How much are the Certificates really worth?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Gold, AA Lifetime Gold, United Silver, BA Gold
Posts: 864
How much are the Certificates really worth?
I booked a reservation at the Marriott Cancun Resort for 4 nights.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,216
I booked a reservation at the Marriott Cancun Resort for 4 nights.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
#4
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,517
I booked a reservation at the Marriott Cancun Resort for 4 nights.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,911
I booked a reservation at the Marriott Cancun Resort for 4 nights.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
I had 2 certificates of 35K each and 1 for 40K and 1 for 50K
The hotel is cat 5, but has rooms available for 44K a night (ocean view). These are listed as available rooms (nothing of a point upgrade etc.)
The system allowed me to apply all 4 certificates.
It additionally wanted 36,000 Points + $120 for resort Fees
So basically, what it did was valued each of my certificate for 35K points (even though I had 2 of them at a higher value) and then tacked in an additional 9K for the difference (44K per night)
I called Marriott Customer Service to explain that for the 40K certificate, I should only be charged 4K more and for the 50K one, there should not be any additional ask.
Marriott does not agree with my reasoning.
I am at a loss as to why then would the 50K certificate say that I can use it anywhere up to 50K Point room.
I wasted about a hour of my time and then gave up. I am basically charged 13,000 points more (4K + 9K).
Am I correct? OR Is Marriott correct here.
which means the top up feature apparently started to trickle in.
#7
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,275
Sadly, Marriott is correct. Free night certificates only apply to the base point rate, not to any upgrade fee (points or cash) for a higher category room.
For example, if an available room shows as 35K + additional 15K for a higher category room (total 50K), the certificate only covers the 35K -- regardless of whether the certificate is "up to 35K," "up to 40K," or "up to 50K." This is the case even if there are no 35K rooms available at the time.
Along similar lines, the Marriott's "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" feature only works for the base rate. In the example above (assuming the same rate for five consecutive nights), a five-night stay would be (4 x 35K) + (5 x 15K) because the points to upgrade must be paid for all nights, even for the free night.
Actually, the soon-to-happen "top off" feature is not at play in the OP's case. It has not yet been activated.
For example, if an available room shows as 35K + additional 15K for a higher category room (total 50K), the certificate only covers the 35K -- regardless of whether the certificate is "up to 35K," "up to 40K," or "up to 50K." This is the case even if there are no 35K rooms available at the time.
Along similar lines, the Marriott's "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" feature only works for the base rate. In the example above (assuming the same rate for five consecutive nights), a five-night stay would be (4 x 35K) + (5 x 15K) because the points to upgrade must be paid for all nights, even for the free night.
Actually, the soon-to-happen "top off" feature is not at play in the OP's case. It has not yet been activated.
Last edited by Horace; Mar 27, 2022 at 9:28 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,962
#9
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,275
But you asked a good question... and I don't have a good answer.
Yes, I agree something has changed with the system. I'm not sure this is the full "top off" functionality yet. But, in the past, Marriott.com would only have accepted the free might certificate for a standard room, not a room requiring more points for a higher category.
Going forward with the elimination of categories, the question is whether Marriott Bonvoy will still have base points and upgrade points -- or simply dynamic point rates for various categories?
In other words, if there's a hotel with standard rooms for 35K and junior suites for 50K, will I be able to use an "up to 50K" certificate to pay for the junior suite? Or will the certificate still only cover the 35K portion of the 50K junior suite?
Last edited by Horace; Mar 27, 2022 at 10:50 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Gold, AA Lifetime Gold, United Silver, BA Gold
Posts: 864
because certificates I believe can only be used for standard rooms. So standard rooms here go for 35k. So you are paying 140k with the 4 certs regardless of what the “up to” value is… the 36k is the difference between your upgraded room type and the standard room.
which means the top up feature apparently started to trickle in.
which means the top up feature apparently started to trickle in.
Normally the Hotels show up with Upgrade Certificate or something. But, in this case, they showed up as total points needed for the room. There was no mention of needing any additional certificates or anything.
Once the top up is enabled, I am hoping this issue should go away and I should be able to use my 50K Certificate for any room that costs up to 50K and if more points needed, then it should take only those above 50K