Originally Posted by
crazyhorse
Ok I read through the FAQs and I dont like what I see.
I have always redeemed 7 night stays at the standard award availability level and gotten Cat6 for 130K points and Cat7 for 150K points.
Now, I will have to pay 210K points for Cat6 and 245K for Cat7. Also some of the places I have redeemed (or planned to redeem someday) are a new Cat8.
Why couldnt MR just stay with its sweet spot of 7 night awards and packages rather than try and mimick SPG's 5th night free. If this is the number of points I have to use, I'd rather switch to SPG. The properties are much better and are in locations I always wanted to visit.
Time to cash out of MR.
The bold part is not correct. For a 7 night stay, you will get the fifth night free. So it will cost, 180K points for 7 nights at category 6 and 210K points for 7 nights at category 7.
Everyone should look at the
FAQs area for the changes in detail. It looks like a devaluation because:
1. There will be a new category 8 for 14 properties. These properties will require 40,000 points per night.
2. The current system of reduced points per night for longer stays is replaced by a system where every 5 night redemption gets one free night. You will not get any discount for a 2 or 3 night stay at one property.
3. Travel packages will continue to be 7 night stays where most miles require one point. However, the new pricing of a 7 night stay will make them more expensive. Currently, a 7 night package for a category 6 hotel with 120K miles on AA costs 250,000 points. Under the new system, it will cost 300,000 points.
It is time to cash out some points. I plan to redeem at least 2 travel packages before the end of the year.