Marriott has eliminated the all-inclusive reward
Oct 20, 2011, 4:14 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
Retracted
Last edited by VickiSoCal; Oct 20, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Oct 20, 2011, 4:17 pm
#47
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 699
Oct 20, 2011, 4:21 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
Were you able to find a hotel and date that would take the code?
Never mind I found some- so it looks like they are still allowing a booking for $$$.
Never mind I found some- so it looks like they are still allowing a booking for $$$.
Oct 20, 2011, 4:24 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,187
Hi all,
For those of you who have an existing reservation with plans to use the All Inclusive package, the AI reward will be honored for your stay. So this would be for an existing 5 or 7 night redemption reservation booked prior to Oct. 17, 2011 at one of the AI participating properties. The reward does have to be requested and issued on your account by January 17, 2012.
I hope this helps those who were planning to use the reward for an upcoming stay.
Kind regards,
Marie
For those of you who have an existing reservation with plans to use the All Inclusive package, the AI reward will be honored for your stay. So this would be for an existing 5 or 7 night redemption reservation booked prior to Oct. 17, 2011 at one of the AI participating properties. The reward does have to be requested and issued on your account by January 17, 2012.
I hope this helps those who were planning to use the reward for an upcoming stay.
Kind regards,
Marie
Be sure to send your displeasure in how this devaluation was snuck in with zero notice in the form of a letter Mr. Marriott's attention at corporate. I'll be doing that tomorrow.
Oct 20, 2011, 5:17 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium (former PP), Hilton Silver, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,906
Have you seen Hilton's recent enhancements to their awards program? I would put their BS excuse for less standard room award availability ahead of Marriott's unannounced elimination of the all-inclusive award.
Oct 20, 2011, 5:33 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
Realistically this is a small change that affects 7 hotels out of thousands. And I would bet a very small percentage of people booking awards at those hotels even knew about the availablity of these add on AI awards let alone booked one. They weren't exactly easy to find on the website or promoted in any way. I understand that people here at FT knew about them and may have been counting on or planning on using them someday, but again we are a pretty small percentage of MR members, and even most of us weren't all that interested in these awards.
Oct 20, 2011, 5:56 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
Oct 20, 2011, 6:15 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,210
Indeed!!! 
I've been selling Marriott to others on several points including that "Marriott will always give more than ample warning for program changes so members can plan for them"; now I feel sort of stabbed in the back with this. It's not that the all-inclusive award is all that important to me personally, it's the principle of now no longer knowing whether my points will be devalued overnight without any warning.
I'm still vested in Marriott as my primary hotel program and there's still much to love about them, but there's a lower level of trust now and I'm looking to hedge my bets to divide up at least some of my stays with other programs.
Very sad to see something like this happen in this way.
I've been selling Marriott to others on several points including that "Marriott will always give more than ample warning for program changes so members can plan for them"; now I feel sort of stabbed in the back with this. It's not that the all-inclusive award is all that important to me personally, it's the principle of now no longer knowing whether my points will be devalued overnight without any warning.
I'm still vested in Marriott as my primary hotel program and there's still much to love about them, but there's a lower level of trust now and I'm looking to hedge my bets to divide up at least some of my stays with other programs.
Very sad to see something like this happen in this way.
Oct 20, 2011, 6:32 pm
#54
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: DFW,TX USA
Programs: Lifetime Platinum Marriott
Posts: 1,568
I have mixed review on this. I got great response and assistance from concierge and customer service, so the Marriott people are great.
But whoever signed off on this decision to discontinue, mid month, with no warning should join whoever signed off on the new web site in the unemployment line.
The AI was not that great a value, so my guess is that the majority of people hit are their most frequent travelers. Bad form and bad business.
But whoever signed off on this decision to discontinue, mid month, with no warning should join whoever signed off on the new web site in the unemployment line.
The AI was not that great a value, so my guess is that the majority of people hit are their most frequent travelers. Bad form and bad business.
