How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points (without staying)

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Updated 31 Jan 2023

Although there are no Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards in Australia, there are several ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without staying there.

Compare credit cards that earn hotel points, including points that can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy.

Key takeaways

  • Marriott Bonvoy points can be earned in Australia through American Express Membership Rewards transfers.
  • Several airlines have Marriott as a transfer partner (but not Qantas or Velocity).
  • Other transfer partners include Hertz car rentals and Ritz Carlton cruises.
  • Hosting events at Marriott hotels can also earn substantial points.
  • If you don't mind spending money, you can buy Marriott Bonvoy points.

Ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without staying there

There are several ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on an ongoing and one-off basis. Generally, it is not as easy to earn Marriott points as with a credit card rewards program or frequent flyer program.

Buy points

Availability: Constant | Potential: High | Effort: Low

Marriott Bonvoy members can purchase up to 100,000 points per calendar year. It's probably the easiest way to quickly top up your Marriott account if you need a few extra points fast.

From time to time, Marriott Bonvoy offers point purchase promotions, which can unlock a bonus of up to 25% or more. Look out for them in your inbox.

Buying Marriott Bonvoy points can make sense, especially if the points are redeemed at a high-end property over a peak period when you get the most value per point redeemed.

Transfer points from American Express

Availability: Constant | Potential: High | Effort: Low

The transfer rate for Membership Rewards Ascent is 3 Membership Rewards points to 2 Marriott Bonvoy points. However, it's important to note that transfer rates may vary for other tiers, so it's a good idea to log in to your American Express account to see your specific transfer rate.

The minimum transfer amount is 600 points, which can take up to one business day to show in your Marriott Bonvoy account.

If you do not have an American Express credit card, you could apply and trigger the sign up bonus, then transfer the Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy.

Transfer points from Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Availability: Constant | Potential: High | Effort: Low

If you have gathered up some points in Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, you can transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy under their two-way transfer agreement.

The transfer ratio is 2 Asia Miles to 1 Marriott Bonvoy point with a minimum transfer amount of 2,000 Asia Miles (in increments of 500). There is a daily transfer limit of 240,000 Asia Miles.

Transfer points from Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Availability: Constant | Potential: High | Effort: Low

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Marriott Bonvoy have a two-way transfer agreement where members can convert their KrisFlyer miles into Marriott Bonvoy points at the rate of 2 KrisFlyer miles to 1 Marriott Bonvoy point.

The minimum you can transfer is 3,000 KrisFlyer miles. There is a cap of 180,000 KrisFlyer miles per calendar year.

Transfer points from United MileagePlus

Availability: Constant | Potential: High | Effort: Low

Exchange MileagePlus miles for Marriott Bonvoy points at a 1:1 rate (limited to 100,000 miles per calendar year for Premier members only).

Hire a car with Hertz

Availability: Constant | Potential: Low | Effort: Low

Hertz rentals do not earn points per dollar spent. Instead, you'll earn 500 Marriott Bonvoy points per qualifying Hertz rental worldwide.

Go on a cruise

Availability: Constant | Potential: Medium | Effort: High

Earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise fares when booked by a member.

Host events at a Marriott venue

Availability: Constant | Potential: High | Effort: High

Need a venue for a wedding, family gathering, or business meeting? Use a Marriott property as the venue and earn points on your spend.

Summary

StrategyAvailabilityPotentialEffort
Buy pointsConstantHighLow
Transfer from American ExpressConstantHighLow
Transfer from Cathay Pacific Asia MilesConstantHighLow
Transfer from Singapore Airlines KrisFlyerConstantHighLow
Transfer from United MileagePlusConstantHighLow
Hertz car rentalConstantLowLow
Go on a cruiseConstantHighHigh
Host events at a Marriott venueConstantHighHigh

FAQs

Can Marriott Bonvoy points be earned in Australia through credit card spending?

There are no Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards in Australia. Still, you can use an American Express credit card to earn Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy.

How many Marriott Bonvoy points can be purchased per year?

A: Marriott Bonvoy members can purchase up to 100,000 points per calendar year.

As seen on

Media - The Sydney Morning Herald
Media - Yahoo Finance
Media - News.com.au
Media - Daily Mail Australia
Media - Australian Fintech
Media - Dynamic Business