For a very long time, transferring Marriott Bonvoy factors to airline miles was a troublesome promote. The three:1 conversion price meant you have been giving up numerous lodge worth for a modest return within the air.
However that math has modified. Between standing inflation, peak and off-peak pricing squeezing award night time values, and the regular erosion of what Bonvoy factors are price on the lodge facet, the airline switch choice is wanting higher than it has in years. With 38 airline companions to select from – and a bonus of 5,000 miles for each 60,000 factors you switch with most packages – it is price taking a recent have a look at the place your Bonvoy stability can take you.
Listed below are 5 candy spots the place I believe changing Bonvoy factors to airline miles truly is smart.
1. Atmos Rewards
Atmos Rewards, the loyalty program of Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways, is likely one of the extra precious packages on paper and but one of many hardest currencies to earn in Canada.
There aren’t any co-branded bank cards that earn Atmos miles on this nation, which leaves Marriott Bonvoy transfers and flying as the one actual choices. In america, Bilt Rewards and Financial institution of America bank cards provide extra paths, however these aren’t out there to Canadians.
The place Atmos actually shines is its oneworld accomplice award chart. You may guide Japan Airways enterprise class from the West Coast to Tokyo for 60,000 miles, or Starlux Airways enterprise class from Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles to Taipei for 75,000 miles.
For Starlux, you’d have to switch a complete of 180,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors in three chunks of 60,000 to obtain 75,000 Atmos miles (together with the 5,000-mile bonus on every chunk).
In case you’ve lined up a worthwhile redemption, transferring Bonvoy factors to Atmos miles is a good way to high up your stability or earn sufficient factors outright for an aspirational flight to Asia.
2. American Airways AAdvantage
American Airways AAdvantage is a program filled with candy spots, and Canadians even have a stable main path in: RBC Avion factors switch at a 1:0.7 ratio.
The place Marriott Bonvoy is available in is as a top-up. In case you’ve transferred your Avion stability and are nonetheless just a few thousand miles wanting a redemption, Bonvoy factors can fill the hole. Since AAdvantage does not provide the 5,000-mile bonus on Bonvoy transfers, there is not any have to switch in 60,000-point chunks – you’ll be able to transfer over precisely what you want on the straight 3:1 price.
Between Avion and Bonvoy, you’ll be able to piece collectively sufficient AAdvantage miles to entry among the finest candy spots in this system, together with Qatar Airways Qsuites, Etihad Airways enterprise class, and Etihad Airways first-class.
A number of the finest redemptions out there with AAdvantage embody:
- 60,000 AAdvantage miles: North America to Japan on Japan Airways enterprise class (equal to 180,000 Bonvoy factors)
- 62,500 AAdvantage miles: Europe to the Center East on Etihad Airways first-class (equal to 187,500 Bonvoy factors)
- 70,000 AAdvantage miles: North America to Africa on Qatar Airways Qsuites (equal to 210,000 Bonvoy factors)
- 80,000 AAdvantage miles: North America to Japan on Japan Airways first-class (equal to 240,000 Bonvoy factors)
Probably the greatest components of AAdvantage is that almost all bookings do not include hefty gasoline surcharges. So long as you will discover availability, you’ll be able to get pleasure from among the finest airline merchandise on this planet for simply pennies on the greenback.
AAdvantage additionally enables you to put award area on maintain for 5 calendar days whilst you look ahead to a Bonvoy switch to reach. Which means you’ll be able to lock in a seat after which provoke the switch with out worrying about availability disappearing.
3. JAL Mileage Financial institution
JAL Mileage Financial institution is likely one of the most underrated packages for Canadians, largely as a result of there’s virtually no method to earn JAL miles domestically. Bilt Rewards and Capital One switch to JAL in america, however neither is accessible right here.
That makes Marriott Bonvoy one of many solely significant paths into this system for Canadians. And it is definitely worth the trouble, as a result of JAL Mileage Financial institution has among the cleanest accomplice award pricing on the market.
The highest choose is Air France enterprise class. A one-way flight from New York to Paris prices simply 42,000 JAL miles with very small gasoline surcharges. For comparability, reserving the identical flight by means of Flying Blue or British Airways Avios would tack on $300–500+ USD in carrier-imposed surcharges.
