27 Jan : New points devaluation ?
#16
Moderator: The British Airways Club, Marriott Bonvoy




Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 17,411
Cash rates are the Euro equivalent to about 500USD, so that's 0.71cpp devalued to 0.64.
#17




Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 4,266
The goodtime hotel in Miami went from 46,000 points per night and 184,000 points for 5 nights during Art Basel to 280,000 points or 70,000 points per night during the same period of December 2-7th, which is a massive 52.17% increase.
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
Great....the Hiltonification of Marriott. 
At least Hilton's credit card free nights are (mostly) unrestricted free nights (for now, with very limited exceptions). Soon even the Marriott/Ritz 85k FNCs are going to be just enough to cover a midrange Marriott.

At least Hilton's credit card free nights are (mostly) unrestricted free nights (for now, with very limited exceptions). Soon even the Marriott/Ritz 85k FNCs are going to be just enough to cover a midrange Marriott.
#19
Original Poster




Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, BAEC Gold, LH Sen, AF Plat
Posts: 210
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,207
I have a redemption in the UK that just increased by 8.5% today. Other ones I've been watching (in various locations) haven't changed.
#21

Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott, United, Jetblue
Posts: 348
This is part of all programs, if you can’t find value…. I’m pretty sure they still have a program which allows you to donate points to charity.
It seems like just yesterday they were hawking discounted gift cards during COVID to save a balance sheet.
It seems like just yesterday they were hawking discounted gift cards during COVID to save a balance sheet.
#22




Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE 100K MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 4,128
One good travel recession and they'll be back for us!
#23



Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: Skymiles Gold, Aeroplan, AAdvantage, Hhonors Gold, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,696
#24




Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Qatar Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 631
Massive, widespread devaluation
Wow, just sad. Bonvoyed again...
Almost booked Masai Mara last Friday for January 2026. It was 720,000 for 5 nights on Friday.
Same dates are now 944,000, a 31% increase in points required.
I've got two other points bookings this year I checked, just for verification that it's across the board.
Heading to St. Regis Maldives in a few weeks. Booked base room for 520,000 points last year. Same room is now 792,000 for January 2026, a staggering 52% increase. Going to the St. George in Helsinki this summer. Booked 2 nights for 86k in peak season. Same rates are now 101,000, "only" a 17% increase.
Verification of the need to churn and burn points, but this is ridiculous. Honestly done with Marriott from a points perspective - when my current points are gone, so am I. Was literally about to get the Chase Boundless card this week. Not now.
Almost booked Masai Mara last Friday for January 2026. It was 720,000 for 5 nights on Friday.
Same dates are now 944,000, a 31% increase in points required.
I've got two other points bookings this year I checked, just for verification that it's across the board.
Heading to St. Regis Maldives in a few weeks. Booked base room for 520,000 points last year. Same room is now 792,000 for January 2026, a staggering 52% increase. Going to the St. George in Helsinki this summer. Booked 2 nights for 86k in peak season. Same rates are now 101,000, "only" a 17% increase.
Verification of the need to churn and burn points, but this is ridiculous. Honestly done with Marriott from a points perspective - when my current points are gone, so am I. Was literally about to get the Chase Boundless card this week. Not now.
#25


Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,103
I hope no one pre-emptively transferred points to Marriott with the Amex/Chase bonuses. I find myself staying less and less at Marriott with their games. Didn't even bother to quality for Titanium again since I never even got any benefit out of it.
I can barely find Ritz/St. Regis/Luxury Collection hotels to even spend my 85k certs on now. Majority of them are 100k + so can't even pay the difference with points since it's capped at 15k. I have the Ritz and the Brillant card so might cancel one this year.
#26




Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Qatar Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 631
Missed this thread and accidentally started a new one, so sorry about that if you are a mod...
Bonvoyed again - this is worst for aspirational properties it looks like. Maldives or Masai Mara? Massive devaluation. Less on the radar lower - here are the three I checked based on current bookings/bookings that now won't happen.
Almost booked Masai Mara last Friday for January 2026. It was 720,000 for 5 nights on Friday.
Same dates are now 944,000, a 31% increase in points required.
I've got two other points bookings this year I checked, just for verification that it's across the board.
Heading to St. Regis Maldives in a few weeks. Booked base room for 520,000 points last year. Same room is now 792,000 for January 2026, a staggering 52% increase. Going to the St. George in Helsinki this summer. Booked 2 nights for 86k in peak season. Same rates are now 101,000, "only" a 17% increase.
Verification of the need to churn and burn points, but this is ridiculous. Honestly done with Marriott from a points perspective - when my current points are gone, so am I. Was literally about to get the Chase Boundless card this week. Not now. Will just wait for an elevated Hilton offer.
Bonvoyed again - this is worst for aspirational properties it looks like. Maldives or Masai Mara? Massive devaluation. Less on the radar lower - here are the three I checked based on current bookings/bookings that now won't happen.
Almost booked Masai Mara last Friday for January 2026. It was 720,000 for 5 nights on Friday.
Same dates are now 944,000, a 31% increase in points required.
I've got two other points bookings this year I checked, just for verification that it's across the board.
Heading to St. Regis Maldives in a few weeks. Booked base room for 520,000 points last year. Same room is now 792,000 for January 2026, a staggering 52% increase. Going to the St. George in Helsinki this summer. Booked 2 nights for 86k in peak season. Same rates are now 101,000, "only" a 17% increase.
Verification of the need to churn and burn points, but this is ridiculous. Honestly done with Marriott from a points perspective - when my current points are gone, so am I. Was literally about to get the Chase Boundless card this week. Not now. Will just wait for an elevated Hilton offer.
#28




Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL DM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,813
Problem is, Hilton is not immune from this either. A substantial number of Hilton properties just had a roughly 10% increase a few weeks ago.
#29


Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: MCO
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AA Platinum
Posts: 1,124
I have three points bookings out there in Cayman Islands and Dominican Republic. All have gone up slightly since I booked a couple months ago - none more than about 5%.
I am not a fan of dynamic pricing for obvious reasons, but one thing you can do is watch your bookings every month or so and often you can rebook for less. Have done that a few times in the past (with other reservations). I usually do this when I have enough points to make the new (lower points) booking before canceling the old.
I am not a fan of dynamic pricing for obvious reasons, but one thing you can do is watch your bookings every month or so and often you can rebook for less. Have done that a few times in the past (with other reservations). I usually do this when I have enough points to make the new (lower points) booking before canceling the old.

