Yes, and also before they start to expire! AFAIK, they are not forever certs, they have a definite expiration date, so make sure you use the oldest one first.

for the most part, since the new Cat 5s are the old Cat 4s seems logical!!!!!!!!

deleted.

double post..see below.

it does appear logical, but logical is not always what they go by as it appears nothing seems to be an absolute when it comes to Marriott promo's.

i ask the question for those with the certs. promo, they may want to call and try. (personally, for me this time, I have the points promo and stayed with it, thank goodness).

Perhaps, just perhaps, that is what they will do.

Data points --

1). Non-USA FTers getting an offer to earn 2 CAT 5 Certs for the present M/B;

2). Anecdotal evidence, as well, that they are now offering targeted promotions of Cat 1 - 5 Certs via credit card spend.

I used to receive these promotions when I did not use my card all that much, but I distinctly remember only being offered a Cat 1 - 4 Certs for my trouble, even though the credit card carried with it the up to Cat 5 annual cert.

As Lee indicated, one can only hope that they get some sense.

As of Feb. 17 I still was unable to register for the Spring MegaBonus promotion by clicking on the home page (I was redirected to "you're not eligible"). Nothing appeared in Promotion Central in my account. Not a nice way to treat the Elites, one might argue. Pre-registration would have been the right thing to do, but whatever.

I had to write to Marriott CS and received a prompt reply that they had enrolled me and "selected" for me 25K points after 15 paid nights during Spring MegaBonus period. That's the Fall '12 MegaBonus for which I qualified last year, so I had been expecting the usual Spring MegaBonus of 2 separate stays = 1 Cert.

Anyhow, a non-Elite friend went on-line this AM, and was able to register immediately from the Marriott home page. His promo is the 2-day = 1 Cat 4 Cert (to max. three certs).

OK, I know that Marriott may "target" the promos, but I'm not sure I would have used this target. I got to see that a non-Elite had no-hassle instant promo registration customer experience AND a superior promo opportunity (my 15 paid nights bonus points equal = 1 Cat. 5 Cert.).

MR's "selection" for me means that I'll pursue my bonuses other than at Marriott during Spring MegaBonus this year. Some promotions help to keep the loyal, loyal. Other promotions risk sending the once-loyal in the direction of the competitions' promotions.

There is no usual Fall MB of points and usual Spring MB of certs. All three seasonal promotions offer points or certs to various customers based on unknown criteria. In 4 or 5 years of tracking this my husband, who is plat and generally stays around 100 nights a year has NEVER been offered certs. One time he wasn't going to make the points target and I had him switched to certs. I really don't understand getting upset over a computer deciding you are a better candidate for points than certs. If you don't like your offer, call and politely ask to be switched. If they won't switch you, that's poor customer service. A computer not understanding how each and every customer is motivated is not.

Last time, the certs were deposited on 1/17/2013, right after the promotion ended on 1/15/2013, although they said it could take up to a couple weeks. This time, I guess it will be in the first couple weeks of May. I heard people said you can call Marriott to deposit the cert right after you earn it, so you won't have to wait till the promotion ends to use it.

Thanks, Ricky!


NEWSFLASH -- I WAS ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR THE 1 - 5 CERTS!!!

As Ricky and some others have reported, I was able to sign up for the 1-5 Cert promotion, maximum of 2 per promotion period, today, President's Day.

This has been permitted despite my being from the USA and I had not called before today for this switch.

I should add that I had thanked the agent but had voiced my displeasure over the upcoming category devaluations and hence my need for the change.

I did not need to voice that objection prior to my asking for the switch and it may have helped that I am a Platinum member.

However, the switch was permitted without any pushback, so perhaps Marriott has gotten the message that we have been none to happy campers.

As noted above, my promotion will be manually tracked and altered.

I suggest you try the same and Good Luck!!!

I was on the phone with MR for another issue and told the agent I did not have a promo showing up in my profile. After a brief hold she told me I had points. I asked nicely if I could switch. She said the best she could do was 1-4. I expressed my frustration with the new category changes and asked to speak to a supervisor. A very nice guy answered, put me on hold and said after speaking to the training department he could do it. The fall promo a strict "no 1-5 switch" order was given but for this one it has loosened up.

Thank you for the advice above. Was registered for the Cat. 1-4 (with maximum of three certs) promotion and called in and requested a change to my MegaBonus. Was asked which bonus I was interested in and said the Cat. 1-5 (with maximum of two certs) promotion. Was changed without a problem! No supervisor needed and no explanation needed.

Glad it worked out for both of you!

Marriott would be really smart to offer choices, maybe once as a test. For example, to the average MR member, they could offer a choice between 3x-Cat 4 certs, 2x-Cat 5 certs, and a points option, and I bet they would be surprised how many people would be happy, and how much time they would save in customer service calls from members trying to switch.

If for the spring promo period, they coupled the above choice with an announcement such as "for the first time in many years, we will not be changing the program in a way that could be interpreted as a devaluation" could you imagine the good will that Marriott would engender?

As others have reported, the 2 stays= 1 night @ Cat 1-4 promo "magically" appeared in my promo list after a short email to MR.

I am glad that others find the Cat 1-5 useful, but it is virtually worthless to me as most of the leisure properties of interest will soon be Cat 6-9. I will be cancelling my MR visa and transferring the credit line to Chase Hyatt. May also start transferring bookings to Hyatt. Bonus points are far more useful than free nights at Fairfield Fresno.

Then why not call MR and ask for one of the points promos, instead of burning the bridges of your MR account?