Different robust accomplice redemptions by means of JAL Mileage Financial institution embody:
- 42,000 JAL miles: British Airways enterprise class to London (~$210 (CAD) in surcharges)
- From 6,000 JAL miles: home Japan flights on JAL
To cowl a 42,000-mile accomplice award, you’d switch 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors in two chunks of 60,000, yielding 50,000 JAL miles (together with the 5,000-mile bonus on every chunk). That is greater than sufficient, with a small buffer left over for a future reserving.
Remember that JAL’s personal long-haul awards have been devalued in June 2025, with first-class to Japan leaping to 110,000–140,000 miles relying on the season. The accomplice candy spots, nonetheless, stay untouched and are the place the true worth lies.
4. Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership
If ANA first-class is in your bucket listing, you may wish to familiarize your self with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, which gives the very best award pricing for ANA’s premium cabins.
In contrast to different packages on this listing, Flying Membership is a switch accomplice of American Specific US Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One Miles. When you’ve got entry to any of these, you could want to switch from there and save your Bonvoy factors for lodge stays. However for Canadians with out US bank cards, Marriott Bonvoy is a viable path to high up your Flying Membership stability.
Present one-way pricing for ANA flights booked by means of Virgin Atlantic:
- Firstclass from the Western United States to Japan: 72,500 Virgin Factors (equal to 180,000 Bonvoy factors by way of three 60K chunks)
- Firstclass from the Japanese United States to Japan: 85,000 Virgin Factors (equal to 210,000 Bonvoy factors)
- Enterprise class from the Western United States to Japan: 52,500 Virgin Factors (equal to 120,000 Bonvoy factors)
- Enterprise class from the Japanese United States to Japan: 60,000 Virgin Factors (equal to 180,000 Bonvoy factors)
One vital observe: ANA now imposes gasoline surcharges on award tickets, sometimes within the vary of $350–400 (USD) per route. This wasn’t the case a few years in the past and does eat into the worth considerably. Nonetheless, for ANA’s flagship “The Room” enterprise class or “The Suite” first-class, the general value stays properly under what you’d pay in money.
5. Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles is a Star Alliance frequent flyer program based mostly in Colombia, and it is a robust choice for reserving premium cabin awards with comparatively low gasoline surcharges.
For Canadians, there is not any sensible method to earn LifeMiles exterior of Marriott Bonvoy transfers. There aren’t any co-branded bank cards or transferable factors companions out there on this nation, which makes Bonvoy the first path in.
What makes LifeMiles definitely worth the detour is its accomplice award pricing. You may guide Star Alliance carriers at fastened, distance-based charges with minimal carrier-imposed surcharges on most companions. A number of the finest choices embody:
- 100,000–120,000 LifeMiles: Lufthansa first-class between North America and Europe
- 63,000–80,000 LifeMiles: Lufthansa or SWISS enterprise class between North America and Europe
- 85,000–90,000 LifeMiles: EVA Air enterprise class between North America and Asia
Lufthansa first-class is the headliner right here. Reserving by means of packages like Aeroplan or United MileagePlus sometimes provides tons of of {dollars} in surcharges on Lufthansa metallic. By LifeMiles, you pay solely taxes.
One factor to look at: LifeMiles award availability may be inconsistent, and the web site is not at all times the simplest to navigate. Availability for Lufthansa first-class specifically tends to open up nearer to departure. In case you may be versatile with dates, it is among the best makes use of of Bonvoy factors I’ve come throughout.
Conclusion
The power to switch factors to 38 airline loyalty packages is likely one of the options that units Marriott Bonvoy aside from different lodge loyalty packages.
If I needed to choose only one candy spot from this listing, it could be JAL Mileage Financial institution for the Air France enterprise class redemption. Minimal gasoline surcharges, a premium product, and 120,000 Bonvoy factors for a lie-flat seat throughout the Atlantic is a commerce I would make any day.
For these with bigger Bonvoy balances and aspirational targets, the AAdvantage, Atmos Rewards, and LifeMiles choices open the door to Qatar Airways Qsuites, Etihad Airways first-class, Lufthansa first-class, and Starlux Airways enterprise class. Simply bear in mind to substantiate availability earlier than initiating any transfers.
