Qatar Airways Privilege Club has teamed up with Marriott Bonvoy, the Marriott rewards programme, to offer its members more benefits. Specifically, this partnership allows members to convert their Avios to Marriott points for hotel stays. The conversion can also be extended to points from other airlines, such as British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair, using Qatar as a conduit.
Members can now use their Avios flight points within Marriott Bonvoy's vast network of over 30 brands and 10,000 destinations worldwide. With more options, you can redeem complimentary stays at well-known hotel brands, including W Hotels, JW Marriott, Autograph Collection, Westin, and Moxy Hotels.
But does converting Avios to Marriot points make sense? Let's find out how this works and whether converting Avios into Bonvoy points is a good idea.
How Do I Transfer My Avios to Bonvoy Points?
You can transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair accounts at a 1:1 exchange rate. After linking these accounts, you can move your Avios from British Airways to your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account. From there, Avios can be converted to Marriott Bonvoy points at 2:1, where 2 Avios yield 1 Bonvoy point without any transfer fees.
Keep in mind that six airlines currently operate with Avios as their loyalty currency. Still, only Aer Lingus and Vueling do not allow transfers to or from British Airways, which could then be transferred to Qatar Airways.
To convert your Qatar Avios to Bonvoy points, visit the Qatar Airways Bonvoy conversions page. Log into your Privilege Club account, and enter your Marriott Bonvoy membership number. You can then select the number of Avios to convert, starting from a minimum of 1,000. The daily maximum conversion is 500,000 Avios per member.
Note that once Avios are converted to Bonvoy points, the Privilege Club account gets linked to that specific Marriott Bonvoy account. Subsequent conversions must go to the same Bonvoy account. Transferred Avios should appear in your Marriott account within 48 hours.
A Note From Qatar Airways and Marriott Bonvoy
Speaking about the partnership, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Loyalty, Thomas Vadakedath, said, "Qatar Airways Privilege Club is pleased to expand its long-standing partnership with Marriott Bonvoy. With the latest enhancement, we are excited to offer Privilege Club members a new way to spend their Avios and access rewards of their choice with Marriott Bonvoy."
"As the loyalty programme of the 'World's Best Airline,' we aim to offer members benefits that elevate their travel experiences, and the latest advancement in our partnership is a testament to this commitment."
Marriott International Vice President Loyalty & Partnerships, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Jitendra Jain, said, "We are excited to expand our collaboration with Qatar Airways to further elevate the travel experiences of our most loyal customers. The addition of this benefit reflects our commitment to curate and deliver enhanced benefits and extraordinary travel experiences for our members across our global network."
Does it Make Sense to Transfer Avios to Marriott Bonvoy?
Now, coming to the important question of whether it’s a good decision to transfer Avios to the Marriott rewards programme: the short answer is no. Basically, the math doesn't add up, especially with a 2:1 transfer ratio where much of the value is lost in the conversion. A Qatar Avios is valued at 1.25 cents, while a Bonvoy point is worth only 0.7 cents. That means a 44% decrease in value.
So, why consider transferring Avios to Bonvoy? The option only becomes viable if you have a high-value redemption for Marriott points in mind and lack other means to boost your Bonvoy account. Typically, acquiring Marriott points through credit card bonuses or hotel stays would be a better way to gather points than sacrificing your more valuable Avios.
However, something is always better than nothing. All things considered, it's always good to have an option. The transfer option could come in handy under certain circumstances, especially if you have a surplus of Avios. For example, transferring Avios might make sense if you need additional Bonvoy points to secure a fifth-night-free award, which grants a complimentary night after four paid nights. Another scenario might be topping up your Bonvoy points for an exceptional redemption opportunity. Think of it as a good backup plan. However, always ensure you have enough Avios points before transferring in either of these scenarios. Remember that the process cannot be reversed once Avios are converted to Bonvoy points.
The Verdict
Although the new feature may not offer substantial value, its introduction is still a welcome addition. Having more options to use your points and miles is always a plus. Even with the less favourable exchange rate, this new transfer option could be useful, depending on your specific needs.
