I have over 425,000 Marriott Reward points in 2 accounts. A few questions:

Can two accounts (husband and wife) still be combined. I have heard conflicting stories.

If I take the 425,000 level award, is AA the preferred airline, as it seems this can be maximized to 60,000 per traveller, for a total of 240,000 AA miles...is this the maximum for 4 tickets? Any tips for maximizing the amount of AA miles you can receive?

Under this award, you receive two (2) 10 night hotel certificates. Do these certificates have to be used for 10 days in a row, or can they be split--4 nights here, 6 nights here? Can they be used a different hotels? How long are the certificates good for?

Any help much appreciated!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/000514.html

-David

Thanks for the link--excellent info!

2 questions:

1. Can 2 Marriott Reward accounts still be combined? I have heard this was discontinued, and have also heard it ends on 12/31/01.

2. When depositing Marriott Rewards into an AA account, does Marriott give you any flack between "Off Peak" and "Regular" awards travel--both on the PLAN AHEAD fare basis? The difference can be substancial. "Regular PLAN AHEAD" to Japan is 65,000 miles, but "Off Peak PLAN AHEAD" is far less! I can't believe Marriott would qualify WHEN you have to travel. If you want to travel in the summer, the milage will just be higher. Any help on these points appreciated. I am really looking to maximize the American Airline Advantage point redemption.

What you get in AA are AA miles. They are no different (for award purposes) than any other miles. That is, the expiration is the same, the use is the same, etc. So, for example, if you deposit 120,000 miles you can use them for 3 plan ahead domestic first, or 4 plan ahead domestic coach (with 20,000 left over) or whatever else you can do with 120,000 miles.

You will be given miles equivalent to a regular saver award and not the off peak equivalent.

snackyx:

The max miles per AA award on a 713 or 714 is 60k miles per traveler. Just tell them Europe during the peak travel time and you'll get the max.

There's been some dissent about combinability. I think it was announced as a discontinued benefit last year and may not be doable any more, but your mileage may vary on this. Please report your results back here. My info source is embedded in this TUG BBS thread: http://www.tug1.net/tugbbs1/Forum19/HTML/000245.html You can edit/find "combine" to locate the first embedded message.

When you read that thread you'll understand why you might want to worry about collecting this thing soon. Personally, I'm at 198,3xx and I'm sweating it out till mid-April or so, though I could buy the 2k points I need.

-David


[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 04-09-2001).]

[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 04-09-2001).]

[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 04-09-2001).]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/000689.html

I guess it's still an unpublished benefit. Did you get your award yet, D2B?

-David

You don't have to tell them peak time. Just say Europe and they'll deposit 60k into your account. People who are actually going to Hawaii on their award can say Europe and get enough miles for first class to Hawaii

60k is the max. I've redeemed two 200k awards rather than the 425k one and have gotten 240,000 miles in my AA account.

I am about to. There was someone who posted a note saying that they heard that there would actually be a transition phase, wherein you still be able to redeem an award under the old schedule, even though they may have changed the program.

I don't know if this is accurate, but it really would be nice if they did so.

When I actually do the redemption, I will let you know if I have any problems. However, as my contact is quite reliable, I do not forsee any problems re the Spousal award, but I will let all of you know.

Incidentally, I have booked a week at the County Hall from 12/26 -1/1.

Not the best of times, and I know London shuts down on 12/26 because of Boxing day, but I could not book anything better on shorter notice, as the Paris Marriott is already booked for that time period.

I don't think Rome is booked as yet, though, but I think that the London "value" is a bit better.

Is there any benefit to redeeming 200K twice rather than 425K once? The hotel certificate is certianly more lucrative with 425 (20 nights with the 425K vs. 7 nights for each 200K), but the hotel end seems to be the part I may have trouble using. I have no immediate plans for ten consecutive nights at one specific Marriott--is there any way to break this up for to extend the one year life of the certificate? If I wait to redeem my points, it seems from other postings that this award may change for the worse.

The hotel awards can be redepostied for points or extended for a minimal fee. I don't remember the point value for the hotel certs.

-David

The point value on the 200K award for the hotel is 50K points. I asked this specific question when I used this award a few weeks ago.

The point value on the 200K award for the hotel is 50K points. I asked this specific question when I used this award a few weeks ago.

On the other hand, the 1 year extensiion costs $25-$30. I think that even if they do away with the extension, those holding certs before such a change will be "grandfathered" in for an additional year, if you wish. But, no guarantees!