RogerD408

Marriott's way of being a "me too" operation, they say no blackout dates but define that as a property only needs to offer one room for points to check the box. It does not mean no blackout for the day you actually want to book a stay. Just like they call being able to split a single reservation between cash and points being a Cash & Points booking that every other chain means each night uses both components.

bgriff

More coverage of this issue:
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-blackout-dates/

ac/elite

I'm running into this problem with a Luxury Collection property which, under section 3.2.n of the terms and conditions of the Bonvoy program, has no right to hold back standard rooms from point redemption. I'm looking at a 5 night award. The lowest room category is available for sale for all 5 nights, but it is only offering it available on points for the last 3 nights. It wants $499 for the first two nights for that room. My ambassador is on medical leave and of course they haven't bothered to assign a replacement. So, I called the general ambassador line 24 hours ago. That ambassador tried to contact the hotel, but they told him that the revenue manager was busy and would get back to him. He told me he'd call me back. He didn't. So I tried calling the ambassador line again just now and the ambassador I talked to this time tried calling the hotel and was told that there were no managers on duty. She looked in the notes and they show that the first ambassador is still waiting to hear back from the hotel. So, it seems pretty obvious that the hotel is avoiding speaking to them. I'm a Lifetime Titanium Elite and I'm so frustrated with this new program I'm just about ready to throw in the towel and just move my business elsewhere.

Flying for Fun

I was having a similar issue looking for a redemption for a property in Puerto Vallarta last weekend. Rates were unusually very high. I did not realize I was arriving on a Saturday of a Mexican statutory holiday long weekend. After several attempts, I was able to book the Category 4, 25K Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Centre for the Saturday night with a ridiculous $960/nt cash rate. I stayed 2 additional nights at $151/nt.



James

Cathay Dragon 666

Well, I ranked up 750,000 points trying to save up for a great family vacation, but now I guess nada....

ac/elite

Just an update on this. The initial ambassador I spoke to eventually did call me back and he was actually very helpful and seemed to try his best. He spoke to management at the hotel and pointed out that they were not permitted to withhold standard rooms from the reward pool under section 3.2.n, but it seems that they didn't care and did not agree to make rooms available. That ambassador has now elevated this issue to a special ambassador desk that handles problems. I'm told that I'll hear back from them within 72 hours. Since the hotel is flagrantly ignoring the terms of Bonvoy and have been given and declined the opportunity to abide by the rules, I see no reason to protect their identity any longer. The hotel in question is The Gwen in Chicago, a member of the Luxury Collection.

Cathay Dragon 666

Wow, this is exactly how management answered me when I cited 3.2.n (was told I don't care, complain to Bonvoy about me, and hung up), I guess I'm *glad* to know hotels feels Bonvoy is toothless to do anything about it that they told Bonvoy Ambassador to go away.

This is something I fear when the merger happens. Points are not only devalued (as if this is not bad enough already), but worthless as you can't meaningfully spend it.

beachfan

This has been the case with Marriott for years and years. It's not a violation of the rules, and in fact, it's just like airline awards.

That doesn't mean I like it, and it's why I'm at Hyatt these days. I jumped ship when the merger was announced since I knew that Marriott standards would replace SPG standards, and I knew well what those standards meant (although the Customer Service is exponentially worse than before).

ac/elite

beachfan

boolean64

Actually, the terms say the following:

"i. Participating Properties from the following Brands may limit the number of standard rooms available for redemption on a limited number of days: The Ritz-Carlton®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, SpringHill Suites®, Protea Hotels®, Fairfield by Marriott®, AC Hotels®, Moxy® Hotels, Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®"

By suggesting that only the brands listed above may limit the number of standard rooms available for redemption would necessarily suggest that brands not listed above (i.e. the legacy SPG brands) may not limit the number of standard rooms available for redemption. If all brands could deploy capacity controls, then the clause above would not be necessary, right?

Oh and for the record, "was never the Marriott rule" is also not true. The initial combined T&Cs from August 18th 2018 did in fact adopt the SPG policy on capacity controls (or lack thereof) for all of Marriott. The FAQs were also quite clear on this "if a room is standard room is available for cash, it is available for points." The Marriott hotel owners pitched a fit and as a result the clause above was inserted into 3.2.n to return Marriott brands to the pre-merger capacity control language.

Kacee

You're not reading very carefully. The SPG brands are subject to a different rule than the Marriott brands.

beachfan

One might infer that, but it doesn't say that. I would argue that the explicit limitation isn't needed, (the alternative you point out). I'd also argure that if they wanted SPG to have the same policy as they used to have, they would have used the same wording for SPG that they used to have.

FAQs that have been withdrawn are of historical interest, but don't mean anything now. I do agree that there were FAQs, clarifications of policy to bloggers, etc., that would lead folks to think otherwise about policy between August 2018 and Jan 2019, but all went out the window with the Dec 2018 change. That was a real change in the discussion of what a blackout date is, beyond the insertion of the limitations.

From https://thepointsguy.com/guide/marri...icy-worthless/

Prior to Dec 2018
Blackout dates refer to a limited number of dates when a Participating Property could choose not to permit Members to redeem Points for Awards, but the Company has a “No Blackout Dates” benefit so that if there is a standard room available for booking by any means, whether by cash, credit or Points, then a Member can reserve the room using Points. The following properties either do not participate in or do not fully participate in the No Blackout Dates benefit at this time:

After Dec 2018
The Company has a “No Blackout Dates” policy, which means that, subject to the limitations and exclusions below, Participating Properties have standard rooms available every day for Award Redemptions. These limitations and exclusions are: .....(see post 86).

I'll concede that the statement TPG got as clarification said no change to legacy SPG, but there is a clear change if you read the language before and after. As far as clarifications by Marriott, they have been BS-ing members since before they eliminated BOGO certs.

beachfan

Not in my reading, which is quite carefully done.

friscotrvlr

Looks like I got Bonvoyed! Been planning a big spring break vacation for the family for NEXT year. Got up this morning to book the room (first day it's available). Nope. No availability. Good thing I got Titanium status along with my Lifetime Platinum and generated all of those points in my account.

For the record, I attempted to book:
JW Marriott Marco Island
Westin Grand Cayman
Marriott Grand Cayman
Atlantis (any of them)
RC Amelia Island
RC Fort Lauderdale

No availability at any of those.