Did you try calling the Plat line?

Sure did. They say that some resorts may offer this option, but completely up to this individual property. Would be great to hear about some first hand experience. ^

Contact the individual property.

Been there, done that.. No one seems to know - is this even possible?! Each time I was transferred I received a different answer.. Craziness!

I did this in Aruba to upgrade to the Club and did it in St. Kitts to get AI. Paid 235 for 2 I think for AI and 150 for the Club in aruba.

Success!!:D how long ago were these? Imagine these rates were per night? Do you feel it was worth it?


Thanks!!!

I only recently discovered that I could make a reservation for someone else using my points.
Yesterday I did this as part of a travel package - booked a 7-night cat 4 reservation for my wife + got 120000 United mileageplus miles in MY account for 270,000 MR points ^

Question - we are planning a trip to London in 2014. We have enough MR points to purchase the Category 9 - 7 night travel package. We need 200,000 miles for 2 business class seats on United, but I only see the category with 120,000 miles. How will this work? Very confused.

I think you will have to find the 80k somewhere else.

The Marriott Travel Packages come with set amounts of miles, but they're not meant to perfectly correspond with any particular mileage redemption. 120K miles can get you six short-haul coach domestic awards or one premium cabin seat internationally... all depends upon how you use them. As the other poster said, if you need 200K (or any amount beyond 120K), you'll need to procure them separately.

Would you buy 20K Marriott Points to get 20K Southwest Points?
 

I am cashing in all my points (230K) for a Hotel + Air Package with Southwest Airlines. The plan is currently a category 6 hotel + 50K SW Points, which totals out to my exact number of points 230K.

Looking at it a little closer I see that I can get 70K SW points (20K more) if I cash in 250K Marriott Points. Although I don't have 250K points I see that I can buy the additional 20K Marriott points from Marriott for $250. So in turn I would be buying 20K SW Points for $250. If I wanted to purchase 20K SW points directly from SW then it would cost me $550. Therefore seems like a no brainer to me. Is there anything else I am missing or need to consider?

As always, thanks for your time and my apologies if this has been covered before.

Yes, you should consider buying more than 20k MR - the transfer not only is worth it based on the redemption value of WN points (it is arbitrage on the marginal cost of an action that you were already going to take), but also since the count as CPQPs for a Companion Pass (need 110k per calendar year to achieve) with WN once transferred, which you should also consider if you ever fly WN with someone else.

If you are running up against the 50k/year purchase limit for MR, maybe there is someone else you travel with who could transfer their MR points into your MR account (after they purchase points first, if needed, of course).

Agree with the prior poster

If you can, buy the 20K Marriott points.

Thanks. I will consider getting more. The 50K alone will get me to companion pass status so I am good there.

OMG, of course! The $250 spent gets you 20,000 x 1.67 cents = $334 in WN WGA spending plus everything else...