Dec 19, 2018, 10:39 am
Last edit by: RedSun
IF YOU HAVE A PREPAID RATE, PLEASE READ THIS WIKI!
Recommended SNA Best Practices:
- According to the Marriott Lurkers in this forum (see post #220 in this thread), as confusing as it sounds, the SNA system is separate from the reservation system, so if a suite is showing as currently unavailable or available on the website, that does not necessarily mean it is currently unavailable or available for SNAs.
As of March 2019, there is an IT bug on Marriott's website that prevents SNAs from being applied to many if not all prepaid reservations. One member has identified a workaround that enables you to "trick" the website into allowing you apply SNAs to prepaid reservation. Several members have reported success using this workaround to apply SNAs to their prepaid reservations. Hopefully Marriott will fix this IT bug in the near future.- After SNAs are redeemed, they are removed from member's account. But they are in pending mode and will only be processed (confirmed or denied) about one week (normally 5 days) prior to actual stay. Any change to the reservation during this pending period may detach the SNAs. Check with reservation agent again to have SNAs re-attached again.
- After SNAs get cleared and confirmed, they are locked with the reservation. Any further changes to the reservation may break the confirmed SNAs. It is a hazard to ask agent to process SNAs again since the SNA processing window is closing
- If your SNA clears, be sure to take a screen shot of what suite category you are assigned in the app and be prepared to show this to the front desk at check-in. Several members have reported being confirmed in certain suite categories when there SNAs have cleared or during mobile check-in only to be assigned lower a category room at check-in. Members who have taken screenshots of their initial SNA assignments have had success in getting properties to honor those original assignments after initially getting assigned inferior rooms at check-in.
- If you are assigned a lower category of room than any of the options offered during the SNA application process and/or if the hotel refuses honor the representations they made at any point during the SNA process, be sure to submit a formal complaint to Marriott and ask for your SNAs used during your stay to be reinstated. If you have followed the screenshot best practice, your screenshot should go a long way towards getting Marriott to eventually refund your SNA, although it may take a long time for customer service to process your request.
Non-Participating Brands:
Not all hotels participate in Suite Night Awards. Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at the following brands (subject to change at any time; see Marriott Bonvoy Terms and Conditions for full details): The Ritz-Carlton®, Protea Hotels®, Aloft®, Element®, Design Hotels™, all-suite hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, EDITION®, Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Clubs® and Marriott Grand Residence Club properties. In addition, Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at select Participating Properties. Contact Member Support for individual hotel Suite Night Award participation.From post # 220.
The system is not checking what is available for sale at any marriott.com web site, so you should not be using the web sites as a guide for what is and is not available for SNA approval.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International
FOR ANYONE TRYING TO ADD SNAs TO PRE-PAID NONREFUNDABLE BOOKINGS THAT MARRIOTT IT
CURRENTLY DOESN’T SEEM TO ALLOW, HERE IS A WORK-AROUND. GOOD LUCK!
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30575978-post541.html
All, I believe that I've found a way of getting around Marriott's IT issue where SNA's cannot be used on advance purchase rates. It takes advantage of another error in the Marriott IT system (go figure) where changes in different windows are not handled properly. It seems to work for me - would be great if someone else can confirm.
For this to work, in addition to a pre-paid reservation where SNAs are disabled you need a rate at a hotel where SNA's are eligible - so go book a bog-standard fully flex rate at your local Westin or whatever which you can cancel later if you don't currently have any flexible rates booked.
Log in to Marriott.com and click on "My Trips" (obviously this won't work for people whose trips are still not showing). Open "View/ Modify" in a new browser window/ tab on the flexible reservation first, and then open "View/ Modify" in the non-refundable reservation in another new window/ tab. Go back to the flexible reservation and click on "Start Upgrade Request" and it should take you to a webpage for the pre-paid reservation where you can finally select your SNAs.
For this to work, in addition to a pre-paid reservation where SNAs are disabled you need a rate at a hotel where SNA's are eligible - so go book a bog-standard fully flex rate at your local Westin or whatever which you can cancel later if you don't currently have any flexible rates booked.
Log in to Marriott.com and click on "My Trips" (obviously this won't work for people whose trips are still not showing). Open "View/ Modify" in a new browser window/ tab on the flexible reservation first, and then open "View/ Modify" in the non-refundable reservation in another new window/ tab. Go back to the flexible reservation and click on "Start Upgrade Request" and it should take you to a webpage for the pre-paid reservation where you can finally select your SNAs.
The link for selecting your benefit:
https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/
How to cancel an Award request:
Suite Night Award requests may be canceled until 2 p.m. local hotel time the day before you arrive, as long as the Awards have not already been confirmed for use on a reservation. Once your Awards have been confirmed, you must cancel the entire reservation to receive credit back for all the Awards; however, after 2 p.m. local hotel time the day before you arrive, a reservation cancellation will result in the forfeiture of all Suite Night Awards applied to the entire reservation. This is in addition to any other cancellation fees applicable to the reservation itself.NOTE: Always detach the SNA before cancelling a reservation. It's the only way to ensure your SNA is returned to your account immediately. Otherwise, you could be waiting hours/days to see your SNA again.
