Marriott Gift Cards no longer coded as "Visa"
Apr 14, 2011 | 11:56 am
#16
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: US Chairman, Marriott Platinum, PCR Platinum, and SPG Gold
Posts: 1,244
I was trying to use a honeymoon card on Tuesday morning at check out and the guy was having problems running it. Had to call corporate to try to get it done, but I needed to get to the airport so I just paid with a credit card.
Sounds as though they are processing different, so it's good to know there was a reason.
Sounds as though they are processing different, so it's good to know there was a reason.
Apr 14, 2011 | 5:23 pm
#17
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1k3.1mm;AAexEXP;HyGlob;AccPlt;HHGld;OnyxPlt;MarLTTitIHGDiAm;RRVIP;BW D;HcomG
Posts: 2,943
I could not use my gift card on Sat. 4/9 or 4/10 at the Residence Inn Santa Clarita Valencia. Two experienced clerks could not get it to work though the computer could see I had a balance on the card. And being the weekend, there was no one they could talk to at the gift card desk.
Apr 14, 2011 | 7:24 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 293
Oh, that's good to know. Thanks!
I could not use my gift card on Sat. 4/9 or 4/10 at the Residence Inn Santa Clarita Valencia. Two experienced clerks could not get it to work though the computer could see I had a balance on the card. And being the weekend, there was no one they could talk to at the gift card desk.
I could not use my gift card on Sat. 4/9 or 4/10 at the Residence Inn Santa Clarita Valencia. Two experienced clerks could not get it to work though the computer could see I had a balance on the card. And being the weekend, there was no one they could talk to at the gift card desk.
Apr 15, 2011 | 10:56 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 17,194
Well this isn't good news... trouble with using/processing gift card transactions and now it not being coded as Visa. I would have to assume the same is true for the VacationCard now as well, and that one has had some good promos like the 10% off on a $1k card.
Apr 15, 2011 | 11:18 am
#20
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chihuahua
Programs: SPG Plat, HHonor Diamond, Hyatt PLAT, Marriott PLat, UA 1K, AA EXP, DL PLAT, BMI Gold, Co PLAT
Posts: 1,992
Has anyone tried to process by adding a 4 in front of other 15 numbers
Apr 15, 2011 | 8:14 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
The agent at the Fairfield tried it today and it did not work. Learned about the change the hard way. It took 30 mins for them to sort it out after calling the 800 number at the back of the card.
Shows very poorly on Marriott having overlooked the need to educate their franchisees about these changes
Shows very poorly on Marriott having overlooked the need to educate their franchisees about these changes
Apr 15, 2011 | 9:49 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Somewhere in the air
Posts: 70
I have a $100 Marriott TravelCard Gift Card. Will I also be excluded from receiving points for stays?
Apr 16, 2011 | 9:57 am
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 74,139
Apr 16, 2011 | 12:25 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,815
Couldn't get front desk to process my card again today. Waited 20 minutes then gave up. Nobody available at the 800 number to help. Another stay tonight. Any ideas for tomorrow morning?
Apr 16, 2011 | 1:13 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
Apr 17, 2011 | 3:34 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 653
Gift Cards should earn points since it is a form of payment (T & C does not restrict point earning).
TravelCards (according to revised T & C do not earn points) are different.
What we do not know is if the hotels process Gift Cards and TravelCards differently.
Apr 17, 2011 | 8:26 am
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 74,139
Gift Cards and TravelCards are two different animals.
Gift Cards should earn points since it is a form of payment (T & C does not restrict point earning).
TravelCards (according to revised T & C do not earn points) are different.
What we do not know is if the hotels process Gift Cards and TravelCards differently.
Gift Cards should earn points since it is a form of payment (T & C does not restrict point earning).
TravelCards (according to revised T & C do not earn points) are different.
What we do not know is if the hotels process Gift Cards and TravelCards differently.
Ah, thanks for the clarification. I was referring to gift cards in my post based on what someone else said re: their getting points. The person I quoted mentioned travelcard & gift card in the same sentence, which led me to believe they were the same.
Cheers.
Apr 17, 2011 | 9:51 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: UA, bmi, AA, CO, DL, B6, AMEX, Hertz, Most Hotels
Posts: 3,042
fwiw, today I handed over a Travel Card (the brownish one) at checkout on my stay.
The Front Desk Mgr said that she would do her best to apply it but that there had been a recent change with the the way they needed to process them
She explained that in the past, all they needed to do was swipe the card & apply it like they would a credit card but now they need to go through several steps including making a call to get an authorization & this process did not always go smoothly.
Since I wasn't in a hurry, I left her the card to work on it & when I saw her a few hours later, was told she was able to apply the Travel Card to my bill. ^
fwiw, my reservation included both a LNF & BOGO
The Front Desk Mgr said that she would do her best to apply it but that there had been a recent change with the the way they needed to process them
She explained that in the past, all they needed to do was swipe the card & apply it like they would a credit card but now they need to go through several steps including making a call to get an authorization & this process did not always go smoothly.
Since I wasn't in a hurry, I left her the card to work on it & when I saw her a few hours later, was told she was able to apply the Travel Card to my bill. ^
fwiw, my reservation included both a LNF & BOGO
Apr 17, 2011 | 10:15 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Somewhere in the air
Posts: 70
well the travelcard was purchased through skymall (if anyone has experience with this and being able to receive points let me know the process). Just want to maximize my earnings points like all us vagabonds do so well. Thanks for the visa info. as well.