Thinking of switching from SPG to Marriott; some basic questions:
Sep 8, 2011 | 11:58 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,459
All AA miles, from whatever source, count toward million mile status -- 1 million gets you lifetime gold, 2 million gets you plat, and 3 million gets you exec plat. It can be from hotel transfers, credit cards, eshopping malls, bonus miles, whatever.
This program is changing, however, on 12/1/11. Starting then, only actual butt in seat miles will count toward that million mile status, except that miles earned through an AA credit card linked to your AA account before 12/1 will also continue to earn million-mile qualifying miles for one more year.
This program is changing, however, on 12/1/11. Starting then, only actual butt in seat miles will count toward that million mile status, except that miles earned through an AA credit card linked to your AA account before 12/1 will also continue to earn million-mile qualifying miles for one more year.
As mentioned, this program changes in a couple of months. Going forward only actual flight miles on AA and certain partners will qualify, with the noted one-year exception for Citibank's top AA credit card.
Marriott dropped AA as a partner about a year ago. Prior to that date, selecting AA for the 120,000 Marriott package mileage deposit made sense as it took you 12% closer to the next AA lifetime tier.
Sep 8, 2011 | 12:56 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 526
Actually, if you can generate Marriott points to the 200K plus area, Marriott's miles conversion outstrips SPG.
I tend to have around a 2.5 Marriott pt to 1 SPG point ratio (or something close to that.) And SPG converts to airline miles around a 1.25 to 1.0 miles to SPG pt. With Marriotts Travel Package awards, you can get a 1-to-1 miles to points ratio. That gives Marriott almost a 2x better airline miles ratio (in terms of earning and burning power.)
But the kicker is that you have to be able to rack up 200K plus points (as that is where the 120K miles awards start.) And you have to be able to use a 7-night hotel award (comes with the TP award.) Note that MVCI owners (Marriott's timeshares) have the option of a 5-night award version.
So if miles conversions is a primary concern AND you can earn the points, Marriott's program actually has the better conversion awards.
I tend to have around a 2.5 Marriott pt to 1 SPG point ratio (or something close to that.) And SPG converts to airline miles around a 1.25 to 1.0 miles to SPG pt. With Marriotts Travel Package awards, you can get a 1-to-1 miles to points ratio. That gives Marriott almost a 2x better airline miles ratio (in terms of earning and burning power.)
But the kicker is that you have to be able to rack up 200K plus points (as that is where the 120K miles awards start.) And you have to be able to use a 7-night hotel award (comes with the TP award.) Note that MVCI owners (Marriott's timeshares) have the option of a 5-night award version.
So if miles conversions is a primary concern AND you can earn the points, Marriott's program actually has the better conversion awards.
Sep 8, 2011 | 1:04 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,815
I was not able to find this on the Marriott site. The one page I found here (http://www.marriott.com/rewards/usepoints/morepack.mi) still seemed to show a much lower conversion rate than 1:1. Can you steer me to the relevant page? Thanks.
That is 1:1 under the following logic -- 7 nights at a category 5 hotel is a 150k redemption. 150k plus 120k equals 270k.
Sep 8, 2011 | 1:05 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,815
Aha -- thanks for the correction. Since I'm about 2.5 million away from 3 million, I did not know that. ;0)
Sep 8, 2011 | 1:17 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 526
That's the right page. Look under "hotels + air." It shows, for example, you can get 7 nights at a category 5, plus 120k miles on various airlines, for 270k marriot points.
That is 1:1 under the following logic -- 7 nights at a category 5 hotel is a 150k redemption. 150k plus 120k equals 270k.
That is 1:1 under the following logic -- 7 nights at a category 5 hotel is a 150k redemption. 150k plus 120k equals 270k.