Marriott Bonvoy & Emirates Skywards Partnership: How It Works

Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards have had a relationship for years, known as Your World Rewards. This offers some reciprocal perks, and in this post I wanted to take a closer look at what’s available through this collaboration, since it’s something that many members overlook.

The concept of an airline and hotel group working together makes sense, since those who fly a lot are also likely to stay in hotels a lot. This isn’t the only such tie-up, as Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus have the RewardsPlus partnership.

Details of the Marriott & Emirates collaboration

The partnership between Marriott and Emirates is known as Your World Rewards, and it offers reciprocal points earning, and select reciprocal elite perks. The partnership is unlikely to be a game changer for anyone, but it’s better than nothing, and is most definitely worth using if eligible (so be sure you link your accounts). Let’s look at the perks that are available through this, in no particular order…

Earn Marriott points when flying with Emirates

Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Titanium, Platinum, and Gold members, earn three Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent with Emirates, in addition to any Emirates Skywards miles that they might earn. All flights that are eligible to earn Skywards miles qualify, as long as the flights are marketed and operated by Emirates. You don’t earn these points on taxes, fees, and surcharges. These bonus points will automatically post as long as you’re eligible and your accounts are linked.

Personally I value Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, so to me this is like an incremental 2.1% return on Emirates spending, which is nice.

Earn Emirates miles when staying with Marriott

Emirates Skywards Platinum, Gold, and Silver members, earn one Emirates Skywards mile per dollar spent on eligible room rate with Marriott, in addition to any Marriott Bonvoy points they might earn. All hotel stays globally that are eligible to earn Bonvoy points qualify. These bonus miles will automatically post as long as you’re eligible and your accounts are linked.

Personally I value Skywards miles at 1.2 cents each, so to me this is like an incremental 1.2% return on Marriott spending.

Select Marriott elites receive Emirates perks

Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Titanium, and Platinum members, receive select perks when flying with Emirates. While they don’t outright receive elite status, they do receive priority airport check-in and boarding. As long as your accounts are linked, you’ll automatically be able to take advantage of these perks.

Select Emirates elites receive Marriott perks

Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members receive select perks when staying with Marriott. While they don’t outright receive elite status, they do receive 4PM late check-out subject to availability, access to elite check-in, and complimentary in-room enhanced Wi-Fi.

Convert Marriott points into Emirates miles

As far as hotel loyalty programs go, one of the unique things about Marriott Bonvoy is how you can convert Bonvoy points into airline miles at a fair ratio. So here’s the rate at which you can convert Marriott Bonvoy points into Emirates Skywards miles:

• Bonvoy points ordinarily convert into Skywards miles at a 3:1 ratio
• You then receive a bonus of 5,000 Skywards miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transfered
• So in the end you can receive 25,000 Skywards miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points

This is actually the standard transfer ratio, and personally this isn’t how I’d choose to earn Skywards miles. Rather I’d move over points from a transferable points currency, if possible.

My take on Your World Rewards partnership

The single biggest selling point of the Your World Rewards partnership is the reciprocal points earning opportunities for elite members. If you’re a Marriott elite flying with Emirates, or an Emirates elite staying with Marriott, it’s fantastic to be able to double dip.

Now, of course this isn’t without its challenges. Since earning is based on linking your accounts, you wouldn’t earn Bonvoy points for your Emirates flights if you choose to credit those flights to a program other than Skywards, for example.

The other elite-like perks offered through this partnership are better than nothing, but won’t go that far. Marriott Bonvoy has partnerships with both Emirates and United, and it’s interesting how they differ — the United partnership offers true elite reciprocity, while the Emirates partnership focuses on reciprocal points earning.

Bottom line

Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards have a special partnership, offering reciprocal points earning opportunities, plus select reciprocal elite perks. For those who are frequent customers of both Emirates and Marriott, this is a great partnership that should come in handy.

Have you take advantage of the Marriott & Emirates partnership?