Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
47 comments
Jennifer
August 29, 2018
You can no longer earn Marriott points through shopmyway.
Jeff Brownson
September 05, 2018
@Jennifer Thanks for catching this! The post has been updated accordingly.
mark Reynolds
September 14, 2018
I am a platinum for life SPG member. The new combined program is a disaster for me. My CC points earned on spending is cut by a third. The no housekeeping bonus is cut by 2 thirds.
The hurdles to find and book a room online used to be just a couple of clicks, now it is a much more confusing and time consuming process. For instance: On SPG you click on a city in which you wish to stay and you get 1 screen with a list of different pricing options all together. Now, with Marriott, you get a list of 100 hotels and each hotel has a best price listed. The best price is always advance purchase which I don’t care about. So I have to click and click and go back and forth making for a very frustrating experience. Even tho’ I’m Platinum, I’ll find myself going to Hyatt and Priceline to avoid the hassle of Marriott’s reservation site. Thanks.
Christine Krzyszton
September 14, 2018
Thanks for your comments, Mark. I am a long term SPG elite member as well (not Platinum lifetime like you, however) and I have experienced similar frustrations with the earnings, the booking process, the awards program and other changes. I have started limiting the brands in my search on the Marriott site to just my preferences; it helps narrow the choices. The booking site still has other problems that I’m confident will be worked out over time but for now, it’s tough to deal with. I feel your pain although I’m hopeful the IT problems will diminish soon.
Steve Johnson
January 08, 2019
I believe as of December, 2018, you can no longer redeem Diner’s Club Rewards points for Marriott points.
Christine Krzyszton
January 08, 2019
Hi Steve and thanks for the update. Although it was possible when this post was written, you can no longer transfer from Diner’s Club. Appreciate the information and I will update the post.
Maytee
March 20, 2019
Hi. I tried to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Marriott Bonvoy points and couldn’t find any way to do it. I called Marriott Bonvoy and they said only Chase/Bonvoy affiliated cards can transfer. Is there a way you can tell me how to transfer that maybe they don’t know about. Thanks.
Christine Krzyszton
March 20, 2019
Hello Maytee. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card, you can log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards account (chase.com/ultimaterewards) and go to “Transfer to Travel Partners”, then select Marriott Bonvoy. As mentioned in the article, if you have the Chase Freedom®, Chase Freedom Unlimited℠, or the Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card, you cannot transfer Ultimate Rewards Points directly to Marriott Bonvoy, you must first transfer to one of the premium Chase credit cards listed. You can transfer points between cards also by logging in to your Ultimate Rewards account. Hope this helps.
Jon
April 03, 2019
Do you know if you get the normal 10X points per dollar when spending on Vacations by Marriott packages? Does the 6X bonus points from co-branded credit cards apply to these vacation packages as well?
Christine Krzyszton
April 05, 2019
Hi Jon. Thank you for the questions. The 10X points per dollar is valid only on purchases at Marriott properties through the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. According to the terms and conditions on the co-branded Marriott Bonvoy cards, 6X points earnings include, “purchases charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties (excluding home share properties), standalone Marriott branded retail establishments, and Marriott branded online stores (including online purchases of Marriott branded gift cards) that, in each case, are wholly owned or managed by Marriott International, Inc and its affiliates. Eligible purchases means purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits.”
Dan
April 22, 2019
I recently got a Marriott credit card. I am thinking of buying a gift card for a celebration. Do I need to buy a gift card at a Marriott facility to earn 6X points?
I am planning to buy using https://gifts.marriott.com/.
Christine Krzyszton
April 23, 2019
Hello Dan. The 6X points is earned on purchases at Marriott properties so you would need to purchase the Marriott gift card there. I actually purchased a Marriott gift card at Fairfield Inn and received the multiple points. The online gift card purchase will not receive the multiple points as a fulfillment service manages those purchases.
