Marriott is ending its 5,000-mile transfer bonus for a 4th airline program
Editor’s note: We’ve updated this article because Marriott is also discontinuing the transfer bonus for Korean Air.
The Marriott Bonvoy program has many airline transfer partners. These transfer partners include some programs for which Marriott is likely your only option if you want to transfer rewards into the program to book an award.
- Maximizing Marriott Bonvoy’s unique airline transfer options: Part 1.
- Maximizing Marriott Bonvoy’s unique airline transfer options: Part 2.
Until recently, you'd get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer from Marriott to airline partners. So, transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to most partners would get you 25,000 miles.
But in October, some Marriott Bonvoy members received emails stating, “Change is in the air. Beginning October 31, 2022, the 5,000 bonus points-to-miles incentive with American Airlines will end.” At the time, a Marriott spokesperson told TPG that the 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points transferred was also ending for Avianca LifeMiles and Delta SkyMiles.
We'd hoped that would be it. But on Monday, Frequent Miler reported that the 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points transferred is ending for Korean Air on Dec. 1. We reached out to Marriott, which confirmed this information but said it isn't currently planning to end the bonus for any other airlines.
Related: Here’s what you should know before transferring Marriott points to airline miles
Analysis of this change
It's frustrating that Marriott isn't communicating this change on its website. Marriott's transfer page includes a note stating, "The offer of 5,000 bonus miles does not apply to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles and Delta SkyMiles." But there's no mention of the bonus ending for transfers to Korean Air. Instead, Marriott is notifying members via email who have previously transferred points to Korean.
A Marriott spokesperson said it doesn't plan to discontinue the bonus for any other airlines. But given that Marriott is announcing the bonus's removal for each airline separately, I expect we may continue to see more airlines added to the list of partners that won’t get a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 Marriott points transferred as the months go by.
Since Marriott Bonvoy has dropped its award pricing bounds for stays in 2023 and beyond, some loyalists may find more value in transferring Marriott points to airlines. As such, it’s a bummer to see another airline added to the list of partners that won't benefit from the 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.
For those transferring Marriott points to Korean, this is a clear devaluation of Marriott Bonvoy points. The Korean Air SkyPass program doesn't provide the value that it used to, but it's still one of the best ways to book Korean Air flights on points. No other points programs transfer to Korean either, making this change particularly painful for frequent Korean Air travelers.
Related: How I’m spending over 5 million Marriott Bonvoy points
Bottom line
It’s never good to see a loyalty program remove benefits its members enjoy. Unfortunately, I suspect more programs will lose this bonus over the coming months and years.
On the bright side, you can transfer points from other programs to American, Avianca and Delta:
- American Airlines: Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.
- Avianca: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou, Marriott Bonvoy and Brex Cash.
- Delta Air Lines: American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
- Korean Air: Marriott Bonvoy.
If you’re planning to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Korean Air, I recommend doing so before Dec. 1. If you get an email from Marriott about the bonus ending for other airlines in the future, consider forwarding it to tips@thepointsguy.com.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.