Marriott Bonvoy points can be used for a variety of redemption options, ranging from Marriott hotel stays to one-of-a-kind experiences, flights, and more. Marriott uses “dynamic” pricing for awards, meaning the points are somewhat (but not directly) tied to demand and cash rates.
For other uses, like transfers to airline miles, the best value lies in topping off accounts rather than using all your Marriott points to redeem for an airline ticket. Experiences can pack a value punch, particularly when they’re exclusive experiences arranged by Marriott that aren’t available anywhere else.
Here’s a closer look at how much Marriott Bonvoy points are worth.
Table of contents
The value of Marriott Bonvoy points when booking Marriott hotels
The actual value of a Marriott point is a moving target because there’s no set conversion for points-to-dollars. Marriott uses a dynamic pricing structure to determine redemptions, which means the value of the points fluctuates based on whatever redemption amount Marriott decides is the best one.
Generally speaking, the points are worth between 0.7 cents to 0.9 cents when redeeming for hotel stays at Marriott properties. When redeeming for hotel stays, Marriott gives the fifth consecutive night of an award stay free. If the points per night vary throughout the stay, they’ll give you the cheapest night free.
The value of Marriott Bonvoy points when transferring to an airline partner
Bonvoy members can transfer points to the frequent flier programs of 37 airline partners. Most partners have the same transfer ratio, but there are some exceptions. United MileagePlus members get a slightly better value from transfers, while Air New Zealand Airpoints members get the worst value.
Marriott has a special relationship with United Mileage Plus that gives a bonus of 10,000 miles for every 60,000 transferred. That’s twice as much as the normal bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 transferred (there’s no bonus when transferring to American, Avianca, or Delta). There are a ton of airline transfer partners, and to make it more confusing the rate isn’t the same for all of them.
Some of the better transfer partners (in addition to United) include Alaska Mileage Plan, Virgin Atlantic, and Etihad, because of the overall value of miles in those programs. American Airlines is another good partner to transfer to because there aren’t many other programs that will transfer their points to American’s program.
Air New Zealand has an unfavorable transfer ratio and is one of the poorer values for transferring Bonvoy points. Bearing in mind Air New Zealand points are worth a whole New Zealand Dollar, the conversion ratio is still so bad it vastly devalues Bonvoy points compared to their regular value.
The transfer ratio for the other partners is 3:1.
- AEGEAN 3:1
- Aer Lingus 3:1
- AeroMexico 3:1
- Air Canada 3:1
- Air China 3:1
- Air France – KLM 3:1
- Air New Zealand 200:1
- Alaska Airlines 3:1
- American Airlines 3:1
- ANA 3:1
- Asiana 3:1
- Avianca 3:1
- British Airways 3:1
- Cathay Pacific 3:1
- China Southern 3:1
- Copa Airlines 3:1
- Delta Air Lines 3:1
- Emirates 3:1
- Etihad 3:1
- Frontier Airlines 3:1
- Hainan Airlines 3:1
- Hawaiian Airlines 3:1
- Iberia 3:1
- Japan Airlines 3:1
- LATAM 3:1
- Qantas 3:1
- Qatar Airways 3:1
- Saudia 3:1
- Singapore Airlines 3:1
- Southwest Airlines 3:1
- TAP Air Portugal 3:1
- Thai Airways 3:1
- Turkish Airlines 3:1
- United Airlines 3:1
- Virgin Atlantic 3:1
- Virgin Australia 3:1
- Vueling 3:1
What flights can you get with your Marriott points?
Marriott points are good for topping up your airline mileage accounts when you need a few extra points for an award ticket. However, one caveat there is that transfers aren’t always fast, so you might need to transfer a buffer amount in case the ticket price goes up.
The bonuses can be worthwhile, too. For example, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott points to United Mileage Plus, you’ll get a bonus of 10,000 miles, for a total of 30,000 miles, which can be enough for a domestic round-trip flight (if you find the right flights and fare).
That said, 60,000 Marriott points is a lot to spend on the cheapest fare domestic roundtrip ticket when that same number of points could get you a free night at an upper upscale or luxury property like the W Bellevue in Seattle or the JW Marriott Chicago.
The value of Marriott points when redeeming for other travel, including cruises, car rentals, and experiences
You’ll get mixed results with these options – cruises are generally the worst value, but the extraordinary experiences available in the Bonvoy Moments program help it punch above its weight, and car rentals are a decent value if you have the points to burn.
Cruises: You can redeem Marriott points for cruises with the Cruise With Points program. At 63,000 Bonvoy points per $250 in cruise fare, there are better ways to use your points.
Experiences: These can be difficult to value because they operate on a bid system. Popular items (like Taylor Swift tickets) can go quickly and for quite high bids, but plenty of other experiences are available that may go near their minimum bids. While some experiences, like concert tickets, have a set retail value, others are VIP experiences that aren’t publicly available (like concerts in the Marriott Bonvoy Luxury Suite at London’s O2 Arena, or private suite dining experiences with a celebrity chef at Bellagio in Las Vegas). Experiences are really a personal judgment call on their value in most cases.
Car rentals: Car rentals are a better value for your points compared to cruises, usually for about 2,500 points per $10 in rental car cost. There are better values for your redemptions, but if you’re sitting on the points and have them to use, it’s not a bad way to help defray some of the expense of travel.
The best use of your Marriott Bonvoy points
- Marriott Hotel Stays
- Airline Transfers (when accounts need a top-off)
- Experiences
The worst use of your Marriott Bonvoy points
- Direct airline redemptions for dollars off flights
- Cruises
- Rental cars
Frequently asked questions about Marriott Bonvoy points
How much are 10,000 Marriott points worth?
Free night redemptions generally start at about 18,000 points, but 10,000 Marriott points will get you 3,333 airline miles in most programs if your account needs a boost.
How much are 30,000 Marriott points worth?
There are some good value redemptions out there for 30,000 Marriott points, including The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Antonio (on offpeak dates), or the Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station. This is around $185 – $220 in value.
How much are 50,000 Marriott points worth?
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel and The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale, can be had in this tier, ranging from $200 – $450 in value.
How much are 75,000 Marriott points worth?
Le Metropolitan, Paris Tour Eiffel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is often in this range, or the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre can be had in this point category; that’s roughly $420 – $580 in value per night. With points transferring to airlines at a 3:1 ratio, 75,000 will typically get you enough for a roundtrip domestic flight, but this generally isn’t the best value.
How much are 100,000 Marriott points worth?
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, and Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto, fall into this category; normal rates range from $700 to $950 per night.
How many Marriott points does it take for a free flight?
That depends on the airline they’re being transferred to, but transferring 60,000 points to United for 30,000 miles plus a 10,000 bonus is typically enough for a free domestic roundtrip flight.
How many Marriott points to fly business class to Europe?
American Airlines starts redemptions to Europe at 57,000 AAdvantage miles each way. To get 115,000 AAdvantage miles you’d have to transfer 300,000 Bonvoy points with bonuses, but remember this is a starting figure. Redemptions can often be much higher.
Do Marriott points expire?
Marriott points don’t expire as long as your account is active. To remain active, an account must have activity at least once every 24 months. Qualifying events, including earning and redeeming points, will reset the timer.
Summary
Marriott Bonvoy points are valuable, particularly when redeeming them for stays at Marriott properties. They pack their best punch in the off-peak for top-tier hotels and are good for topping off airline mileage accounts when you’re just a few points short. Directly redeeming for cruises or airline flights are some of the worst values, and the experiences available with Bonvoy Moments can be somewhere in the middle.
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