Jul 30, 2016, 4:21 pm
Last edit by: Slickw
LINK TO CHART
Legacy to New Travel Package Conversion (effective August 2019)
A Marriott supervisor can currently convert your legacy travel package into the new category mapping. If you hold a Category 6, 8, or Tier 1-3 legacy certificate, it's ideal to downgrade your certificate before converting so that points don't potentially get lost in the process.
The codes for the new partial packages are:
New Cat 1-4: QP83
New Cat 5: QP91
New Cat 6: QP99
New Cat 7:
The legacy certificates map to the new certificates as such:
Cat 1-5 => Cat 1-4
Cat 6 => Cat 1-4
Cat 7 => Cat 5
Cat 8 => Cat 5
Cat 9 => Cat 6
Tier 1-3 => Cat 6
Tier 4-5 => Cat 7
==================================================
If you are unsure where you will use your 7 night stay, when you request the package, just ask for a category 1-5 hotel. That way you are out of the least number of points. If later, you decide to book for a higher level category, then you can do so and pay the difference the travel package points. If you can't use your certificate within the year, then as close to the one year anniversary (without going over!) call to extend the certificate for one more year. That's as long as they will typically allow, one extension. There is an option to expedite the mileage delivery to within three business days (sometimes faster) for $15. There are reports that this fee may be waived for platinum members.
Effective April 1 2017 re: Southwest & the companion pass:
"Purchased points, points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club, points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment, tier bonuses, flight bonuses, and partner bonuses (excluding points bonuses earned on the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase) do not count toward Companion Pass."
************
Can I book SPG properties with my Marriott Travel Package? As of 9/1/2018 apparently not. see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30155836-post6529.html
Legacy to New Travel Package Conversion (effective August 2019)
A Marriott supervisor can currently convert your legacy travel package into the new category mapping. If you hold a Category 6, 8, or Tier 1-3 legacy certificate, it's ideal to downgrade your certificate before converting so that points don't potentially get lost in the process.
The codes for the new partial packages are:
New Cat 1-4: QP83
New Cat 5: QP91
New Cat 6: QP99
New Cat 7:
Originally Posted by Marriott Rewards Insider
Members who purchased a Category 6, Category 8 or Tier 1-3 certificate prior to 8/18 are able to request a one-time exchange for a Travel Package one category lower. This process will cancel your current Travel Package, reissue a Travel Package one category lower and result in a refund of 30,000 points to your account. To submit a request, follow these steps:
Source: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...es-update.html
- Select “Packages - Deals” from the “Topic” drop down menu
- Submit your request
Source: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...es-update.html
The legacy certificates map to the new certificates as such:
Cat 1-5 => Cat 1-4
Cat 6 => Cat 1-4
Cat 7 => Cat 5
Cat 8 => Cat 5
Cat 9 => Cat 6
Tier 1-3 => Cat 6
Tier 4-5 => Cat 7
==================================================
If you are unsure where you will use your 7 night stay, when you request the package, just ask for a category 1-5 hotel. That way you are out of the least number of points. If later, you decide to book for a higher level category, then you can do so and pay the difference the travel package points. If you can't use your certificate within the year, then as close to the one year anniversary (without going over!) call to extend the certificate for one more year. That's as long as they will typically allow, one extension. There is an option to expedite the mileage delivery to within three business days (sometimes faster) for $15. There are reports that this fee may be waived for platinum members.
Effective April 1 2017 re: Southwest & the companion pass:
"Purchased points, points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club, points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment, tier bonuses, flight bonuses, and partner bonuses (excluding points bonuses earned on the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase) do not count toward Companion Pass."
************
Can I book SPG properties with my Marriott Travel Package? As of 9/1/2018 apparently not. see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30155836-post6529.html
Marriott Travel Packages
Jun 23, 2018, 3:37 pm
#3421
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
As for Asia Miles themselves, there are much more Choice and Tailored seats than Standard seats which are drastically reduced. That is bad news for both Asia Miles members AND those who are planning to use AS/AA/Avio (for the sweet spots of intra-Asia J seats).
Jun 23, 2018, 3:48 pm
#3422
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I mean if it is something that people would/could potentially take advantage of because they plan on being generous that would make sense they would hold back the info until the last second. That being said I can see them going in various directions, but I still went ahead and got a package. I feel overall Marriott has been pretty fair with everything so far, at least more so than other companies have been in the past.
