For now, I have a couple of more questions, there's probably more to come later I am afraid.

1. So is it really, for sure true if I want to get 1 cat. 5 or 6 t.p. but don't have quite enough points for it by the 14th that I can still reserve the package without ordering it (i.e., having the airline miles transferred)? I previously thought everything had to be ordered by the 14th of Jan.

2. I have a diliemna. I want to get a London package for a stay in Oct. I have at least 2 properties in mind, one is and will be a cat. 7 the other is a cat. 7 and will be a cat. 8. In this case it seems you are saying that I've got to order it by the 14th, and stick with my one choice no matter what NO DATE CHANGES, NO HOTEL PROPERTY CHANGE, and you lose most of your points permanently if you can't stick exactly to a plan made in Jan. for late 2009). Is this right? If so, I think this is an unreasonably stringent restriction and I hope Marriott will reconsider. For example, at least letting me make the hotel reservations at both of the London properties and choosing which one I want to keep later.

Actually you can. It is possible now to call Marriott, make dozens of different reservations without having the required points or without touching those in your account by telling that you already have a certificate (an European sampler for example). Then, as Ira stated you can issue a travel package or e-certificate later in 2009 at the old point structure to honor that reservation (I must confess that I am surprised that Marriott will allow this). So, basically, this results as flexible as it can be with the only limitation of how much you can travel in 2009. So, there will be tons of fake reservations made just in case...

Why am I so confused...still? I see questions about the miles/hotel/car travel packages, and then answers, talking about the "sampler packages". Are the rules the same? I have a Cat 6 travel package that is good until 1/10/10. Do I have to reserve the hotel now to avoid paying more points?

clarifying question regarding burning my points..
 

I have 340k points and want to burn them with a reservation before January 15th.

Here are my questions:
1. If I get two rooms for 5 nights in 2009, and then want to change the date to a different date in 09, do I have to start over using the new point structure?

2. Am I right in that I can go ahead and make multiple reservations, saying that I'll use my points, then pick and choose which dates I want to use them with..without an penalty?

Thank you!

So you redeemed this prize yesterday and it has a 1 year validity until it expires. The cat 6 certificate will be good at any cat 6 hotel so you don't have to make a booking now but you risk that your desired cat 6 hotel might be upgraded to cat 7 after Jan. 15. We do know which hotels will become cat 8 but there is no information if other hotels will change categories as well. It would be nice to hear about his from Marriott Concierge.

I booked a stay for September at the Marriott in PAris that will become a category 8. I don't have enough points in my account now, but will earn enough in the next few months or can transfer the points from my wife's account. Can I wait to get the reward certificate after Jan 15 or should I transfer the points and get it now.

thanks for keeping this thread up to date.

I'm looking forward to using my Europe Hopper awards in March!

Plat Reservation Representative told me yesterday that this was NOT the case. I made a reservation at the Wailea Resort in Maui (ordered travel package before jan 14th) and inquired about changing the dates afterwards. Not only did he say that if I made changes afterwards (without an unordered reservation) that I would be charged the extra points but that the property would be changing to a Category 8! I did not realize this was unknown until another poster pointed this out to me. I'm hoping Marriott Concierge can chime in on this unlisted category change and either confirm or deny.

Just FYI

Folks,
Not having time to update the above summary of policies regarding the transitional period handling of travel packages and samplers now, I'm just going to direct you over to the original thread where marriott announced these changes, Marriott Concierge answers in the last day or so I find to be really helpful, start reading especially on page 34 of that thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...d-ugly-34.html

This is mainly coming down to, as far as I understand it, the fact that you need to have your reservations and backup reservations in place for travel packages by the 1/14/09; this is not necessary for the samplers you ordered. An interesting suggestion by Marriott Concierge in the above thread about another way to line up an Hawaiian sampler, get your reservations in place by the 14th, order afterwards (rather than the reverse; personally I would only do this if I did not have the points I needed yet.)

When must a travel package be "ATTACHED" to a reservation?
 

Wow - I never thought I could be so confused. This has probably been asked and answered and if so, I apologize. But I can't find this info anywhere and I'm starting to panic. Please feel free to point me to another post if needed.

