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
Jan 2, 2023, 3:45 pm
#601
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 301
How many people have changed this booking habits as a result of dynamic pricing in '22 and beyond?
Personally, I've started booking one night at a time even on cash bookings. Why? Because if the points on one night varies I can either get some points back or switch from cash to points.
It's incredibly annoying but if they are going dynamic, so am I. I've found myself more nights at non-marriott brands, especially smaller chain and independent hotels. Lack of brand consistency hasn't helped.
Jan 2, 2023, 5:32 pm
#602
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 936
So basically, the premise people were working off of (that on January 1, there would be a huge repricing of the Marriott system) was a misunderstanding - and that the change (if any) happened sometime in the back half of 2022?
I guess in a fully dynamic system, prices can always go up (or down). People should I guess be making speculative bookings for 2023 now.
I only have about 100K Bonvoy points now but will be building my balance up quickly, it always seemed unlikely to me Marriott would price its award redemptions uncompetitively vs Hilton. Hilton is currently capped at 150K a night for 1 or two properties, but really is at 120K a night capped for most of its top end hotels. I don't see Marriott getting any higher than these levels.
I guess in a fully dynamic system, prices can always go up (or down). People should I guess be making speculative bookings for 2023 now.
I only have about 100K Bonvoy points now but will be building my balance up quickly, it always seemed unlikely to me Marriott would price its award redemptions uncompetitively vs Hilton. Hilton is currently capped at 150K a night for 1 or two properties, but really is at 120K a night capped for most of its top end hotels. I don't see Marriott getting any higher than these levels.
Jan 2, 2023, 5:49 pm
#603
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: MB Titanium, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, UA Silver
Posts: 185
I don't think the points pricing accurately correlate to the cash price (like how it usually has been). For me, I booked Ritz Kyoto for 356k pts for 5 nights in late July, yet the competitor Mitsui Kyoto charges 402k pts on the same dates despite the Ritz charging more in cash (~140k vs ~90k yen). Both properties were also affected by the points increase in early 2022 with 120k points max/night, and formerly Cat 8 when award chart was still visible.
With that said though, I occasionally check my Ritz booking and saved myself 8k points from original booking with few minutes of effort a week. Maybe it could be more in the future.
With that said though, I occasionally check my Ritz booking and saved myself 8k points from original booking with few minutes of effort a week. Maybe it could be more in the future.
Jan 2, 2023, 5:55 pm
#604
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
Jan 3, 2023, 9:16 am
#605
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
I made a reservation on Nov 21 for a 5 night stay in January at 239K pts. I noticed on Dec 7 that it had dropped to 233K points so I rebooked. Between Dec 8 and today, it has dropped 11 more times, and my latest price is 196K pts for a savings of 43K pts. I now check daily to see what the price is.
Jan 3, 2023, 12:26 pm
#606
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Thanks for the reminder. Usually not in the business of checking rooms booked with points as they hadn't moved in the past (they were set levels). But I just saved 4,000 points on a 2 day stay (10%).
Jan 3, 2023, 1:41 pm
#607
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: san francisco.
Programs: Marriott Ti, OW Ruby
Posts: 1,852
Jan 3, 2023, 2:20 pm
#608
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: MB Titanium, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, UA Silver
Posts: 185
One hot tip I've heard is you can modify your reservation on the day of your check-in or past the free cancellation date just in case the points reqs are lowered to get some points back. I haven't tried it myself, but it makes sense since you're not cancelling and rebooking.
Jan 3, 2023, 5:31 pm
#609
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,347
One hot tip I've heard is you can modify your reservation on the day of your check-in or past the free cancellation date just in case the points reqs are lowered to get some points back. I haven't tried it myself, but it makes sense since you're not cancelling and rebooking.
Jan 4, 2023, 12:51 am
#610
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,770
One hot tip I've heard is you can modify your reservation on the day of your check-in or past the free cancellation date just in case the points reqs are lowered to get some points back. I haven't tried it myself, but it makes sense since you're not cancelling and rebooking.
Jan 4, 2023, 1:22 am
#611
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG LTP, HH D
Posts: 729
Are other programmes, specifically HH, as dynamic?
Jan 4, 2023, 1:29 am
#612
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
I've seen prices change within the day, down and up. It was a JW Marriott, either Khao Lak or Phuket; I was tracking both. Wasn't many points, 4000 maybe, but still enough for me to cancel and rebook. A bit nervy in case I got caught changing horses midstream.
Are other programmes, specifically HH, as dynamic?
Are other programmes, specifically HH, as dynamic?
Your reservation number will be unchanged.
Jan 4, 2023, 8:16 am
#614
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Jan 4, 2023, 8:18 am
#615
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
There’s no need to cancel/rebook. Just open your reservation, click on Edit, and choose the same room type at the new lower price. The system will tell you that X points will be redeposited into your account, and it’s done immediately.
Your reservation number will be unchanged.
Your reservation number will be unchanged.