Jul 30, 2016, 4:21 pm
Last edit by: Slickw
LINK TO CHART
Legacy to New Travel Package Conversion (effective August 2019)
A Marriott supervisor can currently convert your legacy travel package into the new category mapping. If you hold a Category 6, 8, or Tier 1-3 legacy certificate, it's ideal to downgrade your certificate before converting so that points don't potentially get lost in the process.
The codes for the new partial packages are:
New Cat 1-4: QP83
New Cat 5: QP91
New Cat 6: QP99
New Cat 7:
The legacy certificates map to the new certificates as such:
Cat 1-5 => Cat 1-4
Cat 6 => Cat 1-4
Cat 7 => Cat 5
Cat 8 => Cat 5
Cat 9 => Cat 6
Tier 1-3 => Cat 6
Tier 4-5 => Cat 7
==================================================
If you are unsure where you will use your 7 night stay, when you request the package, just ask for a category 1-5 hotel. That way you are out of the least number of points. If later, you decide to book for a higher level category, then you can do so and pay the difference the travel package points. If you can't use your certificate within the year, then as close to the one year anniversary (without going over!) call to extend the certificate for one more year. That's as long as they will typically allow, one extension. There is an option to expedite the mileage delivery to within three business days (sometimes faster) for $15. There are reports that this fee may be waived for platinum members.
Effective April 1 2017 re: Southwest & the companion pass:
"Purchased points, points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club, points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment, tier bonuses, flight bonuses, and partner bonuses (excluding points bonuses earned on the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase) do not count toward Companion Pass."
************
Can I book SPG properties with my Marriott Travel Package? As of 9/1/2018 apparently not. see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30155836-post6529.html
Legacy to New Travel Package Conversion (effective August 2019)
A Marriott supervisor can currently convert your legacy travel package into the new category mapping. If you hold a Category 6, 8, or Tier 1-3 legacy certificate, it's ideal to downgrade your certificate before converting so that points don't potentially get lost in the process.
The codes for the new partial packages are:
New Cat 1-4: QP83
New Cat 5: QP91
New Cat 6: QP99
New Cat 7:
Originally Posted by Marriott Rewards Insider
Members who purchased a Category 6, Category 8 or Tier 1-3 certificate prior to 8/18 are able to request a one-time exchange for a Travel Package one category lower. This process will cancel your current Travel Package, reissue a Travel Package one category lower and result in a refund of 30,000 points to your account. To submit a request, follow these steps:
Source: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...es-update.html
- Select “Packages - Deals” from the “Topic” drop down menu
- Submit your request
Source: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...es-update.html
The legacy certificates map to the new certificates as such:
Cat 1-5 => Cat 1-4
Cat 6 => Cat 1-4
Cat 7 => Cat 5
Cat 8 => Cat 5
Cat 9 => Cat 6
Tier 1-3 => Cat 6
Tier 4-5 => Cat 7
==================================================
If you are unsure where you will use your 7 night stay, when you request the package, just ask for a category 1-5 hotel. That way you are out of the least number of points. If later, you decide to book for a higher level category, then you can do so and pay the difference the travel package points. If you can't use your certificate within the year, then as close to the one year anniversary (without going over!) call to extend the certificate for one more year. That's as long as they will typically allow, one extension. There is an option to expedite the mileage delivery to within three business days (sometimes faster) for $15. There are reports that this fee may be waived for platinum members.
Effective April 1 2017 re: Southwest & the companion pass:
"Purchased points, points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club, points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment, tier bonuses, flight bonuses, and partner bonuses (excluding points bonuses earned on the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase) do not count toward Companion Pass."
************
Can I book SPG properties with my Marriott Travel Package? As of 9/1/2018 apparently not. see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30155836-post6529.html
Marriott Travel Packages
Jul 15, 2018, 7:04 am
#3841
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 181
I know we should take what frontline reps say with a grain of salt, but today a rep proactively informed me that the hotel portion of the certificates will dissolve in august. They didn't specify how many points, etc. would go back to you but would you still buy an unattached cert for the max airline points if the hotel portion is dissolved at potentially the worst/lowest rate?
