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Transferring Marriott Reward Points

NJDave

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I have a few questions on how the new transfer policy works.

Is there now a 50,000 point annual limit on transfers? In the past, it was limited to the extent such points were needed for a reservation.

I would like to add my wife's points to my account. Should we be transferring points tomorrow so we can still transfer another 50,000 in 2016?

Does the receipt of points transferred count toward lifetime points?

Thanks in advance.
 

dioxide45

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We just did a transfer of points, so I should be able to answer most of these.

I have a few questions on how the new transfer policy works.

Is there now a 50,000 point annual limit on transfers? In the past, it was limited to the extent such points were needed for a reservation.

You can now transfer 50,000 points per year to anyone you wish. Previously, per policy, you could only transfer to family members when redeeming a reward. Though people reported being able to do it even when it wasn't a family member.

The 50,000 limit only applies to direct transfers. If you are transferring to a family member, you can still transfer up to the amount of points needed for the award, even if it is more than 50,000. My wife recently transferred about 70,000 points to my account for a travel package conversion. I had to be making a rewards reservation or using a reward in order to transfer more than 50,000.

I would like to add my wife's points to my account. Should we be transferring points tomorrow so we can still transfer another 50,000 in 2016?

---Deleted--- Was confused on this and BocaBoy answered it better.

Does the receipt of points transferred count toward lifetime points?

Yes, the receipt of transferred points counts toward the lifetime points for the person receiving the points. However, they are also subtracted from the lifetime points for the person transferring the points out. So when you transfer the points to from your wife's account, your lifetime points will increase by that amount and hers will decrease by that amount.

The rep we spoke with was very clear about this and disclosed that these would be subtracted from my wife's lifetime points.

I wonder if this could cause someone to lose lifetime elite status???

Thanks in advance.

When we did our transfer, just last week, we were able to do everything over the phone. I called and said I wanted to book a travel package but didn't have enough points and my wife was going to transfer the additional needed points to me. She said if I could get my wife on the phone that they did transfers over the phone now. In the past a form had to be filled out and faxed in. So I was able to conference my wife in to the call and she verified her information and the points were transferred. It was all very quick and painless.
 
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BocaBoy

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I have a few questions on how the new transfer policy works.

Is there now a 50,000 point annual limit on transfers? In the past, it was limited to the extent such points were needed for a reservation.

I would like to add my wife's points to my account. Should we be transferring points tomorrow so we can still transfer another 50,000 in 2016?

Does the receipt of points transferred count toward lifetime points?

Thanks in advance.
Yes, to meet your goals you should transfer 50,000 points from her account to yours tomorrow. And yes, they will count toward the points required for your lifetime status.

As for the annual limit, it is now 50,000 points from an account in a year unless more are needed for a reservation. In the latter case, you can transfer more but you cannot then transfer an additional 50,000 points. And if you have already transferred 50,000 points from an account in a calendar year, you cannot then transfer more even if needed for a reservation. In other words, 50,000 points is the annual limit unless more are needed for a reservation and you have not already transferred any other points from the account that year.
 

BocaBoy

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Yes, the receipt of transferred points counts toward the lifetime points for the person receiving the points. However, they are also subtracted from the lifetime points for the person transferring the points out.
This is logical but it surprises me. Were your wife's lifetime points actually reduced when you made that transfer? We did a transfer from my account to my wife's earlier this year but I didn't check this because it never occurred to me as a possibility. Even if it had, it would have been irrelevant to us because I have close to 7 million lifetime points.
 

dioxide45

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This is logical but it surprises me. Were your wife's lifetime points actually reduced when you made that transfer? We did a transfer from my account to my wife's earlier this year but I didn't check this because it never occurred to me as a possibility. Even if it had, it would have been irrelevant to us because I have close to 7 million lifetime points.

I was only going off of what the rep was saying. Unfortunately I can't verify now if it is true or not because I didn't check what her lifetime points were before the transfer.
 

NJDave

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Thanks for the quick and detailed responses.

My wife will never attain lifetime status so it would be beneficial to us overall.

Is there a way for me to get credit for a nights stay when we use my wife's Chase free night. Has anyone tried to give the hotel their rewards number on check in rather than their spouses. In the past, it didn't matter since no one received credit for the free night.
 

