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Accidental transfer · Marriott to Etihad Guest

Accidentally transferred Marriott points to Etihad Guest? Here's how to sell the miles

No bank reverses a points transfer, and Marriott is no exception. The Marriott Bonvoy program terms say that once miles have been awarded to the chosen airline program they may not be changed to another airline program or converted back to Bonvoy points, and that cancellations, changes, reissuance and refunds of miles are not allowed. The Marriott Bonvoy points you moved are Etihad Guest miles now, and Etihad Guest's rules decide what can happen to them.

If you will not fly on them, Points Plug buys Etihad Guest miles from 50,000 miles at 0.98¢ to 1.17¢ per mile, depending on the balance, with payment in 24-48 hours: 100,000 miles fetch about $1,050. This page covers what the miles are worth, what Etihad Guest lets you do with them instead, and how to sell.

Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .

Can Marriott reverse it?
No
Stated on its own pages
Transfer ratio
3:1
Marriott points to Etihad Guest miles
Miles expiry
18 months after they are earned
Points Plug pays
0.98¢ to 1.17¢ per mile
From 50,000 miles

Can a Marriott transfer to Etihad Guest be reversed?

The Marriott Bonvoy program terms say that once miles have been awarded to the designated airline frequent flyer program, they may not be changed to another airline program or converted back to Loyalty Program Points, and that once points are ordered to an account, cancellation, changes, reissuance and refunds of miles are not allowed. Marriott's help centre puts it simply: once miles are awarded to an airline program, they cannot be moved to another airline or converted back into Marriott Bonvoy Points.

That covers both mistakes people make with Bonvoy conversions: choosing the wrong airline, and converting more points than an award needed. The 3:1 ratio also means the points cannot be rebuilt cheaply, so the miles are usually worth more sold than the hotel points would have been.

How Marriott transfers work

  • Points convert at 3:1 to most airlines, with 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points moved. United receives 10,000 bonus miles per 60,000 points; American and Delta receive no bonus.
  • Conversions run from 3,000 up to 240,000 points a day, and for most airline partners the first and last name on the airline account must match your Bonvoy name.
  • Marriott's points-to-miles page lists posting times per airline; most take several days, and the miles are not yours to use until they post.

If the points have not posted, or went somewhere you did not expect

  • If the miles have not posted within the time Marriott lists for that airline, contact Marriott Bonvoy member support with the conversion confirmation.
  • Marriott's terms rule out changing the airline or reissuing the miles once they are awarded, so a conversion to the wrong airline stands.

What your Etihad Guest miles are worth now

Published valuations put Etihad Guest miles at 1.10¢ to 1.40¢ each, about 1.23¢ on average, as of September 22, 2026. The published figure assumes the miles go on flights; what you actually get depends on the award, and the Etihad Guest valuation page lists the redemptions behind the range.

For the miles you hold now, Points Plug pays 0.98¢ to 1.17¢ per mile, rising with the balance; 100,000 Etihad Guest miles, roughly what 300,000 Marriott points became at 3:1, fetch about $1,050. The quote form on this page shows the exact figure for your balance.

BalanceRate per mileExample offer
50,000 to 99,999 miles0.98¢50,000 miles: $490
100,000 to 199,999 miles1.05¢100,000 miles: $1,050
200,000 to 499,999 miles1.11¢200,000 miles: $2,220
500,000+ miles1.17¢500,000 miles: $5,850

Offers are a share of the program's typical published value; our rates page explains how they are set for every program.

How to sell Etihad Guest miles

  1. Get a quote. The form on this page is preset to Etihad Guest; enter your balance and the offer and price per mile appear before you give up anything.
  2. Accept the offer. Our team reaches out to confirm the details and explain how the booking will be handled. You keep your account and your login.
  3. The miles are used to book last-minute travel for pre-qualified customers through your account, usually in one or two bookings rather than many small ones.
  4. You are paid through the method you choose, typically within 24-48 hours of the booking.

The minimum is 50,000 miles in one program, and balances of 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 earn higher rates. You never pay anything: the quote is free and the offer you accept is the amount you receive. Read how it works and the guide to selling airline miles for the detail.

Airline programs' terms restrict selling miles. Our Etihad Guest Q&A quotes Etihad Guest's own rule, so you can read it before you decide.

Other ways to use the miles

Fly on them

  • Etihad business and first class between the US and Abu Dhabi, including The Apartment on the A380 where it still operates, when award space appears.
  • Partner awards on airlines such as American Airlines and Air Canada, which are priced from Etihad's partner charts and can be good value on specific routes.
  • Economy awards within the Middle East and to South Asia, where cash fares are high.