Jul 15, 2018, 7:21 am
#3842
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Denver
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, DL Silver, AA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 123
I had a similar experience trying to upgrade an unattached 7N Cat 1-5 cert from a travel package to a Cat 9 to attach to a future reservation. Called late in the evening ET and after 10 min of hold, got an agent who insisted (after going back on hold to "check something") that the upgrade required 165k points, not 120k points. That's what she claimed the system required and it applied to any 7N cert upgrade to Cat 9, regardless of the original category of the certificate, which obviously makes no sense. After it was clear this agent had no idea what she was talking about, I hung up and called back the next day in the middle of the day. Got some agent who seemed experienced who put me on hold for 40 min while she processed the upgrade for 120k points and attached to my reservation. In the past, I seem to recall the cert upgrade only taking a few minutes.
Jul 15, 2018, 8:04 am
#3843
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVP; UA Gold; DL Gold; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 156
Okay, so I decided to play the game. Pretty low risk if you ask me. I transferred 90K of my SPG stash to Marriott for 270K to redeem for 120K AA (which I have a specific use for -- F Apartment redemption on EY) plus a 7-night Category 1-5 "floater" certificate of unknown prognosis. I value my 90K SPG the same as 120K AA anyhow, so whatever the 7-night certificate turns into is bonus. The only tradeoff was that I was holding onto an SPG stash (like everyone I'm sure) in hopes of the very unlikely event that the St Regis Maldives will be bookable for 20K SPG/60K Marriott per night beginning August 1. But I figured that the odds of that are low enough (or rather, the odds of my successfully redeeming points for a room there on dates I want are so low that) I was better off playing the Travel Package game.
Calling to redeem was a joke. First, as indicated on the Travel Packages web page, I called 800-321-7396. After 10 minutes of wading through menus and waiting on hold, I get a guy who has no idea what I'm talking about. I repeat, "I want to redeem my Marriott points for a travel package, for American Airlines miles and a 7-night hotel stay." He says "I don't have that stuff so uh, I'm gonna have to connect you to the travel agency rate people, they can help you out." I say, "Um, just to make sure, you know this has nothing to do with a travel agency, right?" And he says, "uh, yeah sir I understand, you want to resume...redoom... you want to redoom for travel agent packets. One moment." He had a normal American accent. Just sounded like an aloof pizza delivery man. Is this normal?!
So I get transferred but there's no hold music (weird), I just leave it on speakerphone and 10 minutes of silence later someone answers and thankfully he immediately knows what I'm talking about. "Which airline and how many miles?" he asks, "AA and 120K" I respond. Category? 1-5. That'll cost 270,000. Great.
He then asks for my Marriott number, I give it to him. He says my name, I say yeah. He asks for my AA number, I give it to him. And that's it (!!!) It's ordered. No verification of anything. What the heck?
Anyhow, glad it went through but boy what a weird call experience.
Calling to redeem was a joke. First, as indicated on the Travel Packages web page, I called 800-321-7396. After 10 minutes of wading through menus and waiting on hold, I get a guy who has no idea what I'm talking about. I repeat, "I want to redeem my Marriott points for a travel package, for American Airlines miles and a 7-night hotel stay." He says "I don't have that stuff so uh, I'm gonna have to connect you to the travel agency rate people, they can help you out." I say, "Um, just to make sure, you know this has nothing to do with a travel agency, right?" And he says, "uh, yeah sir I understand, you want to resume...redoom... you want to redoom for travel agent packets. One moment." He had a normal American accent. Just sounded like an aloof pizza delivery man. Is this normal?!
So I get transferred but there's no hold music (weird), I just leave it on speakerphone and 10 minutes of silence later someone answers and thankfully he immediately knows what I'm talking about. "Which airline and how many miles?" he asks, "AA and 120K" I respond. Category? 1-5. That'll cost 270,000. Great.
He then asks for my Marriott number, I give it to him. He says my name, I say yeah. He asks for my AA number, I give it to him. And that's it (!!!) It's ordered. No verification of anything. What the heck?
Anyhow, glad it went through but boy what a weird call experience.
Once we were done, I had a 7-night Cat 1-5 certificate with 120K Alaska Miles. The certificate is in my Marriott profile, while I'm still monitoring my AS Mileage Plan account for the miles.
I plan to use the certificate for a newly categorized SPG hotel in Bangkok for next year.
