We have booked 5 nights at the Brisbane Marriott for the end of Oct, early November. I got a really great rate in that I only had to spend 80,000 points. Excellent!

In September, I'm going to get my annual MR Visa certificate, which I believe, after the initial year, is a category 5 (unlike the 1st year which is a cat 4 maximum).

My question is what are the odds that I will be able to call up in September (as soon as it gets deposited in my MR account) and book a room to add another night to the 5 nights I already booked?

Is it based on availability (plenty of availability now)? Do they carry any weight? I know being Plat does nothing, unlike being a Diamond w/Hilton. I guess worst case scenario, I can book it, pay a couple of hundred dollars for the room if I am unable to use the certificate, but it would be nice to actually use this certificate while on vacation and save a couple hundred.

Some of those certificates are so difficult to use (everything has to line up right, the moon/stars/you name it), and others are pretty much a done deal--if they have a room--then you get to use your certificate!

I want to book a flight to Brisbane from Sydney and return, so it really does matter (although as I stated, we can always pay for a room on that final night).

Thanks....

Dawn