Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is double dipping?
Double dipping is earning two loyalty currencies from a single transaction — most often hotel points and airline miles for the same hotel stay. It matters because one payment can feed two accounts, but it is never automatic: each programme writes its own rules on whether both currencies are credited or whether the member has to choose one. Marriott Bonvoy, for example, describes members as earning Points or an airline currency, and offers an earning preference that can be set to miles with a preferred airline. [3] [5]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Whether a transaction earns one currency or two is settled by the hotel programme's own rules, not by the booking itself. [3]
- Marriott Bonvoy describes members as earning Points or an airline currency, and its redemption pages describe an earning preference set to miles with a preferred airline. [3] [5]
- Points already earned on a stay can be transferred to airline partners afterwards at 3:1 with most programmes, which is a second route to holding both currencies. [4]
- Once miles reach an airline account, that airline's programme terms control their redemption, transfer and distribution. [3]
How does double dipping work on a hotel stay?
A hotel stay produces a hotel currency and, potentially, an airline currency, but the two post to separate accounts owned by separate companies. The hotel programme decides what it credits to its own account and whether an airline currency is involved at all. [3]
Earning anything requires the mechanics to line up: at Marriott International properties the member must give their membership number at the time of reservation or at check-in, stay in one of the reserved rooms as the registered guest, and pay for the charges. [3] Qualifying Charges then cover the room rate, food and beverages from property-run outlets, direct-dial in-room telephone and fax, and in-room movies and video games, for the member's own room and up to two additional guest rooms with the same check-in and check-out dates. [3]
What is booked matters as much as where. Charges that do not qualify include complimentary services and award redemptions, food and beverage outlets run by a third party may not be eligible, and spend at outlets outside the property is excluded. [3] Participation is also set property by property: if a participating property or brand leaves the programme, members stop earning Points and Qualifying Nights there, even for stays booked before the exit date. [3]
Points or miles at Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy's terms open by describing members as eligible to earn Points or any currency used by an airline's frequent flyer programme — miles, kilometres or points — on their account. [3] The base rates for hotel spend are set in Points, or the currency equivalent, on Qualifying Charges incurred and paid by the member. [3]
| Situation | Base Points |
|---|---|
| Most Participating Brands | 10 [3] |
| Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, City Express, Element, Four Points Flex, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott Executive Apartments, Protea Hotels, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites | 5 [3] |
| Series by Marriott in the United States, Canada and Greater China | 10 [3] |
| Series by Marriott elsewhere | 5 [3] |
| StudioRes | 4 [3] |
| Participating Outlets, where the member spends without a stay | 5 [3] |
Two details cut against a simple reading of those numbers. At Marriott Executive Apartments members earn nothing on Qualifying Charges, only on Qualifying Rates, and Elite bonus Points on top of the base rate depend on the member's achieved Elite Status. [3]
The airline side is handled by an earning preference. Marriott's redemption pages present the option as earning miles instead of Points by setting an earning preference to a preferred airline. [5] The terms add one consequence worth knowing: a member who has set the earning preference to miles still receives Points, not miles, for charges at participating outlets without a guest-room stay. [3]
Can Bonvoy Points be turned into airline miles?
Yes, after the fact. Marriott Bonvoy lists 38 participating airlines and transfers points to miles at a 3-to-1 ratio with most of them, in transfers of 3,000 to 240,000 points per day. [4] This is a conversion of Points already in the account, so it stacks the two currencies in two steps rather than earning miles at the moment of payment. [4]
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ratio with most airline partners | 3:1 [4] |
| Air New Zealand Koru | 200:1 [4] |
| Transfer size per day | 3,000–240,000 points [4] |
| Standard bonus | 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points transferred [4] |
| Airlines excluded from the standard bonus | American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, Delta SkyMiles [4] |
| United MileagePlus bonus | 10,000 miles for every 60,000 points transferred [4] |
Two conditions are easy to miss. For most airline partners the member name on the frequent flyer account must match the Marriott Bonvoy first and last name, and the Air New Zealand bonus works out at 75 miles because of its 200:1 ratio. [4]
Exceptions and limits
- The airline's rules take over. The terms of the applicable airline frequent flyer programme control the redemption, transfer and distribution of Miles, so the hotel programme cannot speak for the airline balance. [3]
- Two different clocks. Bonvoy members must have Qualifying Activity at least once every 24 months to keep accumulated Points, Awards and other benefits, and gifting, transferring or receiving Points from another member does not count towards it. [3]
- Booking channel matters. At Atlantis, Paradise Island, a non-branded participating property, members may earn Points or Miles on room rate only, and no Points or Miles are earned for reservations booked through AtlantisBahamas.com; The Reef, The Beach and Harborside at Atlantis do not participate at all. [3]
- Some properties earn nothing. Bulgari Hotels and Resorts at all locations and The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore are among the brands and properties that do not participate. [3]
- Residences are different. Guest stays at branded residences do not earn Points, Miles, Elite Night Credit or benefits unless the residence is expressly listed as participating. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Can you earn hotel points and airline miles on the same stay?
In Marriott Bonvoy the terms describe members as earning Points or an airline currency, and an earning preference can be set to miles with a preferred airline. [3] [5] Points credited from a stay can also be transferred to a partner airline later at 3:1 with most programmes. [4]
How small can a transfer to an airline be?
Transfers run from 3,000 to 240,000 points per day, with 38 airlines participating. [4]
Does the 5,000-mile bonus apply to every airline partner?
No. It does not apply to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles or Delta SkyMiles, and transfers to United MileagePlus carry a larger bonus of 10,000 miles for every 60,000 points. [4]
Do airline miles earned this way follow the hotel programme's rules?
No. The applicable airline programme's terms control the redemption, transfer and distribution of its Miles. [3]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. The rules described come from Marriott Bonvoy programme terms and Marriott redemption pages; other hotel programmes, such as Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt and IHG One Rewards, are not covered here, and no airline programme's earning rules are covered.
- Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- Marriott Bonvoy: transfer Points to miles and airline transfer partners, checked 18 October 2026
- Marriott Bonvoy: redeem Points, earning preference and transfer partners, checked 18 October 2026