Using Points and Gettting Out
 

I have about 125,000 Marriott points that I'd like to cash out. My experiences in the past 6 months have been awful. I have gotten no satisfaction to my complaints. I'll probably switch to Hilton (does anyone know if they will honor my status with Marriott?). What's the best use of my points? I have no interest in free rooms. I fly various airlines (NW, AMWest, Am) so I thought about transferring the points for miles. Is any one airline a better deal? Thanks.

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Harry Heck, CLA
Harrah's Entertainment
Corporate Law
Department

See:

http://www.marriottrewards.com/awards/AirRewards.asp#51

You can get 50,000 miles on NW or AA for the 125,000 Marriott Rewards points. I don't see anything for Am West.

I suppose I'd be inclined to go with AA, since the miles transferred in count toward lifetime status on AA.

Lifetime status? What's that? I just become a Gold Member until 2/04 via a special promotion.

via what special promotion??

It was called the "Gold Challange." You had to call Customer Sevice and ask for it. If you get 5000 points (not miles) within 90 days, they give you Gold Status until 2-04. It took me awhile to get them to sign me up and then prove I got 5000 points since I only flew 3500 miles (first class- 1 mile = 1.5 points).

It's a good question. I'm in the same situation, although I don't have nearly as many points, so I'll probably add some more Marriott points before I do anything.

Ultimately, I think you should do whatever puts the points to work on an airline or in some other way that offers value to you. Even if you take a hit, like with the 3:1 points to mileage ratio offered by Marriott, you'll be using the points in some way that is more meaningful.

On AA:
1million miles=Gold for life
2million miles=Plat for life



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Not sure where I'm going, but I'm getting there fast.

There IS such a thing as Platinum, Gold, Silver lifetime status in the MR program. If you call MR customer service they will tell you all about it.

Thanks Harryheck for your note on the gold challenge.

harryheck
The GLD challenge with AA is 5000 miles or qualifying points in 90 days. 10,000 miles or points will get you PLT.
Miles in this case is actual miles flown.

harryheck:


What kind of bad experiences have you had with Marriott to make you jump ship? I am curious to hear about particular properties which have been disappointing.

I actually received 1 and a half points per mile when I flew First Class. I was told full fare Coach gave 1 and a quarter points per mile.

I've seen a general decline in the type of service and upkeep of their properties. I had two very bad experiences recently in St. Louis. One was at a Renaissance Hotel which was more like a HoJo's. The building was old and had not been refurbished in what appeared to be a long time. Marriott responded to the second of my two letters to corporate and gave me 5,000 points- hardly worth the poor service, bad housekeeping and other assorted problems I went through. I understand that one can have a bad experience at any place; however, the combination of a year of disappointments and the virtual disregard for my complaints has forced me to move on.