PointsCrowd is a community-supported platform. When you apply for a credit card, make an order, or otherwise interact with the advertisers through the links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission. This helps us maintain and develop the platform further at no cost to you.
Offer Ends: 12/10/2026
American Express is running a 35% transfer bonus on Membership Rewards points moved to Marriott Bonvoy, running from October 20 through December 10, 2026. If you’re already sitting on Membership Rewards points and have a Marriott stay in mind, here’s the exact math and whether it’s actually worth doing.
The Offer
| Bonus | 35% extra Marriott Bonvoy points per transfer |
| Base ratio | 1:1 (1,000 MR points = 1,000 Bonvoy points, before the bonus) |
| With bonus | 1,000 MR points = 1,350 Bonvoy points |
| Transfer window | October 20, 2026 – December 10, 2026 (12:00 a.m. MST to 11:59 p.m. MST) |
| Minimum / maximum per transfer | 1,000 / 999,000 MR points |
| Posting time | Up to 48 hours |
You need to be enrolled in Marriott Bonvoy first, then transfer through the Membership Rewards section of your Amex online account. All linked card accounts need to be open and in good standing (no past-due balances or returned payments) for the transfer to go through.
How This Compares to Past Offers
- 2024: 20% transfer bonus
- Late 2025: 30% transfer bonus
- Current (Oct–Dec 2026): 35% transfer bonus — the richest version of this recurring promotion so far
Does the Math Work?
Even at the best version of this bonus yet, the trade is lopsided. NerdWallet values Amex Membership Rewards at roughly 1.3 cents per point and Marriott Bonvoy at roughly 0.7 cents per point as of 2026. Run the numbers:
- 1,000 MR points (≈$13 in value) becomes 1,350 Bonvoy points (≈$9.45 in value) — still roughly a 27% value loss, even with the bonus.
- An 85,000-point Marriott redemption would need about 63,000 MR points transferred at this bonus rate, versus 85,000 if you had Bonvoy points directly.
That math only makes sense in specific situations: you’re short a relatively small number of Bonvoy points to complete a redemption you’ve already found, you have surplus MR points with no better transfer partner in mind, or you’re using Amex’s travel portal redemption (1 cent per point) as your baseline rather than a stronger airline transfer. For most people, transferring MR points to an airline partner, or earning Bonvoy points directly through a Marriott co-branded card, will beat this transfer on value.
Terms Worth Knowing
- The offer can’t be combined with other transfer promotions, and it’s non-transferable.
- Once transferred, points are subject to Marriott Bonvoy’s terms and can’t be moved back to Membership Rewards.
- Bonus points don’t count toward Marriott Bonvoy elite tier qualification.
- Amex and Marriott can’t guarantee room award availability at the time you want to redeem.
Other Ways to Build a Marriott Bonvoy Balance
If the transfer math doesn’t work for you, Marriott co-branded cards earn Bonvoy points directly without the conversion loss:
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
You can also stretch an existing Bonvoy balance further with a Marriott free night certificate rather than transferring in more points at a loss.
Bottom Line
35% is the best version of this recurring Amex-to-Marriott bonus so far, but the underlying math still favors Amex Membership Rewards points staying put unless you have a specific, high-value Bonvoy redemption already picked out. If you do, transfer only what you need to top it off — this isn’t an offer worth converting a large balance into just because the bonus exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
The offer applies to eligible U.S. Membership Rewards accounts that are open and in good standing. It does not appear to be individually targeted the way some Amex Offers are, but always confirm the current terms on your own account before transferring. You can transfer between 1,000 and 999,000 Membership Rewards points per transaction during the promotional window. No. Once points are transferred to Marriott Bonvoy, they become subject to Bonvoy's terms and cannot be moved back to Membership Rewards. No. Bonus points earned from this transfer promotion do not count toward Marriott Bonvoy elite tier qualification. Usually not on its own. At NerdWallet's 2026 valuations (Amex MR at about 1.3 cents per point, Marriott Bonvoy at about 0.7 cents per point), the transfer still represents a value loss even with the bonus. It mainly makes sense if you need a specific, relatively small top-up to complete an already-identified Marriott redemption.Is this transfer bonus available to everyone?
What is the minimum and maximum I can transfer?
Can I transfer the points back to Membership Rewards if I change my mind?
Do the bonus points count toward Marriott elite status?
Is a 35% transfer bonus actually a good deal?
