Feb 25, 2022, 8:38 am
Last edit by: goodeats21
*** It seems the Free Night Certificate + Points "top-off" redemption went live on April 29 or 30th 2022 - Discussions here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...on-thread.html ***
Starting March 29, our new flexible point redemption rates will go into effect. That means free nights will align more closely with nightly rates and availability. For stay dates in 2022, you can expect that nearly all of our hotels will have the same minimum and maximum number of points required for redemption — similarly to how they were previously categorized.
All the ways you earn points will not change — you’ll just have more flexibility when you’re ready to redeem.
Plus, starting at the end of April, you can combine your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to access more hotels you’ll love.
Our current redemption process will remain in place through March 28. After that, you will not see hotel categories (1–8) or redemption rates classified as Off-Peak, Standard, or Peak. At the same time, as part of our yearly redemption assessment process (similar to our annual category changes in previous years), the minimum point redemption rates will increase for approximately 200 hotels on March 29 — that’s less than 3% of all hotels. You can explore this list of hotels and decide when and where to maximize your free nights.
With our flexible cancellation policy, you can reserve your redemption stay and still modify your reservation if you find a lower rate in the future.
Want to learn more? Check out all our flexible point redemption rates FAQs.
When there is a redemption points rate drop, this info about how to modify award reservations -- on the website, not the app:
If you click to modify the existing reservation, and select to edit payment, it will adjust the points and keep the same reservation
HT to Schnit
Starting March 29, our new flexible point redemption rates will go into effect. That means free nights will align more closely with nightly rates and availability. For stay dates in 2022, you can expect that nearly all of our hotels will have the same minimum and maximum number of points required for redemption — similarly to how they were previously categorized.
All the ways you earn points will not change — you’ll just have more flexibility when you’re ready to redeem.
Plus, starting at the end of April, you can combine your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to access more hotels you’ll love.
Our current redemption process will remain in place through March 28. After that, you will not see hotel categories (1–8) or redemption rates classified as Off-Peak, Standard, or Peak. At the same time, as part of our yearly redemption assessment process (similar to our annual category changes in previous years), the minimum point redemption rates will increase for approximately 200 hotels on March 29 — that’s less than 3% of all hotels. You can explore this list of hotels and decide when and where to maximize your free nights.
With our flexible cancellation policy, you can reserve your redemption stay and still modify your reservation if you find a lower rate in the future.
Want to learn more? Check out all our flexible point redemption rates FAQs.
When there is a redemption points rate drop, this info about how to modify award reservations -- on the website, not the app:
If you click to modify the existing reservation, and select to edit payment, it will adjust the points and keep the same reservation
HT to Schnit
29 Mar 2022 : Introduction of Dynamic award pricing and removal of award chart
Apr 4, 2022, 8:25 am
#346
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), AA Gold, UA (*G) Gold
Posts: 5,159
These are all very interesting points and I appreciate the different perspectives. I think my newness in the "travel loyalty game" has biased my opinions. I find that I get wonderful value out of status benefits still (lovely suite upgrades, delicious (and usually completely free) breakfasts, and late checkout). On average, I stay at 2-3 hotels a week and have found benefit delivery to be about 90% effective over the past year. Perhaps, my experience would have been even better had I started this all 10 years ago.
Still, I think my priority of status benefits over points earning and burning is likely what keeps me from feeling despondent over these changes (they definitely aren't positive - not trying to say that).
Still, I think my priority of status benefits over points earning and burning is likely what keeps me from feeling despondent over these changes (they definitely aren't positive - not trying to say that).
Apr 4, 2022, 8:37 am
#347
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,894
These are all very interesting points and I appreciate the different perspectives. I think my newness in the "travel loyalty game" has biased my opinions. I find that I get wonderful value out of status benefits still (lovely suite upgrades, delicious (and usually completely free) breakfasts, and late checkout). On average, I stay at 2-3 hotels a week and have found benefit delivery to be about 90% effective over the past year. Perhaps, my experience would have been even better had I started this all 10 years ago.
Still, I think my priority of status benefits over points earning and burning is likely what keeps me from feeling despondent over these changes (they definitely aren't positive - not trying to say that).
Still, I think my priority of status benefits over points earning and burning is likely what keeps me from feeling despondent over these changes (they definitely aren't positive - not trying to say that).
Apr 4, 2022, 9:20 am
#348
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 222
Apr 4, 2022, 10:11 am
#349
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,479
People forget the youngest Millennials are 26 now!
