FAQ: 48-Hour Availability Guarantee for Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador
Oct 9, 2019 | 11:55 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Are you logged in? If not, it will show sold out.
Otherwise, Marriott was historically very good at keep special events to major football games, world level conventions, etc. The hotel had to get approval from corporate for a "special event."
Otherwise, Marriott was historically very good at keep special events to major football games, world level conventions, etc. The hotel had to get approval from corporate for a "special event."
Oct 9, 2019 | 12:21 pm
#18
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 35,584
I tried to book a hotel that is sold out for next month using the 48 hour guarantee. The Marriott agent steadfastly told me I could not book the hotel until 48 hours in advance. I had him speak to his supervisor who assured him that his interpretation was accurate. Fortunately, subsequently, the hotel became available and I now have it booked with points.
Oct 9, 2019 | 1:34 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus, HH Gold, Hertz PC, National Executive, etc.
Posts: 31,670
Oct 9, 2019 | 2:29 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 129
I have not. Today's apparent non-compliance was pretty last minute and the 48hr threshold was crossed about 30 minutes ago so I'm sure the response will simply be that it's too late for them to do anything about it now. I will simply take this as an opportunity to stay with another brand this weekend with an eye towards changing alliances next year.
Oct 9, 2019 | 4:14 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 35K|BA Silver|Marriott Plat|HH Diamond|Hyatt Globalist|ALL Plat
Posts: 2,814
This benefit has never worked for me. As a random example, if I look at Courtyard Tokyo Station for a one night booking on Nov 22, it shows sold out. Isn't the whole point that, aside from special events, I should never see those words? Am I supposed to call in?
Marriott Bonvoy Lurker
Then when you call at exactly 48hrs they will say you missed the cutoff. Marriott phone staff are ridiculous.
Marriott Bonvoy Lurker
I tried to book a hotel that is sold out for next month using the 48 hour guarantee. The Marriott agent steadfastly told me I could not book the hotel until 48 hours in advance. I had him speak to his supervisor who assured him that his interpretation was accurate. Fortunately, subsequently, the hotel became available and I now have it booked with points.
Last edited by nexusCFX; Oct 9, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Oct 9, 2019 | 7:09 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,754
I have noticed the 48 Hour guarantee hasn't been working correctly for at least a few years. It used to work fine (back in the day when it was a platinum override) and I very rarely ran into properties that didn't honor it. Furthermore there seemed to be very few exceptions granted to the properties to be exempt from the override. Fast forward to today, it is rare when it works. I gave up trying to figure out why. Just another devaluation of benefits.
--Jon
--Jon
Last edited by Jon Maiman; Oct 11, 2019 at 5:48 am
Oct 10, 2019 | 12:43 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E50, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb
Posts: 16,449
I only used the benefit once with SPG to book a Westin which was sold out. I booked it through the Plat desk and was quoted ~$600/night. (I needed to check with my friend, who said NO WAY.) I was planning on cancelling the reservation but got busy. About a week after I made the reservation, one of the managers from the hotel contacted me and said they were really sold out and wouldn't be able to honor the reservation. He offered me 6000 SPG pts to let him cancel it. I said sure (without trying to sound too giddy)! 
Oct 10, 2019 | 8:17 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 129
Checked again tonight and it looks like there is suddenly an abundance of rooms available at the cash rate. In fact, there are three different room types and only one of those three even has an "almost sold out" warning.
Naturally, Marriott's "No Blackouts" fraud is still in full effect, so none of the abundant rooms are available on points.
To further drive the point home, the corporate phone rep all but hung up on me when I mentioned the No Blackouts policy.
I guess I'll be shopping around for next year's 91 nights.
Naturally, Marriott's "No Blackouts" fraud is still in full effect, so none of the abundant rooms are available on points.
To further drive the point home, the corporate phone rep all but hung up on me when I mentioned the No Blackouts policy.
I guess I'll be shopping around for next year's 91 nights.
Oct 10, 2019 | 8:38 pm
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,191
Oct 11, 2019 | 5:09 am
#27
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,077
Checked again tonight and it looks like there is suddenly an abundance of rooms available at the cash rate. In fact, there are three different room types and only one of those three even has an "almost sold out" warning.
Naturally, Marriott's "No Blackouts" fraud is still in full effect, so none of the abundant rooms are available on points.
To further drive the point home, the corporate phone rep all but hung up on me when I mentioned the No Blackouts policy.
I guess I'll be shopping around for next year's 91 nights.
Naturally, Marriott's "No Blackouts" fraud is still in full effect, so none of the abundant rooms are available on points.
To further drive the point home, the corporate phone rep all but hung up on me when I mentioned the No Blackouts policy.
I guess I'll be shopping around for next year's 91 nights.
I thought you said you were expecting to pay the rack rate?
Oct 11, 2019 | 6:43 am
#28
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 129
Oct 11, 2019 | 6:49 am
#29
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,077