I have not seen any us based members get cat 5 automatically. Why were you surorised? What does My Promotions say you should be getting?

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. I just checked and sure enough (when I click on Details) it is Cat 4. I was probably thinking it was a 5 because I had recently cashed in a cert for a 5 which must have come from the CC renewal, or something else I can't remember. In any event, I've got one 4 property where I use up plenty of free nights, but the devaluation just kicked one of my favs up to a 5. In spite of the devaluation the program still works well for me. Thanks for your comment. I had sort of tuned out for a few months while I wasn't traveling much. Now I have to start paying attention again :-)

What can you do with Cat 4 certificates in these days? Har har har!

I could use my Cat 5 for the Marriott Hong Kont airport!

Does anyone know if it's possible to combine a Cat 4 certificate with either points or cash to upgrade it to a Cat 5?

Sadly, no.

I did. And was told that switching promos isn't allowed (which we all know is incorrect). I could get on my knees and beg repeatedly until I find a sympathetic agent but that seems kind of silly considering I haven't had to do so with other chains.

While I could rant about not being allowed to do so or the lack of knowledgeable customer service people, I won't. Marriott Concierge here at FT has gone above and beyond on a number of occasions for me - for which I am very grateful ^. I think as a participant in MR I have to acknowledge that I'm not always going to get my way.

That being said, putting out information that changing promos is done for everyone or for whoever takes the time to call is simply incorrect.

It is great that you have never had to play telephone roulette with other hotel chains, however, almost everyone on FlyerTalk has had to play telephone roulette with hotel companies or airlines or car rentals, etc, with success. Here is your choice, stand on "I've never had to do that with other chains" so I am not going to do it now, which is stubborn, but not constructive, or call back and try again, and maybe you will meet with success, as many other people have. Also, I never said "everyone" or "whoever" will be able to change. I just said that telephone roulette is a viable method for many, and this has been discussed many times in this thread.

Cancel or not?!

I had already one night. Need another night. Don't know if time allows to stay again until end of promotion period.

Hold a reservation for 59 $. Would you guys make a trash night (i.e. go for check-in, pay and leave the hotel) out of it or is this too much money to get another certificate?

Question: would the night that you would use that certificate for cost more than $59?

If yes, then do the mattress run; if no, then it's not worth the bother.

Certainly. The night which I would use would cost around 192 $. So, my feeling says yes and your comment as well. Hence, I will do the mattress run :o

The Ren Malmo has that excellent bar area though, and when I was there (nearly three years ago, FWIW) I was given certs for two drinks and an appetizer for each night I was there.

I am a little behind with 18 out of 25 nights for 50k promo this time. Nothing much next two weeks as I am trying to stay home.

No is what the Platinum desk told me before I dropped to Gold. I wasn't able to do it but it would be a nice bonus if Marriott would make that possible going forward.

Megabonus cat 1-4 exclusions?
 

I'm trying to redeem a Megabonus category 1-4 e-cert for a night at the Northampton Marriott Hotel, http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...arriott-hotel/ . It's a category 4, so I expected this to be straightforward. But as I follow the Using Rewards e-Certificate for Free Nights instructions (which I've previously used successfully for other properties), Marriott.com doesn't present the e-cert redemption option. I called in to Marriott Rewards and was told this hotel is not available. ("Some hotels don't participate.")

Reviewing MegaBonus T&C's, I see a potential basis for some hotels to opt out:
(emphasis added)

But, then again, a subsequent provision seems to indicate that participation is quite broad: Is there any way to confirm what properties are excluded? A list somewhere?

When you called MR did you call the care line or reservations? Try calling reservations and tell them you want to book with a cert. I've had problems booking with a cert online, then called reservations and they had no problem doing it.