Peak and off peak Awards (General Discussion)
#151
Join Date: May 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PLT, Marriott LTP
Posts: 493
Effect of Peak/Non Peak chart on existing reservations
While the other thread(s) are debating the pros and cons of the new award chart, I was looking for what happens to existing reservations made with points and certificates.
I called the guest services line, where the gentleman had to put me on hold for many minutes while he checked.
Bottom line is they say they're grandfathering in any reservation made prior to Sept 14. I wish they would have made this clear when they announced but my guess is they don't want to initiate a bookings rush.
However, if you make any change to the reservation after the 14th, you go by the new chart.
Also, if you book using points and after the 14th and your hotel slots into the Peak time, again you won't have to pay more. But if it falls into Off Peak, my way of thinking is, you can cancel and re-book at the lower rate (compare to today's standard rates). The agent agreed with this.
I called the guest services line, where the gentleman had to put me on hold for many minutes while he checked.
Bottom line is they say they're grandfathering in any reservation made prior to Sept 14. I wish they would have made this clear when they announced but my guess is they don't want to initiate a bookings rush.
However, if you make any change to the reservation after the 14th, you go by the new chart.
Also, if you book using points and after the 14th and your hotel slots into the Peak time, again you won't have to pay more. But if it falls into Off Peak, my way of thinking is, you can cancel and re-book at the lower rate (compare to today's standard rates). The agent agreed with this.
#152
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,778
I guess for ex SPGers, the point were getting revalued (can redeem on those highest category ex SPG hotels with less point than SPG era) then got devalued a bit with the introduction of these peak and off peak rate
While ex Marriott, they got their point devalued as previously their Marriott category is quite closely match current categories.
I can guess after 14 September, those popular hotels is big cities will have more peak rate available.
While ex Marriott, they got their point devalued as previously their Marriott category is quite closely match current categories.
I can guess after 14 September, those popular hotels is big cities will have more peak rate available.
#153
This is no point keep bringing up the SPG or the old Marriott any more. They are long gone. We just have to compare different hotel programs and decide what to do the next.
#154
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: BOS
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, IHG Platinum, WoH Explorist
Posts: 204
Not only this, but they've designed the program such that the value is at the high and low ends, with the middle often being the worst value of all.
I'd also suggest that there are a *lot* of Bonvoy Cat 6's now that wouldn't have been worthy of anything above a SPG Cat 3 or maybe a 4 on a good day. There are a lot of rather run-of-the-mill 6's out there now.
Former Starwood 5's and up were nearly always excellent hotels. Occasional dud in a high-cost city but not as many as there are boring/bland Bonvoy 6's.
I'd also suggest that there are a *lot* of Bonvoy Cat 6's now that wouldn't have been worthy of anything above a SPG Cat 3 or maybe a 4 on a good day. There are a lot of rather run-of-the-mill 6's out there now.
Former Starwood 5's and up were nearly always excellent hotels. Occasional dud in a high-cost city but not as many as there are boring/bland Bonvoy 6's.
Seeing those Cat 6 going peak pricing is just insane
#155
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The Airport
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 183
I had been contemplating moving to Hyatt, this just confirms it for me. Bonvoy Marriott.
#156
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 45
While the other thread(s) are debating the pros and cons of the new award chart, I was looking for what happens to existing reservations made with points and certificates.
I called the guest services line, where the gentleman had to put me on hold for many minutes while he checked.
Bottom line is they say they're grandfathering in any reservation made prior to Sept 14. I wish they would have made this clear when they announced but my guess is they don't want to initiate a bookings rush.
However, if you make any change to the reservation after the 14th, you go by the new chart.
Also, if you book using points and after the 14th and your hotel slots into the Peak time, again you won't have to pay more. But if it falls into Off Peak, my way of thinking is, you can cancel and re-book at the lower rate (compare to today's standard rates). The agent agreed with this.
I called the guest services line, where the gentleman had to put me on hold for many minutes while he checked.
Bottom line is they say they're grandfathering in any reservation made prior to Sept 14. I wish they would have made this clear when they announced but my guess is they don't want to initiate a bookings rush.
However, if you make any change to the reservation after the 14th, you go by the new chart.
Also, if you book using points and after the 14th and your hotel slots into the Peak time, again you won't have to pay more. But if it falls into Off Peak, my way of thinking is, you can cancel and re-book at the lower rate (compare to today's standard rates). The agent agreed with this.
To be grandfathered in for the existing reservation, do you need to have the certificates issued prior to 9/14? Or I can still wait until a week prior to arrival to redeem the certificates?
also, canceling and rebooking in the event of lower rate after 9/14, I believe the room doesnt always return to award night inventory, right?
also, canceling and rebooking in the event of lower rate after 9/14, I believe the room doesnt always return to award night inventory, right?
