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
May 3, 2021, 7:12 pm
#2446
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Yea… I also had great upgraded room that cleared for me at the start of the window as well.
AC Condado in San Juan, PR. is my new go-to spot I’d been checking out for my next time in PR.
Upper floor, partial ocean view 1 bedroom suite. Was hoping I’d get the suit that has two bathrooms just for the hell of having it! Those must be up in the PH floor.
AC Condado in San Juan, PR. is my new go-to spot I’d been checking out for my next time in PR.
Upper floor, partial ocean view 1 bedroom suite. Was hoping I’d get the suit that has two bathrooms just for the hell of having it! Those must be up in the PH floor.
May 3, 2021, 7:16 pm
#2448
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Also noticed that on an upcoming reservation that the “not able to apply SNA glitch” is back after being fixed recently.
Suites are available to reserve, but within my reservation I’m not able to apply SNA.
Suites are available to reserve, but within my reservation I’m not able to apply SNA.
May 7, 2021, 1:36 am
#2450
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP, BonVoy Titanium
Posts: 118
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but might it be possible to increase the odds a given suite is available by making a separate reservation for your desired suite, then canceling that reservation five days before your trip to increase the inventory for your SNAs to go through? Or, are there too many factors at play for that to have an effect? E.g., priority goes to someone who made the same SNA request earlier for that suite.
May 7, 2021, 5:15 am
#2451
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but might it be possible to increase the odds a given suite is available by making a separate reservation for your desired suite, then canceling that reservation five days before your trip to increase the inventory for your SNAs to go through? Or, are there too many factors at play for that to have an effect? E.g., priority goes to someone who made the same SNA request earlier for that suite.
May 7, 2021, 6:48 am
#2452
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Manhattan, Palm Beach Island, San Francisco, Boston, & Hong Kong
Programs: Lifetime United Global Services, Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Ambassador, & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,165
May 7, 2021, 7:53 am
#2453
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Not at all. How else can you see what the options are. But that’s not what UpInTheError is suggesting. I’ve read about people doing something similar with airline tickets, and subsequently being banished by the airline.
May 7, 2021, 6:50 pm
#2454
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: UA S, Marriott P
Posts: 1,154
Combining SNA with someone else reservation
My spouse has 5x50k certs that we plan to use at a resort. I have 5 SNAs, is there any way to combine the two sets? Ie use my SNAs on reservation under spouse's name?
May 7, 2021, 6:58 pm
#2455
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
Is there a published list of non-participating SNA properties? I know certain brands are excluded (as listed in the wiki), but I'm asking specifically about the non-participating properties within the brands that do participate in SNAs.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
May 7, 2021, 6:58 pm
#2456
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Sorry no. They are not transferable. The reservations must be booked from your account to apply the SNAs.
May 10, 2021, 9:20 pm
#2457
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Suite Night Awards blocked because "almost sold out"
I have 14 suite night awards sitting in my account. I've always had a hard time using them all.
Have the AC in Nashville booked for Thursday night. Go to apply Suite Night award. Website says it isn't possible. This seems strange. I call the elite line, thinking maybe it's my AAA rate and perhaps I need a different rate to use the awards, elite line offers that possibly no suites are available, I point out that there are definitely bookable suites available, she calls the hotel, the hotel tells her that they are not accepting suite nights "because we are almost sold out".
Is "because we are almost sold out" even a thing, or is that just a BS go-away answer? There's at least 6 separate bookable suites available online right now, 3 days out. And isn't the whole point of suite night awards that they don't necessarily clear until 2 days out, and even then they don't have to clear?
Or is there something else afoot here? How is it so hard to redeem these certificates in the middle of a pandemic?
Have the AC in Nashville booked for Thursday night. Go to apply Suite Night award. Website says it isn't possible. This seems strange. I call the elite line, thinking maybe it's my AAA rate and perhaps I need a different rate to use the awards, elite line offers that possibly no suites are available, I point out that there are definitely bookable suites available, she calls the hotel, the hotel tells her that they are not accepting suite nights "because we are almost sold out".
Is "because we are almost sold out" even a thing, or is that just a BS go-away answer? There's at least 6 separate bookable suites available online right now, 3 days out. And isn't the whole point of suite night awards that they don't necessarily clear until 2 days out, and even then they don't have to clear?
Or is there something else afoot here? How is it so hard to redeem these certificates in the middle of a pandemic?
May 11, 2021, 1:47 am
#2458
Company Representative, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 1,088
Hi raehl311,
We would not suggest you to use the availability of suite online to determine if there is a suite available for Suite Night Awards application. You may try later to see if you are able to apply the Suite Night Awards.
Best Regards,
Christina Z
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]
We would not suggest you to use the availability of suite online to determine if there is a suite available for Suite Night Awards application. You may try later to see if you are able to apply the Suite Night Awards.
Best Regards,
Christina Z
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]
May 11, 2021, 6:38 am
#2459
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,151
TLDR:
Hotels are able to control the inventory of their SNA pools and can use this to their advantage (eg hold back suites for cash rates and not SNA redemptions).
You have been Bonvoy’d! 🤙🏻
Hotels are able to control the inventory of their SNA pools and can use this to their advantage (eg hold back suites for cash rates and not SNA redemptions).
You have been Bonvoy’d! 🤙🏻
May 11, 2021, 6:51 am
#2460
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,598
Hi raehl311,
We would not suggest you to use the availability of suite online to determine if there is a suite available for Suite Night Awards application. You may try later to see if you are able to apply the Suite Night Awards.
Best Regards,
Christina Z
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]
We would not suggest you to use the availability of suite online to determine if there is a suite available for Suite Night Awards application. You may try later to see if you are able to apply the Suite Night Awards.
Best Regards,
Christina Z
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]