Aug 15, 2019, 1:03 pm
Last edit by: RedSun
Effective 14 Sept 2019 from VFTW:
Points advance locks in the room not the rate.
Effective September 14 pricing that will apply to points advance bookings will be the current price at the time the member actually redeems points to cover the reservation. This will no longer be a way to lock in current pricing on the if-come. And with high season dates, which can change each month, the price of the room may vary up until the time of redemption.
Marriott tells me that for reservations made prior to September 14 they will honor up to 5 points advance bookings at the standard rate even if those reservations fall on a peak date.
Maximum of 3 Points Advance bookings at a time
Marriott will be updating their terms to limit members to three points advance bookings at a time. Expect to hear from Marriott if you make a bunch of points advance reservations.
Points advance locks in the room not the rate.
Effective September 14 pricing that will apply to points advance bookings will be the current price at the time the member actually redeems points to cover the reservation. This will no longer be a way to lock in current pricing on the if-come. And with high season dates, which can change each month, the price of the room may vary up until the time of redemption.
Marriott tells me that for reservations made prior to September 14 they will honor up to 5 points advance bookings at the standard rate even if those reservations fall on a peak date.
From Marriott email:
Starting September 14, You will be permitted a maximum of three Points Advance reservations at any time
Before September 14, please take the following steps to reduce your Points Advance reservations to adhere to the upcoming policy.
Cancel any remaining Points Advance reservations or convert them to a paid rate.
If you’re unable to complete this before September 14, we’ll contact you at the phone number listed in your account to help you resolve any excess reservations.
If you’re unable to complete this before September 14, we’ll contact you at the phone number listed in your account to help you resolve any excess reservations.
For Points Advance reservation(s) made before September 14 only: When you redeem, if any night has a Peak rate, call us and we’ll adjust the night to its Standard rate. If you need to change your reservation, you’ll receive the available redemption rate when you rebook
From Marriott Lurker: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31525589-post1.html
As a reminder, any reservations booked with points made prior to today will remain at the reserved Standard redemption rate. However, if you need to change that reservation, you may see a new redemption rate when you rebook. If the hotel you booked moves into Off-Peak, you can rebook at the new, lower redemption rate and then cancel the original reservation (standard cancellation time periods apply).
Maximum of 3 Points Advance bookings at a time
Marriott will be updating their terms to limit members to three points advance bookings at a time. Expect to hear from Marriott if you make a bunch of points advance reservations.
Point Advance Reservations [*to be discontinued 28 March 2023*]
Sep 18, 2019, 8:10 am
#151
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
Sep 18, 2019, 8:11 am
#152
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
Yeah but the number of points required may have gone up by 50%, if you're seeing off-peak rates you are probably better off locking them in anyway way you can.
Sep 18, 2019, 8:15 am
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Sep 18, 2019, 8:22 am
#154
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
No, the real rate can't be up by 50%. It has to stay within its own peak off-peak band. For Category 6, the band is 40,000 to 60,000. Marriott can't charge you 70,000 points or 35,000 for your wildest dream.
Sep 18, 2019, 8:25 am
#155
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
A 160k 5 night cat 6 reservation off peak reservation would change to 240k at peak, that’s a 50% increase.
Sep 18, 2019, 8:29 am
#156
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
The largest change is the Category 1, with both peak and off-peak change by 33%. In your logic, Marriott would increase/decrease price by 67%.
Sep 18, 2019, 8:43 am
#157
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
I’m talking about the potential change in out-of-pocket points. In cat 1 it’s 100% but I’ve never stayed at a cat 1. It’s entirely possible that you book an off peak PA award then some event or wedding gets booked and then only peak pricing is available?
Sep 18, 2019, 8:57 am
#158
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
Sep 19, 2019, 10:05 pm
#159
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
I have a PA reservation for a hotel at Taiwan at 25k points. I only have 20k points in my account now. Of course for the same night it's 30k peak rate.