The fairest way is to just convert the floater certs to their mapped categories and that was what I voiced my reasoning together with my other concerns when adding the No.35 question in the SPG wiki - the comments had stayed there for a long time but eventually were edited out when the Wiki got some cleaned up. I gave up in checking whether William would post an update when there still remained no answer by 2nd week of June. Finally after 3rd week of June II went back to check the status , I saw my comments were edited out but the main essence remained - as to how the point refund would be calculated - and William added an update on June 19th as to "soon" we will know. This tells me at least one thing - there would NOT be a cert to cert conversion (my wishful thinking expressed in the question/comment and was edited out). Further more, there would NOT be a full point refund as to allow you to rebook the same category award - because if this is the intent, then conversion of cert would be much simpler.
The point refund may be better than the voluntary conversion, but my guess is, it would never be what the wild speculation so prevailing on this thread and in the blogger's speculation.
People totally forget the important FACT that is, this 7 night cert is a deeply discounted hotel award stay, by no means a full requirement of points on a standard award. Just how Marriott would replace a deeply discount award instrument with a standard award instrument?
Last edited by Happy; Jun 24, 2018 at 8:43 am
Jun 23, 2018, 4:19 pm
#3423
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
That's not correct. Category-to-new-category conversion is not as simple as conversion to points (or point-based certificate), as the current cat 6, cat 8 or cat 9 doesn't have corresponding new category requiring the same number of points.
Jun 23, 2018, 4:50 pm
#3424
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,535
Called the number on the travel pack website, got an agent that knew how to do it, done in 5 minutes first call.
Was on hold for twenty minutes
Was on hold for twenty minutes
Jun 23, 2018, 5:07 pm
#3425
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
Any idea why they are changing both SPG and MR categories? What was wrong with current MR cat 6, 8 and 9 that they don't have a corresponding new Category??
Jun 23, 2018, 8:14 pm
#3426
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Marriott Titanium
Posts: 154
Very interesting stuff.
I have a category 6 7-night reservation at a Marriott Renaissance for next January. I am thinking of applying this to a TP (and getting the United Miles) I’m assuming I would be better to redeem now than to wait till after the merge? Any glitches with that?
I have a category 6 7-night reservation at a Marriott Renaissance for next January. I am thinking of applying this to a TP (and getting the United Miles) I’m assuming I would be better to redeem now than to wait till after the merge? Any glitches with that?
Jun 24, 2018, 5:33 am
#3427
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
Marriott has to combine the categories because the current categories between the two are very inconsistent. For example, SPG hotels at the high end are really expensive in terms of points. They could have created more new categories, which would make category mapping easier, but they chose to "simplify", creating only 8 new categories with seasonal variations. I suspect the real reason is to eventually go to a revenue-based points system, like Hilton has done.
Jun 24, 2018, 8:45 am
#3428
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Marriott has to combine the categories because the current categories between the two are very inconsistent. For example, SPG hotels at the high end are really expensive in terms of points. They could have created more new categories, which would make category mapping easier, but they chose to "simplify", creating only 8 new categories with seasonal variations. I suspect the real reason is to eventually go to a revenue-based points system, like Hilton has done.
Jun 24, 2018, 10:15 am
#3429
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Of course, they are also very expensive at the high end because the hotels themselves are very expensive (and often on a different tier entirely from Marriott properties)...i.e., the base room at the Category 7 St. Regis I originally in last month (pre-SNA) was going for about 1,100 EUR.
Jun 24, 2018, 12:05 pm
#3430
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
Marriott has to combine the categories because the current categories between the two are very inconsistent. For example, SPG hotels at the high end are really expensive in terms of points. They could have created more new categories, which would make category mapping easier, but they chose to "simplify", creating only 8 new categories with seasonal variations. I suspect the real reason is to eventually go to a revenue-based points system, like Hilton has done.
Jun 24, 2018, 12:51 pm
#3431
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: toronto
Posts: 914
I am planning a trip to Barcelona for this end of Dec/Jan. and was thinking of using one of the TP to stay at the Cotton House, which is a cat 9 hotel. I would transfer the air miles to Aeroplan.
A few questions on the Travel Package. I know I need to call in to claim the TP, then they will transfer the Air Miles, and issue a TP certs.
After the TP certs are issued, how do I go abouts in booking the hotel? Can I book it online for the dates I want as a pay stay and then apply the certs? Or do I book it by calling to book and link the certs?
Also, would burning 390,000 MR points for 120K Aeroplans the best use of MR right now? Or do a Cat. 8 cert? There is a Barcelona Renaissance that is a Cat. 8, but from what I researched in the reviews, the Cotton House is a much better hotel? Or wait till Post August to actually book the hotel, as SPG have some good BCN options as well?