Last edited by rthib; Oct 20, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Oct 20, 2011, 7:02 pm
#55
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 699
Using airline points with Marriott AI you could truly take a vacation for $5 per person to a tropical destination. For those of us who are frugal, AIs were a great way to take a vacation on the cheap.
Oct 20, 2011, 8:02 pm
#56
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Silver, MR Plat Prem & LT Plat, Hyatt Plat,SPG Plat, Hertz PC, National EE, UA 1K
Posts: 3,405
With 1-2MM points balances-I enjoy travel packages and enjoyED AI's. The times I used them, I did not eat in the hotel every day/meal, but when I wanted a drink, I got one. If the kids wanted to stay and eat, they did. If we wanted to dine out on the town, we did. I didnt feel "locked" into ONLY eating at the hotel...YMMV.
Oct 21, 2011, 7:51 am
#57
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 888
With 1-2MM points balances-I enjoy travel packages and enjoyED AI's. The times I used them, I did not eat in the hotel every day/meal, but when I wanted a drink, I got one. If the kids wanted to stay and eat, they did. If we wanted to dine out on the town, we did. I didnt feel "locked" into ONLY eating at the hotel...YMMV.
Oct 21, 2011, 8:27 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Programs: Delta GM/1.5MM ~ United Silver ~ Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,434
As others have said bad form about changes with no announcements AND needing an FT'er making a reservation, or at least trying to make a res, to hear about it.
At a minimum we should have been given 90 days, heck, even 30 days. I've used my points recently for the gift cert's but had though about going back to Aruba next spring and using the AI as we've used that option a few years ago and loved it.
Uggg.
At a minimum we should have been given 90 days, heck, even 30 days. I've used my points recently for the gift cert's but had though about going back to Aruba next spring and using the AI as we've used that option a few years ago and loved it.
Uggg.
Oct 22, 2011, 12:02 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2011
Location: North Carolina
Programs: AA exp(6mm), United Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 152
The issue here isn't the poor food at the resort. I also chose to eat outside of the resorts when I stayed there. The issue is Marriott's attempt to "sneak one by" their customer base. No excuses, e.g. low usage etc. It is just a matter of acting ethically or not. In this case it was "or not." For the changes to the website, corporations make unintelligent decisions, just like people. Kudos to Marriott for admitting it and correcting it. (I assume they will) 
For welching on a commitment to their customer base, it is clear that Marriott may have a new found direction. For this we all need to place a watchful eye on the program and act a little more conservatively with MR, until such time as they choose to be worthy of our trust again. The issue here was the notice given, plain and simple; which was none. As others have stated, very bad form. 
For welching on a commitment to their customer base, it is clear that Marriott may have a new found direction. For this we all need to place a watchful eye on the program and act a little more conservatively with MR, until such time as they choose to be worthy of our trust again. The issue here was the notice given, plain and simple; which was none. As others have stated, very bad form.
Oct 22, 2011, 3:38 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HH Gold, Marriott Gold, PC Plat, Emirates Silver
Posts: 2,678
Hi all,
For those of you who have an existing reservation with plans to use the All Inclusive package, the AI reward will be honored for your stay. So this would be for an existing 5 or 7 night redemption reservation booked prior to Oct. 17, 2011 at one of the AI participating properties. The reward does have to be requested and issued on your account by January 17, 2012.
I hope this helps those who were planning to use the reward for an upcoming stay.
Kind regards,
Marie
For those of you who have an existing reservation with plans to use the All Inclusive package, the AI reward will be honored for your stay. So this would be for an existing 5 or 7 night redemption reservation booked prior to Oct. 17, 2011 at one of the AI participating properties. The reward does have to be requested and issued on your account by January 17, 2012.
I hope this helps those who were planning to use the reward for an upcoming stay.
Kind regards,
Marie
How many book the nights then months later book the AI package? Very few I am sure. This is no consolation to those of use where were planning on booking the whole package in the near future.
Just one more reason I am re-evaluating my Marriott relationship. I moved most of my business to IC last year and have had few regrets.
I guess time to move my Ritz stay next week to the IC as a form of silent protest.