Originally Posted by
GrizShel
CJ I think you are being unfair to the OP by creating a false dichotomy between no blackout dates and unlimited availability (attributing the latter position to the OP). I read and reread DFW DL's post and I do not see evidence that they thought it was suppose to be unlimited availability (which implies they'll even give you an award night after they are already fully booked).
You mischaracterized what I wrote. It was the OP that created the false dichotomy that either he could get a room or there were blackout dates. He ignored the possibility that the rooms available for points had already been taken.
The OP tried to get a room for points. He could not get the room. The hotel had availability for pay. The OP, in his title, concluded that this meant Marriott still had blackout days. Obviously he thinks if there are rooms available that the policy requires he be allowed to use points.
He doesn't allow the possibility that the few rooms that were set aside for points might have already been reserved, which is allowed within the new policy. This is quite different than blackout days being eliminated, which the OP states in his title. Had he believed the rooms available for points had already been taken, he would have griped about there not being enough rooms offered. He wouldn't have claimed there were actually blackout days.
I'm not quite sure how the conclusion "No Blackout Dates? Not Really" could be supported otherwise. The OP obviously thinks the fact that he could not get a reservation on the dates he wanted meant there were blackout dates, as opposed to reservations already made that took the rooms that were available.
My post was meant to refute the OP's dichotomy. (Either I get a room or there are blackout days.) I cannot see any way his title is supported without his dichotomy. Do you?