Aug 27, 2018, 11:55 am
Last edit by: beltway
How do I make a booking using a free-night cert?
Follow these steps:
Can I exchange a soon-to-expire free-night cert for points? Extend its expiration? What if the cert has already expired?- Check the "Use points" box when conducting your search for availability. You can also filter search results by category.
- Select a property from the search results and click "Continue" to view available rooms.
- On the property-specific page, you will see several tabs at the top for various rate categories. You should automatically see award rooms; if not, click "Rewards Points" on the tab at top left.
- Select a room.
- On the reservation confirmation page, under "Choose room features," you should see a highlighted box with a note that "You have eligible e-certificates that match your reservation." Underneath that box will be radio buttons allowing you to attach your cert(s) or, in the alternative, to use points.
Marriott Rewards customer service will normally extend an unexpired free-night cert by one year from the date of the request. (Some members have encountered resistance, especially if they have canceled the associated Chase card; if this happens, hang up and call again later.) Each cert may be extended only once.
We have no reports of Marriott allowing certs to be redeemed for points, nor any reports of Marriott allowing expired certs to be revived/extended.
If I cancel my card after the annual free-night cert has posted, will I lose the cert?We have no reports of Marriott allowing certs to be redeemed for points, nor any reports of Marriott allowing expired certs to be revived/extended.
No. Once a cert is in your Marriott account, it will not be clawed back even if you cancel your card to avoid paying the annual fee.
Chase Free Night Certificate - Pre-Aug 2018
Apr 17, 2007, 12:14 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
What Pinniped & VA1379 have said--except that MR may be switching to e-certificates soon if they haven't already.
I'm waiting for my new cert. for my membership anniversary, which will allow Cat.5 hotels
!
I'm waiting for my new cert. for my membership anniversary, which will allow Cat.5 hotels
!
Apr 17, 2007, 1:03 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 148
As of, I believe, February 1st, the free night certificates issued for enrolling with a Marriott Rewards credit card are being sent as electronic certificates. The Premier anniversary certificates are still being mailed as paper certificates.
Apr 17, 2007, 6:36 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Marriott Platinum Premier, UA 1K
Posts: 375
I received two e-certificates, one for business and one for premier applications.
Apr 17, 2007, 9:19 pm
#49
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium (former PP), Hilton Silver, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,906
If the initial certificates are now electronic, why can't the anniversary ones also be electronic?
Apr 18, 2007, 8:08 am
#51
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Reno, NV (RNO)
Programs: AA Platinum, AS, UA, DL, HHonors Gold, Marriott LTP, Hyatt, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,707
Any idea how long after the certificate issuance appears as a line item in your Marriott Rewards account that you will see the e-cert? Mrs. MileKing applied for the Premier card about 1.5 weeks ago. Although she has not received the card yet, according to her Marriott Rewards account the certificate was issued on April 15, but she has not received any e-mail cert.
Apr 18, 2007, 6:43 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: UA, bmi, AA, CO, DL, B6, AMEX, Hertz, Most Hotels
Posts: 3,002
Any idea how long after the certificate issuance appears as a line item in your Marriott Rewards account that you will see the e-cert? Mrs. MileKing applied for the Premier card about 1.5 weeks ago. Although she has not received the card yet, according to her Marriott Rewards account the certificate was issued on April 15, but she has not received any e-mail cert.
I received my new Premier Card @10 days ago but to date no mention of the ecert or bonus signup miles has appeared on my account page.
Apr 18, 2007, 9:31 pm
#53
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Marriott Platinum Premier, UA 1K
Posts: 375
Apr 19, 2007, 7:08 am
#54
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Reno, NV (RNO)
Programs: AA Platinum, AS, UA, DL, HHonors Gold, Marriott LTP, Hyatt, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,707
Apr 19, 2007, 7:34 am
#55
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
You should be able to call up Marriott Rewards and they can help you get an award applied to an existing reservation.
Though, and I may be mistaken here, I think the hotel will just pull the appropriate e-cert out of your account when you check-in. So you may not need to do anything, but make sure the e-cert is in your account. If it isn't showing up for you online, you probably should call Marriott Rewards and validate that they can see it.
Though, and I may be mistaken here, I think the hotel will just pull the appropriate e-cert out of your account when you check-in. So you may not need to do anything, but make sure the e-cert is in your account. If it isn't showing up for you online, you probably should call Marriott Rewards and validate that they can see it.
Apr 23, 2007, 11:26 pm
#56
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,561
is there any way to get past the 6 month requirement? I have 2 certs issued 2/6/7 and 2/11/7, and I need the free nights 8/23-25/7. Is there no way around this? Perhaps a coupon connection exchange; or are they non-transferable? FYI I do have the e-certs.
Apr 24, 2007, 8:07 am
#57
Company Representative - Marriott Concierge
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,083
They cannot be extended, reissued or redeposited for points, and they are non-transferable.
Apr 24, 2007, 10:11 am
#58
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Reno, NV (RNO)
Programs: AA Platinum, AS, UA, DL, HHonors Gold, Marriott LTP, Hyatt, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,707
Mrs. MileKing called Marriott Reservations this past weekend to have the VISA e-cert applied to an existing award reservation. Mrs. MileKing never received an e-mail about the cert, but the rep was able to access her MR account and locate the cert number. However, the rep was unable to apply the cert to the reservation. Seems they have been having trouble applying certs to existing reservations and stated that only the hotel could do so. So, I wonder if we are headed for problems on check-in since we will only have an e-cert number for the hotel to use. They can't make it easy, can they?
Apr 24, 2007, 10:26 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: MR Gold, DCL Silver, RSSC Silver
Posts: 775
This wasn't the case last year. I used my previous Visa cert. on an existing 3-night reservation. The elite line added the cert. and amended the existiing reservation without a problem. I received a new confirmation e-mail reflecting the amended reservation and printed it out just in case, but there was no problem at check-in.
Apr 24, 2007, 11:11 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,561
not to belabor the point... but the e-cert says 'non-transferable' - what does that mean exactly? Does that mean I'm the only one who can redeem it (from my account)? Or that I have to actually stay in the room? Can I make a reservation for my sister, for example?
truly I'm not trying to do something I'm not allowed - just want to understand what is permissible under the T&Cs of the e-cert (all it says is 'non-transferable').
truly I'm not trying to do something I'm not allowed - just want to understand what is permissible under the T&Cs of the e-cert (all it says is 'non-transferable').