Exchange points with e-cert for a reservation?
 

So my annual Marriott Visa cat 5 e-cert won't deposit until May 21, after the 5/15 category change deadline. I contacted Chase to see if they can deposit it a week early and they refused to accommodate my request. :(

Is it possible to book a cat 5 using points (I have enough in my account) before 5/15 then swap them out with the e-cert once it's deposited?

yes. you don't even have to have the points.

Thanks! I went ahead and exhausted the pts in my account by making another reservation. Then the system let me book a cat 5 without pts.

When the cert posts to your account, contact Marriott Rewards, not reservations to substitute in the cert and refund the points -- it is normally a painless process.