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
Aug 24, 2018, 8:23 am
#661
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Aug 24, 2018, 8:56 am
#662
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA - DCA
Programs: BA Gold, American Airlines, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 5,075
As a follow up question to this question (as I had the same question) but when I signed up for the Chase Marriott Rewards Business Visa (https://creditcards.chase.com/small-...emier-business) It said (and still says on the link) that it comes with Category 5 (up to 35,000 points hotels). But when I log into my Marriott account, it says it's only up to 25,000 points. What gives? Why is it only showing up to 25,000 points when the terms and conditions when I signed up show 35,000 points?
Aug 25, 2018, 5:21 pm
#663
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 223
Two days ago, I had an incompetent CSR who was supposed to use my travel package to book a 6 night stay. Instead she used my 1 night cert plus 70k points. When I cancelled, only the 70k points were returned. When I called, the CSR told me that she couldn't see my cert. Has anyone had similar experience? I wrote to Customrer Service.
Aug 25, 2018, 5:41 pm
#664
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
So, on Monday, I tried to book my free night certificate from the Chase Marriott Business card for hotels up to 25K. I have not had an anniversary night from Marriott before. I was using the app and I thought it would just apply at checkout, but it didn't, either I missed a step or booking certificates don't work on the app. Since my points have been exhausted to just 106 points, I did get a warning I will need to earn more points before the actual stay. I clicked on book anyway because I could always cancel it if it didn't work (The booking was for 11/10 and I had until 11/8 to cancel without penalty). I went to the full website and booked the free night certificate that way. Unfortunately for me, I never checked on the two bookings until I got the confirmation emails for both 2 hours later. With the exception of the confirmation number I could not see the difference between the two bookings. It doesn't show which booking had the free night attached as far as I could tell. So early today, I cancelled both of them finally. But now after waiting for four hours, the free night certificate has not gone back to my account. How long do I have to wait or is the free night certificate lost?
I truly believe in this unusual time, it is BETTER to do bookings with the oldfashioned web site versus using the App.
Always make a screenshot of what you have done because email communication is wonky. A rep told me the reason why I did not receive email confirmation of a booking was because "your account is coded to NOT to receive any communication!" Of course I would never have had such setting, and as late as Aug 19 I received email confirmations! So she went in my account to correct that mysterious setting.
Certs of any kind are NOT returning when the underlying reservations are canceled. That has been the SAD state now. This has caused many people to spend hours on the phone trying to fix it.
If you need your cert back soon for the booking, you will need to call. The cert would not return by itself.
Two days ago, I had an incompetent CSR who was supposed to use my travel package to book a 6 night stay. Instead she used my 1 night cert plus 70k points. When I cancelled, only the 70k points were returned. When I called, the CSR told me that she couldn't see my cert. Has anyone had similar experience? I wrote to Customrer Service.
There must have been some misunderstanding by the CSR that has caused the usage of your one night cert + points as you booked a nonconventional stay (6 nights versus the 7 nights package, or you intend to use a 5 nights package + 1 Chase FN - the thing is, Travel Package Cert is NOT usable until after the original lock down period, and we would not know IF that would even happen given how things are going now.
We the customers have to learn how to protect ourselves, in the way of doing some extra works to avoid getting ourselves in a situation that nobody at Marriott could help or willing to help when we are in this gigantic mess. It is almost akin to thinking of defensive driving...
Your course of action is to CALL if you want it fixed while the audit trail is still fresh and easy to follow.
You would be lucky to get a reply from Customer Service in a week's time, or ever.
Aug 25, 2018, 5:55 pm
#665
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: DL Plat
Posts: 352
Two days ago, I had an incompetent CSR who was supposed to use my travel package to book a 6 night stay. Instead she used my 1 night cert plus 70k points. When I cancelled, only the 70k points were returned. When I called, the CSR told me that she couldn't see my cert. Has anyone had similar experience? I wrote to Customrer Service.
Aug 25, 2018, 6:00 pm
#666
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
Shand, you should be able to book with your cert online. Ask for a 1-night stay, and it should ask you if you want to use your Chase cert or points or wait to issue the cert. If "using your Chase cert" is not offered, then choose to wait, then call MR to ask them to attach your Chase cert to your res!
Aug 26, 2018, 5:13 pm
#667
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4
I have a related question: we also have one of the Chase Anniversary One Free Night up to 25,000 points e-certificates. We are interested in booking a hotel that would require 35,000 points. Does anyone know if we would be able to use our free night e-certificate and top up the remaining 10,000 points from our account as payment? 
Aug 27, 2018, 10:55 am
#668
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
Back before the merger, you could not upgrade the Chase cert, it was limited to the old cat 1-5. I imagine that part hasn't changed.
Aug 27, 2018, 2:06 pm
#669
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 696
I have a related question: we also have one of the Chase Anniversary One Free Night up to 25,000 points e-certificates. We are interested in booking a hotel that would require 35,000 points. Does anyone know if we would be able to use our free night e-certificate and top up the remaining 10,000 points from our account as payment?
Aug 27, 2018, 11:03 pm
#670
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Am I correct in believing that the Chase free night cert I get in Oct/Nov, from the MR Business card I've had for 2 + yrs, will now be good for rooms up to 35K/night?
Aug 27, 2018, 11:26 pm
#672
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Well, I guess I'll find out in Oct/Nov. I know the existing ones, like yours, stayed at a max. of 25K. Seem to remember reading somewhere that future ones would be the same as the ones issued with the new cards=35K. Hmmm....
Aug 27, 2018, 11:29 pm
#673
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
The Amex SPG cert is going to 35k. The legacy Chase Marriott stays at 25k.
Aug 27, 2018, 11:38 pm
#674
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Aug 28, 2018, 10:59 am
#675
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
And you should have received emails to inform you such. At least the AMEX SPG side has emails to inform the annual FN and it is 35K. Matter of fact, a friend's AMEX SPG FN cert is already deposited into her account.