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 4, 2022, 1:55 am
#3946
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,210
The point is that there's no universal rule that the thousands of hotels in the Marriott system follow and it's up to the individual property's processes and policy on handling elites. You may find some common similarities and draw a conclusion that this is a global policy and then check in to the next hotel and be disappointed because they have their own way of doing things. People attribute too much to "Marriott Policies" when many things on the ground are clearly up to the hotel within the broad framework of the Bonvoy programme.
Dec 4, 2022, 9:28 am
#3947
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,880
A few questions about SNA:
1) Is it better to only request the suite categories you really want? Then if not cleared, you can ask at check in time what else is available for an upgrade with Titanium level?
2) If you are not cleared, can you go back into the system and put in other room types and will the system check again?
3) If you put in lower category room types, will the system tend to upgrade you to the lowest category? Or does the system try to upgrade you to the highest category available?
1) Is it better to only request the suite categories you really want? Then if not cleared, you can ask at check in time what else is available for an upgrade with Titanium level?
2) If you are not cleared, can you go back into the system and put in other room types and will the system check again?
3) If you put in lower category room types, will the system tend to upgrade you to the lowest category? Or does the system try to upgrade you to the highest category available?
So to answer your question:
1. It's possible that you could miss out on an upgrade to a higher category room if inventory for that room opens up after inventory for a lower category room opens up. For example, let's say you request an upgrade to a Junior Suite and Standard Suite. If both room types are available at T-5, your upgrade will clear to the Standard Suite. If only the Junior Suite is available at T-5 and the Standard Suite becomes available at T-3, your upgrade to the Junior Suite will clear at T-5 and no further upgrades will be processed. For this reason, it's best to select all room types you'd be happy to be upgraded to.
2. You can modify your request to add/remove room types at any time until 2pm one day prior to arrival when the last SNA process runs. Some people prefer to only request the highest category upgrade initially and then add other room types last minute if that doesn't clear. However, you could be losing an upgrade to someone else with a broader initial request.
3. See above. Highest category available at the time the SNA process runs each day.
Dec 4, 2022, 9:49 am
#3948
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: California
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 8
1) My understanding is that the property management has no way to influence the SNA process/system (they do not approve/deny), also there is a SNA-applicable pool of rooms. So for example, your SNA could be denied but that doesn't mean that that specific room type isn't available.
2) When you finally get the "sorry.." message that it didn't clear, I think its too late to make any changes. You can make changes upto 2pm (property time) day before arrival.
3) I have wondered about the same question. I think the system automatically picks the highest category available. I think I've made the mistake of adjusting my SNA request too many times - I have a feeling it works like a queue and making any changes bumps your request to the back.
Overall, I've had pretty decent luck with SNA's in US and Asia (I think at least 5 successes out of 6 attempts)
2) When you finally get the "sorry.." message that it didn't clear, I think its too late to make any changes. You can make changes upto 2pm (property time) day before arrival.
3) I have wondered about the same question. I think the system automatically picks the highest category available. I think I've made the mistake of adjusting my SNA request too many times - I have a feeling it works like a queue and making any changes bumps your request to the back.
Overall, I've had pretty decent luck with SNA's in US and Asia (I think at least 5 successes out of 6 attempts)
Dec 4, 2022, 10:54 am
#3949
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
There's a very good reason most of us recommend choosing the free night award over SNAs for 75 night choice benefit.
Dec 4, 2022, 10:57 am
#3950
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,771
I don't think anyone can realistically make predictions about SNA success, especially so far out. The process is 100% crapshoot in my experience. It's entirely possible StR Punta Mita will stop participating in the SNA program, or pull all of the decent rooms from the SNA pool.
There's a very good reason most of us recommend choosing the free night award over SNAs for 75 night choice benefit.
There's a very good reason most of us recommend choosing the free night award over SNAs for 75 night choice benefit.
Dec 4, 2022, 10:59 am
#3951
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,315
I don't think anyone can realistically make predictions about SNA success, especially so far out. The process is 100% crapshoot in my experience. It's entirely possible StR Punta Mita will stop participating in the SNA program, or pull all of the decent rooms from the SNA pool.
There's a very good reason most of us recommend choosing the free night award over SNAs for 75 night choice benefit.
There's a very good reason most of us recommend choosing the free night award over SNAs for 75 night choice benefit.
Dec 4, 2022, 11:19 am
#3952
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,771
Dec 7, 2022, 7:32 pm
#3953
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,721
It does not appear my SNA will clear next week as it looks like all of the suites are sold out. 
Query: Is it possible to request a SNA for fewer than 5 nights (on a 5-night stay) and then do a room switch? I would imagine this is disfavored at most properties, if it is even permitted.
Oh well, next year maybe select a different perk.
Query: Is it possible to request a SNA for fewer than 5 nights (on a 5-night stay) and then do a room switch? I would imagine this is disfavored at most properties, if it is even permitted.
Oh well, next year maybe select a different perk.
Dec 7, 2022, 7:46 pm
#3954
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 1,232
It does not appear my SNA will clear next week as it looks like all of the suites are sold out.
Query: Is it possible to request a SNA for fewer than 5 nights (on a 5-night stay) and then do a room switch? I would imagine this is disfavored at most properties, if it is even permitted.
Oh well, next year maybe select a different perk.
Query: Is it possible to request a SNA for fewer than 5 nights (on a 5-night stay) and then do a room switch? I would imagine this is disfavored at most properties, if it is even permitted.
Oh well, next year maybe select a different perk.
Dec 7, 2022, 10:43 pm
#3955
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
You can't tell from published inventory. Many reports of clearing SNA when hotel showed no suite inventory. I've had this happen at least twice the past year or so (Clancy SF and RI Wailea).
Dec 11, 2022, 1:40 pm
#3956
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 371
Has anyone had luck with getting SNA's extended? Does status help?
Dec 12, 2022, 12:46 pm
#3959
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,198
Well looks like I'll have 4-5 SNAs expiring at the end of the year due to multiple hotels I've stay at either not accepting them at all, or not processing correctly and never confirming or denying the upgrade.
Dec 13, 2022, 9:32 am
#3960
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Delta Skymiles Platinum
Posts: 650
I am 2 for 4 on SNA requests this fall.
Successful
Sheraton Ann Arbor - 2 nights, upgraded from standard room to a studio suite.
Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center - upgraded from standard room to a 1 bedroom suite with a huge living room.
Unsuccessful
Renaissance Charleston Historic District
Residence Inn Daytona Beach Oceanfront
I was able to use all of my SNA's that were due to expire in 2022. We will see about 2023; right now I have 7 due to expire 12/21/23.
I still think this the worst program ever!!!
Successful
Sheraton Ann Arbor - 2 nights, upgraded from standard room to a studio suite.
Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center - upgraded from standard room to a 1 bedroom suite with a huge living room.
Unsuccessful
Renaissance Charleston Historic District
Residence Inn Daytona Beach Oceanfront
I was able to use all of my SNA's that were due to expire in 2022. We will see about 2023; right now I have 7 due to expire 12/21/23.
I still think this the worst program ever!!!