NEW: Amex UK to Marriott Bonvoy 30% Transfer Bonus 🔥

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American Express has just dropped a rather tempting transfer bonus that caught my attention this morning – 30% extra Marriott Bonvoy points when you transfer from Membership Rewards until 9 November 2025. As someone who holds Marriott Titanium status and regularly navigates the sometimes murky waters of hotel points valuations, I thought I'd share my take on whether this offer deserves your precious Amex points.

The Numbers Game

Let's start with the basics. The standard Amex to Marriott transfer rate in the UK is already quite generous at 2:3 (every 2 Membership Rewards points gets you 3 Marriott points). That's a 50% uplift before any bonuses – not bad compared to the dire ratios we see in other markets.

With this 30% bonus, that ratio jumps to an impressive 1:1.95. So your 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which would normally net you 30,000 Marriott points, now becomes 39,000 points. Nearly doubling your points? Now we're talking.

The good news continues – the minimum transfer is just 400 Membership Rewards points, so you can test the waters without committing your entire balance. Perfect for those small top-ups when you're frustratingly close to a redemption.

Marriott's UK Market Push

Interestingly, this isn't Marriott Bonvoy's first aggressive play for UK market share this year. Just last month, they launched a promotion offering 12 Bonvoy points per £1 spent at properties for Amex Marriott Bonvoy cardholders – double the usual earning rate even for their co-branded card.

It's clear Marriott is making a concerted effort to win over British travellers, likely trying to chip away at IHG and Hilton's strong foothold here. For us points collectors, this competition is brilliant news – when hotel chains fight for market share, we win through enhanced promotions like this one.

The Eight-Week Warning

Here's something crucial buried in the terms that could scupper your plans: whilst base points transfer within 5 business days, the 30% bonus points can take up to eight weeks to credit.

This isn't just fine print – it's a potential deal-breaker if you're eyeing a specific redemption soon. That dream stay at the St. Regis Maldives for October half-term? You'll need to transfer by mid-September at the latest to guarantee the bonus points arrive in time.

When This Transfer Actually Makes Sense

Having spent considerable time optimising my Marriott redemptions (thank you, Titanium status perks), here's when I'd genuinely consider pulling the trigger:

1. You're planning redemptions for late 2025 or 2026 Given the eight-week wait, this bonus works best for future planning. I've got my eye on a few properties in Tokyo for December, and with my recent Dubai trip earning me 35,000 points through strategic spending, this bonus could help secure those peak holiday dates.

2. Small top-ups for immediate use Since only the bonus portion faces delays, if you need 15,000 points for a redemption tomorrow, transferring 10,000 Membership Rewards points gets you there immediately (with 5,000 bonus points following later).

3. Fifth night free maximisation Marriott's fifth night free on award stays becomes even more valuable with this ratio.

But Hold On – Let's Reality Check This

Even with an attractive 1:1.95 ratio, I need to play devil's advocate here. Membership Rewards points transferred to airlines at 1:1 can often deliver superior value:

• British Airways Executive Club: 1:1 transfer ratio, instant transfers. Using our How Many Avios Points for a Flight tool, you'll often find short-haul flights for 4,000-7,500 Avios that would cost 20,000+ Marriott points in hotel stays

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1:1 transfer with excellent sweet spots to the US (as low as 10,000 points one-way in economy)

• Air France/KLM Flying Blue: 1:1 transfer with regular promo rewards offering 25-50% discounts

The key question: can you get more than 0.5p-1p value per Membership Rewards point through this Marriott transfer? If yes, it might be worth it. If no, airline transfers likely win.

My Personal Strategy

As someone holding both the Amex Platinum and Gold/Platinum Business cards, I'm sitting on a healthy stash of Membership Rewards points. Will I transfer during this promo? Actually, yes – but strategically.

Here's the key: I'm transferring now (September) for travel next year, giving plenty of buffer for those bonus points to arrive. The bulk of my points remain untouched for flexible airline redemptions.

The Irreversible Decision

One critical term that deserves highlighting: once transferred, your points cannot be converted back to Membership Rewards. This is a one-way street. Unlike some airline programmes where you can cancel an award and get points refunded to your original programme, Marriott points are locked into the Marriott ecosystem forever.

Also worth noting – these transferred points don't count towards elite status qualification. They're purely for redemptions.

A Strategy for Different Types of Collectors

For the Marriott Loyalist: If you're already deep in the Marriott ecosystem with the Marriott Bonvoy Amex earning 6 points per £1 at properties, this bonus is a no-brainer for topping up your balance. The 1:1.95 ratio is as good as it gets. Combined with Marriott's recent UK-focused promotions, there's never been a better time to accumulate Bonvoy points.

For the Flexible Points Collector: Transfer a portion – perhaps 25% of your balance – if you have specific Marriott redemptions in mind. Keep the rest flexible for last-minute flight opportunities.

For the Beginner: Unless you have a specific Marriott stay planned, I'd suggest holding off. Learn the airline transfer sweet spots first using tools like our Award Travel Finder before committing to hotel transfers.

Quick Tips to Maximise Value

If you do decide to transfer:

1. Transfer by early October: With the eight-week wait for bonus points, don't leave it until November

2. Book refundable rates: Always choose refundable bookings when using points

3. Consider splitting transfers: The 400-point minimum means you can transfer in chunks as needed

4. Don't forget about peak pricing: Book off-peak dates when properties cost 25% fewer points

The Bottom Line

This 30% transfer bonus takes an already decent transfer ratio and makes it genuinely compelling. The near 1:2 ratio is strong enough that even conservative valuations make sense for many redemptions. With Marriott clearly investing in winning UK market share through multiple promotions, now might be the perfect time to build your Bonvoy balance if you have specific redemptions in mind.

My advice? If you have specific Marriott stays planned for late 2025 or 2026, transfer what you need now. The combination of base ratio plus bonus is unlikely to get much better than this. But don't transfer speculatively – Marriott's dynamic pricing means points can devalue overnight.

For context, I'm transferring about 20% of my Membership Rewards balance during this promo – enough for my planned redemptions with a small buffer, but keeping most of my points flexible for those incredible airline sweet spots that pop up throughout the year.

What's your take? Are you jumping on this 1:1.95 ratio, or holding out for airline transfers? Drop me a message on Instagram – I'd love to hear your strategy.

P.S. If you're looking to boost your Membership Rewards balance before this offer ends, check out our guides to the best UK Avios-earning credit cards and business credit cards. Most Amex cards that earn Avios also earn transferable Membership Rewards points – perfect timing for this bonus.

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