I have the order verification email, so I hope that proves it all worked. I won't know, of course, until the miles post and the hotel is booked.
Jul 15, 2018, 8:28 am
#3844
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
I had a similar experience with Deanne. She didn't transfer me, but she kept putting me on hold as she consulted with a supervisor or colleague on how to do it.
Once we were done, I had a 7-night Cat 1-5 certificate with 120K Alaska Miles. The certificate is in my Marriott profile, while I'm still monitoring my AS Mileage Plan account for the miles.
I plan to use the certificate for a newly categorized SPG hotel in Bangkok for next year.
I have the order verification email, so I hope that proves it all worked. I won't know, of course, until the miles post and the hotel is booked.
Once we were done, I had a 7-night Cat 1-5 certificate with 120K Alaska Miles. The certificate is in my Marriott profile, while I'm still monitoring my AS Mileage Plan account for the miles.
I plan to use the certificate for a newly categorized SPG hotel in Bangkok for next year.
I have the order verification email, so I hope that proves it all worked. I won't know, of course, until the miles post and the hotel is booked.
Jul 15, 2018, 8:50 am
#3845
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,466
I had a similar experience trying to upgrade an unattached 7N Cat 1-5 cert from a travel package to a Cat 9 to attach to a future reservation. Called late in the evening ET and after 10 min of hold, got an agent who insisted (after going back on hold to "check something") that the upgrade required 165k points, not 120k points. That's what she claimed the system required and it applied to any 7N cert upgrade to Cat 9, regardless of the original category of the certificate, which obviously makes no sense. After it was clear this agent had no idea what she was talking about, I hung up and called back the next day in the middle of the day. Got some agent who seemed experienced who put me on hold for 40 min while she processed the upgrade for 120k points and attached to my reservation. In the past, I seem to recall the cert upgrade only taking a few minutes.
Jul 15, 2018, 10:23 am
#3846
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 432
After the new program takes effect, we don't know we can still upgrade/downgrade 7N certificates. Even if the certificate remains category-based and we can upgrade, it will cost a lot more points (downgrade is more likely not allowed in that scenario). For 5N certificates, historically Marriott doesn't check your TS ownership again, but there's no guarantee it won't going forward if upgrade/downgrade is still allowed.
So I were you, I would get the category of certificate that I'd likely use before August 1 and not count on upgrade/downgrade afterwards.
So I were you, I would get the category of certificate that I'd likely use before August 1 and not count on upgrade/downgrade afterwards.
Jul 15, 2018, 11:40 am
#3847
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
30K points are what you will get if you ask for cancellation yourself. The number is based on 4 nights at a cat 1 hotel (the 5th night is free on a 5-night stay). This will be the absolute floor if TP certificates are cancelled.
Jul 15, 2018, 11:41 am
#3848
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,755
Though given the latest DP on the Audit, I dont feel the time / effort spent to sneak thru a 5 night cert is worth the trouble. After a few sporadic success since a few weeks ago, it seems Marriott has found out and once again, briefed all reps not to allow that happen again, else would suffer disciplinary actions. That is how I got the feel from talking to a few different reps today.
Jul 15, 2018, 11:48 am
#3849
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 432
Jul 15, 2018, 11:57 am
#3851
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
A lot of things about TP certificates are based on prior experiences. There's no definitive written T&C on TP. Marriott has never stated that TP certificates can be refunded, extended, or even upgraded/downgraded. They've done so in the past doesn't mean they'll necessarily do it again. We're at their mercy.
Jul 15, 2018, 8:15 pm
#3853
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MLI
Programs: UA Silver, MR Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 255
I had as of this morning 2 7-night certs ( Cat 9 and cat 6) attached to reservations. The Cat 9 was from a redemption from earlier this year and the cat 6 was fairly recently. I was able to cancel both reservations online and the certs returned to my account automatically. This is somewhat new as before cancelling online would just credit the small point value amount back to your account and then you could call in and have it converted back to a cert. Either way it is interesting. The Cat 9 says it has a value of 165k points. The cat 6 says it has a value of 300k points. The 165k points is the actual value if I just turn the cat 9 cert back into points. The 300k is what I paid for the entire cat 6 travel package. Not sure if it means anything but since I cancelled both bookings today I thought I would just share a data point.
