Business Platinum Card from American Express
130,000 MR points
9 Outstanding Marriott Hotels for Your 7-Night Certificates
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Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
- Earn 65,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
- Earn an additional 30,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $20,000 in the first 12 months
- Plus, earn 15,000 Bonvoy points when you make a purchase between 15 and 17 months of Cardmembership.
- Also, receive an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Bonvoy points starting in your second year with the card
- Also, receive 15 elite-qualifying nights every year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- Bonus Bonvoy points for referring family and friends
- Annual fee: $120
23 Comments
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Because Aeroplan is ending soon, what would you recommend which participating airline I should with? Also is this a good value by converting Amex MR 180000 = 90000 SPG = 270000 Marriott Cert for 7 nights + 120000 Alaska Miles?
Thank You, Paul
I wouldn’t recommend against using Aeroplan, since you still have more than two years to use the points. Nevertheless, Alaska miles would be my other top choice, since they have excellent redemption possibilities.
To your question, if those 120,000 Alaska miles can help you book Cathay or JAL First Class or even business class, then yes it’s an incredible redemption.
Question though, what points to choose? My main intetest is in Aeroplan but looks like from the chart you can’t earn Aeroplan? It says AC only but Aeroplan is AC’s points currency so am confused.
Also, assume if you choose BA Avios you can then use those points for any One World partner, as usual?
By Air Canada they’re referring to Aeroplan. And yes, the BA Avios can be used just like usual.
So if you book this with Marriott with the 7-day stay, would the flight need to be arriving & leaving around these days, or can you choose different flight dates (ie. Fly somewhere, stay at Marriott x 7 days, then go elsewhere to travel around before the return flight)?
You can absolute choose to go elsewhere as well. You don’t need to use the miles on the same trip as the hotel – you just earn the two together as part of the package, and then can spend both wherever and however you’d like.
Thank you for clarifying that Ricky! Im glad to hear that!
Marlene
Oh another Quick question! Can you churn spg personal credit card or is it recommended to keep it and just pay the annual fee again. I didnt qualify for the business spg for some reason so cant apply for another 6 mths! Thank you!
Marlene
I haven’t tried with SPG, but most people say it works. If you do, just remember to follow the normal precautions on churning – ie. wait a few months before signing up for a new one, don’t call the bank asking for points, etc. Alternatively, you can also get AMEX Gold, Plat, or Cobalt. You earn welcome bonus and extra point(s) per dollar spent. Each point transfers 2:1 to SPG.
Thank you yyc. I do have the Amex gold and will check out cobolt next i think. Also when doing a transfer to Marriott 7 day credit plus miles I thought you can use the miles whenever and for whatever destination you want but am I wrong on that. Must it be used in along with your 7 day stay? Also the aeroplan transfer bonus going on now! Is there any chance of it coming up that we can get the bonus with the Marriott vacation pkg. last time i checked Ricky said the bonus isnt included in this program.
Thank you
Marlene
Thank you!
Marlene
Marlene, you’re correct, the miles can be used for whatever destination you want and don’t have to be used alongside the certificate. However, it’s an option available to you if you’d like to use them in one go.
Unfortunately the latest round of Aeroplan bonus doesn’t seem to apply to Marriott Travel Packages, per the wording on Marriott’s website.
Just wondering, what do you mean by ‘don’t call the bank asking for points’? Do they put up a note on your file if you call the credit card company with specific questions? Thanks.
I’m not sure which article that’s from, but in general that kind of advice applies to situations when you are technically not entitled to the points as per the terms and conditions, but people usually get the points anyway. Examples of this include repeat sign-up bonuses and self-referrals.
Thank you yyc and Ricky! Now I get it. Looks like i need to get some more spg points. Haha!
Marlene????
Hi Ricky,
I dont get what the “or avios” stands for on the chart. Would you clarify for me please. Also am I calculating this option correct. If I transfer 50,000 starpoints I will get 70,000 in airmiles with a participating airline and a 7 day certificate value of 220,000 Marriott points?
Thank you Ricky
Marlene
@yyc did an excellent job of explaining – thank you for that! 🙂 In a nutshell, 90K Starpoints -> 270K Marriott -> 120K airline miles of your choice (including Aeroplan, Alaska, or BA Avios) + 7 night Cat 1-5 certificate.
@Marlene, Avios are simply the redeemable miles you earn on British Airways. BA just uses the word Avios instead of "miles".
SPG to Marriott points transfer 1:3, so your 50k SPG will convert to 150k Marriott points (MR). The 220k MR is not the value of the cert but it is the required number of MR you need for the 7-night cert and airmiles. For example, if you look at the top-left of the chart, you can see that it costs 200k MR for the 7-night cert plus 50k airmiles. As you go down the chart, you can redeem for higher hotel categories which requires more MR. Conversely, going across will earn more bonus airmiles (each column header show 50/70/100/120k) but this also requires more MR. Ideally, you would want to redeem the lowest hotel cat which is cat 1-5 (you can always top-up later on, if you decide a higher cat) and always opt for the highest bonus for airmiles, which is the 120k. That said, I personally save MR until I have 270k MR so I can get the 7-night cert cat 1-5 plus 120k air miles as I feel this gives me the most value. Now, if this isn’t confusing enough, this only applies to Travel Package 1. There are different Marriott Travel Packages for other airlines not listed at the bottom of the chart. Basically, you pay the same MR depending on hotel category and it gives you less bonus airmiles, except for UA, which gets 10% more. I suggest you look into the Marriott Travel Package for more details.
@Rod, the 7-night cert works the same way as an award booking – you can check online if it’s available. But most hotels probably won’t have a room that allow more than 4 people, unless you pay extra and get upgraded to a larger room that can accommodate extra people.
Is the 7-night certificate for double occupancy room only? How does it work for a family of 5?
Hi Rod,
Like fellow reader yyc said, the certificate is usually for double occupancy, much like regular award bookings. I imagine you usually upgrade to suites for a family stay? You should be able to contact the hotel and ask them what’s the cash price to upgrade to a larger suite that could accommodate the family.
Cheers,
Ricky
Hello Ricky, the Marriott Travel Package sounds like a great deal to get airline miles with 7 night cat1-5 certificates. I have two questions: 1. Do I have to use the 7 night certificates together once or I can use them on separate trips? 2. How long does the miles get credited to my airline account (aeroplan for instance) after I purchase the travel package? Thanks a lot~
There are definitely some gems to be found. I managed to snag the African Pride 15 on Orange in Capetown a day before it became Cat 6!!