NJDave

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This is logical but it surprises me. Were your wife's lifetime points actually reduced when you made that transfer? We did a transfer from my account to my wife's earlier this year but I didn't check this because it never occurred to me as a possibility. Even if it had, it would have been irrelevant to us because I have close to 7 million lifetime points.

I will check our lifetime points before and after the transfer. I'll report back here to let you know if they change.
 

mav

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This is logical but it surprises me. Were your wife's lifetime points actually reduced when you made that transfer? We did a transfer from my account to my wife's earlier this year but I didn't check this because it never occurred to me as a possibility. Even if it had, it would have been irrelevant to us because I have close to 7 million lifetime points.

7 million points? WOW! I can't believe how many points people can amass! I have TONS of nights for lifetime platinum, but not many points only over 725,000. How did u manage to get over 7 million? Is there a special secret? Or are u spending a small fortune on the credit card? BTW... CONGRATS on that achievement.
 

NJDave

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I will check our lifetime points before and after the transfer. I'll report back here to let you know if they change.

I made the transfer this morning. My lifetime points went up and my wife's went down by the 50,000 points.
 

BocaBoy

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7 million points? WOW! I can't believe how many points people can amass! I have TONS of nights for lifetime platinum, but not many points only over 725,000. How did u manage to get over 7 million? Is there a special secret? Or are u spending a small fortune on the credit card? BTW... CONGRATS on that achievement.
Well, I have been a Marriott Rewards member since a couple of years after the program started in the early 80's, so it is over 30 years of accumulation. The biggest single chunk of points was by exchanging two Sabal Palms weeks each year for 20 years for 110,000 points each (220,000 per year) back in the days when such an exchange ranged from extremely lucrative to attractive. Also got a few hundred thousand from purchasing developer weeks (purchased on Marriott credit card with MRP bonuses for purchasing). The rest I guess came mostly from paid hotel stays, attending timeshare presentations and miscellaneous credit card spend over the years, although I have also been pretty good about cashing in on bonus offers. (BTW, it is actually only about 6.8 million points.)
 
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Wally3433

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If Marriott is allowing the transfer of points "with status", why can't they figure out a way to allow a spouse or partner to achieve Lifetime Platinum status after the first partner has achieved it - without having to start over?

It's not fair when two people stay and earn points, but only one person benefits in terms of status.

Can't they allow you to split points/nights accumulation at check in?

Or, how about allowing a Lifetime Platinum member's spouse a way to start accumulating their own LP status?

Marriott advertises family friendly, but this is the most un family friendly part of hotel point programs.
 

dioxide45

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If Marriott is allowing the transfer of points "with status", why can't they figure out a way to allow a spouse or partner to achieve Lifetime Platinum status after the first partner has achieved it - without having to start over?

It's not fair when two people stay and earn points, but only one person benefits in terms of status.

Can't they allow you to split points/nights accumulation at check in?

Or, how about allowing a Lifetime Platinum member's spouse a way to start accumulating their own LP status?

Marriott advertises family friendly, but this is the most un family friendly part of hotel point programs.

I would think at least they should be able to inherit lifetime status in the event of the other spouses passing.
 

TheTimeTraveler

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7 million points? WOW! I can't believe how many points people can amass! I have TONS of nights for lifetime platinum, but not many points only over 725,000. How did u manage to get over 7 million? Is there a special secret? Or are u spending a small fortune on the credit card? BTW... CONGRATS on that achievement.




Getting to those big Marriott Reward Points can be relatively easy.... Just run everything thru the card but be sure to pay it off every month.

When we did some home remodeling a few years ago we went to Home Depot and Lowes and ended up with huge amounts of points (kitchen and bath remodeling). Also, all our daily expenses are always run thru the card (i.e. Comcast, Groceries, Gasoline, etc.) whenever possible.

Don't forget the biggies; Downpayment on a car, new appliances, etc.





.
 

BocaBoy

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Getting to those big Marriott Reward Points can be relatively easy.... Just run everything thru the card but be sure to pay it off every month.

When we did some home remodeling a few years ago we went to Home Depot and Lowes and ended up with huge amounts of points (kitchen and bath remodeling). Also, all our daily expenses are always run thru the card (i.e. Comcast, Groceries, Gasoline, etc.) whenever possible.

Don't forget the biggies; Downpayment on a car, new appliances, etc.

