Thanks for all your responses. Sorry it was a typo the certifcate was ordered in July 2008.
Phil

Great series of posts with time-sensitive information and analysis and strategy for Marriott Rewards members with loads of points to use for better value in 2009. Thanks Grizshel.

Thanks for sharing, lots of good info.

Folks, as discussed on other threads of late, it is now too late to order a HI or Europe sampler package, but you still have to the close of business for Marriott Rewards on January 14, 2009 to get a travel package (with airline miles) ordered under the soon to expire point system. To my knowledge the rules for changes in hotel reservations with either type of package during 2009 have not been published on Marriott.com - although Marriott Concierge has assured us that at least the sampler packages will have a great deal of flexibility. I take from some of MC's posts that there will be some changes allowed with the Travel Packages also, but the limits on the changes have not been (and may not be) published, so proceed with caution especially if you anticipate you may have to make multiple changes. I'd like this situation to be better defined, but I can understand the difficulty they would anticipate in just saying unlimited changes are allowed.

The HI 7 night sampler is still for sale on the MR website. It never had a expiration date of Dec. 31 listed like the European one did and when I asked last month on the forum if it was going away noone answered. I guess the answer was no.

That is very interesting!

I asked two different reps, one on 12/30/08 and one on 12/31/08. Both confirmed that the Hawaii sampler was not expiring 12/31/08.

If this is being continued indefinitey for 150k, then megakudos to Marriott for giving us another great way out of the sting of the upcoming point inflation! ^ Am very surprised they did not ever mention leaving us with this great perk (well, if you like going to Hawaii, that is ;) )

It is nice that there is at least one nice offer out there left!

I may be wrong here but occupancy rates in Hawaii are not breaking any records right now with this economy...so it probably makes decent business sense too to leave us at least one bone...for those who haven't already cleaned out our account at least

The Hawaiian and UK / Ireland Sampler Rewards will not be offered after January 15, 2009. However, like the European Hopper, these awards can still be used if ordered prior to January 15. I apologize for any misinformation that has been provided.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Drew

Shoot. DH has only 147,000 points after ordering the Euro hopper but is staying in San Diego for 10 days this month, not until after the 15th. We were going to order the HI hopper at the end of that stay.

Figures :rolleyes:

Thanks for the 'heads up' on yet another value-added feature to the MR program! :rolleyes:

Yes, I have concerns.
1. As I mentioned before, I specifically asked two separate reps if this award was expiring. The answer from both was No. I asked specifically because I was ordering this award for my brother/his wife as a gift, and at the same time was considering a Europe hopper for myself. When I learned that this wasn't going away and the last day for the Europe award was 12/31/08, I prioritized the Europe award. I might not have done this knowing the above.

2. I don't frequent this forums every day, usually I go several weeks between visits. I would have be really p*ssed off If I "discovered" in February that this award went away. (Well, I'm not exactly happy now.)

3. The Marriott web site still doesn't mention anything about this award going away 1/15/2009.

Last comment: I am a (very) long term stock holder in Marriott (and HST for that matter), circa 1990. As a guest, I have accumulated well over 1 million Marriott rewards points, most of them accumulated in relatively expensive Marriott properties. As a stock holder, I can't think of a *worse* time for Marriott to have made these changes and am additionally concerned about how the changes were made and communicated. To put it in simple terms, if the changes are enough to get me thinking to eliminate/minimize stays with Marriott and more stays with the competition given I am a stockholder, what does that say for others who have no financial incentive for Marriott's success? (And that in turn makes me question keeping my investment in Marriott stock.)

MR Points for Hawaiian Airlines Miles - going away??
 

I too am getting conflicting information regarding the Hawaii portion of the new program. Specifically, I noticed that Hawaiian Airlines is NOT listed in the new program points structure charts for either Airline Points or Air/Hotel Package Awards.

Does anyone know if MR points to HA miles is being discountined as of Jan 15? MR customer service reps give conflicting info.

Thanks!