Expiry of certificate
 

This has probably been asked here before, so sorry about that.

I have a 7 night category 5 certificate expiring September 4th, 2019. My question is: does the stay have to be completed by this date or is it just about applying the voucher before?

For instance, could I make a booking for New Years next year using the certificate, as long as the booking is made before September?

This is accurate. Once you've received the air miles portion of the travel package, any changes to the hotel certificate turns the cert into a "partial." This designation should not impact your ability to book in any way (and if a rep says it does, HUCA. They don't know what they're talking about). Your "partial" cert is still good for 5 or 7 nights at the category level that it applies to.

Also, the point value assigned to the cert (ex. 135,000 for a partial OC8 or 105,000 for a NC5) just means that if YOU elect to cancel the certificate, that is the value you would be refunded in points (again, because they've already applied the remaining points toward the airline miles portion). That's the primary reason for calling it a "partial" cert--it's a way to let the Marriott reps know that they should not refund you the full purchase amount because you already received the airline miles portion of the package.

In the past, you just had to make the booking within that window. If the stay fell outside it, Marriott reps would simply adjust/extend the certificate to cover the stay (they usually said it was a one-time exception, but there were many DPs of people extended multiple times).

HOWEVER, if you've converted to a new certificate (and it sounds like you did, given the expiry date), word is that the new certs cannot be extended. Word from the Starwood Lurkers and the Community Managers on Marriott Insiders is that no extensions will be allowed, so that may not be an option any more. What I would suggest is that, in January, you make your NYE booking with a points advance reservation, then call Marriott to see if they will apply your cert to it. If they extend your expiry and attach it, you're golden. If not, plan on using it elsewhere before September 2019.

Hi, I am pretty new here. I have been lurking for quite sometime and did quite a bit of ready but there is still some questions left unanswered with partial 7n package.

I have a new cat 6 award that I try to attach to the reservation by phone. The rep said that she already attach and I couldn't see my 7n partial package on my account anymore but when I logged in to my profile I still get this message on my trip "Please remember to order e-certificates once you earn the required points. If you have not earned the required points 10 days prior to your reservation, customer support will contact you to discuss payment options."

Is it supposed to be like that or is there a way to find out whether the certificate is properly attach?

Thank you in advance!

I don't think that's correct. That sounds like she made the reservation as a points advance reservation, not a travel package. I would suggest calling to confirm.

However, these things do take time to process, so it's possible that it's just not showing online yet. I'd give it a day or two and then call back to confirm if it doesn't update.

For your information, my cert is attached properly, and the reservation says the following:

"This reservation has e-certificate(s).

Your Reward certificates will be sent to your hotel."

I have two questions.

1. For old TP certs a partial cert can be refunded with some modest amount of points. For instance, a partial 1-5 night can be refunded with 45K points. Since the new certs cannot be extended, can they be returned for 45K points (NC4)?

2.Last time I wanted to use NC4 for a 5 night stay, but the M agent said she must find a 7 night period of award availability. Fortunately, I was able to make a 7 night reservation. This seems to be a very unreasonable restriction for the use of the 7 night TP. For future planning, I wonder if I can ask the old 7 night certs be changed to new 5 night certs? Most of my need is 5 or less nights. I rather pay the extra one or two nights if I need more with cash, than facing the possibility that I cannot use the TP because a consecutive 7 nights points stay is not available.

1) Technically yes, whether you can find an agent willing to do it is the question. Give it a try and be prepared to call back a few times.

2) I have heard of people attaching 7 night certs to less than 7 night reservations. I would suggest instead of doing this all in one call, first make a points advance reservation for the number of days you want, then call back and ask to attach your certificate to the reservation (not mentioning the stay length). You can always ask but I would guess changing a 7 night cert to a 5 night is going to be a no-go, definitely not if you are not a Marriott Timeshare owner.

Definitely call back or send a request via email. I was in the same boat where it did not show as being attached and reps kept telling me it was attached until I finally got someone with real knowledge. I believe you will also see the point value of the stay decrease down to the value of your card and then it will also say that it's attached. I eventually gave up on the reps and sent in a support request to see what would happen because the agents seemed incompetent and my hotel kept saying there was no cert attached. It took Marriott 3 weeks to respond to my email but my reservation was updated (dropped down from 105k to 45k points) and shows certificate attached.

3 times called and wouldn't allow me to upgrade to category 6 from 5. What's the point differential from new category 5 to 6.

I think I am trying/hoping to do the same. I have an old category 9 certificate which i want to use at St. Regis Bahia (Category 7). Is the only way to do this (other than system error in my favor at some point) trying to get a rep to "upgrade" OC9 to NC7? If so - what is supposedly the incremental point requirement?

90k points.

Under the new T&C you are not allowed to upgrade. Having said this, you can HUCA until you find an agent able to do it. It took me around 10 calls.

If it were possible I compute it as 150k points. OC9 -> OC Tier 4-5 difference is 150k.

According to this, new certs cannot be refunded with any points:

T&C:
3.14.c. Once a Travel Package is processed:
i. airline Miles cannot be transferred back to the Membership Account; and
ii. the hotel award portion of the Travel Package is non-refundable to the Member if cancelled or not used.

People have done it. It is possible if you find an agent willing to do it. You may have more success by pointing out the cert was converted from an old cert which was allowed to be refunded. YMMV.