Jul 15, 2018, 9:14 pm
#3854
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
A 7 night certificate = 45K (7.5K * 6)
A 5 night certificate = 30K (7.5K * 4)
Fifth Night Free
That is what your certificates are worth in MR points in the current MR Program. Not 150K/100K
I think the difficulty for a lot of people is that they are confusing the value of the certificate in MR points and the potential redemptive value of the certificate when it is attached in dollars in the current MR program.
They are also failing to realize that the current MR Program will be wrapped up in a couple of weeks and after August 1st MR as you know it will be defunct. As such, it is within Marriotts rights to just quash the floater certificates and move forward. I think it is unlikely they will do that, instead returning the 45K points value of the certificate to the members account in the New Program making the member "whole."
You can still use the 45K for a week long stay in the New Program in a Category 1 property just as you can now. In the current MR, the added redemptive value of being able to redeem for a property up to and including category 5 will be lost. That is your devaluation.
All the talk about "indefensible," civil acton, small claims and class action lawsuits is just nonsence. On what grounds would you sue? "Marriott devalued their loyalty program and my points aren't as valuable as they used to be when I try to redeem them!"
Everyone needs to step back and look at this objectively and keep the emotions out. The certificare itself is NOT worth 150K MR points! It may have a redemptive value of up to 150K in MR now but that program and the opportunity to make such a redemption goes away in a few weeks.
If anyone truely believes they are entitled to 150K unrestricted points in the New Program they are not being realistic. If you have 2 floaters and expect to take a 300K windfall and book 6 nights in the Maldives, you are dreaming! It is time to wake up!
Just like in any casino, the odds are in favour of the house. Now, consider the house can change the rules, with or without notice at anytime in it's sole discretion. Still like those odds?
If you get the residual 45K MR points value of the certificate returned to you, that is a bonus. Marriott is not obligated to give you anything.
James
A 5 night certificate = 30K (7.5K * 4)
Fifth Night Free
That is what your certificates are worth in MR points in the current MR Program. Not 150K/100K
I think the difficulty for a lot of people is that they are confusing the value of the certificate in MR points and the potential redemptive value of the certificate when it is attached in dollars in the current MR program.
They are also failing to realize that the current MR Program will be wrapped up in a couple of weeks and after August 1st MR as you know it will be defunct. As such, it is within Marriotts rights to just quash the floater certificates and move forward. I think it is unlikely they will do that, instead returning the 45K points value of the certificate to the members account in the New Program making the member "whole."
You can still use the 45K for a week long stay in the New Program in a Category 1 property just as you can now. In the current MR, the added redemptive value of being able to redeem for a property up to and including category 5 will be lost. That is your devaluation.
All the talk about "indefensible," civil acton, small claims and class action lawsuits is just nonsence. On what grounds would you sue? "Marriott devalued their loyalty program and my points aren't as valuable as they used to be when I try to redeem them!"
Everyone needs to step back and look at this objectively and keep the emotions out. The certificare itself is NOT worth 150K MR points! It may have a redemptive value of up to 150K in MR now but that program and the opportunity to make such a redemption goes away in a few weeks.
If anyone truely believes they are entitled to 150K unrestricted points in the New Program they are not being realistic. If you have 2 floaters and expect to take a 300K windfall and book 6 nights in the Maldives, you are dreaming! It is time to wake up!
Just like in any casino, the odds are in favour of the house. Now, consider the house can change the rules, with or without notice at anytime in it's sole discretion. Still like those odds?
If you get the residual 45K MR points value of the certificate returned to you, that is a bonus. Marriott is not obligated to give you anything.
James
Jul 15, 2018, 9:29 pm
#3855
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
I had as of this morning 2 7-night certs ( Cat 9 and cat 6) attached to reservations. The Cat 9 was from a redemption from earlier this year and the cat 6 was fairly recently. I was able to cancel both reservations online and the certs returned to my account automatically. This is somewhat new as before cancelling online would just credit the small point value amount back to your account and then you could call in and have it converted back to a cert. Either way it is interesting. The Cat 9 says it has a value of 165k points. The cat 6 says it has a value of 300k points. The 165k points is the actual value if I just turn the cat 9 cert back into points. The 300k is what I paid for the entire cat 6 travel package. Not sure if it means anything but since I cancelled both bookings today I thought I would just share a data point.