Update: The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.
Chase’s latest promotion means earning bonus Marriott Bonvoy points when converting your Ultimate Rewards points to the hotel’s loyalty program.
From November 1, 2021, through December 24, 2021, transfers of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy will earn a 50% bonus.
While a 50% bonus may appear great at the outset, there’s more to be considered before making a transfer.
Let’s investigate.
Is Transferring to Chase for the 50% Bonus Worth It?
First and foremost, here’s a reminder of the value that Upgraded Points gives to the points currency for each loyalty program:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards Points: 2 cents per point
- Marriott Bonvoy Points: 0.7 cents per point
The usual transfer ratio is 1:1, but with the 50% bonus that increases to 1:1.5.
Using the example of a transfer of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you’d get 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. When taking the value of those amounts into consideration, you’d be swapping $2,000 worth of Chase points for just $1,050 worth of Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s almost 50% less value!
However, there are occasions where booking some properties using Marriott Bonvoy points transferred from Ultimate Rewards would equate to significant savings.
The Miami Beach EDITION. Image Credit: Chris HassanSo, if you were planning a Marriott stay and were deciding whether to use cash or points, do some calculations based on what the cash cost versus the points cost of your stay would be using the valuations above.
Once you’ve done that, factor in the bonus points you’d get if you transferred from your Ultimate Rewards account and if, after all that, you would make a saving, then it would be worth making the most of this 50% bonus promotion.
One final point: Marriott Bonvoy will be moving to dynamic award pricing from March 2022, so it’s advisable to book points stays before that kicks in and you face the possibility of even less value for your points.
If you do decide to make a transfer, don’t worry that you don’t see the bonus included on the transfer page. The extra Marriott Bonvoy points will be credited once the transfer arrives in your account.
Final Thoughts
This latest promotion by Chase is a fine example of when a promotional “bonus” isn’t always as good a deal as you might imagine.
As is often the case, there are reasons for and against making the most of this transfer. The most important thing to do is work out whether you personally would benefit from using the promotion based on your travel plans and a few calculations.
For some redemption inspiration, check out our guide on the best ways to max out the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Featured Image Credit:
Marriott