
Last updated: February 2026
Three credit card programs transfer points directly to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Bilt Rewards. From there, Marriott Bonvoy points can transfer out to nearly 40 airline partners, but at a steep 3:1 ratio (with a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points for most airlines). Understanding how Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners work on both sides—points flowing in and miles flowing out—is essential before making any irreversible transfer.
This matters because Marriott sits at a unique crossroads in the points ecosystem. It’s one of the few hotel programs that connects to dozens of airline frequent flyer programs, some of which aren’t reachable through any bank’s transferable points. But the math rarely favors transferring to Marriott just to transfer out to airlines. The real value lies in knowing when it does make sense and when you’re better off keeping points where they are.
Key Takeaways
- Three bank programs transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at 1:1: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Bilt Rewards. Capital One, Citi, and others do not transfer directly (per the ATH transfer table).
- Airline transfers from Marriott use a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus when transferring 60,000 Bonvoy points at once (effectively ~2.6:1 for that tranche).
- Transfers to airlines are irreversible and take 1–7 days, so confirm award availability before initiating.
- Marriott’s airline partner list includes programs unavailable through major banks, such as Japan Airlines Mileage Bank and American AAdvantage (via points transfer), making it a niche but valuable bridge.
- In most cases, keeping Bonvoy points for hotel stays (especially the Fifth Night Free benefit) delivers better value than converting them to airline miles.
Quick Answer: Which Credit Card Programs Transfer to Marriott Bonvoy?
Only three major credit card point currencies can be transferred directly to Marriott Bonvoy. All three transfer at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1,000 credit card points become 1,000 Bonvoy points.
| Credit Card Program | Transfers to Marriott Bonvoy? | Transfer Ratio | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | ✅ Yes | 1:1 | Instant to 1 day |
| Amex Membership Rewards | ✅ Yes | 1:1 | Instant to 2 days |
| Bilt Rewards | ✅ Yes | 1:1 | Instant to 1 day |
| Capital One Miles | ❌ No direct transfer (per ATH table) | — | — |
| Citi ThankYou Points | ❌ No direct transfer (per ATH table) | — | — |
| Wells Fargo Rewards | ❌ No direct transfer (per ATH table) | — | — |
| Rove Miles | ❌ No direct transfer (per ATH table) | — | — |
For a full comparison of which bank programs transfer to which partners, see the complete credit card transfer partners guide.
Common mistake: Assuming Capital One or Citi points can reach Marriott. They cannot. If you hold points in those programs and need Bonvoy points, your only option is earning them directly through Marriott stays, co-branded cards, or shopping portals.
How Marriott Bonvoy Fits Into the Transfer Partner Ecosystem
Marriott Bonvoy operates as both a destination for transferable points and a source for airline mile transfers. This dual role makes it unusual among hotel loyalty programs.
Points flowing in: Chase, Amex, and Bilt all treat Marriott Bonvoy as a hotel transfer partner alongside programs like Hilton Honors and Hyatt (World of Hyatt). The 1:1 ratio is straightforward—no conversion loss on the way in.
Points flowing out: Marriott maintains partnerships with roughly 40 airline frequent flyer programs. The standard outbound transfer ratio is 3:1 (3 Bonvoy points = 1 airline mile), but transferring in increments of 60,000 Bonvoy points earns a 5,000-mile bonus per block. This means 60,000 Bonvoy points become 25,000 airline miles rather than 20,000.
This two-step process (bank → Marriott → airline) is where many travelers lose value. Transferring 60,000 Chase points directly to United yields 60,000 United miles. Running those same points through Marriott first yields only 25,000 United miles. That’s a 58% value loss. The math only works when Marriott provides access to an airline program you can’t reach any other way, or when you’re topping off an existing airline balance.
For deeper dives into how each bank’s transfer options compare, explore the Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners guide or the Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners guide.
Marriott Bonvoy Airline Transfer Partners: The Full List
Marriott Bonvoy connects to nearly 40 airline loyalty programs. The standard transfer ratio is 3:1 for most partners, though a few exceptions apply.
