Cash + Points General Discussion Thread
#61
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
I’ve often wondered whether there were issues like this going on. Economically it makes no sense that Marriott hotels are now treating elites as less attractive now that the programme is costing them less money. With so many hotels, the network economics should be the main thing driving hotel behaviours: these public complaints about Marriott elites and anecdotal suggestions that elites are seen as a pain suggests there are some hidden economics at play beyond the headline.
#63
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
I’ve often wondered whether there were issues like this going on. Economically it makes no sense that Marriott hotels are now treating elites as less attractive now that the programme is costing them less money. With so many hotels, the network economics should be the main thing driving hotel behaviours: these public complaints about Marriott elites and anecdotal suggestions that elites are seen as a pain suggests there are some hidden economics at play beyond the headline.
They weren't mad at the elite, since MARSHA sold the elite a room. They were more pissed off at the MARSHA system for selling a room that wasn't available & then to do it at a cheap rate. They weren't going to walk the Titanium, so they walked the Expedia guest. In this case, the Expedia guest's rate was substantially higher than the elite's C&P rate, so they lost $$ when they had to walk the Expedia guest to a different property because the other property's rate was even higher than my friend's property & they had to pay that.
My friend's property gets a lot of elite business travelers & he said, while there are a few DYKWIA types, overall they really like the elites & recognize the loyalty to MAR, really try to upgrade them & provide other free items to the elites.
He said that MARSHA selling rooms they don't have has been an issue for a long time, they complain to MAR & nothing gets done, so there are times they end up losing $$. My interpretation of that is they're just as unhappy w/ MAR IT as we are!
Cheers.
#64
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lafayette, LA
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, BA Gold, UA Gold MM, DL SM MM, Hyatt Glob, HH Diam, Marriott Ti/LT Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 274
I just searched for Marriott Osaka for a random date in September, and sure enough C+P was an option. First time I've seen this option since the merger. It's great to know that C+P will really show up when it's available, i.e. that this is not about my browser or some other technical problem. But I've booked at least 30 stays since last August, which means I've looked at over 100 hotels for various dates between late 2018 and early 2020, and I've never once been presented with the C+P option despite almost always looking for it. Maybe this makes sense economically to Marriott and/or to the individual hotels. But the practical effect in my case is that when the rates are too high I generally choose a non-Marriott hotel. Hyatt has recently changed its C+P schedule in a way that makes it far less attractive, but Hilton's C+P still works pretty well for me.
#66
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA CK, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Platinum
Posts: 82
Thanks Mr. Dang!
Thank you, Sir! I had scoured the internet to find the answer to this very question, and you have given me confidence!
Well, I tried asking Marriott and this is what they responded.
Since I didn't get a response to my question and maybe someone else has the same one, I just got back from booking 2 cash night + 2 award nights on the same reservation and did indeed get points for the cash nights. I only use my points when its is more than 1 cpp or if I stay 5 nights.
900 CNY (~134 USD)
900 CNY (~134 USD)
Award Night (1200 CNY: ~178 USD ) 17.5k Points
Award Night (1200 CNY: ~178 USD) 17.5k Points
Got about 2900 base points + 2100 Elite points + 3900 Extra for promotion
Since I didn't get a response to my question and maybe someone else has the same one, I just got back from booking 2 cash night + 2 award nights on the same reservation and did indeed get points for the cash nights. I only use my points when its is more than 1 cpp or if I stay 5 nights.
900 CNY (~134 USD)
900 CNY (~134 USD)
Award Night (1200 CNY: ~178 USD ) 17.5k Points
Award Night (1200 CNY: ~178 USD) 17.5k Points
Got about 2900 base points + 2100 Elite points + 3900 Extra for promotion
#67
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
I love some of the deals. San Francisco Marriott Marquis for late December.
Member rate $166
AAA/CAA rate $128
Points rate 35,000 (low season, point saver)
C+P rate $190 + 19,000 points
Who do they think they're kidding?
Member rate $166
AAA/CAA rate $128
Points rate 35,000 (low season, point saver)
C+P rate $190 + 19,000 points
Who do they think they're kidding?
#68
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite, United Premier Silver, National Executive Elite
Posts: 151
If you have a free night certificate, can you apply it to a Cash + Points rate? For example, I'm eying up a hotel this coming July and it's 150 euros plus 60,000 points. My thinking is maybe I can use a 50,000 night certificate, 10,000 top-up (when that becomes available) plus the 150 euros but is that something that's normally allowed?
#69
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
If you have a free night certificate, can you apply it to a Cash + Points rate? For example, I'm eying up a hotel this coming July and it's 150 euros plus 60,000 points. My thinking is maybe I can use a 50,000 night certificate, 10,000 top-up (when that becomes available) plus the 150 euros but is that something that's normally allowed?
#70
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YXU / YUL
Programs: AA LT Gold, Aeroplan, Marriott Titanium (LT Platinum), HH Diamond
Posts: 407
Does anyone know if you should earn points for the cash nights on a "customize payment" reservation? Or is the whole reservation considered an award?
#72
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YXU / YUL
Programs: AA LT Gold, Aeroplan, Marriott Titanium (LT Platinum), HH Diamond
Posts: 407
Thanks ntamayo. I had a recent cash and points stay and had only received the amenity points, so I wasn't sure. I finally got the points for the cash night after submitting a missing stay request.
#73
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,384
Just checking if anyone has any objections to this plan:
Day 1 - free night cert.
Day 2-6 - points (5 nights, 1 night free).
Day 7 - free night cert.
Day 8 - cash.
I have two free night certs
Day 1 and 7 cost the most in points, and Marriott's system auto selected them for the free night cert
Days 2-6, roughly the same points (Marriott gave the cheapest night for the 5tg night free)
Day 8 cash rate cheaper than points
Book one reservation day1-7, Marriott system auto selected 1+7 using free night
Book day 8 (cash) separately instead of using cash+pts, so that there's no ambiguity on whether I earn points for this cash stay
Day 1 - free night cert.
Day 2-6 - points (5 nights, 1 night free).
Day 7 - free night cert.
Day 8 - cash.
I have two free night certs
Day 1 and 7 cost the most in points, and Marriott's system auto selected them for the free night cert
Days 2-6, roughly the same points (Marriott gave the cheapest night for the 5tg night free)
Day 8 cash rate cheaper than points
Book one reservation day1-7, Marriott system auto selected 1+7 using free night
Book day 8 (cash) separately instead of using cash+pts, so that there's no ambiguity on whether I earn points for this cash stay
Last edited by paperwastage; Aug 28, 2023 at 3:29 am