Originally Posted by
RedSun
The downgrade to Cat 1-4 (old Cat1-5) is not huge devaluation. It returns the value it was and it has been. The Cat 1-5 TP total cost is about 270,000 MRs, with the 7-day hotel just 45,000 MR allocation. So it is 7,500 MR/day for the certificate. This is a huge deal.
The downgrade to new Cat 1-4 just returns your original pints to you. You do not gain or lose any points. It is fair to anyone. So MR does not need to do the mapping.
Certainly this is going to downgrade or damage some people's aspiration of huge upside. This is like going to the casino. The house returns your chips to you. I do not think you can cry foul about it.
Marriott did not tell me when I bought the TP (two weeks ago) that if I didn't use it by 8/18 the value would decrease ...and I asked. As with all changes I know some current cat 8 properties won't be available to me post 08/18 but doing a forced downgrade does not keep me whole. At a minimum cat 5 peak is 40k points...anything less than that and I'll be less than impressed. 105 nights so far this year with Marriott and long since LTP (soon to be LTPP).
Originally Posted by
RedSun
I feel your pain. Here it is just my opinion. I do not want to fight and I'm not related to Marriott. Just my side's view.
When we purchased TP, it is clear that this is Marriott TP and is subject to MR's T&C. It is subject to MR's hotel availability when you redeem the hotel stays. It is no difference from redeeming with MR points. This is not SPG's travel package.
For your Cat-8 TP, you spend 135,000 MRs, or 22,500 MRs/day. You get right to book 7 nights worth 40,000 MRs/day. And you can and are supposed to book those Cat-8 hotel stays. You get the opportunity to book the stay before the changes. We do not get the right to get free 40,000 MRs/day certificate to book any MR/SPG properties. This is beyond Marriott's T&C of those TP. I do not think you can say MR forcing us to downgrade since we can still book those Cat-8 stays. We get no rights to use those TPs on the SPG properties.
If Marriott had stated that I would agree. What they have stated is that it will be one program and free night certs and points can be freely used at any property with standard availability at the per night value (tied to point value) of the cert. They did not say "except for you sucka's who have TP's"
All that said, I put the chance of them screwing people who have cat 6+ TP's in the single digit %. They have been very fair so far and I expect that to continue through completion of the reward program merger. I guess they could disappoint me but I don't think this will be the hill they decide to go to battle on. I'll be ok with most solutions, I'm not expecting my cat 8 certs to let me stay at any property I want...just like for like...