Standard 3:1 Partners (with 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points)
These are the most commonly used airline transfer partners. Transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points and receive 25,000 airline miles:
| Airline Program | Alliance | Transfer Ratio | Bonus per 60K |
|---|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | Star Alliance | 3:1 | 5,000 + 10,000* |
| American AAdvantage | Oneworld | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Delta SkyMiles | SkyTeam | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Alaska Mileage Plan | Oneworld | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| British Airways Avios | Oneworld | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Star Alliance | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Emirates Skywards | Independent | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Japan Airlines (JAL) | Oneworld | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Oneworld | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | SkyTeam | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| ANA Mileage Club | Star Alliance | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Star Alliance | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Etihad Guest | Independent | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Iberia Plus Avios | Oneworld | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | SkyTeam | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Star Alliance | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Oneworld | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Star Alliance | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Aeromexico Club Premier | SkyTeam | 3:1 | 5,000 |
| Frontier Miles | Independent | 3:1 | 5,000 |
This is a partial list. Marriott’s full partner roster includes additional regional carriers and programs. The table above covers the partners most relevant to U.S.-based travelers.
*United MileagePlus exception: United receives an additional 10,000-mile bonus per 60,000 Bonvoy points (total: 30,000 miles for 60,000 Bonvoy points), making it the best-ratio airline partner at an effective 2:1 rate. This is a well-known sweet spot.
Decision rule: If you must transfer Bonvoy points to an airline, United MileagePlus should be the default choice unless you specifically need miles in another program. The 2:1 effective ratio is significantly better than the 2.4:1 ratio offered by all other partners.
When Does Transferring Points to Marriott Bonvoy Make Sense?
Transferring bank points to Marriott Bonvoy makes sense in a few specific scenarios. Outside of these, keeping points in their original currency is almost always the better move.
Scenario 1: Topping Off for a Hotel Redemption
You need 45,000 Bonvoy points for a hotel night, but you only have 30,000 in your Marriott account. Transferring 15,000 Chase or Amex points at 1:1 fills the gap without overspending. This is the most common and defensible use case.
Scenario 2: Fifth Night Free on Award Stays
Marriott’s Fifth Night Free benefit means booking five consecutive award nights costs only four nights’ worth of points. If you’re short on Bonvoy points for a five-night stay, transferring in from a bank program can unlock substantial savings. On a property charging 50,000 points per night, five nights cost 200,000 points instead of 250,000—a 20% discount that makes the transfer math more attractive.
Scenario 3: Accessing a Niche Airline Partner
Marriott connects to airline programs like Japan Airlines Mileage Bank and American AAdvantage, which aren’t direct transfer partners for all bank programs. If you hold Bilt points and need JAL miles for a specific award, Marriott is one possible bridge (Bilt → Marriott → JAL), though the 3:1 ratio still applies.
When It Doesn’t Make Sense
- Transferring bank points through Marriott to reach an airline you could transfer to directly. Chase transfers to United at 1:1. Going Chase → Marriott → United turns 60,000 points into 30,000 miles instead of 60,000. Never do this.
- Speculative transfers. Bonvoy points sitting in your Marriott account without a plan lose flexibility. Bank points can go to dozens of partners; Marriott points can only go to Marriott hotels or airline partners at a poor ratio.
- Small transfers to airlines. The 5,000-mile bonus only kicks in at 60,000-point increments. Transferring 30,000 Bonvoy points yields only 10,000 airline miles (3:1, no bonus).
The Value Math: How to Calculate Whether a Transfer Is Worth It
Before transferring points anywhere, run the numbers. Here’s a concrete example using the Award Travel Hub calculators.
Example: Transferring Chase Points to Marriott for a Hotel Stay
Scenario: A Marriott Courtyard property shows an award night at 35,000 Bonvoy points. The same room costs $175 per night in cash.
Cents per point (CPP) calculation:
Cash price ÷ Points required = CPP
$175 ÷ 35,000 = 0.50 CPP
At 0.50 CPP, this is a below-average redemption. Most valuations place Bonvoy points around 0.7 CPP, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points are generally valued at 1.5–2.0 CPP when transferred to airline partners for premium cabin awards. Transferring Chase points to Marriott for this stay would destroy value.
Now consider a different scenario: A Marriott Ritz-Carlton property at 70,000 points per night, with a cash rate of $650.
$650 ÷ 70,000 = 0.93 CPP
Better, but still below what Chase points can achieve through direct airline transfers. However, if you apply Fifth Night Free on a five-night stay:
($650 × 5) ÷ (70,000 × 4) = $3,250 ÷ 280,000 = 1.16 CPP
Now the math starts working, especially if you value the hotel stay itself and don’t have a competing airline redemption in mind.
Rule of thumb: Transferring bank points to Marriott is generally worth it when the hotel redemption exceeds 0.8 CPP, you don’t have a higher-value airline redemption competing for those same points, and you’re using the Fifth Night Free benefit.