FAQ : Suite Night Awards - SNA - questions and discussion thread
Dec 19, 2020, 5:30 am
#2266
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,673
to make things more strange, the suite nights seemed to have vanished from my reservation now....when i go into my reservation is states that suite nights cannot be used for this reservation so somehow they have been detached....they have also not been returned to my account....
Dec 19, 2020, 11:11 am
#2267
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
Good grief. Is it even possible to make a reservation for 6 adults and 3 children???
Dec 19, 2020, 11:45 am
#2268
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,673
Dec 19, 2020, 1:26 pm
#2269
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
Sometimes, when it closer to the stay date, those reservation list on Marriott apps/web can become wonky.
I guess that was the result of hotel try to assign upgrade or moving reservations/rooms.
I made 2 reservations before for 2 rooms at same hotel and apply SNA to 1 of the reservation.
The reservation list did shows multiple changes starting h-5 when SNA approved
Reservation 1 : deluxe room - SNA
Reservation 2 : deluxe room - no SNA
At h-5, both reservations become the SNA suite
And at h-4, I got 3rd reservation for a deluxe room
Which gone by h-2 .
And at h-1 it was back to 2 reservations for suite.
I got 1 suite and 1 upgraded rooms upon check in though.
I guess that was the result of hotel try to assign upgrade or moving reservations/rooms.
I made 2 reservations before for 2 rooms at same hotel and apply SNA to 1 of the reservation.
The reservation list did shows multiple changes starting h-5 when SNA approved
Reservation 1 : deluxe room - SNA
Reservation 2 : deluxe room - no SNA
At h-5, both reservations become the SNA suite
And at h-4, I got 3rd reservation for a deluxe room
Which gone by h-2 .
And at h-1 it was back to 2 reservations for suite.
I got 1 suite and 1 upgraded rooms upon check in though.
Dec 26, 2020, 12:18 pm
#2270
Join Date: May 1999
Location: CVG
Programs: DL DM 4MM, Lifetime Marriott Plat Elite, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,429
2021 suite awards
Given all of 2020 travel debacles and award program changes, my question is simple, I can burn 40k points for four 1 night stays to get to the 50 stays for 2020, earning me 5 suite nights for 2021. That said, I have 4 suite nights rolling into 2021 already.
should I do it?
should I do it?
Dec 26, 2020, 12:33 pm
#2271
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Given all of 2020 travel debacles and award program changes, my question is simple, I can burn 40k points for four 1 night stays to get to the 50 stays for 2020, earning me 5 suite nights for 2021. That said, I have 4 suite nights rolling into 2021 already.
should I do it?
should I do it?
however, if you feel like you need another year of platinum under your belt for lifetime purposes, may not be a bad idea, depending on if you feel Marriott will add an additional star year based on the extension or not.
Dec 26, 2020, 9:04 pm
#2272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,039
Yes, I would do it for the additional year of Platinum if not ≥ 10 years. And I would take the 5 Elite Nights, if not ≥ 600 lifetime nights. Do you really need 4 + 5 SNAs?
Dec 27, 2020, 1:46 am
#2274
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,466
Depends on the property. I've heard bookings at luxury properties for H2 2021 are quite strong on the expectation of travel opening up and well-off travelers wanting to splurge after all their 2020 travel plans were ruined. I already have bookings all throughout H2 for that exact reason.
Dec 28, 2020, 7:08 am
#2276
Join Date: May 1999
Location: CVG
Programs: DL DM 4MM, Lifetime Marriott Plat Elite, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,429
That's the perspective I wanted. Probably should have added that I am already Lifetime Platinum with Marriott. I haven't had great success as others have had with the suite upgrade (SNA's), so I will keep the points for now. I am sitting on way too many already. I wish Marriott would look at it's award pricing when wanting something better than the standard room. Their suite award pricing is outrageous.
Jan 10, 2021, 11:38 am
#2277
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Just booked Autograph Park City on points and got the "Your Suite Night Awards can't be used toward this reservation" message when I went to apply SNAs. Suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but still a reminder of how worthless these things have become, and the overall emptiness of Marriott's marketing promises.
Jan 11, 2021, 7:31 am
#2279
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Jan 11, 2021, 8:25 am
#2280
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
Just booked Autograph Park City on points and got the "Your Suite Night Awards can't be used toward this reservation" message when I went to apply SNAs. Suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but still a reminder of how worthless these things have become, and the overall emptiness of Marriott's marketing promises.
Since I always book months in advance, I just kept checking. Magically, one day the SNAs were working again.