A few questions on the Travel Package. I know I need to call in to claim the TP, then they will transfer the Air Miles, and issue a TP certs.
After the TP certs are issued, how do I go abouts in booking the hotel? Can I book it online for the dates I want as a pay stay and then apply the certs? Or do I book it by calling to book and link the certs?
Also, would burning 390,000 MR points for 120K Aeroplans the best use of MR right now? Or do a Cat. 8 cert? There is a Barcelona Renaissance that is a Cat. 8, but from what I researched in the reviews, the Cotton House is a much better hotel? Or wait till Post August to actually book the hotel, as SPG have some good BCN options as well?
Last edited by Commie; Jun 24, 2018 at 12:53 pm Reason: corrections
Jun 24, 2018, 12:55 pm
#3432
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
What will happen to your normal unused certificates (non-TP) is more clear and is spelled out within the Marriott FAQ.
https://members.marriott.com/faq/#i-...a-after-august
Personally, I don't think the SPG Lurker's comments necessarily fall outside of the above definition.
For example, if you have a Category 9 certificate, you can currently use it for 7 nights at a category 9 hotel. With a free night this comes out to 270,000 points for the 6 nights x 45k/night. If they can provide certificates of 25k value for the free night on the Marriott certificate, they can clearly provide certificates of 270k (just includes additional digits). Like the free night certs, it'd be easy for them to make these non-refundable (so you can't simply cancel and get 270k points). So in Aug you'd get a 270k certificate (maybe it as a minimum stay requirement of 7 nights, maybe it doesn't but has to be used as a single reservation). Then if you want to upgrade the certificate you pay the difference just like you do now. For any amounts that don't map to a new point class they would just issue the cert for the category lower and issue a refund of the points difference. So in the case of a current Cat 9, they'd map you to a category 5 in the new chart and refund 60k points (10k/night). You could then use those 60k points + 30k more to upgrade to a Cat 6 cert if desired.
I think a scenario like the above could absolutely labeled as "converting to equivalent points" and is infinitely more likely. In the same way they don't cancel the other free nights and instead convert them to a certificate of equivalent points, it simply doesn't make sense to refund actual points on the TPs alone.
https://members.marriott.com/faq/#i-...a-after-august
Personally, I don't think the SPG Lurker's comments necessarily fall outside of the above definition.
For example, if you have a Category 9 certificate, you can currently use it for 7 nights at a category 9 hotel. With a free night this comes out to 270,000 points for the 6 nights x 45k/night. If they can provide certificates of 25k value for the free night on the Marriott certificate, they can clearly provide certificates of 270k (just includes additional digits). Like the free night certs, it'd be easy for them to make these non-refundable (so you can't simply cancel and get 270k points). So in Aug you'd get a 270k certificate (maybe it as a minimum stay requirement of 7 nights, maybe it doesn't but has to be used as a single reservation). Then if you want to upgrade the certificate you pay the difference just like you do now. For any amounts that don't map to a new point class they would just issue the cert for the category lower and issue a refund of the points difference. So in the case of a current Cat 9, they'd map you to a category 5 in the new chart and refund 60k points (10k/night). You could then use those 60k points + 30k more to upgrade to a Cat 6 cert if desired.
I think a scenario like the above could absolutely labeled as "converting to equivalent points" and is infinitely more likely. In the same way they don't cancel the other free nights and instead convert them to a certificate of equivalent points, it simply doesn't make sense to refund actual points on the TPs alone.
Floater certificates, including outstanding Marriott Travel Package certificates, will be cancelled and converted to equivalent points, credited to the member’s account for future redemption. <added clarity by Starwood Lurker 21Jun18>
Jun 24, 2018, 2:19 pm
#3433
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I would like to point out one last time that thanks to Willbur we have the answer. This is the posted answer on the SPG forum to question # 10. Question on the "floater certificates" being canceled and points redeposited into the account on Aug 1st. Does this include outstanding Marriott Travel packages here: Flight and Hotel Packages Marriott Hotel Packages
This was updated on June 21 implying that even on 1 night certs that actual points would deposited in the members account. It can be clearly seen on the Marriott link above that a new points-based certificate will be the replacement and not actual points. So @RafKa you pointed out a couple times that the lurker said it would be points. I am interested in what you and others think now? Will it be actual points refunded for TP? Also thank you for the above post Willbur.
This was updated on June 21 implying that even on 1 night certs that actual points would deposited in the members account. It can be clearly seen on the Marriott link above that a new points-based certificate will be the replacement and not actual points. So @RafKa you pointed out a couple times that the lurker said it would be points. I am interested in what you and others think now? Will it be actual points refunded for TP? Also thank you for the above post Willbur.
