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
Jul 27, 2019, 4:43 pm
#1261
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
it will be even bigger than hotels own presidential suite
Jul 28, 2019, 1:47 am
#1262
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
For $49,999 spend, you only get pictures of it!
Jul 28, 2019, 1:57 am
#1263
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
Jul 28, 2019, 6:47 am
#1264
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New York
Programs: MB-LTT , HH-Diam., HGP-Expl.
Posts: 778
Exactly!
Someone once asked me where I used my SNAs. I replied Europe, Australia and the Moana Surfrider. Under Starwood, the MS offered 3 Banyan Suites in the SNA pool, and I'd say my odds of scoring one of those was about 50%. I never complained and was happy when I got one. If it didn't clear, the Tower rooms are very good. Under Marriott's leadership, the MS has pulled those 3 Banyan Suites from the SNA pool and replaced them with ocean front/view rooms. So I stopped using my SNAs there. What's in the SNA pool now are all the rooms I used to get when my SNAs didn't clear.
Someone once asked me where I used my SNAs. I replied Europe, Australia and the Moana Surfrider. Under Starwood, the MS offered 3 Banyan Suites in the SNA pool, and I'd say my odds of scoring one of those was about 50%. I never complained and was happy when I got one. If it didn't clear, the Tower rooms are very good. Under Marriott's leadership, the MS has pulled those 3 Banyan Suites from the SNA pool and replaced them with ocean front/view rooms. So I stopped using my SNAs there. What's in the SNA pool now are all the rooms I used to get when my SNAs didn't clear.
Jul 28, 2019, 8:23 am
#1265
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,459
Unquestionably a downgrade from the guest's perspective.
Jul 28, 2019, 8:36 am
#1266
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
I do pretty well on my own with upgrades even though I found the SNAs gave me a leg up in Europe and Australia. I never use them in Asia (which is where I have a good portion of my nights except for the Sheraton Waikiki) unless they're about to expire.
Jul 28, 2019, 9:52 am
#1267
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New York
Programs: MB-LTT , HH-Diam., HGP-Expl.
Posts: 778
I usually use all my SNAs, but I think I will choose the free night cert at 75 this year. Last year, I was lucky enough to get 10 SNAs + the free night.
I do pretty well on my own with upgrades even though I found the SNAs gave me a leg up in Europe and Australia. I never use them in Asia (which is where I have a good portion of my nights except for the Sheraton Waikiki) unless they're about to expire.
I do pretty well on my own with upgrades even though I found the SNAs gave me a leg up in Europe and Australia. I never use them in Asia (which is where I have a good portion of my nights except for the Sheraton Waikiki) unless they're about to expire.
I had a 7-night reservation this year where I wanted to us SNAs this year, so I picked them last year. I am leaning towards the free night this year as well.
Jul 28, 2019, 10:21 am
#1268
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I've had good luck with the Gwen, but that doesn't seem to be everyone's experience.
Typically, I'd look at the average rates of hotels that interest you and how they vary from what you see for your stay: if they're much higher rates, occupancy is obviously high and your chances are lower for SNAs and any suite upgrades to clear.
The algorithm is complex, so it's always tough to know which hotel is best for SNAs--but I'd always recommend picking a hotel or hotels with more suites than one with fewer when all things are otherwise equal/close.
Typically, I'd look at the average rates of hotels that interest you and how they vary from what you see for your stay: if they're much higher rates, occupancy is obviously high and your chances are lower for SNAs and any suite upgrades to clear.
The algorithm is complex, so it's always tough to know which hotel is best for SNAs--but I'd always recommend picking a hotel or hotels with more suites than one with fewer when all things are otherwise equal/close.
I don't think the percentage of suites is that big of a determinant because hotels tend to create lots of suites (during construction or renovation) when the hotel thinks they can sell those suites at profitable rates. Properties located in places where there's lots of demand for suites (for example Paris,Rome, Venice, London, NYC, SF, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and certain exclusive resort locations) will have a higher percentage of suites. Where the percentage might matter (or where a larger hotel could give better odds, other things equal) would be the case of a sort of law of large numbers argument in that (as an example) if a property has two suites and on average one of them is sold to a wedding party, you could be unlucky to be staying there on a night with two wedding parties, but if the hotel is ten times as big and sells ten of its twenty suites on average, the probability that all twenty have been sold on a given night would be very small, although there would also be ten times as many elites competing for those suites, of which (almost all of the time) some will get lucky.
