Looks like many other hotels are anxious to get this business and offer very lucrative offers through the summer:

http://aadvantageconnections.com/hotels.aspx

I cashed in points today for 2 travel packages with miles to AA. The person on the marriott rewards line told me that if a certificate is about to expire to call them and they will renew it.

Another option is to get active on FT and trade the certificate on CC. If you have enough Marriott points for a TP award, that probably means you have some experience with Marriott, if not some airlines as well. I bet you have some good experiences you can share with us here. ^

You really need to look into the programs. At least if you are based on the US and your stays are here you earn free nights with Hyatt at much faster pace than with Marriott. They also have a new promo going on with AA. http://www.aa.com/netsaaver/viewProm...l&locale=en_US

These are in addition to two and a half free nights that you would earn for worldwide usage.

I do not really like, Delta. Sorry

While I think the Hyatt program seems to have some very nice features. My two big gripes are there just aren't enough Hyatt's around where I need/want to travel and when there are Hyatts, they tend to be more expensive than the FS Marriotts close by.

Also, I'm not sure that I would completely agree that staying at Hyatts will, in general, net someone more free nights. Yes, they may currently have a better promo, but I'm not sure I would count on them always having a better promo. And if I'm traveling where there just isn't a Hyatt (and even in the US their coverage isn't close to Marriotts), I can't earn free nights there (whether or not they have a great promo.)

I do agree, though, that anyone who is currently or getting ready to travel much, should definitely look at the strengths/weaknesses of all the programs and compare those with what you want to get out of a stay program.

I agree with Hhoope01 but I think that Hyatt has significantly closed the gap with the Hyatt Place/SS properties

Historically going back to 1995 when I started with Hyatt; they have ALWAYS had some version of the FFN so It is reasonable to assume it will continue until otherwise stated by Hyatt

I've done quite a bit of detailed analysis for my own stay patterns. As a Plat with an MR Visa, I've found that Marriott offers the best total rewards - in part because every stay comes with a little slice of AA Lifetime elite status. With Marriott, I didn't just count nights vs. nights - I gave Marriott credit because of the good conversion rate to AA.

Sure, I could find other airlines in Marriott's list for future Travel Packages. But the best one is now gone.

And countering with a recommendation for Delta is just insulting. Give me a physical break. One DL mile isn't worth anything remotely near one AA mile. With AA gone, I'm most likely to redeem for WN one time - I can at least rent a few cars, hit 100 total credits, and have 12 free tickets...

After I top off the next one though, Starwood and Hyatt look more attractive.

This Delta reference is just another example where Marriott is just feeding it's members crap. Last year's major points devaluation was fed to us as "enhancements". Now, how gullible are we, really?

Looks like both Hyatt and Sheraton are going after Marriott customers who fly AA. I guess I will not be staying much with Marriott this summer, either.

I received the following from a reporter at USA Today (I'm on USA Today's Road Warrior Panel), and have her permission to post this. If you're interested, please respond directly to her in the manner she indicates:

"Earlier this morning, I wrote a story on my hotels blog about how Marriott Rewards as of July 1 will stop offering loyalty members American Airlines AAdvantage miles in exchange for stays.

You can read the story, along with Marriott's comment, here -- http://bit.ly/cAMIig .

I'd like to hear from you for my story. Is this a big deal to you? Why or why not?

Please either write directly ON THE BLOG - or share your thoughts via email if you're OK with me using your comments on my blog post. Please include your name & town and how often you selected American miles.

Thanks in advance for your interest!

Best,

-Barbara De Lollis
USA TODAY travel reporter
Hotel Check-In blogger
hotelcheckin.usatoday.com
On Twitter: barbdelollis
On Facebook: barbara delollis

Cheers.

After perusing FlyerTalk for AA promos, and looking at DL vs. AA award availability, I have literally canceled my next ten (yes, ten as in one-zero) stays with Marriott (they were already booked), and have given them to Hyatt, specifically because AA and UA miles are more useful than DL miles.

I will be saving the folios and faxing them to both the Marriott Rewards Platinum desk, and to Mr. Marriott's office. Even the devaluation last year did not drive me away. This has actually made me look elsewhere, cancel reservations, and book with a competitor.

I tolerated/swallowed that one a bit more easily. I accepted it as Marriott's attempt to abandon the two-tier redemption levels and move to a more Starwood-like system. It was loosely spun as "If a standard room is available you can book it with points", which meant that the net 4-10% devaluation (at the Plat level) was sort of palatable. All of the big chains' "No Capacity Controls" rules are full of loopholes and exceptions, but in fairness to Marriott I've been able to get my desired awards.

I likened it to a true trade-off, with the primary value going to people who like to book good hotels in near-peak seasons. (Off-peak travelers were better off with the old system and max-peak travelers are more likely to find hotels that game the system.)

This AA change has no such redeeming quality. It's a straight jam-job to the members, taking away a unique benefit that was incredibly important to many of the high-volume guests who regularly hit the Travel Package levels.

pinniped: Exactly.

You offended :rolleyes:

So are you saying that you don't think skymiles has any value or viability to ANY marriott rewards member? How very bold of you to make that judgment.....I think I'm offended!