silverforumsurf

If you could pay the difference on certs, that would help.. but basically you still get screwed because you don’t benefit from offpeak (get a points refund) but get penalized for peak

pbfoot

I think on net these changes are neutral to negative, and there are clearly “edge” cases where there are blatant issues like certs not being able to be applied to prior reservations, but as someone who is flexible with their travel and often booking personal trips on short-notice, I personally don’t view this as as problematic as I thought it would be.

For example, I’m looking at making a reservation for later this month. My destinations and dates are flexible and I’d be able to book the Mauna Kea, RC Kaplua, STR Bahia (and IIRC the STR Punta Mita) on off-beak rates for rooms that are mostly still priced at $500+ cash. I’m essentially able to book a trip for ~15-20% fewer points for the same trip I paid standard rates for during peak summer time.

Now granted not everyone has this level of flexibility, but let’s not pretend there is something “shady” going on. This was announced long ago and has (mostly) been implemented as-expected. For specific circumstances this could be a major deval, but for those who are able to be flexible this creates some admittedly less than ideal uncertainty, but not insignificant opportunities for outsized value.

goodeats21

First quick look to use one of my CAT 5 certs...and yup, "Peak" pricing makes them useless for this trip.

I am sure to find a use for them sometime, but quite a degradation.

jjglaze77

So, I am going to assume that I've been "Bonvoyed" in this situation, but I thought I would check with you all here before I call and learn the inevitable.

I, too, had a Points Advance res booked prior to the changeover and as other have reported the pointed required now shows the "new" points amounts. However, the double-whammy is that the res I have on hold is for the Westin Hapuna Beach which just in the last couple days moved (UNANNOUNCED) from a Cat 5 to Cat 6. The res now shows the Cat 6 points required. I'm assuming I'm hosed? Of course, this is over Christmas where there are no other hotels available for points on any island (for my dates).

Merry $%#^%$&* Christmas to me, Bonvoy!

LUVs_2_Fly

If you are booked with points advance prior to the changeover 9/14 you are fine. You are locked in at the rate you booked. Now online wont show it, and when you have enough points you will have to call to get them to adjust it and deduct your points, but you are protected. This is for both the category change and for the peak. Now if you made your points advance reservation on 9/15, you are at the mercy of whatever peak vs off peak and whatever category changes happens between when you book the PA and when you apply the points. After 9/14/2019 PA only secures your spot, not your price.

jjglaze77

Your post gave me hope, but at least after the first call it is proving incorrect. They are acknowledging that the booking was made on 4/27/19 (prior to the Off-Peak/Peak change and this mysterious Category change). They are willing to provide a "points bonus" to cover the difference between the Peak/Standard rate as mentioned upthread, but they are not acknowledging the Category change. Both agents I spoke with insisted that the hotel has always been a Category 6. The supervisor said she called the hotel who said they were always category 6. Multiple people in the hotel specific thread, have indicated the category changed in the last few days. They have opened a "ticket" for me on this and someone is supposed to be in touch, but does anyone here have an idea of who to speak to? Not sure how to proceed... Thanks!

LUVs_2_Fly

So looking into your hotel, its not listed on the Feb/Mar 2019 category changes, and here is a TPG article saying it was cat 5/35k points. The article was published in Oct 2018, and they booked via SPG but mentioned Marriott category after the merger. While not proof for todays Bonvoy agent, this plus the flyer talk hotel page should hopefully get you somewhere. I would HUCA and see if you get someone who will look into it better for you.
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/wes...-beach-resort/
------------------
Originally built in 1996, this Hapuna resort was officially renamed a Westin property in June 2018 after undergoing a lengthy $46 million renovation and conversion. Even after this transition, the property is still owned and managed by the former namesake, Prince Resorts.

jjglaze77

Thanks for the advice. I will try giving them a call again. I am encouraged that there is a web.archive.org stored version of the hotel's splash page that shows it as a Category 5:

https://web.archive.org/web/20190611...-beach-resort/

Too_Fly1

The JW Hanoi also inexplicably jumped a category without warning. MB Lurker said it was a mistake and it would be resolved, but the higher category remains. Seems a bit shady that multiple hotels are increasing with no explanation.

Keyser

this is rare but has been going on forever....the majority of hotels change categories in march but there have always been a select few that change categories at other times during the year....it used to happen in the spg days & still continues to happen currently with bonvoy....

christianj

True and there was just a post that the Renaissance Philly DT also just increased without notice in the hotels master thread.

Call me a pessimist but I think we will be seeing more and more of this with the new program.

LUVs_2_Fly

So I was curious and just searched, but the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is an interesting one, I have a PA reservation for 12/28-1/2 5 nights at the old 60k rate. Cancellation penalty is full cash rate which is listed as $12k. I checked Dec and Jan and Feb, should be peak season like crazy. rates are upwards of $2000 a night for a standard room (over the holiday) However looking at those months on flex search, I only see a very few peak dates. and over the xmas/NYE stretch, only 12/25 is a peak. These dates feel truly random.

12/25
1/22
2/5
2/15
2/29

vs 23 off peak dates.

Also odd is that they seems to be playing games with what a standard room is.
for 12/28-29 standard room is a deluxe
for 12/30-1/2 standard room is a slopeside

they have award availability all 5 days of my PA reservation, but today you cant book the same because there arnt 5 days of continuous availability of the same room type.
its so strange.

theOtherHolmes

Depending on Q4, I may need to make a mattress run to hit Titanium this year— poked around and found a cat 2 within 2 hour drive range. Booked five nights on points for 40K, will do a suburb- vacation this year I guess.

No cat 1 whatsoever within 3 hour of drive in my home town.

LUVs_2_Fly

Cat 1 off peak 5th night free would be a dream for some elite night credits. 20k points for 5 nights.

theOtherHolmes

*deleted*