Originally Posted by Ahbi Chang (Post 30012224)

Although I agree it's a little off topic, it is still very relevant to everyone interested in this thread. This is because, if you have enough points for a TP, you also have enough points to redeem 5 or more nights at a Category 8 property at Category 7 rates. I think people should strongly examine whether it makes sense to do a TP or to wait redeem for what could be a very lucrative hotel stay (or even book out ahead of time and request a points refund - another option)

Originally Posted by Points Poppa (Post 30012741)

This is my dilemma exactly, sitting on about 330k MR points, and wanting to stay in Paris for five nights in 2019 at the SPG Prince de Galles (will temporarily become a Cat 7 until 2019).

Do I redeem now for a Cat 7 travel package + 132k UA miles, not attach the certificate, and hope they either:
(a) cash it out at the points value of 210,000 points, to which I would need to add 30k points to book a five-night stay
(b) allow old certs to be used at par at the new categories, in which case I score 2 free extra nights

or just play it safe and wait for August to book the hotel for the 240k points I already have.

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Originally Posted by tth6133 (Post 30012786)

The chance of the current cat-7 certificate can be used to book 7 nights at Prince de Galles is almost nil.

Originally Posted by AdeAhmed (Post 30012737)

different question:

if i have ALL the points for a travel package in my account, but want to transfer them to my wife so that we redeem the package under her account and can enjoy her status, is that possible?

Originally Posted by MileageGoblin (Post 30012830)

I think i heard that "...almost nil" talk being thrown out as fact in November 2016....:D If there is a > .01% chance, there is a chance. While extremely unlikely, MR could just allow TPs to match the same category and refund the difference above Cat 8.

Originally Posted by MileageGoblin (Post 30012830)

I think i heard that "...almost nil" talk being thrown out as fact in November 2016....:D If there is a > .01% chance, there is a chance. While extremely unlikely, MR could just allow TPs to match the same category and refund the difference above Cat 8.

Originally Posted by SightseeMC (Post 30012446)

I am still not convinced we're getting maxed point refunds (Dan's scenario 2), though I will say that Lurker's continued hold to "equivalent points" plus Marriott's timeline is making me more hopeful.

Honestly, as much as I like having 3 7-day stays sometime next year, having half a million Marriott points would make me much happier.

Originally Posted by tth6133 (Post 30012858)

Marriott is not in the charitable business and it won't choose the most expensive solution unless it's absolutely necessary. There exist cheaper alternatives that will keep its members whole and happy.

I'm not sure why some people still don't believe what Starwood Lurker has said on the SPG forum that unattached certificates (a.k.a. floaters) will be converted to something that's point-equivalent, not category-equivalent. And he has said his statement was approved by the Marriott Loyalty Team.

Originally Posted by tth6133 (Post 30012858)

Marriott is not in the charitable business and it won't choose the most expensive solution unless it's absolutely necessary. There exist cheaper alternatives that will keep its members whole and happy...

Originally Posted by pinniped (Post 30012647)

I still very much believe you will end up with three 7-day certificates.

Maxed point refunds would be crazy-generous on Marriott's part.
Forced forfeiture at the "penalty" rate (45k) would be a world-class d*ck move beyond almost anything we've ever seen a loyalty program do. I trust Marriott enough to rule this out.
That leaves a category conversion, which seems reasonable given that the TP's *do* fall into the category of "certificates with a pre-defined category".

The details that remain are what to do when there isn't an identical "new" category level (e.g., old Category 6) and what to do with expiration dates and post-Aug 1 cancellations of certs that were attached on August 1. These are areas where members might get a *little* one-time bonus (in value or expiration date) to save Marriott some coding.

Originally Posted by HHonors OUTSIDER (Post 30012867)

Are you saying you think that there is a chance of a 150,000 unrestricted points refund for a cat 1-5 seven night package?

Originally Posted by pinniped (Post 30012852)

I'd say this is a greater-than-zero chance...just really unlikely. Since it's effectively a one-time gift to the member, it's possible that Marriott lets in slide in the spirit of simplicity.

Still seems unlikely. Can't be that hard to code a simple translation batch program that reissues certificates at the equivalent or closest available "new" points level. Today's Cat 7 is tomorrow's Cat 5. If we're lucky, today's Cat 6 also becomes tomorrow's Cat 5 - that's the mini-bonus scenario that *could* happen.