Yes, this is a good way to supplement the other points, but it is seldom possible to charge enough to make this the primary conduit to lifetime gold or platinum status. With the exception of Marriott charges (5X) and restaurants (2X) and perhaps one other category, it is only 1 point per dollar charged. If you charge $5K/month (which is more than most people charge), that is only 60,000 points in a year versus the 1.6 million or 2 million required for Gold or Platinum. It helps a lot, but you also need another major source of points.
 
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BocaBoy

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If Marriott is allowing the transfer of points "with status", why can't they figure out a way to allow a spouse or partner to achieve Lifetime Platinum status after the first partner has achieved it - without having to start over?

It's not fair when two people stay and earn points, but only one person benefits in terms of status.

Can't they allow you to split points/nights accumulation at check in?

Or, how about allowing a Lifetime Platinum member's spouse a way to start accumulating their own LP status?

Marriott advertises family friendly, but this is the most un family friendly part of hotel point programs.

As for the bolded language, there is a way. Once I reached lifetime platinum status, we now put all stays on my wife's account. She also has her own Marriott credit cars.

However, I prefer the former Hilton approach of having a spousal account (they call it a "mutual fund") where both husband and wife's points go into a single account and they also share the status. I don't think will open any new such accounts, although we have such as account and it is grandfathered.
 

BocaBoy

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I would think at least they should be able to inherit lifetime status in the event of the other spouses passing.

To me, this should be a no-brainer, especially since for many couples a lot of their stays had both people sleeping in the room.
 

dioxide45

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As for the bolded language, there is a way. Once I reached lifetime platinum status, we now put all stays on my wife's account. She also has her own Marriott credit cars.

The only drawback to this is that if the spouse isn't earning status each year, you don't really get to enjoy the benefits of your lifetime elite status. If it takes a persons lifetime to earn two people lifetime elite status. You may end up at the age where travel no longer happens. Making earning lifetime status for both people almost meaningless. Why earn the status if you aren't going to end up using it?

Of course, if you always have enough stays to earn status every year, then this doesn't matter as much.
 

BocaBoy

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The only drawback to this is that if the spouse isn't earning status each year, you don't really get to enjoy the benefits of your lifetime elite status. If it takes a persons lifetime to earn two people lifetime elite status. You may end up at the age where travel no longer happens. Making earning lifetime status for both people almost meaningless. Why earn the status if you aren't going to end up using it?

Of course, if you always have enough stays to earn status every year, then this doesn't matter as much.

You are absolutely correct and I agree with every word of your comments. In our case, my wife is earning platinum status each year so it works for us. Marriott has always had a high bar for lifetime status (except Silver) and even though they significantly lowered that bar in recent years it is still not easy. We wouldn't be there if timeshare stays did not count. The main reason I want her to have lifetime Platinum is to protect her in the event I die first and she is still traveling.
 

dualrated2

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You are absolutely correct and I agree with every word of your comments. In our case, my wife is earning platinum status each year so it works for us. Marriott has always had a high bar for lifetime status (except Silver) and even though they significantly lowered that bar in recent years it is still not easy. We wouldn't be there if timeshare stays did not count. The main reason I want her to have lifetime Platinum is to protect her in the event I die first and she is still traveling.

It's unfortunate that the points will transfer but not the nights upon the death of a spouse.
 

mav

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Well, I have been a Marriott Rewards member since a couple of years after the program started in the early 80's, so it is over 30 years of accumulation. The biggest single chunk of points was by exchanging two Sabal Palms weeks each year for 20 years for 110,000 points each (220,000 per year) back in the days when such an exchange ranged from extremely lucrative to attractive. Also got a few hundred thousand from purchasing developer weeks (purchased on Marriott credit card with MRP bonuses for purchasing). The rest I guess came mostly from paid hotel stays, attending timeshare presentations and miscellaneous credit card spend over the years, although I have also been pretty good about cashing in on bonus offers. (BTW, it is actually only about 6.8 million points.)

Thank u for the info. I am WAAYYY late to the party. Joined the Marriott Rewards hotel program in 2011. I am also a Hilton, IHG, and Club Carlson member so I have to spread it around to maintain status on all programs. Thank u to u and TimeTraveler for your info . I have some work to do to get those points needed for lifetime Marriott Gold or Platinum.
BTW, the I.C. have some great properties. And the benefits they roll out especially in the Middle East are REALLY nice. That's also true with Marriott and Hilton. And the breakfast buffets are literally jaw dropping.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
 
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