Can I call in, purchase the missing 5k points and finalize at the currently reserved rate?
thanks
Can I call in, purchase the missing 5k points and finalize at the currently reserved rate?
thanks
Sep 19, 2019, 11:28 pm
#160
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
If you made reservation before 9/14, you should be able to. But purchase points online then call in, there is sale at the moment of $8.75 or something for 1000 points.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:56 pm
#161
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 20
He said he did find a KM 10759 that explains that for reservations made after September 14, Points Advance doesn't reserve the rate, just the room. When I pointed out that my reservation was made before September 14, it finally seemed to click in his head, and he went looking for further instruction. He eventually found KM 14275 which explains that the rates when booked are supposed to be honored for pre-9/14 reservations and explains how to do that.
Sep 21, 2019, 11:29 am
#162
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
Marriott tells me that for reservations made prior to September 14 they will honor up to 5 points advance bookings at the standard rate even if those reservations fall on a peak date.
Why aren't agents properly trained about ut ???
Sep 25, 2019, 6:24 pm
#163
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: Marriott
Posts: 1
Update on new point advance
I just emptied all my points to cover my future points advance reservation in April 2020 before September 14th. Now I am trying to do a one night reservation using point for one night and I can't! It seems that you can't do a point advance reservation under one month prior to your arrival.
This is definitely not a good way to treat your loyal customers. I am sure they will have quite few complaints about their new rules; at least I gave them my 2 cent.
The reason they gave is that peoples use to cancel due to lack of point.; I don’t see what is the difference when you can cancel a future pay reservation! Why would points have less values than our dollar?
I used to love the Marriot program!
This is definitely not a good way to treat your loyal customers. I am sure they will have quite few complaints about their new rules; at least I gave them my 2 cent.
The reason they gave is that peoples use to cancel due to lack of point.; I don’t see what is the difference when you can cancel a future pay reservation! Why would points have less values than our dollar?
I used to love the Marriot program!
Sep 26, 2019, 10:58 am
#164
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,548
So three phone calls later, I now have 50k extra points deposited into my account to make up for the difference in the points rate for my reservation. They're labeled as "Pre Exisiting Res Adj For Peak" in my account activity. And yet neither the phone agents nor me are able to actually redeem those points for a certificate to attach to the reservation. 
When I go into the reservation I see this:
Great! You’ve earned all the points you need.
Deduct your points now for your stay, or we’ll automatically take care of this for you 15 days prior to your arrival.
And then when I click in to deduct the points, I see this:
You are not eligible to purchase points for this reservation. View other rates to modify your stay or cancel your changes.
Any advice?
When I go into the reservation I see this:
Great! You’ve earned all the points you need.
Deduct your points now for your stay, or we’ll automatically take care of this for you 15 days prior to your arrival.
And then when I click in to deduct the points, I see this:
You are not eligible to purchase points for this reservation. View other rates to modify your stay or cancel your changes.
Any advice?
Oct 1, 2019, 3:04 am
#165
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: M&M FQT, BA G, Bonvoy LTT, WoH GLOB
Posts: 960
another Bonvoy Mess
It appears to me there is another major Bonvoy mess underway....I have several reservations, many redemptions, for an upcoming road trip in Spain. The points were always deducted at time of reservation (prior Sep 14) since I always had sufficient points in my account.
Now I can see in my account that points for several of these reservations have been deducted AGAIN, at the HIGHER rates (of course all dates are peak dates which is a complete joke in itself as it is off season).
the best part: the initial deductions have now VANISHED from my account, so the only proof I have is the confirmation emails.
I have requested a complete audit of my account. To make a mess of the program is one thing, to steal my points is another.
Now I can see in my account that points for several of these reservations have been deducted AGAIN, at the HIGHER rates (of course all dates are peak dates which is a complete joke in itself as it is off season).
the best part: the initial deductions have now VANISHED from my account, so the only proof I have is the confirmation emails.
I have requested a complete audit of my account. To make a mess of the program is one thing, to steal my points is another.