That's not what I read.

Please take a look at "3.6 Points Advance" in the leaked T&Cs. For a points advance, there is no difference between Rewards legacy and SPG legacy.

If I missed something, please clarify.

Attach Cat 8 certificate to Tier 4?
 

I called Marriott to ask about attaching my category 8 travel package to stay at the Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva, which is a Tier 4 hotel. I've never used a travel package so was calling to see how it worked and if I could pay the difference in points. The rep said she would just attach the package now, then depending on how the Travel Packages map out after Aug 18, I would be notified with the number of points I owe. I'm feeling like a made a mistake and that the Rep isn't correct. Should I just cancel the reservation and keep the Cat 8 Travel Package as a floater? Sorry, I'm new to this and very confused.

I'm so bummed...I have a Cat 1-5 cert and it now locks me out of booking my St Regis Maldives reservation when the programs merge. I have the cert + 175k pts, need 270k to upgrade to Tier 4-5 to be safe and can't figure out what to do. I just wish I knew what cat I need

Did the rep actually attach the package to the hotel? Because that's a new datapoint.

I never said they weren't. In fact, I admire their patience and am grateful for the information they've provided.
As you mentioned there are multiple reasons why some of us can't attach certificates before the end of the week and the lack of information Marriott (not the lurkers) have provided makes it impossible for these people to know which legacy category they need now to end up in the category they want post-transition. As we know by now we're not going to get that information before it's too late, up-/downgrading legacy certifcates later would be the only possible remedy. If they take that away there will be a group of members who can't use their certificates for their intended purpose. The lurkers can't help that, but Marriott can.

You're very close:
3.6.b. Points Advance is not currently offered at the Participating Properties or Brands listed here.

· St. Regis®

· The Luxury Collection®

· W®

· Sheraton®

· Le Méridien®

· Westin®

· Design HotelsTM

· Tribute Portfolio®

· Four Points®

· Aloft® Hotels

· Element®

· Non-branded properties listed in Section 1.2.a.

When I pull up the reservation, there's a note that says, "This reservation has e-certificate(s). Your reward certificates will be sent to your hotel."

Sorry, was trying to reply to OssianBlue.

Yep! I missed that. Thanks for catching my error.

At first, that seems very strange. But there's probably a simple explanation. Even if there's a combined web interface, the web server farm could could still be accessing two separate master reservation systems, each with different rules and limitations, running in two separate data centers.

Since you are booking a legacy Marriott property, this can be done. You can even book a 7-day RC vacation without any MR points or certificate.

Normally the booking is final one month before stay date. So if you do not cancel the booking, you'll be charged with at least the cost of first day of stay on the credit card you used in booking. If you decide to keep the reservation, then you'll need to deliver the required reward points at the time of the finalization of the booking.

There is no new data point.

Hi bud, I'm bummed too. But, but, it is a 100% no go to use a Cat1-5 TP to book the highly expensive St Regis Maldives. For 175k MR points, you may be lucky to book one or two days of stay at that property. It can be blacked out all together. Still wish you the good luck.

So if my reservation starts on Sep 29 then the booking is final on Aug 29 which is in Marriott's 30 day window of no changes to travel packages. Do I need to have the points to upgrade to a Tier 4 package or just the number of points to get to the cost of the hotel (360,000 points/7 nights)? If I cancel the reservation now, do I get the Cat 8 Travel Package certificate back? Any help is truly appreciated.

For Tier 4 RC, I would not use the TP. You should attach the Cat-8 TP to another property. The RC has the same cost, 60,000 MR/day, even after the merge. No hurry to do anything.

Their reservation says this:
"This reservation has e-certificate(s). Your reward certificates will be sent to your hotel."

That's unusual and is indeed a new datapoint.

This is very standard. When I used my Ritz free night, I saw the same. The free night certificate was attached to the reservation and it will be delivered when I check in. Nothing really new. See below.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3ea9a3d760.png

If you attach a TP with your reservation, you should see the same.

You miss the real important part - the cert he has, we have no way to know what it would be equal to. Yet it can be attached.

There is NEW DP, see the clarification by the poster - the cert is ATTACHED to the reservation. There is NO ADVANCE of Points. That means the cert he has now, is able to attach to the booking which, as we know it, does NOT equal to the cert he has.