Marriott is ending its 5,000-mile switch bonus for 3 common airline packages
The Marriott Bonvoy program has many distinctive airline switch companions. These switch companions embrace some packages for which Marriott is probably going your solely choice if you wish to switch rewards into this system to e-book an award.
Nevertheless, considered one of TPG’s staffers noticed a submit in a web based group with an e mail from Marriott stating, “Change is within the air. Starting October 31, 2022, the 5,000 bonus points-to-miles incentive with American Airways will finish.” I have never acquired this e mail personally; it appears Marriott solely despatched it to members who’d transferred Marriott factors to AAdvantage up to now.
TPG reached out to Marriott and confirmed that this system despatched out a communication about this alteration at the moment.
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At the moment, you get a 5,000-mile bonus for each 60,000 factors you switch from Marriott to airline companions (together with American Airways AAdvantage). So, transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors to AAdvantage would get you 25,000 American miles (an efficient switch ratio of two.4:1). Nevertheless, beginning Oct. 31, 2022, Marriott will finish the switch bonus. Then the efficient switch ratio will drop to three:1.
A Marriott spokesperson instructed TPG that the 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 factors transferred can also be ending for Avianca LifeMiles and Delta SkyMiles.
Unusually, Marriott’s webpage about transferring factors to miles nonetheless states, “Switch your factors to your frequent-flyer program*, and as a bonus, we’ll add 5,000 miles for each 60,000 factors you switch to frequent flyer miles.”
The astrict would not result in a word about excluded airline packages. As an alternative, it is only a word that your account names should match to switch Marriott factors to most airline packages. It is disappointing that Marriott is speaking these upcoming adjustments to pick members by e mail however hasn’t up to date its web site.
Associated: Right here’s what it is best to know earlier than transferring Marriott factors to airline miles
Evaluation of this alteration
First, it appears unusual for Marriott to solely drop the switch bonus for choose airline transfers. I would not be stunned to see extra airways added to the checklist of transfers that will not get a 5,000-miles bonus per 60,000 Marriott factors transferred.
And second, this can be a clear devaluation of Marriott factors — particularly since it may be tough to earn American Airways miles. The one main transferrable currencies that switch to American Airways AAdvantage are Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.
I do not count on eradicating these bonuses — even when it expands to all airways — to have an effect on me considerably since I want to redeem Marriott factors for resort stays. Nevertheless, I’ve definitely thought of transferring Marriott factors to airways earlier than — for instance, to get Korean Airways miles since no different main transferrable currencies switch to Korean Air SkyPass — so this alteration is a minor devaluation for a way I exploit Marriott factors.
Nevertheless, since Marriott Bonvoy is dropping all of its award pricing bounds for staying on Jan. 1, 2023, and onward, some loyalists might discover extra worth in 2023 and onward by means of transferring Marriott factors to airways. As such, it is a bummer to be taught that transfers to American Airways AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles and Avianca LifeMiles will quickly not profit from the present 5,000-mile bonus for each 60,000 factors transferred.
Associated: How I’m spending over 5 million Marriott Bonvoy factors
Backside line
It is by no means good to see a loyalty program take away advantages its members take pleasure in. And it is disappointing that Marriott solely emailed a few of its members about this impending change.
I think these are solely the primary packages that may doubtless lose this bonus over the approaching months and years. However listed here are the foremost transferrable currencies you can switch to the soon-to-be-affected airline packages:
If you happen to’re planning to switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to American, Delta or Avianca, I like to recommend doing so quickly. We all know the bonus will not be supplied for transfers to American AAdvantage beginning Oct. 31, 2022, however we do not have an actual finish date for Delta and Avianca. If you happen to get an e mail from Marriott in regards to the bonus ending for these airways — or different airways — contemplate forwarding it to suggestions@thepointsguy.com.
