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
Jul 2, 2018, 3:34 pm
#3601
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
I just attached a (7) night Cat 9 to a stay at Scrub Island. (after a 20 min hold on the plat-now tin-line) . Reservation now shows I have certificates attached, but the TP cert still shows in my unused list. Will it take time to update? I've done this before and thought it updated immediately.
Jul 2, 2018, 3:43 pm
#3602
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
IF Marriott wants to make members whole, they can up-convert the certificate or refund the points. I don't see other options. The cost of up-conversion is just too high: there will be a rush to buy the higher-category certificates and the few high-end hotels will be quickly booked with these certificates (and frankly, they're the only ones worth staying 7 nights straight). Refunding the points with a hard expiration date, on the other hand, would be more straightforward. Since these points would expire, there won't a rush to accumulate these points.
Jul 2, 2018, 4:09 pm
#3603
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
IF Marriott wants to make members whole, they can up-convert the certificate or refund the points. I don't see other options. The cost of up-conversion is just too high: there will be a rush to buy the higher-category certificates and the few high-end hotels will be quickly booked with these certificates (and frankly, they're the only ones worth staying 7 nights straight). Refunding the points with a hard expiration date, on the other hand, would be more straightforward. Since these points would expire, there won't a rush to accumulate these points.
Jul 2, 2018, 4:21 pm
#3604
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,469
I'd agree with this, mainly because I think people are overestimating how many of these 5 and 7 night certs are floating around. I think the vast majority of MR members don't even know that the travel packages exist.
Jul 2, 2018, 4:25 pm
#3605
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
I am not sure why you think a small up-tick in the replacement point-based certs is such a high cost to Marriott? Also, its not the members fault they are implementing this new "point-based" chart with high and low season where all the categories supposedly don't fit any of the current SPG or Marriott categories. Seems like a good way to do a stealth devaluation of both Programs.
Jul 2, 2018, 4:33 pm
#3606
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hold it down for The Bay, reppin' Oakland
Programs: Lowly UA silver, Marriott Ambassador/Tit4Lyf, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,763
Jul 2, 2018, 5:40 pm
#3608
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
Take my current cat-9 certificate example above. It's currently good for 7 nights at a 45K/night hotel. If Marriott up-converts it, it would have to be at least good for a new cat-6 hotel in any season at 60K/night. With an "up to 60K" certificate, you can also book a cat-7 hotel outside of the peak season. Wouldn't there be a rush to buy these certificates?
Jul 2, 2018, 5:49 pm
#3609
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
So you are concerned about the high cost to Marriott when they just increased cat 9 hotels redemptions currently at 45,000 points to 60,000 points starting in 2019. What about the high cost to all MR members and SPG members under the guise of "enhancing" the SPG and MR programs?
Jul 2, 2018, 6:08 pm
#3610
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
Ok two very good points. So what is the best plan for your current cat 9? Book 7 nights and attach the cert I am guessing?
Jul 2, 2018, 6:28 pm
#3611
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
I just attached a (7) night Cat 9 to a stay at Scrub Island. (after a 20 min hold on the plat-now tin-line) . Reservation now shows I have certificates attached, but the TP cert still shows in my unused list. Will it take time to update? I've done this before and thought it updated immediately.
Check again tomorrow or day after tomorrow - the cert would disappear by then.
Jul 2, 2018, 6:36 pm
#3612
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hold it down for The Bay, reppin' Oakland
Programs: Lowly UA silver, Marriott Ambassador/Tit4Lyf, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,763
The question is what will happen to unattached certificates, or certificates that are attached to reservations that are changed or canceled after the new program goes into effect. There is no reason Marriott cannot wait to announce its policy for these certificates until that time. In fact, if they are planning to be at all generous, it is probably wise for them to hold off (to avoid the "run on the bank" that would occur if members knew with certainty that unattached certificates would be converted to something, certificates or just points, that was more valuable than what they had spent on those certificates).
The above does not mean that I think Marriott will be generous, only that if they are planning to be, they are wise to wait to make this announcement until it is no longer possible to redeem Travel Packages at the legacy rate.
Jul 2, 2018, 6:37 pm
#3613
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
If they down-convert, certificate holders won't be happy because the refunded points are insufficient to book the same hotels (assuming it's upgradable with points). If they up-convert, they may have to convert to a sufficiently high level to make members whole in all scenarios, but at a high cost to Marriott.
Floater certs, you take your risk to gamble.
Given the Lurker's latest words, (and I suggest everyone who is concerned about the conversion to read his first post on this, with a list of FAQ questions without the answers, with bold face), and his repeated comment at the end in the 2 posts (I think it is 1807 and 1810 in the mega thread.), that the treatments would be different towards the Attached (i.e. used) certs (when the reservation is canceled) and the Floater (i.e. Unused) certs once the programs merge.
Jul 2, 2018, 6:42 pm
#3614
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Personally I would find a hotel that no matter what happens, it is fine for me to stick with it. That, means I would make sure to find a hotel that does not go down in category after Aug 1st so to avoid complication.
Jul 2, 2018, 6:52 pm
#3615
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
You can use (attach) legacy program certificates at the legacy program rates until the new program kicks in. Those reservations/certificates will be valid, even once the new program takes effect.
The question is what will happen to unattached certificates, or certificates that are attached to reservations that are changed or canceled after the new program goes into effect. There is no reason Marriott cannot wait to announce its policy for these certificates until that time. In fact, if they are planning to be at all generous, it is probably wise for them to hold off (to avoid the "run on the bank" that would occur if members knew with certainty that unattached certificates would be converted to something, certificates or just points, that was more valuable than what they had spent on those certificates).
The above does not mean that I think Marriott will be generous, only that if they are planning to be, they are wise to wait to make this announcement until it is no longer possible to redeem Travel Packages at the legacy rate.
The question is what will happen to unattached certificates, or certificates that are attached to reservations that are changed or canceled after the new program goes into effect. There is no reason Marriott cannot wait to announce its policy for these certificates until that time. In fact, if they are planning to be at all generous, it is probably wise for them to hold off (to avoid the "run on the bank" that would occur if members knew with certainty that unattached certificates would be converted to something, certificates or just points, that was more valuable than what they had spent on those certificates).
The above does not mean that I think Marriott will be generous, only that if they are planning to be, they are wise to wait to make this announcement until it is no longer possible to redeem Travel Packages at the legacy rate.