Do you know you possibly can switch sure lodge loyalty rewards to 40-plus frequent flyer packages?
I consider that flexibility is king with regards to lodge rewards, which is why I’ve traditionally stored a modest stash of Marriott Bonvoy factors to redeem free nights relatively than transferring these lodge factors to accomplice airline packages. But, as I stare at my stability of simply 30,000 Bonvoy factors, which is barely sufficient for a single off‑peak evening at many choose manufacturers, I’ve determined I am altering my technique.
Let me clarify why I am lastly changing these factors to American Airways AAdvantage miles and the way you may determine whether or not the maths works for you, too.
Why Marriott Bonvoy factors do not stretch so far as they used to
I’ve had these Bonvoy factors for effectively over a 12 months now (about the identical time as my final Marriott keep), and I am acutely aware that these factors will expire if I haven’t got any qualifying exercise in my account after 24 months, so I must do one thing with them.
My 30,000 Bonvoy level stability seems stranded. It appears too massive to disregard and too small to e-book something luxurious or save actual money.
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Associated: Expiring rewards in 2025? A listing of loyalty packages and their rewards expiration insurance policies
Why an airline switch appears smarter proper now
One purpose is that these miles have historically been more durable to earn by way of transferable bank card packages, although this has just lately modified because of Citi ThankYou Rewards including American Airways AAdvantage as a switch accomplice.
To not point out, I just lately earned a 60,000-mile AAdvantage welcome bonus (not accessible) on the AAdvantage® Aviator® Pink World Elite Mastercard®.
With that bonus in thoughts, transferring 30,000 Bonvoy factors to AAdvantage at the usual 3:1 ratio will web me an extra 10,000 AAdvantage miles, nudging my stability to 70,000 miles. These miles may assist me unlock a number of redemption candy spots, together with Qatar Airways Qsuite from North America to the Center East, the Maldives and Southeast Asia, which I consider is probably the only finest option to redeem AAdvantage miles and save hundreds of {dollars}.
The knowledge for the AAdvantage Aviator Pink World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Is that this a great deal?
TPG values Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.7 cents every in our August 2025 valuations (so 30,000 factors are value $210). On the airline facet, we at present worth AAdvantage miles at 1.55 cents every, making 10,000 miles value roughly $155. That appears like a poor deal, however this is why I feel it is wise:
- It is unlikely I am going to discover a lodge for 30,000 factors per evening the place I am going to get greater than 0.7 cents per level in worth primarily based on the locations I am visiting.
- Including 10,000 AAdvantage miles to my account brings my whole to over 70,000 miles, opening up many extra redemption choices.
- I am going to have the ability to deplete these Bonvoy factors instantly on a excessive‑worth AAdvantage flight redemption; in any other case, they may languish in my Bonvoy account till dynamic pricing causes redemption charges to climb even greater or they expire.
- As Bonvoy isn’t my go-to lodge loyalty program for reserving lodge stays with money (that might be World of Hyatt), if I selected to attend to earn 30,000 extra Bonvoy factors to set off the 5,000‑mile switch bonus on the 60,000-point tier, realistically, that would take me one other six months of stays.
In brief, I am comfy “overpaying” on paper as a result of the incremental miles set off a redemption I truly wish to make.
If you happen to’re contemplating doing this, too, listed here are some issues to recollect:
- Test accomplice ratios: Most airways switch at a 3:1 ratio, however some are much less.
- Purpose for a 60,000-point bonus, if potential: If in case you have, say, 50,000 Bonvoy factors to switch, it is most likely value ready till you attain the magic 60,000 Bonvoy factors quantity and selecting an airline switch accomplice that awards an additional 5,000 bonus miles (United MileagePlus provides a beneficiant 10,000 bonus miles).
- Transfers can’t be reversed: If you’re contemplating shifting Bonvoy factors to an airline program, it is a good suggestion to redeem them instantly relatively than transferring speculatively. Sadly, airline packages can and do devalue, and you do not wish to be caught with airline miles you can not use.
Backside line
In an period of dynamic lodge pricing, flexibility generally means letting go of a forex that not serves you. By changing 30,000 doubtlessly nugatory Marriott Bonvoy factors into 10,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles, I am not chasing a theoretical cents‑per‑level benchmark; I am enabling a particular excessive‑worth award that might in any other case be out of attain.
Will this technique swimsuit everybody? Completely not. If you happen to routinely extract 1 cent or extra in worth per Bonvoy level on luxurious stays — otherwise you’re sitting on 300,000 factors as an alternative of 30,000 — maintain them within the lodge ecosystem. If in case you have orphaned lodge balances and premium cabin aspirations, it might be time to suppose past the mattress run and let these lodge factors take flight.
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