The only thing we are not sure yet is HOW the points are being calculated. Just how is the "equivalent points meant".
Lurker's latest update on June 19th on Question 35 which is to ask further clarification to Question 10, is "soon" we will have that information.
Is there still anyone who questions William's authority when conveying the message from Marriott? He is the one and the only channel Marriott uses since the "blogger interview" fiasco in April, to answer all sorts of questions related to the upcoming final merger of 3 programs, and to release whatever information Marriott is willing to release, prior to the D-Day.
There would be no replacement of said certs which will be converted to points but Marriott remains silent on how many points it would be for each category of certs. The main question is how the Cat 1 to 5 would be converted because each added category is just an additional 30K pts.
I am not sure why there are still arguments / confusions on how the Floater Certs (non attached certs) would be handled by August 1st?
Jun 24, 2018, 2:30 pm
#3434
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I am planning a trip to Barcelona for this end of Dec/Jan. and was thinking of using one of the TP to stay at the Cotton House, which is a cat 9 hotel. I would transfer the air miles to Aeroplan.
A few questions on the Travel Package. I know I need to call in to claim the TP, then they will transfer the Air Miles, and issue a TP certs.
After the TP certs are issued, how do I go about in booking the hotel? Can I book it online for the dates I want as a pay stay and then apply the certs? Or do I book it by calling to book and link the certs?
Also, would burning 390,000 MR points for 120K Aeroplans the best use of MR right now? Or do a Cat. 8 cert? There is a Barcelona Renaissance that is a Cat. 8, but from what I researched in the reviews, the Cotton House is a much better hotel? Or wait till Post August to actually book the hotel, as SPG have some good BCN options as well?
A few questions on the Travel Package. I know I need to call in to claim the TP, then they will transfer the Air Miles, and issue a TP certs.
After the TP certs are issued, how do I go about in booking the hotel? Can I book it online for the dates I want as a pay stay and then apply the certs? Or do I book it by calling to book and link the certs?
Also, would burning 390,000 MR points for 120K Aeroplans the best use of MR right now? Or do a Cat. 8 cert? There is a Barcelona Renaissance that is a Cat. 8, but from what I researched in the reviews, the Cotton House is a much better hotel? Or wait till Post August to actually book the hotel, as SPG have some good BCN options as well?
As for whether Cotton House or Ren is better - they are of totally different styles. Only you can decide which one you prefer. Nor anyone can tell you which is the better value. I am sure you know Aeroplan will no longer be associated with Air Canada / Star Alliance effective June 2020.
You can NOT book any SPG hotels with TP before Aug 1st. And any unattached TP cert will be canceled by Aug 1st and converted back to points (nobody knows how the conversion value is as Marriott has chosen NOT to reveal that info as of now). So you would need to make up your mind before August 1st.
Jun 24, 2018, 2:58 pm
#3435
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
Is this still not clear to you?
The only thing we are not sure yet is HOW the points are being calculated. Just how is the "equivalent points meant".
Lurker's latest update on June 19th on Question 35 which is to ask further clarification to Question 10, is "soon" we will have that information.
Is there still anyone who questions William's authority when conveying the message from Marriott? He is the one and the only channel Marriott uses since the "blogger interview" fiasco in April, to answer all sorts of questions related to the upcoming final merger of 3 programs, and to release whatever information Marriott is willing to release, prior to the D-Day.
There would be no replacement of said certs which will be converted to points but Marriott remains silent on how many points it would be for each category of certs. The main question is how the Cat 1 to 5 would be converted because each added category is just an additional 30K pts.
I am not sure why there are still arguments / confusions on how the Floater Certs (non attached certs) would be handled by August 1st?
The only thing we are not sure yet is HOW the points are being calculated. Just how is the "equivalent points meant".
Lurker's latest update on June 19th on Question 35 which is to ask further clarification to Question 10, is "soon" we will have that information.
Is there still anyone who questions William's authority when conveying the message from Marriott? He is the one and the only channel Marriott uses since the "blogger interview" fiasco in April, to answer all sorts of questions related to the upcoming final merger of 3 programs, and to release whatever information Marriott is willing to release, prior to the D-Day.
There would be no replacement of said certs which will be converted to points but Marriott remains silent on how many points it would be for each category of certs. The main question is how the Cat 1 to 5 would be converted because each added category is just an additional 30K pts.
I am not sure why there are still arguments / confusions on how the Floater Certs (non attached certs) would be handled by August 1st?