Hi, I have over 210K marriott points in my account. As I am considering moving the points around or potentially trading or transferring them to another acct.( I realize that I could take a loss if I transfer), would anyone have any suggestions on the best methods for trading or transferring? One consideration is possibly doing an even trade for my marriott pts. for the equivalent starwood points, but not sure if anyone has better suggestions, has done this before and has cautionary advise.

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by annabanana (edited 07-22-2002).]

I think the best value would be the COMPLETE TRAVEL PACKAGE - Code 082. It would give you 100'000 miles plus a cert for a free week in the hotels of category 1-5 - price: 215'000

Here is the link: http://www.marriottrewards.com/awards/packages.asp

By redeeming for FF miles alone you would get 100'000 but for 250'000 points.

I don't know If you MUST use the miles as soon as you redeem an award with Marriott or if they transfer the points directly to your airline account and you can just keep them or add some more for a business or first class award. Maybe somebody else here knows the answer.

Hope that helps.

Marriott simply transfers to your designated FF account the pertinent number of miles and you can use the miles whenever and in whatever amount you wish.

So I would call Marriott Rewards and request they transfer the pts. to my United acct? Where do I get information about this process. Thanks for you input. This is very, very helpful.

Anna

Damian has already provided you with the relevant link.

This link only provides a description of the 082 he mentioned which isn't the same as transferring points into a partner FF program. 082 only provides 100K points into the FF acct, but I have to use 7 nights at a hotel. I was under the understanding from DENROC's post that a linked FF acct. will accept Marriott points and that is what I am requesting clarification on. Unless I am missing something in the link.

Call Marriott Rewards (1-801-468-4000
8:15 am - 9:00 pm, Monday - Friday (US Eastern time) to redeem an award. You will be asked to provide your FF number. Marriott will transfer the ff miles to your airline account and send you the certificate for the free week long stay at any of the Marriott properties from category 1-5. That's the COMPLETE TRAVEL PACKAGE.

You will have miles as UpgradeMe stated, and hotel certificate. Two things for less points then trasfering MR points into FF miles ALONE.

Hope that clarifies some of your questions.

Anna,

What Damian and others are trying to do is point you towards the best deal for your circumstance.

Travel Package 082 gives you 7 free nights at a class 1-5 Marriott plus 100K miles on your choice of airline for 215K MR points. You say that you currently have 210K which means it would cost you $50 to buy 5K needed to reach 215K for the award.

Quickly checking the Marriott Rewards site reveals their Air Rewards which provide a direct transfer of MR points to airline miles. The best transfer for you uses a combination of 3 different awards (789+790+566) for the same 215K MR points. Using this method, you end up with 75K miles on the airline of your choice.

Obviously, the first suggestion is the better one. You get more miles and a free week's stay.

Once you have the miles in your preferred airline account, you can transfer them as you wish. If you are insistent on transferring to another hotel plan, I suggest depositing the miles with Delta. You can then transfer DL miles to Hilton Honors points on a 1:2 basis. Thus you can turn 215K MR points into a free week's stay and 200K HHonors points. (Note you can also do this through CO, but DL is quicker and more dependable)

You can not transfer airline miles directly into Starwood points. However there is a work around if you have a Diners Club card. Send the 100K miles to U or AA (I'd suggest AA as the miles count toward lifetime elite status) and then transfer the miles to your Diners Club Rewards account. From there, you transfer your DC points to Starwood on a 3:1 basis. Thus the 100K airline miles earned through Marriott now become 33,333 Starwood Points. Note that DC does charge some nominal fees in association with their transfers.

As Damian has noted, all you have to do to start the ball rolling is to call MR customer service and request an award. You just need to give them the airline and your FF# to have the miles deposited in your airline of choice.. The other parts of the award (hotel certificate, Hertz discount certificate and the much vaunted calling card) will be mailed to you.

[This message has been edited by BillMorrow (edited 07-22-2002).]

Thank you to all who responded. I admit, the Damian's first email had me a bit confused, so I do appreciate the clarification.

Regards,
Anna