United is dangling a 25% bonus on hotel point transfers to MileagePlus miles through June 30, 2026. Register at the promo link, move points from any participating hotel program, and you’ll get the sweetener on top of the base conversion—capped at 25,000 bonus miles. Sounds generous until you run the math. Hotel-to-airline transfers are usually a one-way ticket to value destruction. This bonus only flips the script in narrow, high-stakes scenarios.

The Math Most People Ignore

Standard ratios without the bonus are punitive. Hilton Honors transfers at 10:1. IHG One Rewards at 5:1. Most others land in the same disappointing neighborhood. Even with 25% extra, you’re often better off burning hotel points on a random Tuesday night at a category 8 property than pretending they’ll magically become lie-flat seats.

Marriott Bonvoy is the exception—but only because of the longstanding United partnership. Transfer in 60,000-point increments and you get the normal 3:1 (20,000 miles) plus a 10,000-mile kick from Marriott. The 25% promo bonus then lands on the base amount, pushing 120,000 Bonvoy points to roughly 70,000 United miles. That’s the closest thing to palatable in this promotion.[[1]](https://onemileatatime.com/deals/united-mileageplus-hotel-points-promotion/)[[2]](https://awardwallet.com/news/united-mileageplus/hotel-transfer-bonus/)

Where the Numbers Actually Work

Targeted Polaris redemptions on routes where cash fares flirt with $4,000–$6,000 one-way. Think US to Japan in peak cherry blossom season, Sydney in December, or Delhi during wedding high season. Saver-level Polaris often prices around 70,000–100,000 miles one-way depending on the exact city pair and carrier (United metal or Star Alliance partners like ANA).[[3]](https://awardtravelfinder.com/award-charts/united)

At an effective 1.6–2.0 cents per United mile on those redemptions, the Marriott transfer can break even or slightly better. Anything less—dynamic pricing spikes, off-peak Europe hops, domestic positioning—and you’re lighting money on fire for the privilege of a 777 middle seat with a mediocre Japanese bento.

New Polaris Lounge rules don’t kill the proposition but they do add friction. Base fares in Polaris get you into the United Club, not the dedicated lounge. You need a standard or flexible Polaris award (or paid ticket) for full Polaris Lounge access on long-haul international or qualifying domestic legs. No special co-brand card hack required for awards, but the distinction matters if you’re already stretching for that shower and proper pre-flight meal.[[4]](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/lounge-access.html)

The Traps Worth Avoiding

Everything else. Hilton at effective 12.5:1 post-bonus is comedy. IHG clocks in around 4:1 effective and still delivers mediocre value. Accor, Choice, Hyatt, Wyndham, Radisson, Shangri-La—none of them suddenly become worth it because United tossed in an extra quarter. Your hotel points retain more utility for aspirational stays or fifth-night-free hacks than they ever will as United miles.[[2]](https://awardwallet.com/news/united-mileageplus/hotel-transfer-bonus/)

United miles themselves are easy to manufacture via the co-brand cards, Chase transfers, or shopping portals. Turning hard-earned (or expensively bought) hotel currency into them feels like trading a Birkin for a North Face backpack. Slightly better than nothing, but you’ll notice the downgrade.

The 25% boost expires in weeks. Most of you should let it. If you’re sitting on six figures of stranded Marriott points with no upcoming hotel stays and you’ve already spotted confirmed Polaris availability on a $4,500+ cash route to Tokyo or Sydney, pull the trigger in 60k increments. Everyone else: book a nice hotel, enjoy the points as intended, and hunt United miles elsewhere.

Action item: Register today, audit your Marriott balance, scan for Polaris awards to Asia or Australia in the next 12 months. If the cash equivalent exceeds $4,000 and the math clears 1.7 cents per mile, transfer exactly what you need before June 30. Otherwise, close the tab and keep your hotel points. The sky is full of better uses for your currency.