The Marriott Bonvoy program is 1 of 5 transferable point programs. The 4 other programs are Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
Marriott Bonvoy has 44 airline partners. Many of these airlines are unique to Marriott Bonvoy, meaning the airline only partners with Marriott Bonvoy. This puts a premium on some of the airline partners because Marriott Bonvoy points are the only meaningful way to earn points that can be transferred to an airline for an award flight.
The airline partners that are unique to Marriott include: Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern Airlines, Copa Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Gol, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, LATAM, Lufthansa, Saudi Arabian Airlines, South African Airways, TAP Air Portugal, and Virgin Australia.
While Marriott has a number of unique partners, Alaska Airlines, Asiana, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air are the partners where you’ll typically receive the most value. But before you transfer your Marriott points, keep in mind that transfer times are not instant. Marriott transfers to Alaska Airlines take 2 days, Asiana transfers take 10 days, Japan Airlines transfers take 7 days, and Korean Air transfers take 7 days.
Another thing to keep in mind about Marriott Bonvoy is the transfer ratio and transfer bonus. Marriott points transfer to most airlines at a 3:1 ratio. Also, for every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer to an airline, you will receive a 5,000-point bonus. For example, 60,000 Marriott points become 25,000 Alaska Airlines miles.
In short, Marriott Bonvoy has unique airline partners and a transfer bonus that allow you to unlock valuable redemptions with your Marriott Bonvoy points.
1. Cathay Pacific U.S. to Africa
Alaska Airlines is one of the most important Marriott Bonvoy airline partners. The two reasons this is the case is because Alaska Airlines only partners with Marriott and Alaska Airlines has a number of valuable redemptions.
With 125,000 Alaska miles (300,000 Marriott Points), you can book a round-trip Cathay Pacific business class flight from the U.S. to Africa. In addition to the miles, you’ll need to pay $156 in taxes and fees.
Cathay Pacific flies to Hong Kong from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington-Dulles. An example itinerary would be to fly from Los Angeles, stopover in Hong Kong, and end in Johannesburg. That’s 4, 13+ hour flights for only 125,000 Alaska Airlines miles.
Search for Cathay Pacific award flights on the British Airways/Qantas websites. When you find flights that work for you, call Alaska Airlines at 800-654-5669 to book the flight.
2. SkyTeam North America to Europe
Korean Air is another important Marriott Bonvoy airline partner. Korean Air used to be a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, but unfortunately the Chase partnership has ended.
With 80,000 Korean Air miles (185,000 Marriott Points), you can book a round-trip SkyTeam business class flight from the U.S. to Europe. In addition to the miles, you will need to pay $506 in taxes and fees on airlines with lower fees like Delta. Expect to pay higher fees when flying Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, and KLM.
Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, Delta, and KLM are the SkyTeam airline partners who fly across the Atlantic. By flying SkyTeam partners with lower fees, you will help to increase the value of your redemption.
Search for SkyTeam award flights on the Delta/Flying Blue websites. When you find an award flight, search for that flight on Korean Air and book the flight. Separately, you can call Korean Air at 800-438-5000 to book the flight.
3. Air France US to Tahiti
A second Korean Air redemption is for flights to the South Pacific. The Korean Air SkyTeam award chart is full of sweet spots including flights to the beautiful beaches in Tahiti.
With 90,000 Korean Air miles (220,000 Marriott Points) you can book a round-trip Air France business class flight from the U.S. to Tahiti. Round-trip economy flights are also a great deal at 60,000 Korean Air miles (130,000 Marriott Points). In addition to the miles, you’ll need to pay $292 in taxes and fees.
Air France is the only airline that flies this route from Los Angeles to Tahiti (PPT). As such, business class award availability can be tough to find.
Use Expert Flyer in addition to the Flying Blue website to search for flights that work for you. When you find an award flight, search for that flight on the Korean Air website and book the flight. Another option is to call Korean Air to book the flight.
4. Asiana North America to Korea
Asiana continues to be an under-the-radar program that can provide value. The airline has sweet spots when flying Asiana and also when flying Star Alliance partner flights.
With 125,000 Asiana miles (300,000 Marriott Points), you can book a round-trip business class Asiana flight from North America to Korea. A more attractive deal may be to fly round-trip in economy for 70,000 Asiana miles (140,000 Marriott Points). In addition to the miles, you’ll need to pay $351 in taxes and fees.
Asiana flies non-stop to Seoul (ICN) from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. This means that you’ll have plenty of options for award flights out of the U.S.
Search for Asiana award flights on the United website and then confirm availability on the Asiana website. When you find flights that work with your schedule, you can book the flight directly on the website.
5. Japan Airlines North America to Japan
Japan Airlines is yet another Asian airline that’s an important partner of the Marriott Bonvoy program. The airline recently revamped its award search tool making it easier to search for and book award flights.
With 100,000 Japan Airlines miles (240,000 Marriott Points), you can book a round-trip Japan Airlines business class flight from North America to Japan. Round-trip economy flights are also interesting at 50,000 Japan Airlines miles (120,000 Marriott Points). In addition to the miles, you will need to pay $275 in taxes and fees.
Japan Airlines flies non-stop to Narita (NRT) from Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver. In addition to flying to Narita, Japan Airlines flies non-stop to Haneda (HND) from New York and San Francisco, and Kansai (KIX) from Los Angeles.
Search for award flights on the British Airways website and confirm availability on the Japan Airlines website. After you find a flight that works with your schedule, book the flight on the Japan Airlines website.
Credit Cards to Use for Marriott Points:
Marriott Bonvoy has several personal and business credit cards that allow you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points with your spend. In addition, staying at Marriott hotels will help you to earn points for any of these redemptions.
The Marriott Bonoy, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, and Marriott Bonoy Boundless are personal credit cards to consider. The Boundless currently has a high welcome offer that would help you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points quickly.
Marriott Bonvoy Business (Learn More Here) is the business credit card to check out. It also currently has a decent welcome offer that would pair well with any of the Marriott personal credit cards.
Whatever credit cards you choose, earning transferable points will help you to access any of these redemptions. If and when a loyalty program undergoes a devaluation, the Marriott Bonvoy points that you hold can be used with an another airline partner instead.
Conclusion on How to Use Marriott Points to Fly:
Earning Marriott Bonvoy points and redeeming them with airline partners is the way to receive the most value. Consider using your points for redemptions with Alaska Airlines, Asiana, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air.
How do you use Marriott points to fly with airline partners? Which airline partners provide you with the most value? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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