#157
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,023
When will these peak dates be released? Before Sept 14th or after
#158
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,902
To be grandfathered in for the existing reservation, do you need to have the certificates issued prior to 9/14? Or I can still wait until a week prior to arrival to redeem the certificates?
also, canceling and rebooking in the event of lower rate after 9/14, I believe the room doesnt always return to award night inventory, right?
also, canceling and rebooking in the event of lower rate after 9/14, I believe the room doesnt always return to award night inventory, right?
#159
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 102
So many average hotels in an major city in America were made Cat 5's after it was all said and done. Really frustrating that if Marriott deems some time "peak", I won't be able to use my Cat 5 certificate anymore. I get 3 35k and 1 25k cert a year so this feels like a pretty decent hit to their usability. I will strongly consider closing at least one of the Amex cards and opening up a different co-branded card because of this.
For those abandoning Marriott over all the changes entirely, I just wonder where they are going to go. I rarely have a "not bad" experience at a Hilton property and Hyatt while great has a pretty limited footprint if you want to stay outside of a major city or tourist destination. Feels like it's Marriott or Marriott.
For those abandoning Marriott over all the changes entirely, I just wonder where they are going to go. I rarely have a "not bad" experience at a Hilton property and Hyatt while great has a pretty limited footprint if you want to stay outside of a major city or tourist destination. Feels like it's Marriott or Marriott.
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,165
Depends on travel patterns - I also heard the "Starwood has such a small footprint!" argument for years, even as I racked up 800 nights over 8 years all over the US/Globe.
If Starwood worked for one, Hyatt likely will too.
If Starwood worked for one, Hyatt likely will too.
#161
Marriott will just continue to gut its loyalty program and drive away members. It may not see any material changes over the next year or so since we'll just continue to clean up our point account. But in these days, there is no firm blind "loyalty" with any program. People just flee to the program(s) that offer the best value to the members. This is just sad....
#162
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,778
Honestly, having "blind" loyalty to any company is quite silly.
Company exist to make money.
And customer job is to find the best product for their purposes and money.
If the company no longer provide those to customer, then customer should find other company that suit their interest better.
Company exist to make money.
And customer job is to find the best product for their purposes and money.
If the company no longer provide those to customer, then customer should find other company that suit their interest better.
#163
Well, it appears to me Marriott is just too big and it is not easy to make any change. And all the changes have not been well thought of and they only make the changes without thinking all the impacts from the changes. Marriott just thinks "I make the change and members will just follow my change". This is just not true.
#164
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Hyatts smaller footprint now is still even smaller than SPGs was before the merger. Geographically, Hyatt just doesnt cover nearly as much nor have as many luxury to premium options where they even do have coverage. Its an awfully large number of Hyatt House and Hyatt Place properties to make you think their coverage is better than it really is.
If that works for people, then I wish them well. But I know a fairly significant proportion of even Hyatt elites who still have to stay plenty at Marriott or other chains.
#165
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Marriott didn’t make any big changes this week other than to restrict the points advance bookings—which is a good thing for most Marriott elites—and to announce the start of what already had been announced almost 18 months ago with peak and non peak awards.
The minor change to 5th night free awards was an obvious correction necessary for the new peak and non peak award rates.
Characterizing these as big changes when they were announced so long ago seems pretty curious and downright funny to me.
Sorry, but all of this has been considered and discussed—over a year ago. The points advance restrictions are new, indeed...but that isn’t what is causing this stir. There’s another thread to discuss those changes, of course.
The frenzy now about peak and non peak is unnecessary and more about discomfort with change than anything to do with the specific changes.
Some people just cant accept change. Or blow it out of proportion.
The illustrious SPG program that everyone loved and thought was the best in the hotel loyalty market: it had peak and standard awards.
A lot of noise around the fringes, indeed.
The minor change to 5th night free awards was an obvious correction necessary for the new peak and non peak award rates.
Characterizing these as big changes when they were announced so long ago seems pretty curious and downright funny to me.
Sorry, but all of this has been considered and discussed—over a year ago. The points advance restrictions are new, indeed...but that isn’t what is causing this stir. There’s another thread to discuss those changes, of course.
The frenzy now about peak and non peak is unnecessary and more about discomfort with change than anything to do with the specific changes.
Some people just cant accept change. Or blow it out of proportion.
The illustrious SPG program that everyone loved and thought was the best in the hotel loyalty market: it had peak and standard awards.
A lot of noise around the fringes, indeed.