might be better off earning cash back with another card and simply purchasing the airline miles or Marriott points you need. For example, if you can earn 2.5% cash back or value the points you earn from other credit card at 2.5 cents per dollar, buying airline miles at up to 3 cent per dollar is a better deal than earning 2 Marriott points per dollar.





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