No matter how strong the argument is, I would not pin my hope on the ability to extend the NC for another 12-month to Aug-2021. I'd recommend folks to use the NC on the very next opportunity. The OC/NC has been a huge liability for Marriott and Marriott has started to tighten the rules a while ago. The recent DPs clearly show this trend. Do not use the old DPs to convince other FTers here. They may not apply.

Even info from most of the bloggers is old, mostly from late last year.

Also, Marriott will continue to make the yearly category changes and take away the value from the most popular properties. It is a losing cause to keep holding those TPs. You get value of using it, not by holding it.

Since we could change categories and extend certificates one or more years after each change, I never had a problem using every night of the hotel awards. Even without that flexibility, just staying two nights at an old Cat 5 was better than getting 45K back with a cancellation. With some of the higher category awards, the breakeven point is high enough that I could see where the ability to cancel might be of value to some.

I doubt I will be planning many 7-night Marriott stays once my last two packages are used.

the 7-night TPs are very inflexible. For personal use, the only feasible places are the resorts and large cities, where you can relax and roam the city streets. But those properties were hardest hit with Marriott category changes. The only value left is the overseas property. But you'll have to spend more $$ and time to fly there. That is great to do, but a lot people can't do.

This is why some TP holders continue to hold those TPs and hope to use them some day. But not many people want to take their families to a low level hotel in the middle of nowhere for 7 consecutive nights.

Tried to convert my old TP to the new Cat 5 one. The UK agent said it is not allowed and converted it to a Cat 1-4 TP.

I have no use for it and will most probably use it to accrue 7 elite nights to help keep my status either for this year or next year.

It's great to see you Lurkers clarification, especially after William's retirement.

Ugh, I called into get an OC8 950T converted to an NC5 + 30k points. The agent, after putting me on hold, gave me an NC5 but denied 30k points repeatedly, then said bye and hung up on me.

Same here!! The cert was set to expire tomorrow, so extending it for a year is a (partial) win!

There is a chart that agents are supposed to follow. They have no say in the points you get for cancelling your old cert, only ordering the new one. Since they did not follow procedure I would call back, ask for a supervisor, explain that the agent ordered you the wrong cert and make them fix it. Realizing that if they do cancel the improperly coded NC5 and replace with the one that costs the right amount and you get 30k back this may screw you over if in year from now you want to extend the new NC5 because they will tell you you have already extended it once (which was not an extension at all, it was the cancellation and reissue of your NC5) and will probably disallow you from extending it another year. If you definitely will use it within the next year call to get it fixed. If you want the opportunity to extend for an additional year you might be better off keeping the existing cert -- or not -- do you want to play Bonvoy Roulette?

Just got my last cert converted (OC7-NC5)
All went smoothly with UK line. Did not want to risk screw-up by US. Reckon I should be able to use it, though a couple of months extra expiration would make sure of that. Fingers crossed they allow some of these converted NC's to be extended. Guess we should start to see the first data points in the next month or so

The above #2198 is not true. Marriott has never given any "extension" to award night or TP. The only thing they do is to cancel the original one and re-issue a new one with 12-month expiration. Also, Marriott has never stated that they can cancel and re-issue for the 2nd 12-month expiration.

I would not take the risk and pray for another 12-month....

Definitely call back. IMO the best conversion was the OC9 to a NC6. Some have stated that the OC8 +30K to a NC6 and the OC6 +30K to a NC5 are permitted exceptions. Regardless of what the agent said, you should still get the 30K for the downward conversion, as skimthetrees has pointed out. If given the option, I rather pay the additional amount for the NC6.

By now anyone who follows this thread knows you would not take the risk. You have made it quite clear you are not a risk taker. You must realize that some are willing to try it and it has been confirmed that some have received "extensions" and were quite happy to get them. And yes, if you want to be pedantic, Marriott does not extend for 1 year, they cancel and reissue a new cert which has the effect of an extension. I think most folks here realize when we talk about an extension that is what we mean. How Marriott accomplishes it behind the scenes usually does not matter for practical purposes.

Then you just stop stating that Marriott would allow another your "extension". This is not true and never confirmed. If you want to take the risk, it is fine. But do not mis-state something that is not supported by recent DPs and avoided entirely by the "Lurker".

People have confirmed extending some NC certs so it has been confirmed. If you want to deny the evidence I guess you are free to do so. If you do not want to take a risk, fine, but attempting to scare everyone else from extending is fear mongering and not helpful. There are data points both ways. You taking no risk is fine but you jump on anyone who has a different viewpoint from you. Taking a risk is fine, especially when, as here, people have had success taking a risk. So long as people understand there is a downside and they know about it and are willing to accept that outcome if things do not go their way it is fine. Relax. Use one of your certs and take a vacation before you have to risk extending it.