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*]
Apr 23, 2019, 5:55 am
#76
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
I use points advance once/year. I know the date/property every year. I always have the points by the time of the reservation, but because it's a popular property I often have to book almost a year out & points advance has allowed me to do that. If I had to wait to get the points required, odds are I wouldn't be able to stay at the property. Points advance was/is a huge MAR bennie.
Of course, the other argument to be made is that allowing that inventory to go to people who have actually earned the needed points would be more beneficial to elites on the whole because properties would be less booked up with speculative reservations (possibly a partial root cause of why you're having to book a year out to begin with...).
Interesting observation...
May 10, 2019, 9:13 pm
#77
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
⚠️ It seems that Marriott also disabled access to the Points Advance feature if the intended stay starts in 30 days or less! The only option offered in that case is to purchase points 
May 10, 2019, 9:17 pm
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
Points Advance not available when booking stays that start within 30 days
It seems that Marriott also disabled access to the Points Advance feature if the intended stay starts in 30 days or less! The only option offered in that case is to purchase points
May 10, 2019, 9:48 pm
#79
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
Do you have proof that this is now a policy? Is this via the app or via the website (MAR IT sucks, but on certain things website better than app).
Did you try calling MAR CS & getting them to do points advance? Did they turn you down & tell you the 30 day clause? You do need to have them 1-2 weeks in advance btw.
Anyway, more information is needed than a(nother) blanket statement on something stating it as the truth. Not saying it is or isn't, but more than one data point is needed.
Please check w/ MAR on Monday.
Cheers.
Did you try calling MAR CS & getting them to do points advance? Did they turn you down & tell you the 30 day clause? You do need to have them 1-2 weeks in advance btw.
Anyway, more information is needed than a(nother) blanket statement on something stating it as the truth. Not saying it is or isn't, but more than one data point is needed.
Please check w/ MAR on Monday.
Cheers.
May 10, 2019, 11:39 pm
#82
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
May 11, 2019, 10:15 am
#83
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest
Posts: 45
Sorry if this as been asked and answered multiple times. If it was I couldn't find it (or didn't understand). Mine is a points advance and Chase/Amex Free night problem.
In January I made a points advance reservation (35,000 points hotel) intending to use a free night once it had been earned. Free night has now been earned but hotel is now 50,000 points. When I couldn't apply the free night certificate online, I called customer service. I explained the situation, was on hold while she talked to supervisor and was eventually told the credit card free night could not be added b/c of the points changed. I was told that I could pay with points and they would add the extra 15,000 points to make it work but that couldn't be done with the Chase/Amex free night. What can/should I do:
1/ HUCA. I tried once but was cut-off while on hold.
2/ Wait to see if Marriott solves this problem. I have a bit of time since the reservation isn't until September, but that could mean losing other ways to use the night if I wait.
3/Give up. Move one. I've been Bonvoyed!
In January I made a points advance reservation (35,000 points hotel) intending to use a free night once it had been earned. Free night has now been earned but hotel is now 50,000 points. When I couldn't apply the free night certificate online, I called customer service. I explained the situation, was on hold while she talked to supervisor and was eventually told the credit card free night could not be added b/c of the points changed. I was told that I could pay with points and they would add the extra 15,000 points to make it work but that couldn't be done with the Chase/Amex free night. What can/should I do:
1/ HUCA. I tried once but was cut-off while on hold.
2/ Wait to see if Marriott solves this problem. I have a bit of time since the reservation isn't until September, but that could mean losing other ways to use the night if I wait.
3/Give up. Move one. I've been Bonvoyed!
May 11, 2019, 10:36 am
#84
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,832
Sorry if this as been asked and answered multiple times. If it was I couldn't find it (or didn't understand). Mine is a points advance and Chase/Amex Free night problem.