FIRST: I ordered a Cat 7 travel package 3 days ago. The airline miles have posted to my FF account. I have made a reservation at the Wailea Marriott for end of March using the standard, 150k 7 night award (did this over the phone with the hotel's reservation clerk). However, the reservation listed on my Marriott account page simply says that I will need to order a certificate before the stay. Does this mean that the 7 night certificate portion of the travel package has not been "attached" to this reservation? If not, at what point (if ever) does it have to be "attached"? Or do I simply show up when I check in with the certificate in hand?

SECOND: To make things even more confusing, I may have to change my plans for Hawaii and use the certificate in Paris in mid March - where the hotel will be changing to Cat 8. As a backup, I made an online reservation at the Renaissance Vendome for a standard, 150k 7 night reservation. Again, my account simply states to be sure I order the certificate before my stay. Since this will become Cat 8, do I need to call before tomorrow to "attach" this reservation to the paper certificate. Or can I simply show up at the hotel with the Cat 7 certificate in hand and proof that my reservation was made before the 1/15 deadline? I'm getting nervous...

HELP!

gogogo, part of the problem here is that the Marriott Rewards folks still have not completely worked out all of the details of their policy for what I'm calling now the transitional travel packages - booked under the old point system for use in 2009. Just yesterday a Marriott Rewards rep told me I had to order the package by today; totally contradictory to what Marriott Concierge and some other Marriott Rewards reps told me. I have been advised to make the res and backup res, then actually order (Have the points deducted) when I am sure as I can be of which hotel res I actually want to use.

I'm nervous also, but I've got to rely on what MC has told us. I think you are ok with your backup res in place, but you really need to wait to hear from them. Or try getting this reconfirmed by a supervisor in Marriott Rewards today. Note the time of your call and who you spoke to.

The fact that the Marriott Rewards people don't even know the rules is what concerns me most. I get a different answer every time I call. At this point I think I'll just hope for the best.

GRIZSHEL OR ANYONE ELSE --

Let me repeat what I think Ira is telling us on this board and in PMs, and I ask for your critique of it.


First, I am only talking about the 7 night travel packages, not the hotel samplers.

As I understand it, we need only to make an old points reservation by tonight.

I am not even sure if we need to have the points in our account, but that is not a problem for me, as I have enough points. In fact, I have made two 7 night stay reservations over Christmas under the OLD point schedule for what will become Category 8 hotels.

Now, I think Ira is saying that is all we need to do right now.

At some later point we can then order an OLD Category 7 travel package (at less points than the new ones that come into force tomorrow) -- until what date in the future we must do this by is unfortunately left unsaid by Ira -- should we wish to utilize the reward reservation we have booked prior to 1/15/09.

Should we wish to utilize that reward reservation, we will be able to substitute in the hotel portion of the OLD travel package, and have the points holding that reservation under the old rates go back into my account (since I am holding the reservation with points) or not, if the MR member is allowed to hold the 7 night award booked under the old schedule without sufficient points.

If we do not wish to utilize the reservation, we need not order the Old travel Package and the points holding the reward reservation (or not, if permitted) will just go back into our account, like any cancelled hotel award reservation operates.


Is this correct, as you understand it?

You may want to contact guest service sometime before your stay and ask that they verify that the travel package is attached to your reservation. I can do this for you if you send me an email with you account and reservation information.

Your reservation for Paris sounds fine. As long as it was made for reward redemption before the 15th it does not matter when you order the reward, you are locked into the category 7 price.

Ira

I pretty much agree with this but I want to give a little bit of my own explanation.

If you have already ordered the travel package you do not need to make the reservation tonight. Of course it is always best to make your reservation as soon as you know where and when you are staying, but the point is, if you have a travel package in your account it will be good for any reward redemption stay (matching the category of hotel the package is issued) regardless of if the reservation was made before or after the 15th.

Making the reservation tonight becomes important if you are planning to use the certificate at a hotel that is becoming a category 8, and it is also important if you do not have enough points in your account yet to order the reward. Booking the reservation tonight will make it possible for you to order the cheaper rewards anytime before your stay.

Ira