Apr 4, 2022, 10:25 am
#350
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Apr 4, 2022, 10:38 am
#351
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 694
For me, these changes mean I'll look to Marriott after exhausting my Hyatt options. The biggest problem for me is a lack of consistency across Marriott properties - you never know what you'll get when you arrive. With Hyatt, the service and upgrades are held to a much more consistent standard and as a Globalist, that is important to me. Couple that with waived resort and parking fees, and Hyatt will be by first choice. But, of course, Marriott's footprint is exponentially larger and so cannot avoid entirely.
Additionally, Hyatt's aspirational properties where I want to vacation seem entirely within reach where now many of Marriott's do not.
The real question will be do I still get value from my Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card and I'm not sure I do.
Additionally, Hyatt's aspirational properties where I want to vacation seem entirely within reach where now many of Marriott's do not.
The real question will be do I still get value from my Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card and I'm not sure I do.
Apr 4, 2022, 11:01 am
#352
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,548
So 3 nights at the Residence Inn Bethany Beach went from 210k points to 290k points... Yowsers. For a Residence Inn (granted a nicer one than most, or so I hear, but still).... Cash rates are around $700-$800/night. The rates at the St. Regis Bal Harbor in Miami went from about 70-80k/night to about 80-90k night. Cash rates are around $1,000/night.
So go figure....
So go figure....
Apr 4, 2022, 3:39 pm
#353
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,479
So 3 nights at the Residence Inn Bethany Beach went from 210k points to 290k points... Yowsers. For a Residence Inn (granted a nicer one than most, or so I hear, but still).... Cash rates are around $700-$800/night. The rates at the St. Regis Bal Harbor in Miami went from about 70-80k/night to about 80-90k night. Cash rates are around $1,000/night.
So go figure....
So go figure....
I get what you're saying; the St Regis Bal Harbor is a far better deal but for most well off families in the area, packing the kids into the car and driving < 3hrs is preferable to trekking through an airport to get to MIA/FLL even if you sacrifice on the quality side of the accommodation. The RI in Bethany is gonna be 100% occupied June thru August so there's no incentive for them to take points bookings at regular rates.
Apr 5, 2022, 12:04 am
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
I'll admit it. The only difference over the last few years is that I've gone from close to 100% Marriott stays to about 50-60% Marriott stays. I still end up spending about 100 nights a year with Marriott but the remaining 60-70 nights a year that used to go to SPG/Marriott now go to other hotels.
Apr 5, 2022, 7:14 am
#355
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 153
Looking from another angle, it's not all neutral at the low end. I checked on a couple of utilitarian stays that I booked at a Fairfield property in western Mass. For one of them 5 nights booked at 40K (and still available a couple of days ago) is now requiring 68K. The other 5 nights booked at 42.5K is now showing 69K. Kinda steep percentage-wise.
Apr 5, 2022, 7:41 am
#357
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: NYC
Programs: Bonvoy Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Platinum, United 1K, AA Platinum
Posts: 31
For many (maybe most), it won't return for many years. With hybrid work (people in 3-4 days a week, so fewer meetings on Monday), increased holidays (Spring break seems to last a month and a half, Juneteenth will turn much of June into another summer vacation month, people take off all of January), more Zoom, there will simply be fewer opportunities for business travel than before.
Apr 5, 2022, 7:51 am
#358
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,347
Nevertheless, every single flight I've flown on this year both for business and leisure has been pretty much jam packed. Between my colleague and myself we fly at minimum weekly.
Apr 5, 2022, 8:23 am
#359
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,894
Agreed here - seeing a very similar sentiment both within finance across the country and friends/family in other NYC industries. My team has done 2-3 trips since beginning of the year, but this is a far cry from the weekly stays we previously had. Read just about any sell-side analyst research report of Delta, United or Marriott to get a sense of how business travel is recovering (spoiler: not going very well).
Apr 5, 2022, 10:18 am
#360
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, IHG Diamond, Omni Platinum
Posts: 197
Isn't the new points price supposed to be linked to the cash price? Clearly that's not the case in all situations.
The value of a point towards the use of a hotel is now too unpredictable. Add in the resort/destination fees and it makes it even worse. I'm done with Marriott.
The value of a point towards the use of a hotel is now too unpredictable. Add in the resort/destination fees and it makes it even worse. I'm done with Marriott.