The Etihad Guest award chart shows what the balance books and which redemptions return the most per mile, and the Etihad Guest program guide covers the traps.

Share or pool them

Miles Transfer, reached from your Etihad Guest profile, shares miles with another member instantly, though Etihad's page does not give the cost. Family Membership lets up to nine members pool miles for rewards.

Move them to another program

Not to a bank: Etihad says bank transfers into the program are one-way. Etihad Guest's Points Exchange turns miles into points with certain partner loyalty programs, and Capital One says miles cannot return to a Capital One account.

Points Plug can also convert Etihad Guest miles into another airline program from 50,000 miles, with the fee built into the rate the quote shows.

Will the miles expire?

For Bronze, Silver and Gold members, miles expire 18 months after they are earned unless an Etihad or partner flight extends them by a further 18 months. Platinum and Emerald members' miles never expire.

For Bronze, Silver and Gold members, miles expire 18 months after they are earned unless an Etihad or partner flight extends them by another 18 months. Etihad names no other activity, such as a bank transfer, that extends them, so the transferred miles have about 18 months.

Source: Etihad Guest FAQ. See do airline miles expire for every program's rule.

Avoiding the same mistake next time

  • Find the award seat first and confirm it books with Etihad Guest at the price you expect. Only then transfer, and only the amount the award needs; the rest keeps its flexibility in Marriott.
  • Read the partner name on the confirmation screen before you confirm. Several partners have similar names (Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Red, the four Avios programs) and a mis-tap lands the points somewhere else for good.
  • Hold Marriott points in Marriott until a trip is certain. There they keep their cash option and their choice of partners, and transfer bonuses of 20 to 40 percent come round several times a year.
  • Keep the confirmation email until the miles post, and check the airline account under the same name before assuming a transfer failed; posting times run from minutes to two weeks depending on the issuer and the airline.
  • Our guide to transferring credit card points to airlines covers ratios, timing and fees for every issuer.

Marriott to Etihad Guest: FAQ

Can I reverse a Marriott transfer to Etihad Guest?
No. The Marriott Bonvoy program terms say that once miles have been awarded to the chosen airline program they may not be changed to another airline program or converted back to Bonvoy points, and that cancellations, changes, reissuance and refunds of miles are not allowed. The points are Etihad Guest miles now and follow Etihad Guest's rules.
Can I move Etihad Guest miles back to Marriott Bonvoy?
Not to a bank: Etihad says bank transfers into the program are one-way. Etihad Guest's Points Exchange turns miles into points with certain partner loyalty programs, and Capital One says miles cannot return to a Capital One account.
Will Marriott refund the transfer if the award seat is gone?
No. Marriott's pages make no exception for award seats that disappear after a transfer, which is why the usual advice is to find the seat and confirm the price before moving points. Once the miles post, the choice is between waiting for new availability, using them another way or selling them.
How much are my Etihad Guest miles worth now?
Published valuations put Etihad Guest miles at 1.10¢ to 1.40¢ each when redeemed for flights, with partner premium-cabin awards above that and cash-style redemptions below. As cash, Points Plug pays 0.98¢ to 1.17¢ per mile depending on the balance, so 100,000 miles fetch about $1,050.
How does selling Etihad Guest miles to Points Plug work?
Enter your balance in the quote form for an instant offer and price per mile. Accept it, and our team confirms the details, books last-minute travel for pre-qualified customers through your account and pays you by your preferred method, typically within 24-48 hours of the booking. The minimum is 50,000 miles in one program, and the quote is free with no obligation.
Can I give the miles to someone else or pool them?
Miles Transfer, reached from your Etihad Guest profile, shares miles with another member instantly, though Etihad's page does not give the cost. Family Membership lets up to nine members pool miles for rewards.
Do Etihad Guest miles expire after a transfer?
For Bronze, Silver and Gold members, miles expire 18 months after they are earned unless an Etihad or partner flight extends them by a further 18 months. Platinum and Emerald members' miles never expire. For Bronze, Silver and Gold members, miles expire 18 months after they are earned unless an Etihad or partner flight extends them by another 18 months. Etihad names no other activity, such as a bank transfer, that extends them, so the transferred miles have about 18 months.

Sources

Other accidental transfers

Every bank's rule on reversing transfers, with a page for each transfer route.

More on Etihad Guest

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