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The 5 Best Marriott Transfer Partners — and 4 to Avoid
Using Marriott points to book flights can be worthwhile if you know which airlines have a favorable transfer rate.
As a digital nomad for nearly five years, JT is a freelance writer that proves through experience that credit card rewards can drastically reduce the cost of travel. After working as a tax accountant for a decade, JT turned his analytical skills to points, miles and credit cards. He published over 2,000 articles as a writer for The Points Guy.
Elina Geller is a contributing NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Her work has been featured by Forbes and AwardWallet. She is a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.
Meghan Coyle is an editor on the Travel Rewards team and the co-host of the Smart Travel podcast. She covers travel credit cards, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. Meghan is based in Los Angeles and has a love-hate relationship with LAX.
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Marriott Bonvoy members can certainly use their points for free stays at Marriott. But there’s another use for Marriott Bonvoy® points: booking flights.
Marriott, like other hotel loyalty programs, allows members to convert points to airline miles. But unlike other hotel programs, Marriott partners with a whopping 38 airline transfer partners and offers a 3:1 transfer ratio for most of them.
The value proposition has become even more interesting with Marriott and Japan Airlines (JAL) launching a partnership on July 14, 2026 that offers massive reciprocal status matching and elite bonuses on top of standard point transfers. Here are the best (and worst) Marriott transfer partners.
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These points transfer to most airline partners at a rate of 3 Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. When you’re trading 3 Bonvoy points, you’ll need to get at least 3x that in value from every airline mile to break even.
To figure out how much value you get from each airline mile, divide the cash price of your plane ticket by the number of miles you’ll have to redeem. For example, let's say a round-trip economy ticket from Los Angeles to London costs $750 in cash or 50,000 miles.
Divide $750 by 50,000 and you'll find that you’re getting a value of 1.5 cents for each mile, which isn’t that good. But if you look at that same trip in a business class seat ($4,650 in cash or 117,500 miles), you'll get nearly 4 cents per mile — a very good value.
🤓Nerdy Tip
If you're short just a few thousand airline miles to book an award flight with a Bonvoy transfer partner, you might justify trading your Bonvoy points at a poor value. But normally, you don’t want to trade 3 Bonvoy points for an airline mile that's worth less than 2 cents.
The best Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners
1. Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank
JAL has skyrocketed to one of Marriott's absolute premier partners due to the historic joint loyalty alliance launched on July 14, 2026.
The Status Match: Simply linking your Bonvoy and JAL Mileage Bank accounts earns you automatic FLY ON Points (FOPs) based on your hotel tier. Platinum members get 20,000 FOPs, while Titanium and Ambassador members receive 30,000 and 40,000 FOPs, respectively — plus automatic JAL Crystal (oneworld Ruby) elite status.
The Sweet Spots: Beyond status, JAL Mileage Bank miles are notoriously hard to earn but incredibly powerful. JAL features highly lucrative sweet spots, including flat-rate business class flights from any U.S. gateway to Japan for just 55,000 miles one-way, and an incredibly generous stopover policy allowing up to seven stopovers on oneworld multi-carrier awards.
2. United Airlines MileagePlus
With the long-running RewardsPlus partnership between United and Marriott, MileagePlus members receive a 10,000-point bonus when converting 60,000 Marriott points into United miles. So, a 60,000 Marriott point transfer to United will net you 30,000 United miles (instead of the standard 20,000).
3. Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Alaska’s partner award chart is chock-full of incredible sweet spots, despite recent changes that make many awards distance-based. Members can redeem points to Asia in business class on most flights for as few as 75,000 points each way on a partner like Cathay Pacific.
Nerdy Perspective
How have you used Marriott Bonvoy points?
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
I love using my Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at exciting properties I normally would not pay the cash rate for. On a recent trip to Bali, I stayed at Mandapa, one of only a few Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties in the world. It was an amazing experience that I never would have splurged on without points.
I love using my Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at exciting properties I normally would not pay the cash rate for. On a recent trip to Bali, I stayed at Mandapa, one of only a few Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties in the world. It was an amazing experience that I never would have splurged on without points.
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Tiffani Sherman
Contributing Travel Writer
I only redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for five-night stays because if you pay for four nights, you get the fifth night free when redeeming points. This is a great value. I also love redeeming points in Europe where the points values seem to be much better than in the United States.
I only redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for five-night stays because if you pay for four nights, you get the fifth night free when redeeming points. This is a great value. I also love redeeming points in Europe where the points values seem to be much better than in the United States.
Tiffani Sherman
Contributing Travel Writer
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
My favorite use of Marriott Bonvoy points is at the Swan or Dolphin hotels at Disney World Orlando. The redemption rates are reasonable compared to the cash rate for the hotel, and the hotel locations can't be beat for access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I even received an upgrade to the presidential suite at the Swan Hotel as a Marriott Gold elite during a winter trip to Disney World — a room that came with a grand piano!
My favorite use of Marriott Bonvoy points is at the Swan or Dolphin hotels at Disney World Orlando. The redemption rates are reasonable compared to the cash rate for the hotel, and the hotel locations can't be beat for access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I even received an upgrade to the presidential suite at the Swan Hotel as a Marriott Gold elite during a winter trip to Disney World — a room that came with a grand piano!
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
I love using my Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at exciting properties I normally would not pay the cash rate for. On a recent trip to Bali, I stayed at Mandapa, one of only a few Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties in the world. It was an amazing experience that I never would have splurged on without points.