Jay
May 12, 2019
Did anyone else seem to fall just short of lifetime titanium elite when the merge happened and now find themselves with no way to EVER earn that status? Titanium Elite lifetime status was only offered in the year of the merge (2018) so those of us that stayed exclusively with Marriott for years and years (20 to be exact) and were nearly at the point of earning the highest lifetime category available (Platinum before the merge), now have NO WAY to EVER earn Titanium Elite lifetime status? So it’s back to 75 nights per year in order to get the same benefit you were already getting and were just about to reach lifetime on? I have emailed BONVOY a bunch and just get the runaround. Anyone understand the logic behind this?
Deann
May 15, 2019
Hi can you tell me what bonus nights are? My account shows 23 nights stayed and 17 bonus nights for a total of 40 nights. So I need 10 more nights by the end of this calendar year to remain Platinum? I’m confused as to how I’m earning “bonus nights”- is it through using my Marriott card?
Christine Krzyszton
May 15, 2019
Hi Deann. You receive 15 bonus nights towards elite status each year on your Marriott card. The other 2 could be rollover nights from last year, from a promotion, or from rewarding events. These all count towards elite status.
Victoria
June 22, 2019
I recently stayed at the Marriott Courtyard at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida for cancer treatment for 6weeks plus. I opted for all the point rewards for Green Housekeeping, buying food, special promotions offered at the time. At the end of my stay, my MarriotRewards were 44,000.
Recently, I switched over to BonVoy and when I logged in it showed only 38,000 points. I called and your associates told me it was correct. Then I had trouble logging into my BonVoy account – it locked me out for 5 days. Even with multiple calls to your customer service they weren’t able to help me get in but they did inform me I had only 36,000(!) Points.🙄 I have lost 8,000 points and haven’t used the account for anything yet.
I am now able to travel a year after my Cancer Treatment – I’m in remission. The customer service team can’t seem to find the points anywhere and I’m upset. They seemed to have vanished into thin air without a trace… to say I’m disappointed is no small statement as I am a new member. I hope someone can help.
Erin Miller
June 22, 2019
Hi Victoria, please be advised we are not Marriott Bonvoy. We are Upgraded Points, a website dedicated to publishing articles on points, miles, and award travel as well as other travel related pieces.
We’re sorry to hear you’re having difficulty with Marriott’s program but since we are not Marriott (nor are we affiliated with them in any way), we can’t assist you with this issue. We’re so happy to hear you’re in remission and wish you the best in your future travels and we truly hope Marriott can get this worked out for you.
If you haven’t, try tweeting them or leaving a comment on their FB – some big companies respond better to these social media platforms as they don’t love to see negative press publicized where other potential consumers can read it.
Greg Fowler
July 25, 2019
If I don’t use credit cards much and am just starting out earning Marriott points, should I purchase a pile of points to move up the levels quickly?
Christine Krzyszton
July 25, 2019
Hi Greg. Purchasing Marriott points is generally not good value and the points do not count toward Marriott Bonvoy elite status. However, having a Marriott branded credit card, even if you just use it when you occasionally stay at Marriott, will be the fastest way to accumulate points.
Dr FATIMA Habib
August 11, 2019
Hi . I would like to know if we still get points for dining at restaurants in the Marriott properties as non stay points which was the case with SPG ? So, points for spending in restaurants and bars without a stay.
Christine Krzyszton
August 11, 2019
Hello Dr Habib. It will, of course, depend on the card as to how many points you will earn. If restaurants are a bonus category on your Marriott branded card and the establishment has a merchant code that defines it as a restaurant, then you will earn the restaurant category point level.
Michael Simcox
August 15, 2019
It used to be that every $3,000 spend equaled one elite qualifying night. Is that still the case?
Christine Krzyszton
August 16, 2019
Hi Michael. The Marriott Bonvoy Premier credit card has this feature. However, this card is no longer available to new applicants.
Pancha
August 24, 2019
Hello,
I was wondering if you earn points on points reservations? And if so how much?
Jarrod West
August 25, 2019
Hi Pancha,
You will not earn points if you paid for your reservation with points.
Thanks for reading!
anthony
September 20, 2019
You can earn points if you use points for a night. I think it may depend on your status but I am Platinum elite and when using points they add “bonus points” into my account.
