Converting hotel points to airline miles: a practical guide

Accor lets members move Rewards Points to a list of airline programmes. When does converting make sense, and what should you check before you press the button?

One of the features that surprised former Fairmont President's Club members in 2018 was the ability to send points to frequent flyer programmes. At the time of the merger, partners included British Airways, Qatar Airways, Air Canada, Delta, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa and Virgin Australia, among others. The list has changed over the years, so always check the current partners before you plan around one.

How conversions work

You choose a partner airline, link your frequent flyer number, and convert a block of Rewards Points into miles at a fixed ratio. Conversions are usually one-way and cannot be reversed. They may take several days to appear in the airline account.

When converting makes sense

• To top up an award: you are a few thousand miles short of a flight you really want.
• To rescue expiring points: your hotel points are about to lapse and you have no stay planned.
• To consolidate: you fly one airline far more than you stay with Accor.

When it does not

Accor points used at hotels are worth a fixed amount. Converted to miles, their value depends on how you use the miles, which can be higher or much lower. Compare the cash value of the hotel discount with the realistic value of the miles before converting. Never convert speculatively, hoping that an award seat will appear later.

A checklist before you convert

1. Confirm that the names on both accounts match exactly.
2. Check the current ratio and any minimum block size.
3. Find the award seat first, then convert only what you need.
4. Keep a screenshot of the transaction.

Treat conversions as a tool, not a lottery ticket. The members who get the most out of them are those who plan a specific trip, check the numbers and convert at the last sensible moment.