I love using my Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at exciting properties I normally would not pay the cash rate for. On a recent trip to Bali, I stayed at Mandapa, one of only a few Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties in the world. It was an amazing experience that I never would have splurged on without points.
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Tiffani Sherman
Contributing Travel Writer
I only redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for five-night stays because if you pay for four nights, you get the fifth night free when redeeming points. This is a great value. I also love redeeming points in Europe where the points values seem to be much better than in the United States.
I only redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for five-night stays because if you pay for four nights, you get the fifth night free when redeeming points. This is a great value. I also love redeeming points in Europe where the points values seem to be much better than in the United States.
Tiffani Sherman
Contributing Travel Writer
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
My favorite use of Marriott Bonvoy points is at the Swan or Dolphin hotels at Disney World Orlando. The redemption rates are reasonable compared to the cash rate for the hotel, and the hotel locations can't be beat for access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I even received an upgrade to the presidential suite at the Swan Hotel as a Marriott Gold elite during a winter trip to Disney World — a room that came with a grand piano!
My favorite use of Marriott Bonvoy points is at the Swan or Dolphin hotels at Disney World Orlando. The redemption rates are reasonable compared to the cash rate for the hotel, and the hotel locations can't be beat for access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I even received an upgrade to the presidential suite at the Swan Hotel as a Marriott Gold elite during a winter trip to Disney World — a room that came with a grand piano!
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
I love using my Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at exciting properties I normally would not pay the cash rate for. On a recent trip to Bali, I stayed at Mandapa, one of only a few Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties in the world. It was an amazing experience that I never would have splurged on without points.
I love using my Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at exciting properties I normally would not pay the cash rate for. On a recent trip to Bali, I stayed at Mandapa, one of only a few Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties in the world. It was an amazing experience that I never would have splurged on without points.
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Tiffani Sherman
Contributing Travel Writer
I only redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for five-night stays because if you pay for four nights, you get the fifth night free when redeeming points. This is a great value. I also love redeeming points in Europe where the points values seem to be much better than in the United States.
I only redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for five-night stays because if you pay for four nights, you get the fifth night free when redeeming points. This is a great value. I also love redeeming points in Europe where the points values seem to be much better than in the United States.
Tiffani Sherman
Contributing Travel Writer
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
My favorite use of Marriott Bonvoy points is at the Swan or Dolphin hotels at Disney World Orlando. The redemption rates are reasonable compared to the cash rate for the hotel, and the hotel locations can't be beat for access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I even received an upgrade to the presidential suite at the Swan Hotel as a Marriott Gold elite during a winter trip to Disney World — a room that came with a grand piano!
My favorite use of Marriott Bonvoy points is at the Swan or Dolphin hotels at Disney World Orlando. The redemption rates are reasonable compared to the cash rate for the hotel, and the hotel locations can't be beat for access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I even received an upgrade to the presidential suite at the Swan Hotel as a Marriott Gold elite during a winter trip to Disney World — a room that came with a grand piano!
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
4. American Airlines AAdvantage
Unlike other major airlines, you cannot get American miles by transferring points from credit card programs including Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Capital One or American Express Membership Rewards.
Because Marriott and Citi ThankYou are among the only major transferable points programs that transfer to American AAdvantage, Bonvoy points remain one of the most exclusive and flexible ways to top off your AAdvantage account.
5. Air France-KLM Flying Blue
This loyalty program regularly runs Promo Rewards that discount the cost of economy and business class tickets from North America to Europe by up to 25%. You can frequently book business class to Europe for around 50,000 to 60,000 miles each way—requiring only 150,000 to 180,000 Marriott points to be transferred.
Other Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners worth considering
Marriott partners with more than a dozen programs that aren’t transfer partners of any other major credit card currency. If you want to book awards with these airlines, Marriott Bonvoy points are your only transferable point source:
Rapid Rewards points have a value of around 1.3 cents each, and there are no real sweet spots since points prices are tied to cash prices. You’ll likely lose value by transferring large amounts of Marriott points to Southwest at a 3:1 transfer ratio.
2. Air New Zealand Airpoints
The transfer rate for Marriott points to Air New Zealand (200:1) is much worse than that of the other transfer partners; this is unlikely to make sense for most travelers.
3. Frontier Miles
Frontier Miles also have very low value, so avoid transferring Marriott points whenever possible.
4. InterMiles
If you’ve never heard of InterMiles, that makes sense: It’s the zombie mileage program of Jet Airways, which declared bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2019. So there’s very little value to be found in the program.
If you want to leverage Marriott’s transfer partners ...
In general, Marriott points are best spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels themselves. But sometimes you need to top off an airline point balance. Or perhaps you realized that your company's headquarters used to be next to a Marriott, but since the company went entirely work-from-home, you have no allegiance to Marriott any more. In cases like that, it can make sense to send your points to an airline's frequent flyer program rather than let them collect virtual dust.
But to maximize your Marriott points, focus on the specific airline loyalty programs that provide outsize value through incredible sweet spots.
Ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points
Tempted by these transfers so much that you need even more Bonvoy points? You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points by staying at Marriott hotels, but the easiest way to rack up a bunch of points fast is by spending on Marriott co-branded credit cards. These Marriott credit cards each come with a solid welcome bonus:
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
• 3 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 2 points per $1 on grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming and internet, cable and phone services.
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 on up to $6,000 a year in combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 4 points per $1 on up to $15,000 a year in combined purchases at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S).
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 4 points per $1 on restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
Earn up to 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.
Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.
Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
