Feb 9, 2019, 3:52 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: swag

It's out now: https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change

PDF of properties sorted by brand: https://lacek.hs.llnwd.net/e2/marrio...ogram=marriott

Annual Award Category Changes - Effective March 5, 2019.

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Feb 16, 2019, 7:55 am

#121

hedoman

Join Date: Jul 2000

Location: Manhattan NV

Programs: Hilton LTD, Hyatt Glob, Marriott LTTE, AA LTP, Avis PC, National EE, Seabourn DE

Posts: 3,030

Quote:

Originally Posted by rny321

Although it isn't to my knowledge an advertised option, Hyatt has in the past offered 10K in points for an unused Cat 4 or 15K certificate.

Yes, in the distant past.

Feb 17, 2019, 3:54 pm

#122

rylan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2007

Location: BOS

Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC

Posts: 15,202

I'm to the point where I seriously hope that these changes, combined with over a year of a dysfunctional website and crap customer service, is going to substantially hurt Marriott's loyalty base and revenue.

UA-NYC and 3rdworldresident like this.

Feb 17, 2019, 3:55 pm

#123

rylan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2007

Location: BOS

Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC

Posts: 15,202

Just wait until the 'peak' levels come out and it ends up being half the year for many hotels... meaning significant increases on top of the two increases in the past year.

Feb 22, 2019, 2:49 am

#124

yorkboy24

Join Date: Mar 2011

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 1,179

I’ve just called in and have been told that if you don’t attach the e-certificate to a redemption stay before 5th March and the hotel category goes up, you have to pay more points. This is ridiculous as it defeats the whole purpose of having the points advance option.

ThePointsGuy said Marriott will honour points advance bookings at the original rate:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/marri...CPVSmAxVp68VqA

Can the lurkers confirm this?

Thanks.

svo242 and MrM2016 like this.

Last edited by yorkboy24; Feb 22, 2019 at 3:13 am

Feb 22, 2019, 6:43 am

#125

GoPhils

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: CLT

Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold

Posts: 1,076

Does anyone know if the “demand of award rooms” is only based on completed reservations? For example, I wonder if a lot of people made reservations in advance of the start of peak pricing, which caused Marriott to say that more properties warranted an increase in category that maybe otherwise wouldn’t have?

Feb 23, 2019, 9:35 am

#126

3rdworldresident

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: BKK

Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat

Posts: 2,233

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkboy24

I always expect this from Marriott. Never trusted them since day 1.

UA-NYC and xexs like this.

Feb 23, 2019, 10:52 pm

#127

yorkboy24

Join Date: Mar 2011

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 1,179

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rdworldresident

I always expect this from Marriott. Never trusted them since day 1.

I’m surprised thousands of members haven’t queried this because I’m sure many have several redemption reservations, sometimes for similar periods because they haven’t decided which stay yet. Even if members have the required points in their accounts for them, as things stand, they’ll need to pay Category 8 rates if they don’t proactively convert them into an e-certificate before 5th March. For those who booked a redemption award using the points advance feature but they don’t have enough points (I’m one of them), we’ll have to somehow find the missing points (sometimes buying them is the only possibility as short notice if not in US).

I have asked the lurkers to clarify so hopefully we’ll hear something in the next week. There are conflicting policies depending on who you talk to so at the very least, if current rates will be honoured, staff need to be clearly informed of the policy. I’m just surprised not many members are worried about this.

Feb 23, 2019, 11:02 pm

#128

Finkface

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: YVR, HNL

Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)

Posts: 7,833

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkboy24

I called in yeaterday to transfer some points to Mr, Fink for a PA booking at a hotel that is moving up a category. As I could only transfer 100k, he still needs more and will have them at the end of March, so after the category change. I specifically asked if the current rate would be honored after March 5. She put me on hold and confirmed that whatever was on my confirmation email would be honored.

I, too, am dubious and will transfer some Chase points if I have to but would obviously rather wait. So really hoping @Starwood Lurker or another Bonvoy rep on here will give us definitive confirmation that PA bookings will be honored at the current rates after March 5.

Feb 24, 2019, 12:37 am

#129

yorkboy24

Join Date: Mar 2011

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 1,179

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finkface

She put me on hold and confirmed that whatever was on my confirmation email would be honored

That’s the thing - I don’t think we get confirmation emails for reward bookings when points aren’t taken points advance). I followed the inductions on ThePointsGuy and sent myself an email showing the current points rate I booked. If it’s just in your account it might automatically increase the number of points there from 5th March. If I were you I’d get a confirmation email sent to yourself.

Feb 24, 2019, 10:47 am

#130

Finkface

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: YVR, HNL

Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)

Posts: 7,833

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkboy24

I have always gotten confirmation emails for PA bookings. For this one, I booked it on January 24 and I received the confirmation email within 10 minutes. It shows the rate (- beside the first night and 50k beside each of the other four nights) and the text in the attached photo saying I had to order the e-certificate no later than 48 hours prior to arrival. But I still don’t trust that it will be honored after the category increase and would like to see it confirmed by one the Lurkers.

Attached Images

Feb 24, 2019, 4:12 pm

#131

yorkboy24

Join Date: Mar 2011

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 1,179

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finkface

You’re lucky! I only get email confirmations for Point Advance bookings when I cancel them!

Feb 24, 2019, 4:39 pm

#132

margarita girl

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finkface

I have always gotten confirmation emails for PA bookings.

I want to know your secret! I've done well over a dozen PA bookings and have never received a confirmation email. I trust you don't mean that you emailed it to yourself, as I've done that.

Do you make your reservations on the app per chance (judging by your screenshot)? I never do as I prefer to work from a laptop. Is that what I'm doing wrong?

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkboy24

You’re lucky! I only get email confirmations for Point Advance bookings when I cancel them!

And I don't get any of those either! I canceled a PA reservation today and no confirmation was received.

Feb 24, 2019, 4:59 pm

#133

Finkface

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: YVR, HNL

Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)

Posts: 7,833

Quote:

Originally Posted by margarita girl

I want to know your secret! I've done well over a dozen PA bookings and have never received a confirmation email. I trust you don't mean that you emailed it to yourself, as I've done that.

No, the confirmation came automatically just as if it was a paid reservation. However, I did just email it to myself again yesterday just to be safe, lol. But the original emailed confirmation came automatically about 10 minutes after I made the PA res.

Quote:

Originally Posted by margarita girl

Do you make your reservations on the app per chance (judging by your screenshot)? I never do as I prefer to work from a laptop. Is that what I'm doing wrong?

No, in a browser. It is on an ipad but using Safari, not the app. I never use the app.

Feb 24, 2019, 5:23 pm

#134

Happy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Location: Florida

Posts: 29,762

Quote:

Originally Posted by margarita girl

I dont get any email confirmation on PA booking nor at cancellation of them!

I do email myself the booking and also take screenshot with the cancellation number when I cancel them.

I too, would love to learn about the secret steps to get those emails!

Counsellor likes this.

Feb 24, 2019, 5:32 pm

#135

yorkboy24

Join Date: Mar 2011

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 1,179

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy

I guess I can count myself as being half lucky then for getting the cancellation confirmation for these reward bookings. I used the mobile version for reward bookings in the past. I wanted to use the App but when it was the Marriott App, not a single points option would show. Now it's all fixed on the Bonvoy app.

Last edited by yorkboy24; Feb 24, 2019 at 6:37 pm