Laughable Marriott partnership with JAL

[daviator]

This has nothing to do with MVC, but I just got an email from Marriott announcing a new partnership with Japan Airlines. You can now choose between earning Bonvoy points or JAL miles for Marriott stays, and points can be exchanged between the two programs. There are some benefits which might get frequent JAL flyers status more easily.

But the laughable part is the transfers between the programs. You can transfer JAL miles to Bonvoy points at a ratio of 4:3. And you can transfer Bonvoy points to JAL miles at a ratio of 3:1.

So 300 Bonvoy points could become 100 JAL miles, and those 100 JAL miles could become 75 Bonvoy points. So if one was crazy enough to transfer and then transfer back, they'd lose 75% of their points. Talk about skim!

Perhaps this partnership has value for frequent JAL travelers, I can't say as I'm not one.

 

[OutAndAbout]

This has nothing to do with MVC, but I just got an email from Marriott announcing a new partnership with Japan Airlines. You can now choose between earning Bonvoy points or JAL miles for Marriott stays, and points can be exchanged between the two programs. There are some benefits which might get frequent JAL flyers status more easily.

But the laughable part is the transfers between the programs. You can transfer JAL miles to Bonvoy points at a ratio of 4:3. And you can transfer Bonvoy points to JAL miles at a ratio of 3:1.

So 300 Bonvoy points could become 100 JAL miles, and those 100 JAL miles could become 75 Bonvoy points. So if one was crazy enough to transfer and then transfer back, they'd lose 75% of their points. Talk about skim!

Perhaps this partnership has value for frequent JAL travelers, I can't say as I'm not one.

Agree, don't see much value here, but it looks like the Bonvoy to Airline Ratio is typically 3:1 (Link). Once upon a time there were "travel packages" were you could make a stay booking and convert Marriott Rewards to airline miles at 1:1, but that seems like eons ago.

List of Airline Miles to Bonvoy
List Bonvoy to Airline Miles

 

[claraj]

I was able to match my Marriott status to One World Ruby status, which will get me priority boarding and free checked bag on AA flights.

 

[TolmiePeak]

How many JAL points for a Ko Olina Lounge Chair?

 

[vacation dreaming]

I was able to match my Marriott status to One World Ruby status, which will get me priority boarding and free checked bag on AA flights.

So i went through the process of setting up a JAL account, matched it with Marriott, and have Ruby Oneworld through JAL. I do not see where AA automatically picks up my new status in my AA account - do I have to manually add my JAL ff number to a flight booking and if so, does the flight then give me JAL miles instead of AA miles? AI says the only way to do so it to have the airport agent manually override the ff number, what could go wrong (sarcasm). But seriously, am I missing how to make this work? Ruby only applies if I take the JAL miles instead of AA miles?

 

[daviator]

So i went through the process of setting up a JAL account, matched it with Marriott, and have Ruby Oneworld through JAL. I do not see where AA automatically picks up my new status in my AA account - do I have to manually add my JAL ff number to a flight booking and if so, does the flight then give me JAL miles instead of AA miles? AI says the only way to do so it to have the airport agent manually override the ff number, what could go wrong (sarcasm). But seriously, am I missing how to make this work? Ruby only applies if I take the JAL miles instead of AA miles?

I think that’s correct – Ruby only applies if you’re using your JAL credentials for the itinerary on which you’re traveling.

This is no different than my situation – I’m AAdvantage Platinum, so I’m Emerald with OneWorld by virtue of that. But when I fly Alaska Airlines – also a member of OneWorld now – I need to use my AA number and chose AA miles instead of Alaska miles if I want to receive the benefits of my AA/OneWorld status. If I use my Alaska number to fly Alaska, I’m a nobody.

So in your situation, you have to decide what’s more important: earning AA miles (instead of JAL miles) for your AA flights, or receiving the benefits of OneWorld Ruby status. You can’t choose both.

 

[vacation dreaming]

I think that’s correct – Ruby only applies if you’re using your JAL credentials for the itinerary on which you’re traveling.

This is no different than my situation – I’m AAdvantage Platinum, so I’m Emerald with OneWorld by virtue of that. But when I fly Alaska Airlines – also a member of OneWorld now – I need to use my AA number and chose AA miles instead of Alaska miles if I want to receive the benefits of my AA/OneWorld status. If I use my Alaska number to fly Alaska, I’m a nobody.

So in your situation, you have to decide what’s more important: earning AA miles (instead of JAL miles) for your AA flights, or receiving the benefits of OneWorld Ruby status. You can’t choose both.

Hmmm wonder if there is a place to add it when booking a flight with AA miles

 

[daviator]

Hmmm wonder if there is a place to add it when booking a flight with AA miles

I’m not sure if you can use a partner airline's frequent flyer number when traveling on an award reservation. But I’m certain there is no way to choose to do so when making an award reservation. If it is even allowed, you’d have to do it by calling reservations and having them override the AA number with the partner number.

 

[claraj]

So i went through the process of setting up a JAL account, matched it with Marriott, and have Ruby Oneworld through JAL. I do not see where AA automatically picks up my new status in my AA account - do I have to manually add my JAL ff number to a flight booking and if so, does the flight then give me JAL miles instead of AA miles? AI says the only way to do so it to have the airport agent manually override the ff number, what could go wrong (sarcasm). But seriously, am I missing how to make this work? Ruby only applies if I take the JAL miles instead of AA miles?

I agree, you probably can't use it while booking with AA miles but you can try the counter when you get to the airport to see what benefits you can get.

If you want the free checked bag without earning JAL miles, I think you need to go to the counter and show your membership card. You can use the business/priority line. If you want the priority seat at the time of booking benefit, you would need to add your JAL number when you book. Back in the day, like 20+ years ago, I would change the member number at the airport with the help of a gate agent to earn the miles I preferred to earn but I don't know if that's still a thing.

 

[rthib]

Hmmm wonder if there is a place to add it when booking a flight with AA miles

Don't book the flight for yourself. Book it like you are booking for someone else just use your own name. Then you can add whatever number and program you want later.

 

[igopogo]

I was able to match my Marriott status to One World Ruby status, which will get me priority boarding and free checked bag on AA flights.

Did you need 15000 points on JAL metal for this? Or are the 30k points from Marriott enough?

 

[claraj]

Did you need 15000 points on JAL metal for this? Or are the 30k points from Marriott enough?

30,000 from Marriott was enough.

 

[vacation dreaming]

Are the 30,000 points worth anything in flights?

 

[claraj]

Are the 30,000 points worth anything in flights?

No, these points can't be transferred or redeemed.

 

[rthib]

Are the 30,000 points worth anything in flights?

They are like AA loyalty points, SWA Tier qualifying points, etc.. most airlines now have two buckets. Real points and then these status level points.