BTW, fit a hotel wishes to avoid complaints from guests, the easy way to accomplish this is to have few or no guests. Going out of business would clearly accomplish this, but just getting a bad reputation would also work.
BTW, fit a hotel wishes to avoid complaints from guests, the easy way to accomplish this is to have few or no guests. Going out of business would clearly accomplish this, but just getting a bad reputation would also work.
Jul 28, 2019, 1:08 pm
#1269
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
I book a hotel with high percentage of suite and somehow my SNA did not clear.
At St Regis Bali
Jokes aside, I believe higher number of suites increase the chance of SNA clears.
And mathematically, hotel with higher room to suite ratio should give you even higher chance.
Although I got my SNA clears on properties that have quite low suite to room ratio.
2 nights at JW South Beach Singapore (587 rooms : 47 suites)
3 nights at Sheraton Melbourne (163 room : 11 suite)
The other 5 SNA clears at St Regis SF which I believe have higher room to suite ratio (no information about this on their website)
At St Regis Bali
Jokes aside, I believe higher number of suites increase the chance of SNA clears.
And mathematically, hotel with higher room to suite ratio should give you even higher chance.
Although I got my SNA clears on properties that have quite low suite to room ratio.
2 nights at JW South Beach Singapore (587 rooms : 47 suites)
3 nights at Sheraton Melbourne (163 room : 11 suite)
The other 5 SNA clears at St Regis SF which I believe have higher room to suite ratio (no information about this on their website)
Jul 28, 2019, 1:31 pm
#1270
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
The 260-room St. Regis Hotel, San Francisco includes 214 standard guest rooms, averaging 450 square feet, and 46 suites ranging in size from 700 to more than 3,200 square feet.
Not a bad ratio
Jul 29, 2019, 11:16 am
#1271
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 125
I have seen a couple people ask this question but no answers.
I selected 5 SNA as my benefit over an hour ago, got a confirmation mail - but I don't see anything in my account mentioning them and I clicked through all 12 of my upcoming reservations and it doesn't show up as an option when I hit "View/Modify" though some do show paid upgrades.
Is there a specific delay in the upgrades hitting your account once you select them?
I selected 5 SNA as my benefit over an hour ago, got a confirmation mail - but I don't see anything in my account mentioning them and I clicked through all 12 of my upcoming reservations and it doesn't show up as an option when I hit "View/Modify" though some do show paid upgrades.
Is there a specific delay in the upgrades hitting your account once you select them?
Jul 29, 2019, 11:29 am
#1272
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DFW - North Texas
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Marriot Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum/2022 Titanium
Posts: 960
Hello Jish, wondering the same thing. Selected my five SNAs for hitting plat again in 2019, but still nothing showing online that they are there. All I show are the two leftover from last year. Wondering if I have to use those first before they will show?
I started a chat with Marriott... will see how it goes.
I started a chat with Marriott... will see how it goes.
I have seen a couple people ask this question but no answers.
I selected 5 SNA as my benefit over an hour ago, got a confirmation mail - but I don't see anything in my account mentioning them and I clicked through all 12 of my upcoming reservations and it doesn't show up as an option when I hit "View/Modify" though some do show paid upgrades.
Is there a specific delay in the upgrades hitting your account once you select them?
I selected 5 SNA as my benefit over an hour ago, got a confirmation mail - but I don't see anything in my account mentioning them and I clicked through all 12 of my upcoming reservations and it doesn't show up as an option when I hit "View/Modify" though some do show paid upgrades.
Is there a specific delay in the upgrades hitting your account once you select them?
Jul 29, 2019, 11:29 am
#1273
Company Representative, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 690
I have seen a couple people ask this question but no answers.
I selected 5 SNA as my benefit over an hour ago, got a confirmation mail - but I don't see anything in my account mentioning them and I clicked through all 12 of my upcoming reservations and it doesn't show up as an option when I hit "View/Modify" though some do show paid upgrades.
Is there a specific delay in the upgrades hitting your account once you select them?
I selected 5 SNA as my benefit over an hour ago, got a confirmation mail - but I don't see anything in my account mentioning them and I clicked through all 12 of my upcoming reservations and it doesn't show up as an option when I hit "View/Modify" though some do show paid upgrades.
Is there a specific delay in the upgrades hitting your account once you select them?