Followed his instructions today, and it took 25-minutes and then I was disconnected :eek: Received the following email

Reward Details

• Description: 5 Night Partial Package Category 1-5 Hotels
• Reward code: P510
• Valid through: Monday, July 22, 2019
• Total points redeemed: 30,000
• Confirmed on: Sunday, July 22, 2018

Partial redemption as I didn't have the chance to give the rep my AS number for miles. Tweeted to Marriott Rewards to no answer - called back and after 48 minutes they told me that they could not do it. The 5-night package is for time-share owners! I have done it before I tried to reason but to no avail. Total time wasted on this Sunday playing games with Marriott is 75 minutes!

Can TP used to book Marriott vacation clubs like this Category 8:

Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club

Yes, if the dates are available to book with points.

I'm new to Marriott but from what I've read on TUG, the 5-night package is only for timeshare owners. Is that not correct?

AS miles take 7-10 days to show up in your account. If an agent sounded unfamiliar with TPs (and there're MANY of them right now), my advice is to thank him/her, hang up and try again. With potentially only a few days left and Marriott's system being unreliable, any errors are difficult to correct in a timely manner.

Yes you are correct... only for timeshare owners..

Correct. A few years ago Marriott allowed others to book 5-night packages but it is no longer allowed. I am not saying that it doesn't ever happen, it's just that it isn't supposed to.

Thanks. Trying to learn the new ropes!

Yes, but some agents would sell those packages. We used to consider ourselves lucky to get one of these packages, but right now you don't want to touch it even if offered, if you're not a Marriott timeshare owner. There's too much risk.

Your in the right place... Read & ask a lot of questions.

https://thepointsguy.com/2016/02/mar...ight-packages/

Apparently these five-night packages were once on the Marriott Rewards website but were removed and are only supposed to be for Marriott Vacation club owners. Both agents I spoke with noted no restrictions for being able to redeem for these packages.

I specifically asked each agent, “Do I need to be a timeshare owner or have a certain level of Marriott Rewards status to book a five-night package?” Both agents replied no and were happy to allow me to redeem my points. I called the Australia Marriott Rewards office for the second agent to see if they would provide the same info — also because an agent usually picks up immediately when you call this number (+61 2 8298 5250).

You may redeem points for five nights plus air miles at the following rates to earn Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, GOL/Varig, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Southwest or Virgin Atlantic miles:

So it seems to be an IT issue in that IT did not restrict an agent's ability to book a five-day travel package whether an MR member is a MVC owner or not. However, from your post you are aware that these five-day packages should only be for a Marriott Vacation Club owner. So, aren't you taking a risk that the travel package could be cancelled?

No, I have booked them in the past without any issues.

I am trying to read through this thread and am currently sitting on 380k MR points. I don't have a specific destination in mind but it seems like I should get a certificate now before rates go up. I would probably go for AA points. Is there a recommended approach or advice that I should use? It looks like I could go for the Cert 1-5 with 120k AA miles for 270k. What happens if I want to upgrade to a better hotel later. Or should I go for the highest value cert I can afford with miles. Either way, I need to act quickly.