Amex MR to Marriott Bonvoy transfer bonus

[NoName]

This is good news. Have a stash of Amex points I was going to transfer to Marriott prior to closing the card in a few weeks time. Then a couple of bookings to make before the move to dynamic pricing.

 

[motef]

@motef the Tranfer bonus is now on again till end of year. Also on for Hilton. This time it is 30% bonus.

Membership Month | American Express AU

This Amex Membership Month, get set for a month filled with offers, discounts and special events as we celebrate you – our Card Members. Find out more here.

www.americanexpress.com

Transfer Membership Rewards points to your Marriott Bonvoy® account and receive 30% more Marriott Bonvoy® points. Don’t delay, offer ends 30 December 2021. Terms and Conditions apply.

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Thanks for the heads up

 

[rogsamsy]

Do we think the dynamic pricing will affect transfers to Airlines?

 

[mayneframe]

Ahh - So dumb question, but I have 156365 AMEX points in the UK, to move them to Marriott in the UK would yield 234,547 Marriot Points (2-3).

Think its worth XFering them to my Amex Plat in Auz, and then getting the 30% bonus to Marriot? I think I worked it out at

156365 * 1.85(currency conversion) => 289,275.25 AMEX AU points

289,275.25 (3-2 Marriot) = 192,850 + 57855 = 250,705 Marriott points. - So gaining roughly 16k Marriot points.

Is my math right on this?

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Amex transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy ..a good one!

 

[maverick1]

Amex transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy ..a good one!

View attachment 286791

Post SPG, this is the best transfer rate to Marriott from AMEX. I transferred some points on 2nd Aug midnight, haven't got the 50% bonus point yet (its usually instant but per T&C it can take upto 6 weeks) and then later in the morning transferred some more and the bonus 50% came through instantaneously. Raised the first transaction issue with Amex they told me to talk to Marriott as this promotion is run by Marriott and not them. I was like....

 

[ms1]

I have a large AMEX MR points balance and I've always felt it safe to leave points parked there as I can transfer them where necessary. But I'm strongly considering taking up this offer and transferring a good chunk over to Marriott to take advantage of the US airline redemptions which are much better value than booking via QF awards.

My only concerns are 1. 24 month point expiry - that being said this isn't a huge issue as it's pretty easy to make activity to restart the 24 months either by transferring more points or by staying at a Marriott property and 2. Marriott devaluing the program by making the transfer rates to the airlines worse off for us. Granted, Amex could very well do the same.

 

[maverick1]

I have a large AMEX MR points balance and I've always felt it safe to leave points parked there as I can transfer them where necessary. But I'm strongly considering taking up this offer and transferring a good chunk over to Marriott to take advantage of the US airline redemptions which are much better value than booking via QF awards.

My only concerns are 1. 24 month point expiry - that being said this isn't a huge issue as it's pretty easy to make activity to restart the 24 months either by transferring more points or by staying at a Marriott property and 2. Marriott devaluing the program by making the transfer rates to the airlines worse off for us. Granted, Amex could very well do the same.

Marriott point expiry is paused till 31 Dec 22 and as you mentioned there are various ways to keep the account active.I think the bigger risk is point 2.

Post automatically merged: Aug 5, 2022

Incase you don’t have an immediate need.

 

[Kremmen]

Amex transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy ..a good one!

I wouldn't call it good, just less awful.

If you transfer directly to an airline, Amex is 2:1. e.g. 60k MR -> 30k SQ
With this offer, 60k MR -> 60k Marriott -> 25k SQ

You're losing out unless your alternative airline beats SQ by at least 20% (10% in the case of UA which gets a 10% bonus on Marriott transfers), such as when there's a bonus on Marriott transfers to a particular airline. (I'm assuming you wouldn't be using Marriott pts directly, as that's almost never worthwhile any more.)

 

[andye]

I wouldn't call it good, just less awful.

If you transfer directly to an airline, Amex is 2:1. e.g. 60k MR -> 30k SQ
With this offer, 60k MR -> 60k Marriott -> 25k SQ

You're losing out unless your alternative airline beats SQ by at least 20% (10% in the case of UA which gets a 10% bonus on Marriott transfers), such as when there's a bonus on Marriott transfers to a particular airline. (I'm assuming you wouldn't be using Marriott pts directly, as that's almost never worthwhile any more.)

Sure, but its largely a part of exploiting the various sweet-spots in terms of award zones & stopovers on programs like AA/UA/AS/AC and short-haul options with BA. All of these are really difficult to access via CC from Aus and the exchange rate is less favourable for buying miles these days

 

[appaz]

Amex transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy ..a good one!

View attachment 286791

Is this specific to a particular AMEX card? I've been a big fan on using Marriott to get AA and Alaskan miles in the past but cannot find this offer (I have AMEX Platinum)

 

[Happy Dude]

Is this specific to a particular AMEX card? I've been a big fan on using Marriott to get AA and Alaskan miles in the past but cannot find this offer (I have AMEX Platinum)

It should show up in the rewards/redeem section if it's available. Just set up a transfer to hotel partners and it should say "Offer" (for both Marriot and Hilton currently).

