Originally Posted by
PumpkinSmasher
Well, some bad news for those of us who overpaid. At least in the interim. According to my source at the company, it appears that Marriott is going to double down on the values being fair for those of us who paid more than we needed to.
Information is going to be forthcoming, but basically, their logic is that if you bought in on cat 6 or 8 or T1-3, the majority of those hotels are now available in your new category plus you have access to the SPG inventory. Of course, this ignores the overpay that others didn't have to make and the withholding of information.
Seems like action is going to be necessary now.
Just so people don't think I made something up, this was the internal approved language for the social media team as of the start of 8/20 (from my connection at Marriott). This is why I said they planned to double down. I have no idea what transpired between the time this was approved and the 30K refunds, but this is what they had planned to push out here (that apparently never made it out):
Q: How is the Cat 8 not going down in value, when peak pricing is not being introduced until 2019?
A: The vast majority of formerly Cat 8 hotels can no longer be redeemed with the Cat 8 certificate. The majority of hotels in legacy Category 8 are still attainable in the new Category 5, plus legacy-SPG hotels in new Category 5 which were previously not available.
Q: How will Marriott be handling cancellations?
A: As before, members will be able to cancel and get points back at a reduced amount.
Q: What are you going to do for the people holding category 6, 8, and Tier 1-3 certificates who are holding instruments that cost them more than the now equally valued certificates they could have obtained for categories 1-5, 7, and 9, respectively?
A: The majority of hotels in Category 6, 8 and Tier 1-3 are still attainable in the new Category 1-5, 7 and 9, respectively. Plus, legacy-SPG hotels are now available.
Q: Does this mean that those who paid Cat 6 will have the same redemption as those who paid for Cat 1-5 packages?
A: Yes, the majority of hotels in legacy Category 6 are still attainable in the new Category 1-5, plus legacy-SPG hotels in new Category 1-5 which were previously not available.
Q: Does this mean those who paid Cat 8 will have the same redemption as those who paid for Cat 7 packages?
A: Yes, the majority of hotels in legacy Category 8 are still attainable in the new Category 7, plus legacy-SPG hotels in new Category 7 which were previously not available.
Q: Does this mean that those who paid Tier 1 to 3 will have the same redemption as those who paid for Cat 9 packages?
A: Yes, the majority of hotels in legacy Tier 1-3 are still attainable in the new Category 6, plus legacy-SPG hotels in new Category 6 which were previously not available.
Obviously, I'm glad they didn't double down and the 30K refund almost gets me to satisfaction territory, but I'd like to see the option to upgrade be reinstated stat. Not when peak pricing is introduced. If they at least get that up and running and soon I think there will be less to complain or be upset about.