Earning Preference Question
Sep 14, 2011 | 3:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 526
Earning Preference Question
Hi y'alls,
I was wondering about earning preferences. Interestingly, I have searched throughout the part of Marriott's site that lets you switch from earning Marriott points to airline miles, and nowhere does it say how miles are earned if you elect them. Perhaps the boardmembers have a good enough understanding of this tricky topic to help me (and others) out:
1) Can I switch my earning preference as often as I like?
2) Does it work in "real time", so if I change my preference right before one stay and switch it back right after the stay, will that stay and only that stay count towards miles? Or are there documented delays/other issues with toggling and getting the right points/miles deposited?
3) Do all the Marriott point multipliers apply to miles as well? In other words, if I were to earn exactly 1,200 Marriott points on a given stay with all the multipliers, would I earn exactly 1,200 airline miles if I had switched my earning preference prior to that stay? Or do I earn fewer miles than Marriott points? Is there a chart that shows the difference?
4) My airline miles are expiring for Cathay Pacific. I assume that I can avoid expiry by switching to earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles for at least one stay so as to "refresh" my account. I assume that miles earned via Marriott stays are posted relatively quickly (not like a 6 month delay or anything). Is this accurate?
Thanks again,
A recent Marriott joiner
I was wondering about earning preferences. Interestingly, I have searched throughout the part of Marriott's site that lets you switch from earning Marriott points to airline miles, and nowhere does it say how miles are earned if you elect them. Perhaps the boardmembers have a good enough understanding of this tricky topic to help me (and others) out:
1) Can I switch my earning preference as often as I like?
2) Does it work in "real time", so if I change my preference right before one stay and switch it back right after the stay, will that stay and only that stay count towards miles? Or are there documented delays/other issues with toggling and getting the right points/miles deposited?
3) Do all the Marriott point multipliers apply to miles as well? In other words, if I were to earn exactly 1,200 Marriott points on a given stay with all the multipliers, would I earn exactly 1,200 airline miles if I had switched my earning preference prior to that stay? Or do I earn fewer miles than Marriott points? Is there a chart that shows the difference?
4) My airline miles are expiring for Cathay Pacific. I assume that I can avoid expiry by switching to earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles for at least one stay so as to "refresh" my account. I assume that miles earned via Marriott stays are posted relatively quickly (not like a 6 month delay or anything). Is this accurate?
Thanks again,
A recent Marriott joiner
Sep 14, 2011 | 4:08 pm
#2
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,775
1. Yes, there is no limits around switching back and forth. Some here have posted that they earned "miles" during one promo and would switch to points once they have maximized the miles bonuses.
2. My understanding is that it is pretty much in real time. So yes, you could earn points this week and miles next week.
3. My understanding is No. As a Plat you won't get extra "bonus" miles for every $ spent. (But I could be wrong on this so maybe someone whose actually earned miles will chime in.)
4. I suspect they are posted probably on a weekly basis. So you shouldn't have to wait too long for the miles to post. As for whether a particular airline will take miles from Marriott as a "qualifed" event for extending miles expiration, I would say that depends on the airline. But your miles should be posting fairly quickly.
2. My understanding is that it is pretty much in real time. So yes, you could earn points this week and miles next week.
3. My understanding is No. As a Plat you won't get extra "bonus" miles for every $ spent. (But I could be wrong on this so maybe someone whose actually earned miles will chime in.)
4. I suspect they are posted probably on a weekly basis. So you shouldn't have to wait too long for the miles to post. As for whether a particular airline will take miles from Marriott as a "qualifed" event for extending miles expiration, I would say that depends on the airline. But your miles should be posting fairly quickly.