Marriott adopted the generous Starwood Preferred Guest transfer program for moving points into miles.
- Starwood traditionally transferred points-to-miles at better than 1:1, by offering a bonus.
- With most partners transferring 20,000 Starwood points into 20,000 airline miles would yield a 5000 mile bonus.
- When Marriott defined a Starpoint as worth 3 Marriott Rewards points, they adopted a similar structure. Transferring 60,000 Marriott points into 20,000 airline miles would yield a 5000 mile bonus.
Marriott has myriad airline partners – at 38 it’s way more than bank transfer programs. However their rich transfer structure hasn’t been as useful with Marriott as it was with Starwood, because Marriott co-brands earn less for your spend than the old Starwood Amex did.
We’re now seeing a change to the Marriott points-to-miles transfer bonus. Specifically, the hotel chain informed customers this morning that the bonus would no longer be available on transfers to American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, or Avianca LifeMiles effective October 31. Transferring 60,000 Marriott points will yield only 20,000 AAdvantage miles going forward – not 25,000.
Here’s the message about American:
Change Is in the Air
Beginning October 31, 2022, the 5,000 bonus points-to-miles incentive with American Airlines will end. However, the everyday benefits you’re accustomed to receiving will continue, and you can still convert points to miles on a 3:1 basis.
That is very much a shame, and of course another change with zero benefit to members.
