Agree, this is scummy from Marriott. A core feature of the certificates was the flexibility to use them on a higher category booking later.

:D You didn't do too bad ... looks like Category 9 is the winner here - 45k of value to 60k

Have you guys even looked at the award chart? For example, Ritz 1-3 almost all maps to Cat 6 in new award chart. Hence why Marriott mapped it to Cat 6. You think 30,000 MR points is worth crying over? You took a small gamble and loss. Stop crying.

There are only 4 (OUT OF 66) hotels that Ritz 1-3 could have booked before but now no longer can: The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach,The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton Toronto.

What the !#%!#%!#%??? At the low end probably expected 1-5 to become 1-4. But only R3-5 to Cat 7? Wow...

So this means if I have a Cat 9 travel package attached to a reservation now, I can cancel the reservation after 9/18 and book a hotel costing up to 60k per night??

Any guidance on if attached certificates can be canceled and reused for Starwood properties?

Several of us tried to attach a cert to a property requires higher level without success.

Besides. it would not help those whose targeted properties were a former Cat 6 but go down to 25K/pt this year (no Peak/ Off Peak pricing in 2018) when the stay is in 2018.

There are several posters on this thread are in that situation. whether you attach the cert or not, if it is a Cat 6, you are screwed because now you would not even get a refund EVEN IF you have attached it, due to the property is a Cat 1 to 4, and the Cat 6 is now also a Cat 1 to 4!

Again, whether you attached the cert or not, if yours is a Cat 6, you are screwed!

Not to mention the ability to up or downgrade was taken away several times before the actual black out period started. There were multiple posts in this thread the past 2 days that people were not able to do up / downgrade of their existing certs due to either system was down or the reps / supervisors refused to do it. Some tried multiple times to multiple call centers and finally got it done - now we know the reason behind it - because Marriott will make the higher level certs become less valuable.
I would bet the decision is made after Marriott has enough data to see where the bulk of categories are being redeemed. Cat 1 - 5 the lowest level may be the least number hence no suffering.

Here comes the trolls....:td: Your argument is severely lacking when you even admit there are some Tier 1-3s that are now above Cat 6. Tier 1-3s should have gone to 7 with Tier 4-5 to Cat 8.

How is my argument severely lacking when only 4 out of 66 Tier 1-3s are above new Cat 6? That's 6%.

In other words, 94% of all Tier 1-3s would have been Cat 6 in the new chart. Why would Marriott ever convert Tier 1-3 to new Cat 7???

Sorry you don't understand basic math.

Not fair RedSun, those in the military or associated services can't pick and choose so readily that far in advance.

Category 9 is clearly the winner here. I debated moving 30k Chase UR to Marriott to upgrade my Category 8 but didn't. I originally had a 7 but moved to an 8. Should have kept the 7 since it is worth the same amount as my 8.

Then why didn't you choose to keep the Marriott points and don't redeem for a Hotel and Air Package? That would have given you the flexibility and you would have "saved" 30,000 points?

You gave up the option value by exchanging flexible Marriott points for a certificate. In exchange for that, you were compensated with the airline miles (which was a fantastic conversion).