How to Transfer Points to Marriott Bonvoy (Step-by-Step)
The transfer process is straightforward, but a few details matter.
From Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Log in to your Chase account and navigate to Ultimate Rewards.
- Select Transfer Points from the menu.
- Choose Marriott Bonvoy from the hotel partner list.
- Enter the number of points to transfer (minimum: 1,000).
- Confirm your Marriott Bonvoy member number.
- Submit. Transfers typically process instantly or within one business day.
From Amex Membership Rewards
- Log in to your Amex account and go to Membership Rewards.
- Click Transfer Points.
- Select Marriott Bonvoy under hotel partners.
- Enter the transfer amount.
- Confirm your Bonvoy number and submit.
- Processing: usually instant, occasionally up to two business days.
From Bilt Rewards
- Open the Bilt app or log in online.
- Navigate to Transfer Points.
- Select Marriott Bonvoy.
- Enter the amount and confirm your Bonvoy member number.
- Submit. Typically processes within one business day.
For a full breakdown of Bilt’s transfer options, see the Bilt Rewards transfer partners guide.
Important: All transfers from bank programs to Marriott are irreversible. You cannot move points back to Chase, Amex, or Bilt once transferred. Confirm you have a specific use in mind before initiating.
How to Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Airlines
Outbound transfers from Marriott to airline partners follow a separate process.
- Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account at marriott.com.
- Navigate to My Account → Transfer Points to Miles.
- Select your airline partner from the dropdown list.
- Enter your airline frequent flyer number.
- Choose the transfer amount. Transfers must be in increments of 3,000 Bonvoy points (yielding 1,000 airline miles). For the 5,000-mile bonus, transfer exactly 60,000 Bonvoy points per block.
- Confirm and submit.
Processing time: Airline transfers from Marriott typically take 1–7 business days, which is significantly slower than direct bank-to-airline transfers (usually instant). This delay creates risk: award availability could disappear while you wait for miles to post.
Common pitfall: Transferring Marriott points to an airline before confirming award availability, then finding the seat is gone by the time miles arrive. Always search for award space first, and only transfer when you see consistent availability over several days.
Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Partners vs. Direct Bank Transfers: A Comparison
The core question for most travelers: should you transfer bank points to Marriott for airline access, or transfer directly from the bank to the airline?
| Factor | Direct Bank → Airline | Bank → Marriott → Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer ratio | 1:1 (most partners) | 3:1 (2:1 for United) |
| Processing time | Instant to minutes | 1–7 business days |
| Partner access | 10–20 airlines per bank | ~40 airlines |
| Reversibility | Irreversible | Irreversible (two steps) |
| Best for | Maximum value per point | Niche airline access |
The verdict: Direct bank transfers win on value and speed in nearly every scenario. Marriott’s advantage is breadth—it reaches airline programs that no single bank covers. For example, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is not a direct transfer partner for Chase, Amex, or Bilt, but it is accessible through Marriott.
For travelers focused on Oneworld Alliance bookings through programs like British Airways Avios or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Marriott can serve as a supplemental source—but it should rarely be the primary one.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Marriott Bonvoy Transfers
1. Transferring bank points to Marriott “just in case.” Bonvoy points are less flexible than those from Chase, Amex, or Bilt. Don’t park points in Marriott unless you have a specific redemption planned.
2. Ignoring the 60,000-point threshold for airline transfers. Transferring 59,000 Bonvoy points to an airline yields 19,666 miles. Transferring 60,000 yields 25,000 miles (with the bonus). Always transfer in 60,000-point blocks when possible.
3. Forgetting about transfer processing times. Bank-to-Marriott transfers are fast, but Marriott-to-airline transfers can take up to a week. Award seats on popular routes (especially premium cabin awards and first class redemptions) can disappear in hours.
4. Overlooking the Fifth Night Free benefit. If you’re considering transferring Bonvoy points to airlines, first check whether those same points could fund a high-value five-night hotel stay. The 20% discount from Fifth Night Free often delivers better CPP than airline transfers.
5. Not checking for transfer bonuses. Both banks and Marriott occasionally run transfer bonus promotions that temporarily improve ratios. Always check current promotions before transferring, but don’t let a bonus push you into a transfer you wouldn’t otherwise make.
6. Double-converting through Marriott. Going Chase → Marriott → United when Chase transfers directly to United at 1:1 is the single most common and costly mistake in this space.
