Is it possible to upgrade the hotel portion of a Travel Package? (Marriott Rep)
 

I´m pretty sure that I have read in this forum that the hotel portion of a Travel Award can be upgraded from a cat 1-5 to a cat 6 at any time after it was issued by paying the difference in points between both of them. I called Marriott Rewards in the US and after some internal consulting, the operator said that yes, it is possible. However, my local Marriott office says that it can't be done. I need to issue a travel package right now just to get the FF miles so I would prefer to spend the least possible MR points in the hotel portion.

If any of the Marriott reps participating in this forum reads this, I would very much appreciate your official response. Thanks all!

Yes, it absolutely is possible.

I bought a TP a couple of years ago with the hotel portion being Cat 5. I extended it a couple of times, and within the last month upgraded it to a Cat 7 for an upcoming stay in October.

A simple phone call to SLC took care of it all.

As an aside, I think I still have the email from Chris (who was the MarriottConcierge at the time), explicitly saying it could be done.

Here is one post by Marriott Concierge (Chris) stating that the "official" policy is to not allow changes to a TP award once it is ordered. But it also states that the "unofficial" policy is that some Marriott CSRs can and will change the category level of a TP award: Question for Chris on Travel Package award/Stay Anytime

Since Marriott recently changed the amount of points received from a returned TP hotel award, they may have also changed their policy on changing TP hotel categories as well.

I saw your post in another thread as I was interested in either upgrading or downgrading a Category 6 pkg award that I had. I contacted Marriott Rewards redemptions in San Antonio (I think) and the CSR that I spoke to confirmed that one can indeed do the above, as you had first reported.

I do believe this represents a change -- a welcome change, at that -- and I thank you for pointing this out in the other thread. ^

Just as an aside ...

A lot of folks ask questions here on FT, and, sure enough, somebody here has the straight scoop. Great.

But there are questions (like this one) that could be answered a whole lot quicker by just making a phone call.

I'm as guilty as anyone else, but the thought just struck me.

As I mentioned in my post, I did call Customer Service in the US and in my country and both answers are exactly the opposite. The US rep hesitated and had to consult while the local rep was firm and sure about hers. Yes, I can keep on making international calls to CS until I feel there is an unanimous response but I preferred to post the question here to have your comments and, hopefully, an official veredict in writing which I may need in the future to upgrade my hotel certificate.

By the way, if you have Chris' email handy I will very much appreciate if you could share it with me. Thanks.

Chris is no longer working as part of the Marriott Concierge team on FT. He has a different assignment with Marriott. You should send a PM or email to Marriott Concierge.

I could be wrong, but I think frisbeeace wasn't asking for Chris' email address, but a copy of the email he sent BigLar.

Yes, you´re right, thanks. But I also hoped that one of the new Marriott reps that sometimes show up here at the forum would respond as well.

Looks like I misspoke -- I know I had the email, but since it was a couple of years ago it must have been deleted. The only copies I have left had to do with splitting up the award which is not possible.

Sorry about that. But I do know what you suggest is possible. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, that very approach (buy the cheapest hotel TP and upgrade if necessary) was suggested by the Marriott team.

Earlier this year I rang the UK office to do this and was told it was impossible. It was done in a matter of minute or two later by ringing the US office.

Travel Package Award - assistance request
 

I have enough for a travel package award - combination 7 night award, airline miles plus a car hire discount.

I can't recall how to reserve the 7 nigts accommodation.

I realise I need a standard stay award for my 7 nights - it's there. I can't just enter it directly online as an award package as the system assumes its just a standard redemption, as oposed to part of a travel package, and deducts ( 115,000 ) MPs.

Is this a situation where I have to phone it in?

I handled mine by phone. I'd made a standard booking, so knew the nights were available. Customer Service converted that to a travel package booking.

Travel package
 

Thanks for this.

Vacation help - 7 day award
 

I would like to use a 7 day award however there is a 1 day break whether the room is double pts (65k) or $450/night.

Is there anyway to do 7 nights in 8 nights with the 7 night award?