Last Updated: October 28, 2026
Most Membership Rewards points are worth roughly twice as much when sent to an airline as when sent to a hotel program, and a 35% bonus does not fully close that gap. The Amex Marriott transfer bonus of 35% is useful in narrow cases, mainly topping off a specific Marriott booking, and a poor reason to move a large balance.
The Amex to Marriott 35% Transfer Bonus Explained
The current offer turns 1,000 Membership Rewards points into 1,350 Marriott Bonvoy points. It runs through December 10, 2026, and it is best treated as a way to cover a shortfall, not as a reason to empty an account.
Secondary sites differ on the start date. AwardWallet and Upgraded Points report October 20, while NerdWallet lists October 25. Check the ratio on the Amex transfer screen before submitting anything.
Key terms:
Base ratio: 1:1, so the bonus adds 350 points per 1,000 transferred.
Increments: Transfers go in blocks of 1,000 points. The reported maximum is 999,000 Membership Rewards points per transaction.
Eligibility: U.S. Membership Rewards accounts with linked cards that are open and in good standing. Certain legacy-only or checking-only arrangements are excluded, and Amex can change or end the offer.
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Elite status: Bonus points do not count toward Marriott elite qualification.
Reversibility: Transferred points cannot be returned to Membership Rewards.
Repeat use: The bonus applies to eligible transfers during the promotion window, subject to the per-transaction cap. Confirm the ratio on each transfer screen.
Timing: Amex states transfers can take 48 to 72 hours. AwardWallet’s tracking shows many finish in under an hour.
Related reading: Marriott and Hilton transfer bonuses in October 2026 covers how this offer sits alongside others.
Effective Transfer Ratio With the Bonus
The effective ratio is 1 Amex point to 1.35 Bonvoy points. Multiply any Membership Rewards balance by 1.35 and round down to the nearest 1,000-point transfer block.
Value depends on which cents-per-point estimate is used:
AwardWallet: About 0.93 cents per Bonvoy point, or roughly 1.26 cents per Amex point after the bonus.
The Points Guy (October 2026): 0.75 cents per Bonvoy point, so 1,000 Amex points become about $10.13 of hotel value.
Upgraded Points: 0.7 cents per Bonvoy point, so 1,000 Amex points become about $9.45 of hotel value.
Rule of thumb: After the bonus, expect about 1 cent of hotel value per Amex point. Treat 1.26 cents as an optimistic case that needs a good redemption.
Break-Even Math: Bonvoy Value vs Airline Transfer Value
The bonus turns a roughly 0.7 to 0.9 cent Bonvoy point into about 1 to 1.26 cents per Amex point. Many airline transfers return more than that, so the hotel route usually loses on value.
Benchmarks:
AwardWallet reports an average Membership Rewards redemption of about 2.04 cents per point among its users.
Upgraded Points values Membership Rewards at 2.2 cents per point. At that rate, 1,000 points worth $22 become Bonvoy points worth about $9.45, a decline of roughly 57% in theoretical value.
Use this formula for any Marriott award:
(Cash price minus taxes and fees avoided) divided by Bonvoy points required = cents per Bonvoy point
Then divide by 1.35 to get cents per Amex point. A stay valued at 0.9 cents per Bonvoy point equals about 1.2 cents per Amex point.
Decision rule:
Below roughly 0.7 to 0.9 cents per Bonvoy point, pay cash. Paid stays also earn points and elite night credit.
Above 1.5 cents per Amex point (about 2 cents per Bonvoy point), the transfer is competitive with typical airline outcomes.
If a premium cabin award is available, compare it first. See Amex transfer partners ranked for 2026 and the Membership Rewards transfer partners guide.
Marriott Redemptions Where the Bonus Makes Sense
The bonus works best when it fills a gap on a booking that already offers strong value, such as a fifth night free or a high-priced property on a peak date.
Best for:
Stay for 5, Pay for 4: Award stays of five or more nights get the fifth night free, which cuts the effective cost by 20%. Details are in the Marriott 5th night free guide.
Peak-date stays: Cash rates spike while award prices move less, which can push value well past 1 cent per point.
Top-offs: A traveler 15,000 points short on a free night can transfer 12,000 Amex points and receive 16,200 Bonvoy points.
Free night awards: Extra points can cover the gap on a Marriott free night award that falls just short of a desired property.
Example (assumptions: illustrative): A five-night stay priced at 40,000 points per night with a cash rate of $400 costs 160,000 points with the fifth night free. That is $2,000 of cash value at roughly 1.25 cents per Bonvoy point, or about 0.93 cents per Amex point. Even that strong case does not beat a typical airline redemption.
When You Should Not Transfer
Skip the transfer when airline partners offer better value, when award space is unconfirmed, or when the stay is cheap enough to pay in cash.
Not for:
Holders planning premium cabin flights, where Amex points often return 2 cents or more.
Travelers chasing elite status, since bonus points do not count toward qualification.
Anyone without a specific booking. Transfers are one-way and Bonvoy points can lose value.
Travelers who need flexibility. Membership Rewards can go to many airlines, while Bonvoy points stay in Bonvoy.
Common pitfalls:
Transferring before confirming award space. Neither Amex nor Marriott guarantees availability.
Ignoring devaluation risk. Read Marriott Bonvoy points devaluation 2026 before holding a large balance.
Comparing only against points, not against cash. Cash stays earn points and elite credit.
A stronger option for Chase holders is covered in Chase to Marriott 55% transfer bonus 2026.
How to Transfer and Time the Booking
Confirm the award is bookable first, then transfer only the amount needed, rounded up to the next 1,000-point block.
Step by step:
Search Marriott’s site for the exact dates and note the points price.
Calculate the cash comparison using the formula above.
Check your Bonvoy balance and compute the shortfall.
Divide the shortfall by 1.35 and round up to the next 1,000.
Open the Amex transfer page and confirm the 35% bonus is displayed.
Submit the transfer, then book once points post.
Timing notes:
The window closes December 10, 2026. Hold decisions for holiday travel before then.
Transfers often post quickly but can take up to 72 hours, so avoid last-minute bookings.
Standard Marriott award rates can change, so book once points arrive.
For broader timing logic, read transfer bonuses: when to transfer and when to wait.
FAQ
Is the Amex Marriott 35% transfer bonus worth it?
Only in specific cases. After the bonus, Amex points yield about 1 to 1.26 cents in hotel value, below typical airline redemptions.
What is the maximum transfer?
Reported limits are 1,000 minimum and 999,000 Membership Rewards points per transaction, in 1,000-point increments.
Do bonus points count toward elite status?
No. Bonus points do not count toward Marriott elite qualification.
Do all Amex cards qualify?
Eligible U.S. Membership Rewards accounts with open linked cards in good standing qualify. Some legacy-only or checking-only arrangements are excluded.
Can transferred points be sent back?
No. Transfers to Marriott are final.
Conclusion
The Amex Marriott transfer bonus of 35% is a top-off tool. At about 1 to 1.26 cents per Amex point, it trails the roughly 2 cent average Membership Rewards value, so most balances belong with airline partners.
Next steps:
Price a specific Marriott stay and run the cents-per-point formula.
Compare against airline options before transferring.
Transfer only the shortfall, in 1,000-point blocks, before December 10, 2026.
Content on Award Travel Hub is independently created by Award Travel Hub Editorial Desk and, where noted, reviewed by Award Travel Hub Review Desk. Some pages may contain affiliate links, but compensation does not determine our coverage, opinions, or methodology.