Best Use Cases for Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Partners
Best For
- Hotel redemptions at premium properties where cash rates are high, and the CPP exceeds 0.8, especially with Fifth Night Free
- Topping off a Bonvoy balance by a small amount to complete a hotel booking
- Accessing niche airline programs like Japan Airlines, Aeromexico, or Frontier that aren’t direct partners of your bank program
- United MileagePlus transfers at the 2:1 effective ratio when you have a large Bonvoy balance from hotel stays (not from bank transfers)
Not For
- Routine airline redemptions where direct bank transfers are available at 1:1
- Speculative point parking without a booking plan
- Small airline transfers below the 60,000-point bonus threshold
- Time-sensitive bookings where the 1–7 day airline transfer delay creates availability risk
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit card programs transfer to Marriott Bonvoy? Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Bilt Rewards all transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo, and Rove do not offer direct transfers to Marriott Bonvoy (per the ATH transfer table).
What is the transfer ratio from Marriott Bonvoy to airlines? The standard ratio is 3:1 (3 Bonvoy points = 1 airline mile). Transferring 60,000 Bonvoy points at once earns a 5,000-mile bonus, yielding 25,000 miles. United MileagePlus receives an additional 10,000-mile bonus, making the effective ratio 2:1 (60,000 Bonvoy = 30,000 United miles).
How long do Marriott Bonvoy transfers take? Bank-to-Marriott transfers are typically instant to two business days. Marriott-to-airline transfers take 1–7 business days, which is slower than direct bank-to-airline transfers.
Can I transfer Marriott Bonvoy points back to Chase, Amex, or Bilt? No. All transfers to Marriott Bonvoy are one-way and irreversible. Points cannot be returned to the originating bank program.
Is it worth transferring Chase points to Marriott, then transferring them to an airline? Almost never. Chase transfers directly to most major airline partners at 1:1. Going through Marriott reduces your effective ratio to 3:1 or worse. The only exception is accessing an airline partner that Chase doesn’t offer directly.
How many airline partners does Marriott Bonvoy have? Marriott Bonvoy partners with approximately 40 airline frequent flyer programs, making it one of the broadest airline transfer networks among hotel loyalty programs.
What is the best airline to transfer Marriott points to? United MileagePlus offers the best ratio at an effective 2:1 (60,000 Bonvoy = 30,000 United miles), thanks to an extra 10,000-mile bonus. For U.S.-based travelers, this is typically the highest-value airline transfer from Marriott.
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire? Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Any qualifying activity—earning or redeeming points, including credit card transactions on a co-branded Marriott card—resets the clock.
Can I combine Marriott Bonvoy points with another person? Yes. Marriott allows point transfers between members, though fees may apply for transfers above certain thresholds. This can be useful for pooling points toward a shared hotel redemption.
Are there minimum transfer amounts? For bank-to-Marriott transfers, minimums vary by program (typically 1,000 points). For Marriott-to-airline transfers, the minimum is 3,000 Bonvoy points (yielding 1,000 airline miles).
Does Marriott offer transfer bonuses? Marriott and its bank partners occasionally run promotional transfer bonuses. These can temporarily improve the ratio for incoming transfers (bank to Marriott) or outgoing transfers (Marriott to airline). Always verify current promotions before transferring, and never transfer solely because a bonus exists.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners offer genuine value in specific situations, but the program works best as a hotel loyalty currency rather than an airline mile intermediary. The 1:1 inbound ratios from Chase, Amex, and Bilt make it easy to top off your Bonvoy balance for hotel stays, and the Fifth Night Free benefit can push redemption values well above 1.0 CPP at premium properties.
For airline transfers, the 3:1 standard ratio means you should exhaust direct bank-to-airline options first. The exception is United MileagePlus at 2:1, or niche programs like Japan Airlines that you can’t reach through your bank’s transfer partners.
Recommended next steps:
- Check your current Bonvoy balance and identify any upcoming hotel stays where points could save money.
- Compare direct airline transfer options from your bank programs before considering the Marriott intermediary route. Use the bank transfer partners overview to see all your options side-by-side.
- Run the CPP math using the Award Travel Hub calculators before any transfer.
- Search for award availability first, then transfer—never the other way around.
- Transfer in 60,000-point blocks to airlines to capture the bonus miles.
For related strategies, explore guides on specific airline programs, such as Alaska Mileage Plan for oneworld partner bookings or ANA Mileage Club for Star Alliance premium cabin sweet spots.