Christine Krzyszton
September 20, 2019
Hi Anthony. The points you’re referring to are probably welcome bonus points one can select when they check in. And yes, you are correct, you do receive these points when using points for a stay. Thanks for your input!
Eugene Swetin
October 04, 2019
Do you get double points when buying Marriott points with Chase Bonvoy card?
Christine Krzyszton
October 04, 2019
Hi Eugene. You will receive 2 points per dollar spent when purchasing Marriott points.
Kay
October 24, 2019
Does using my 7 nights package extend the life of my Marriott points? Thanks!
Michael McHugh
October 24, 2019
Hi Kay,
Yes. A 7 night package is considered a points redemption. Points redemptions are considered qualifying activity.
John Staab
November 03, 2019
I have what I thought was a simple question but can’t find any information anywhere. What is the conversion rate between Marriott Vacation Club points and Bonvoy points? In my example I have 13,000 Vacation Club points. Thanks in advance.
Christine Krzyszton
November 03, 2019
Hi John. According to the Vacation Club guide, you can exchange points by logging in to your account at My-vacationclub.com or by calling the Vacation Ownership Advisory Team at 888-682-4862. They can also give you the current conversion rate. Here is a copy of the guide: https://www.marriottvacationclub.com/common/cms/mvc/pdfs/helpfulTools/howToUseGuide/151052_14_DHTUG_PtsOwnerNoLtr_WB.pdf
La
November 25, 2019
Do I get credit for night stay if I pay with cash and points?
Stephen Au
November 26, 2019
Yes! Also, if you pay for the stay completely with points, you’ll earn elite night credits too.
S K
December 10, 2019
Do you earn status upgrades based on how much you spend each year? I believe in the past, SPG gave you a status upgrade if you spent $40,000, etc.
Christine Krzyszton
December 11, 2019
Hello S K. I think you’re referring to spending on a Marriott-branded credit card and yes, hitting specific spending levels on certain cards can elevate your elite status. Here is an article that explains which cards have this feature and other information about qualifying for Marriott Bonvoy Elite status. Thanks for reading. /how-to-qualify-for-marriott-elite-status
Carl Fortenberry
February 23, 2020
Can additional Bonvoy points be purchased using a Marriott gift card?
Jarrod West
February 23, 2020
Hi Carl,
Yes, you can use a gift card to purchase points.
Peggy Carroll
April 02, 2020
Will I get points on my card for charging auto repairs.
Christine Krzyszton
April 02, 2020
Hi Peggy. Yes, using your Marriott Bonvoy branded card to pay for auto repairs will earn points. Thanks for reading.
Alice
May 20, 2020
Can I register 2 Marriott credit cards to earn points on one Marriott Bonvoy rewards account?
Christine Krzyszton
May 21, 2020
Hi Alice. When you apply for a Marriott credit card, you will be asked for your Marriott Bonvoy rewards account number. The Marriott Rewards account name must match the name on the credit card. You can have 2 Marriott branded cards in your name and both can earn rewards to your account. You can also add an authorized user to your card and their purchases will earn rewards in your account. It is also possible to transfer rewards between accounts but there is a transfer fee.
James Robinson
March 31, 2022
I’m just getting started as a new Marriott Bonvoy member. What’s the best way for me to get points? I have tried getting Marriott cards but got denied. So should I purchase points and then book nights with points to earn points? Will that work? Or what should I do? Can someone plz gift me some points?
Christine Krzyszton
March 31, 2022
Hi James. Your best bet, without a Marriott credit card, is staying at Marriott properties. Be sure to register for any promotional offers and don’t forget to follow up and make sure the welcome bonuses you accepted at check-in post to your Marriott Rewards account after your stay (this is a known problem). Stays purchased with points do not earn Marriott Rewards points other than the welcome bonus (500 to 1,000 points depending on the brand). Also, go through the list in the article and review all activities that do not require a Marriott credit card, you may find a few other options. Thanks for reading James, and I hope you’re able to get a Marriott branded card in the near future.
Mina
September 30, 2023
Is it still possible to get 6X points on gift cards purchased at a property? Has anything changed in the last few years?
Christine Krzyszton
October 04, 2023
Hi Mina. Yes, it is still possible.
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