I’ve realised I don’t have enough points and it’s 14 days before my stay

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Aug 13, 2019, 11:14 am

#16

bhrubin

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Join Date: Aug 2013

Location: Southern California, USA

Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold

Posts: 8,764

I’m glad it worked out for our OP. That being said, I’d hate to see award inventory ever held up by people speculating with such award stays. I’d expect it fairer to restrict the number of award stays at any property that can be held in such advance fashion without necessary points to avoid the possible speculation.

Aug 13, 2019, 2:53 pm

#17

Oxon Flyer

Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy

Join Date: May 2006

Location: Englandshire

Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...

Posts: 16,031

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhrubin

That being said, I’d hate to see award inventory ever held up by people speculating with such award stays. I’d expect it fairer to restrict the number of award stays at any property that can be held in such advance fashion without necessary points to avoid the possible speculation.

One could also throw "restrict the number of award stays any Bonvoy member can speculatively hold without having the points" into the pot too.

Aug 13, 2019, 3:07 pm

#18

bhrubin

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Join Date: Aug 2013

Location: Southern California, USA

Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold

Posts: 8,764

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxon Flyer

One could also throw "restrict the number of award stays any Bonvoy member can speculatively hold without having the points" into the pot too.

I think we're saying the same thing! Perhaps my post wasn't as clear as yours.

Aug 13, 2019, 3:56 pm

#19

myperks

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: SFO

Posts: 4,914

I’m certain this IT change in the system is at the bottom of Marriott’s list of things to consider. If anything, they probably just scrap the points advance program.

bhrubin likes this.

Aug 14, 2019, 7:04 am

#20

dtremit

Join Date: Apr 2004

Location: BOS

Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec

Posts: 3,581

Quote:

Originally Posted by EuropeanPete

Apart from for those of us who don’t use it. We end up with less chance of getting the aspirational rooms we want because a few people have gone and booked every possible combination.

Would happily trade Points Advance for the old SPG redemptions for upgraded rooms. A lot of times a high-category room was available for a tiny point premium, and at many properties that significantly increased the chances of a nice suite upgrade.

EuropeanPete likes this.

Aug 14, 2019, 7:31 am

#21

GrayAnderson

Join Date: Jan 2014

Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference

Posts: 3,134

Perhaps limiting the number of stays (or number of points worth of stays) you can have held on advance would make more sense? Effectively a "credit limit", probably tied to some mix of your status with Marriott and perhaps bumped by which CCs you have? A points cap probably makes the most sense...the ratio in points cost from an off-peak Category 1 hotel to a peak Category 8 hotel is 20:1, so someone staying at a bunch of lower-end hotels could easily end up having anywhere from (say) 5-20x the number of nights/stays reserved as someone splashing out at a high-end hotel in peak season.