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
Aug 7, 2018, 6:54 pm
#4786
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
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?
Aug 7, 2018, 6:59 pm
#4787
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IL
Posts: 270
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."
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.
Aug 7, 2018, 7:50 pm
#4788
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WI
Programs: A bunch
Posts: 488
i redeemed 330k for a cat7 with 132 united miles. The miles posted the next day! I am leaving unattached and I am expecting to redeem at pretty much any hotel in the system thru year end( that is my gamble).
Aug 7, 2018, 7:53 pm
#4789
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,755
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.
Aug 7, 2018, 8:34 pm
#4790
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 24
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...
Aug 7, 2018, 8:55 pm
#4791
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
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.
Aug 7, 2018, 10:25 pm
#4792
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,520
Aug 8, 2018, 5:21 am
#4793
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
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.
Aug 8, 2018, 5:22 am
#4794
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
(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.
(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.
Aug 8, 2018, 5:29 am
#4795
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
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.
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.
Aug 8, 2018, 5:35 am
#4796
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
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).
Aug 8, 2018, 6:26 am
#4797
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: Ronin - churn and burn
Posts: 701
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...
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...
Aug 8, 2018, 6:34 am
#4798
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
I do not think this is the case. There are many opportunities. It is your TP. Hold onto it if you like.
Aug 8, 2018, 6:37 am
#4799
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVP; UA Gold; DL Gold; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 156
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!
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!
Aug 8, 2018, 7:34 am
#4800
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
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.
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.