A friend at work was just telling me today that she booked a trip in London over the weekend using her 7 day cert and she had to pay a day in the middle because there was no standard award night available that day. So seems to be alive and well.

Marriott doesn't follow the same "last standard room available" for awards that Starwood has. Marriott hotels only have to offer a % of standard rooms for awards.

Marriott does have their "no blackout" policy, but that only means they need that Corp special event waiver if they don't want to offer any award rooms.

My transfer from last week posted this morning.

Me too, took 9 days.

Mine got posted too

Hello all: I have a question regarding the 7N hotel+flight cert...I understand it's for a standard room. Based on research, it appears that if I want to upgrade that cert to a 1BR suite, that suite would HAVE to be available on the website via the P&C option, correct?

Before taking the plunge on the cert (it would be for Hawaii), can I do the diligence beforehand to determine whether or not I would be able to 1) get the cert AND 2) manage to upgrade to a suite by paying more P&C?

Lastly, am I seeking the impossible, especially considering it's Hawaii?

Thanks in advance!

Actually, resorts (and most of the hotels in Hawaii are resorts) tend to have more "upgradable" rooms available for award booking than non-resort hotels do.

So yes, it is possible. All you need to do is search for normal award availability for a hotel. For you case, if you were wanting to travel to Hawaii for say Nov. 1-8th (you can pick any nights you want to search for award availability). I checked the "use points" box and hit search.

I found 16 different hotels within Hawaii that have award availability for Nov. 1-8th. I looked them over and decided I kind of liked the Kauai Marriott Resort. So I click on the Rates button for that hotel.

I then see that I have a base award room for 240K points plus 3 award room "options" for award + ecertificates. I can also see that they have 3 award options for award + cash. I can pick and choose any of those that I prefer.

The TP award cert can be used as the "base" award (as long as the category level matches or exceeds the hotel which in this case is Cat. 8). Once I pick the particular "option" I want, the reservation will tell me the total amount of points required + any cash. So if I choose the Oceanview, Balcony Award+Cash, then I see on the reservation details window that it will cost 40K per night (except for the 5th night) + $150/night every night including the 5th night as the "upgrade" isn't covered on the 5th award night free award.

I've always made my reservations before I ordered the award and held it without points. I then call in the MR to get the award cert linked to the reservation. If you are using upgrade certs for the reservation instead of cash, then the reservation will tell you how many total points will be required including the upgrade certs.

It really isn't any different than making any other award reservation except you might need to call in to get the cert linked to your reservation.

Can one upgrade a 7N cert to a suite via P&C?

Yes it is possible, if the hotel is offering suite point rooms.

I have a stay coming up during Thanksgiving at the Puerto Vallarta Casa Magna resort in an Oceanfront Suite room. I am using a TP 7 night award for the base room plus something like 4 or 5 upgrade certs per night. I could have also chosen to use the 7 night award plus about $150/night instead of using the upgrade certs.

I made the award reservation online and then called into Marriott to link the TP award to the reservation. So the answer to your question is it all depends on what the hotel is offering for awards. They might offer suite award rooms or they might not.

Does the hotel stay need to be completed by expiration date on 7nt cert or only booked by that date?

One year from when the Certificate was created- but if you call Marriott before expiration they will grant one year extension.

Just thought I'd update this, since it turned out so awesome. I did call about a month out to ask about upgrading with points, but rep said that they usually can accommodate the upgrade at check in for Golds and that I should wait. Called morning of (did not check in online) and asked about check in time, luggage storage, and upgrade possibility. Rep said, just to come on and they could try when I arrive. Showed up around noon and said we'd be happy to wait for room since we were early (just wanted to leave luggage somewhere). Fantastic rep said he upgraded us to a 2-bedroom b/c Gold MR. I almost kissed him. This honestly was more than I expected but it has made our vacation so, so much better. We are a family of 5 and the studio or 1-bedroom would've been very tight. We would've sucked it up, but dang the 2-bedroom suite is awesome.

any recent DPs on Marriott --> United? Initiated via phone on saturday and points still haven't shown up

Aeroplan 35% bonus transfer
 

Aeroplan has a new bonus transfer - this time is 35% for any quantity versus the one in March that was tiered.

I wish I could take advantage on this transfer but alas, I dont want to be holding 2 7-nights certs with expiration dates so close to each other as I have done the 25% transfer in late March.

But for those who are not aware of the Aeroplan bonus transfer, this could be a very nice bonus to redeem the TP - that is, if Aeriplan works for you.

I'm looking to redeem for a 5/7N cert to use next year. Unfortunately, I probably won't make Gold again. Has anyone had success in using the cert to make a reservation in someone else's name who has elite status so that his/her status attaches for upgrades/club/breakfast, etc?

Thanks