1,000 American Airline Bonus Miles at Marriott

I received an email yesterday at Marriott letting me know that guests can earn 1,000 American Airlines bonus miles with almost every Marriott stay in the US and Canada. This offer is available only at select chains under the Marriott umbrella: JW Marriott, Autograph Collection Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Marriott Hotels, and Gaylord Hotels. Of course though the promotion is capped at 5,000 bonus miles per account.

Now, the major caveat to this promotion is that you must change your earning preferences to “miles” and not “points”. You also must select American Airlines as your miles of choice. This offer is probably only valuable for those with cheap one night stays. When you opt to earn miles over points, you are definitely devaluing the number of points you are earning during your stay. And since the bonus miles is fixed, it doesn’t matter if you are staying one night or five nights. On a $89 room rate for one night, for example, you’d earn 890 Marriott points (assuming no status). If you opt for American miles instead you’ll earn 1,178 American miles. I value American miles to be worth about double the value of Marriott points, so this can definitely be a great offer for some.

This offer is valid for stays between November 10, 2014 and January 31, 2015.  You must, however, register and book your stay by December 31, 2014.

Remember, when you opt for miles instead of points, you are no longer eligible for the Marriott MegaBonus promotion if you were taking part in it. Just an FYI!