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Originally Posted by PrivatePilot
(Post 30059049)
I want to book a stay in Bora Bora but the problem is only SPG has hotels there. So I can either save my remaining points for a stay there (at 60k a night/ 240k for 5 nights!) or try to book a travel package now in the hopes that I can redeem for one of those properties using a "converted cert". I know this is all speculation but any advice?
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Originally Posted by SightseeMC
(Post 30058925)
I'm trying to understand this passive-aggressive response. The person you quoted literally says there is a theory (true) that he/she doesn't agree with (clear and respectable response), but that if you find a good place and book now you are fine (also true).
While he may be subjective, he doesn't denigrate the detached-certificate arbitrage theory. He states a reason why it is highly unlikely given Marriott's prior behavior. I keep seeing people post responses in this thread where they seem to have some amount of self-worth attached to how this plays out, aside from the value of certs themselves. On 8/19 this may be the most "SUCK ON THAT!" thread in the last year on FT, since so many people seem like they're just waiting to lord it over anybody who guesses/bets are "wrong." The poster asked a question and got a condescending response (to the poster and inaccurately generalizing other posters’ guidance) without answering the question (what he should do). Continuing to reference past prescedent, in the which the current situation will not have an instrument available anymore to revert to, as the rationalization for prediction isn’t accurate nor objective. I don’t see this turning into an “I told you so”, rather a collective licking of wounds or rejoicing depending how it goes. I’ve been trying to poke some of the extreme opinions to state their prediction in this specific instance, as a means to temper it down for others reading. After seeing how this has been going, I’m going to try and do my part stop participating in the pissing contest. |
Originally Posted by NJKen
(Post 30058391)
Has anyone had United or any of the other partners take that long?
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Originally Posted by imverge
(Post 30059085)
Sorry, I was referring to CC and FN awards not TP.
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Originally Posted by dan9124
(Post 30058239)
Just want to post a transfer time data point. Ordered a Cat 1-5 package on Saturday 7/28, with miles being sent to Virgin Atlantic. The miles just showed up in my VS account this afternoon, 8/7. So be patient if yours seems to be taking longer than expected. Transfer times seem to be all over the place.
For those worried about others miles posting prior / faster than their own, its worth noting that someone who redeemed several days after both of us received their VS miles far faster. Seems to depend on the day... |
Originally Posted by Happy
(Post 30059270)
But this is TP thread and the post with the question on how to book the stay is related to the TP cert... I hope the poster who asked the question would realize quick enough that he could not use the TP cert online. Similar question was just asked no more than one day before and I answered it that one must call the same number of TP redemption - the regular reservation agents do not have the ability to handle TP cert either.
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Originally Posted by NJKen
(Post 30058391)
Has anyone had United or any of the other partners take that long?
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Horace -- many thanks for responding. What you've written makes perfect sense and I'll follow your advice and sit tight for now. Thanks again.
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Originally Posted by Horace
(Post 30053453)
(a) Traditionally, Marriott has not allowed reservations to be "amended" with entirely different dates. Traditionally, you could cancel your old reservation and make a new one, using the redemption level in effect when you make the new reservation, and based on availability for the new dates.
(b) There are all sorts of theories of what will happen to unattached e-certificates on August 18. Some theories are quite wild, ranging from amazing windfalls to disastrous, forced losses of point value. Marriott has announced that current 1-night e-certificates will remain 1-night e-certificates, but denominated with the point value corresponding to the old category. Marriott has not announced what will happen to current 7-night e-certificates. I expect these to remain 7-night e-certificates, but denominated with the point value corresponding to the old category — with functionality to add or refund points when attaching them to a 7-night reservation. This seems logical to me, but one person on the thread thinks I will "eat crow" when Marriott publishes the details. |
Originally Posted by SightseeMC
(Post 30054119)
AFAIK there is no "in the system" advantage for attaching a cert to a reservation and then taking it off. You either have a cert or don't, in Marriott IT's view.
That said, one question I have is when you bought your cert? Would you have to extend it to book if nothing changed between now and Nov 2018? Since I am a betting man (everyone currently in this thread is), I would assume that there is no devaluation of a Tier 4-5 cert possible that would keep me from being able to book any hotel in the system that had availability on those dates. Since hotel availability is not reliant on anything I could do, no choice I make will affect getting in. So I would just sit pat and book the hotel in November with whatever my cert was converted to post-8/18. I think, from what you and others have said, holding tight and not using my cert may be the best option. I think I'm going to opt for that. |
Originally Posted by PrivatePilot
(Post 30059049)
I want to book a stay in Bora Bora but the problem is only SPG has hotels there. So I can either save my remaining points for a stay there (at 60k a night/ 240k for 5 nights!) or try to book a travel package now in the hopes that I can redeem for one of those properties using a "converted cert". I know this is all speculation but any advice?
Previously you could also reserve a MR points stay despite not having all the required points (or just choosing not to have them deducted immediately). Although I’m not sure if SPG does this currently or if it will continue in the new combined program (I would guess it would to the continuing question). |
another data point. I finally decided to get involved yesterday. Ordered a 7 night category 8. Hoping to use it at StR Maldives or RC Kyoto. 120k points posted to VS in less than 24h.
My view on what happens next: all unattached certificates get converted to same 'face value category' where one exists in the new program. Certificates above old category 8 still offer better overall value than before since they can all now access far more properties. In this case everyone is happy and Marriott has the simplest process in terms of explanation and implementation. Anything more complicated or punitive seems unlikely to me. Then again, I'm well aware that I'm talking my own book... |
Originally Posted by Scoob72
(Post 30060306)
SightseeMC -- many thanks for the reply. I bought my cert one week ago (Aug 1st).
I think, from what you and others have said, holding tight and not using my cert may be the best option. I think I'm going to opt for that. |
UPDATE: Booked final TP (4 of 4) on 3 Aug, and miles posted today, 8 Aug.
This was my third to Alaska with a Cat 1-5 7-night certificate; in fact, all my TPs have been for the Cat 1-5 7-night certificate. With the Alaska miles, I have attached one of the certs and have left the remaining two unattached. I also booked a TP for Virgin Atlantic miles, with the cert also remaining unattached. I look forward to seeing what happens with the three unattached certs, but I'm pretty happy with the miles even if the worst case scenario happens (and quite frankly I'm tired of speculating). I will, funny enough, be in the middle of a Marriott India Quay London stay during the transition. I'm eager to see how everything works when I check-in and check-out. Happy Travels! |
Originally Posted by Jermyn
(Post 30060451)
another data point. I finally decided to get involved yesterday. Ordered a 7 night category 8. Hoping to use it at StR Maldives or RC Kyoto. 120k points posted to VS in less than 24h.
My view on what happens next: all unattached certificates get converted to same 'face value category' where one exists in the new program. Certificates above old category 8 still offer better overall value than before since they can all now access far more properties. Floating TPs are the risky thing. They will be just converted to the new equivalent TPs with the closed new category. If the TP is old Cat-7, you'll get new Cat-5, both at 35,000 points. |
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