The bolded part of your response is exactly what I have expected to happen the entire time based on info previously provided. However, SPG Lurker has now confirmed the below:



It's possible that this was an entirely poor way of saying that the certificates will be cancelled and converted into other certificates of equivalent value, but SPG Lurker seems to select specific words to convey specific meaning and that would be a pretty major oversight.

I obviously don't think Marriott is cancelling the certs and not issuing us anything. However, if Marriott plans to cancel my certificates in August and refund points based on the back-end point value then that's of huge concern. I currently have two certs and one is a Cat 1-5, which refunds 45k when cancelled. If they plan to cancel and use the same values as currently received when we cancel then that's of huge concern for those with active certs. If this is the case I'd obviously want to figure out a way to get the points to upgrade this cert and redeem for something ahead of August. However, if they simply going to map to the new categories at the equivalent points category (which is what I've always been led to expect) then I'm not concerned with letting it ride. I also would be fine with them cancelling and issuing points value that would allow me to book the same equivalent places (so providing points amount per night x 6 nights). I think it's reasonable to expect that whatever we receive should be able to cover the same equivalency of our current certificates.

The big benefit of the TP award is the essentially 1-to-1 points to miles transfer rate. If you don't really need/want more airline miles, then I wouldn't use my Marriott points to get them.

Thanks for the updated info from SPG Lurker. Does anyone ask for clarification on what exactly the refund of points meant? I am thinking this is really what the Lurker means as this only fair to those who have existing certs planning to book before the certs expire. We should be able to book the same category same 7 nights without having to fork over more points.

I have only 1 active cert at Cat 1 to 5. I have usage in mind for it in November at a Cat 6. May be I can upgrade the cert and attached it to a booking simultaneously when I call to upgrade the cert. The caveat would be, if we change the date we would wound up in the same boat as if we haven't made the booking.

Is that true Lurker mentioned about we will know the new charts on hotel categories by June?

Thanks for jumping in over there, another person asking helps and the TP posts get buried over there. And yes, it's true that June is the expected timeline for all categories to be released - confirmed by Lurker as well as blogs like TPG.

No problem.

I also PMed Lurker asking him to take a look of my post due to it may get overlooked burying in all the countless arguments on the LTP, LTPP. Hopefully William will be able to seek further clarification on this burning issue.

I would suggest to those who are concerned, keep chiming in on the SPG thread so the issue would be noticed.

EDIT
Lurker said he had no answer now and told me to add the question to the Wiki section of the Mega thread. He will pass that to the Loyalty Team. I did so accordingly.
Therefore if anyone has any questions - it is USELESS to post in the body of the Mega thread - the questions NEED to be posted in the Wiki in order to get an official answer.

You can book one for your sister. That's no problem at all.

Recently redeemed for a Tier 4-5 7-night package, am having 2nd thoughts on using it right now vis a vis the merger. Can anyone help my thinking on this?

Originally planned to spend my entire balance on 3 Tier 4-5 7-night packages for fear of devaluation, but realized from August 1, 2018 - early 2019 yes there is some devaluation but also means Starwood properties are eligible for travel packages now. Instead of only having Marriott/Ritz-Carlton to choose from up to July 31, 2018, I can book places such as the Le Meridien or St. Regis in French Polynesia (where I want to go the most anywhere in the world). And it seems like to me as long as I book before the next devaluation comes along in early 2019 I'll be ok?

Currently on the phone trying to extend an expiring cert and being told it can't be done. :o When the agent comes back either it's done or I thank her and hang up to call another day but I hand't seen any discussion of a cert being denied a one time extension.

Are you still on the phone?

No, was told to call back when MR was open at 6:15AM central time.

One way I've been able to get them to extend it was by going up a category...that buys you another year (although the last time I did it was a year ago so maybe confirm...). So, if you have a 5 go to a 6 or some variation...

Also, if you're already at the category you want, you can downgrade the certificate. And then upgrade it in a month. Both will reset the expiration.

I didn't know you could downgrade a certificate...that's a new one to me. Always knew you could extend once same category, or upgrade categories.

I'm curious if it makes sense to get the Marriot travel package now for the hotel+airmiles cert under the current program (even with the changes, allowing for more availability to the SPG properties) OR waiting to see the 'new' hotel+air packages are post Aug 1st.
It has been confirmed they still will have a program in place, although from what people are suggesting it might not be as lucrative as it is now? (Especially for those who are doing MR->SPG->Marriott Package transfers)