In January I made a points advance reservation (35,000 points hotel) intending to use a free night once it had been earned. Free night has now been earned but hotel is now 50,000 points. When I couldn't apply the free night certificate online, I called customer service. I explained the situation, was on hold while she talked to supervisor and was eventually told the credit card free night could not be added b/c of the points changed. I was told that I could pay with points and they would add the extra 15,000 points to make it work but that couldn't be done with the Chase/Amex free night. What can/should I do:
1/ HUCA. I tried once but was cut-off while on hold.
2/ Wait to see if Marriott solves this problem. I have a bit of time since the reservation isn't until September, but that could mean losing other ways to use the night if I wait.
3/Give up. Move one. I've been Bonvoyed!
In January I made a points advance reservation (35,000 points hotel) intending to use a free night once it had been earned. Free night has now been earned but hotel is now 50,000 points. When I couldn't apply the free night certificate online, I called customer service. I explained the situation, was on hold while she talked to supervisor and was eventually told the credit card free night could not be added b/c of the points changed. I was told that I could pay with points and they would add the extra 15,000 points to make it work but that couldn't be done with the Chase/Amex free night. What can/should I do:
1/ HUCA. I tried once but was cut-off while on hold.
2/ Wait to see if Marriott solves this problem. I have a bit of time since the reservation isn't until September, but that could mean losing other ways to use the night if I wait.
3/Give up. Move one. I've been Bonvoyed!
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31064193-post142.html
May 11, 2019, 10:50 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,481
May 12, 2019, 7:46 pm
#86
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
It seems like either way, you either end up paying the points for the stay, or getting the points refunded when you cancel.
(Obviously there's a utility in being able to have more reservations than points, but you appear to still be able to do that.)
May 16, 2019, 11:54 pm
#87
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
How long does it take for purchased points to appear in your account? It's been 2+ days since I did the purchase but still not in my Marriott account.
May 17, 2019, 9:23 am
#88
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Italy
Programs: Accor Gold, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond , Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,484
Are the points in advance always taken automatically following chronological order of the reservations?
If I have a reservation on Dec 2019 and I do another one for Apr 2020, will I be sure that points for December booking will be taken first ?
If I have a reservation on Dec 2019 and I do another one for Apr 2020, will I be sure that points for December booking will be taken first ?
May 21, 2019, 8:50 pm
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
Do you have proof that this is now a policy? Is this via the app or via the website (MAR IT sucks, but on certain things website better than app).
Did you try calling MAR CS & getting them to do points advance? Did they turn you down & tell you the 30 day clause? You do need to have them 1-2 weeks in advance btw.
Anyway, more information is needed than a(nother) blanket statement on something stating it as the truth. Not saying it is or isn't, but more than one data point is needed.
Please check w/ MAR on Monday.
Cheers.
Did you try calling MAR CS & getting them to do points advance? Did they turn you down & tell you the 30 day clause? You do need to have them 1-2 weeks in advance btw.
Anyway, more information is needed than a(nother) blanket statement on something stating it as the truth. Not saying it is or isn't, but more than one data point is needed.
Please check w/ MAR on Monday.
Cheers.
Originally Posted by https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-makes-changes-to-points-advance-policy-no-longer-possible-if-you-have-enough-points/
In addition Points Advance will only show as an option if your booking is more than 30 days out.
Jun 2, 2019, 7:28 am
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,481
Another episode of never ending saga regarding Point Advance reservations. I was refused redemption for PA reservation at Cat 7 rate. Phone agent claimed that i need to redeem at current Cat 8 level while my Ambassador said she needs to send it to research to determine how many points I need. 
EDIT: Third time's a charm. Called general Ambassador line again and agent processed it within minutes. I suppose we just need to keep calling until we find someone who is knowledge and helpful.
EDIT: Third time's a charm. Called general Ambassador line again and agent processed it within minutes. I suppose we just need to keep calling until we find someone who is knowledge and helpful.
Last edited by TerryK; Jun 2, 2019 at 11:42 am