 

[NM]

I wouldn't call it good, just less awful.

If you transfer directly to an airline, Amex is 2:1. e.g. 60k MR -> 30k SQ
With this offer, 60k MR -> 60k Marriott -> 25k SQ

You're losing out unless your alternative airline beats SQ by at least 20% (10% in the case of UA which gets a 10% bonus on Marriott transfers), such as when there's a bonus on Marriott transfers to a particular airline. (I'm assuming you wouldn't be using Marriott pts directly, as that's almost never worthwhile any more.)

So obviously you would never use this to transfer to SQ, or to any other airline program available directly from Amex MR. The benefit here is for transfers to a program that is not directly available from Amex MR. I use this laundering method for transfer to AA where I can get value from their redemption (often better value than QFF redemptions for the same flights/destinations) and I hold lifetime status.

Each airline's FF program has different redemption sweet-spots, so its not really possible to say if one is 20% better or worse than another. I always look at both the points/miles cost for the redemption and the "carrier" charges for the specific reward I am seeking. For my situation, I would most likely rather get 25K AAdvantage miles than 30K SQ miles and this bonus points offer allows me to do that.

 

[mrtupperware]

I wouldn't call it good, just less awful.

If you transfer directly to an airline, Amex is 2:1. e.g. 60k MR -> 30k SQ
With this offer, 60k MR -> 60k Marriott -> 25k SQ

You're losing out unless your alternative airline beats SQ by at least 20% (10% in the case of UA which gets a 10% bonus on Marriott transfers), such as when there's a bonus on Marriott transfers to a particular airline. (I'm assuming you wouldn't be using Marriott pts directly, as that's almost never worthwhile any more.)

Disagree.

There is still some great value to be had especially at the more aspirational resorts and if you are staying 5 nights.

Using Sniip fee + this transfer, St Regis Maldives 5 nights would have cost $3k next year vs $11k USD rack rate.

You need to search more, but value is still there

 

[ANstar]

I wouldn't call it good, just less awful.

If you transfer directly to an airline, Amex is 2:1. e.g. 60k MR -> 30k SQ
With this offer, 60k MR -> 60k Marriott -> 25k SQ

You're losing out unless your alternative airline beats SQ by at least 20% (10% in the case of UA which gets a 10% bonus on Marriott transfers), such as when there's a bonus on Marriott transfers to a particular airline. (I'm assuming you wouldn't be using Marriott pts directly, as that's almost never worthwhile any more.)

For those of us that use Marriott points for hotel stays is it such a bad deal to transfer AMEX to Marriott?

 

[Happy Dude]

For those of us that use Marriott points for hotel stays is it such a bad deal to transfer AMEX to Marriott?

Not sure if this is rhetorical, but it's better than no bonus. I guess it depends on how else you get your Marriott points.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

For those of us that use Marriott points for hotel stays is it such a bad deal to transfer AMEX to Marriott?

Yes

Not sure if this is rhetorical, but it's better than no bonus. I guess it depends on how else you get your Marriott points.

rhetorical = good in my mind .. I like!

 

[maverick1]

Disagree.

There is still some great value to be had especially at the more aspirational resorts and if you are staying 5 nights.

Using Sniip fee + this transfer, St Regis Maldives 5 nights would have cost $3k next year vs $11k USD rack rate.

You need to search more, but value is still there

Couldn't agree more. I've had some absolutely fantastic stays using Amex to Bonvoy(my only source of earning MB points in Aus, I think there is CBA too but not great value). Below are my some great value picks -

I used 250k Bonvoy points for a 5 night stay at Wailea Beach Resort Maui back in April. The going rate/night was approx A$1400 to A$1500/night. so was great value. The rate usually averages USD1000+.

Have booked St Regis Bora Bora (5nights) for Xmas for 340k Bonvoy Points, the $value is >A$10k.

 

[NoName]

Couldn't agree more. I've had some absolutely fantastic stays using Amex to Bonvoy(my only source of earning MB points in Aus, I think there is CBA too but not great value). Below are my some great value picks -

I used 250k Bonvoy points for a 5 night stay at Wailea Beach Resort Maui back in April. The going rate/night was approx A$1400 to A$1500/night. so was great value. The rate usually averages USD1000+.

Have booked St Regis Bora Bora (5nights) for Xmas for 340k Bonvoy Points, the $value is >A$10k.

Agree as well. I manage to rack up more than enough airline miles for our flight requirements so transfer any MR I earn to Marriott. For me hotels are the next major expense to be reduced in this way. Have had some great redemptions at high end properties that I would not otherwise have stayed in. The next being the Ritz Carlton Central Park with the family for 5 nights over New Years period.

 

[ms1]

Reminder that the 50% bonus expires tomorrow.