Aug 27, 2018, 11:55 am
Last edit by: beltway
How do I make a booking using a free-night cert?
Follow these steps:
Can I exchange a soon-to-expire free-night cert for points? Extend its expiration? What if the cert has already expired?- Check the "Use points" box when conducting your search for availability. You can also filter search results by category.
- Select a property from the search results and click "Continue" to view available rooms.
- On the property-specific page, you will see several tabs at the top for various rate categories. You should automatically see award rooms; if not, click "Rewards Points" on the tab at top left.
- Select a room.
- On the reservation confirmation page, under "Choose room features," you should see a highlighted box with a note that "You have eligible e-certificates that match your reservation." Underneath that box will be radio buttons allowing you to attach your cert(s) or, in the alternative, to use points.
Marriott Rewards customer service will normally extend an unexpired free-night cert by one year from the date of the request. (Some members have encountered resistance, especially if they have canceled the associated Chase card; if this happens, hang up and call again later.) Each cert may be extended only once.
We have no reports of Marriott allowing certs to be redeemed for points, nor any reports of Marriott allowing expired certs to be revived/extended.
If I cancel my card after the annual free-night cert has posted, will I lose the cert?We have no reports of Marriott allowing certs to be redeemed for points, nor any reports of Marriott allowing expired certs to be revived/extended.
No. Once a cert is in your Marriott account, it will not be clawed back even if you cancel your card to avoid paying the annual fee.
Chase Free Night Certificate - Pre-Aug 2018
Jun 24, 2007, 12:03 pm
#76
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
For all intents and purposes, these certs are the same thing as using 20K points for a 1 night category 4 hotel certificate. (or 25K points for a 1 night cat. 5 hotel cert if you get the Pemier Visa card renewal cert.)
Jun 25, 2007, 3:58 am
#77
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Have not rec'd the card yet but the 15 EQS posted, I see the messages about the golf and the Cat 1-4 on my "view my" profile but is there supposed to be a link attached with it? I don't need to use it now, but would like to in August.. not sure what I'm doing wrong
Jun 25, 2007, 7:55 am
#78
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Programs: UA Plat-2MM, Marriott Life Titanium, Hyatt something
Posts: 1,888
There shouldn't be any issue with making one reservation for two nights. But for this to work, you don't want the online reservation tool to order the award cert for you as it would pull the point needed for a 2 night award. You will need to call MR and have them order you a 1-night e-cert.
Charles
Jun 25, 2007, 8:57 am
#79
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
No notice via mail or otherwise, I check my account online periodically but this is deep and buried. And I don't know why it is there, I only have the Premier card and that renews in October.
It might have been in response to a email fight I was having in December with a MR rep concerning a paper certificate mailed to me within 3 weeks of its expiration 2 years ago. The final exchange was nothing further could be done. Ironically, its here, unannounced, will expire again in 3 weeks hence !!
What was wrong with the old paper system, Marriott, assuming that they are mailed out on time?
Jun 25, 2007, 11:41 am
#80
Company Representative - Marriott Concierge
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,083
Jun 25, 2007, 11:55 am
#81
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
I certainally concur with you Chris, but getting an electronic award without notification is useless.
Here is the URL to the main Marriot Rewards Account:
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/myAccount/activity.mi
I may be tired and dense, but I can't find a link to "unusedcerts.mi" from here or from any sub menu. I can't check on something that I didn't know existed. I apologize if I am just missing it.
Here is the URL to the main Marriot Rewards Account:
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/myAccount/activity.mi
I may be tired and dense, but I can't find a link to "unusedcerts.mi" from here or from any sub menu. I can't check on something that I didn't know existed. I apologize if I am just missing it.
Jun 25, 2007, 12:15 pm
#82
Company Representative - Marriott Concierge
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,083
I may be tired and dense, but I can't find a link to "unusedcerts.mi" from here or from any sub menu. I can't check on something that I didn't know existed. I apologize if I am just missing it.
Jun 28, 2007, 5:23 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
No "buck slip" and no e-cert
We do notify our members of the electronic certificates via a "buck slip" which is mailed along with your new credit card. However in your case, it sounds like the representative you spoke with back in December didn't follow-up with you after the certificate was issued. I sincerely apologize for this.
You can access the unused certificate page by logging into your account, then clicking on "My Account", and then "View activity >>" (or "Marriott Rewards Activity" directly underneath "My Account" on the left hand side of the page). Under "Rewards Requested" click "view a list of all currently ordered certificates". This will take you to the unused certificate page.
You can access the unused certificate page by logging into your account, then clicking on "My Account", and then "View activity >>" (or "Marriott Rewards Activity" directly underneath "My Account" on the left hand side of the page). Under "Rewards Requested" click "view a list of all currently ordered certificates". This will take you to the unused certificate page.
My wife received her new MR credit card today and there was no "buck slip" in the envelope. When she signed in to her account and followed your instructions above we found no "free night" unused certificates. What's up?
Phil
Jun 28, 2007, 7:22 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 2,837
I certainally concur with you Chris, but getting an electronic award without notification is useless.
Here is the URL to the main Marriot Rewards Account:
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/myAccount/activity.mi
I may be tired and dense, but I can't find a link to "unusedcerts.mi" from here or from any sub menu. I can't check on something that I didn't know existed. I apologize if I am just missing it.
Here is the URL to the main Marriot Rewards Account:
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/myAccount/activity.mi
I may be tired and dense, but I can't find a link to "unusedcerts.mi" from here or from any sub menu. I can't check on something that I didn't know existed. I apologize if I am just missing it.
Jun 29, 2007, 10:34 am
#85
Company Representative - Marriott Concierge
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,083
Has your wife ever had a MR credit card before?
Jun 29, 2007, 10:53 am
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Jul 22, 2007, 9:45 am
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Phil
Jul 22, 2007, 11:21 pm
#88
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: UA, bmi, AA, CO, DL, B6, AMEX, Hertz, Most Hotels
Posts: 3,002
fwiw, i'd ask to have the MR rep conference call in a Chase rep.
that was the only way i was able to get the cert issued after 3 mos of MR runaround.
good luck
that was the only way i was able to get the cert issued after 3 mos of MR runaround.
good luck
Sep 24, 2007, 7:11 pm
#89
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SMF
Programs: AA EXP 4MM
Posts: 811
Denied use of 34A Visa free night award after reservation confirmed
I'm bumping this thread for 2 reasons:
1. This free night certificate is an e-certificate; there is no paper certificate, and although I've asked at least 4 different MR CSRs, none have indicated that I needed a certificate number. Am I going to have a problem at check-in or check-out? Do I need to insist on getting a certificate number? As other posters have indicated, my reservation confirmation simply indicates that this is a Marriott Rewards reservation, and my online reservation indicates that I need a 20,000 point reward certificate, though all the CSRs tell me that I'm confirmed for the Visa free night award.
2. My Visa free night award (34A) was electronically deposited in my account right after I got my MR Visa, on 5/28/07. On 5/29/07 I called MR and made a reservation for 12/22/07. The agent didn't mention any problem with expiration of the award. On 6/10/07 I reconfirmed this reservation, and again the CSR did not mention an expiration date problem. Today, I called again to reconfirm, and the CSR told me that the award expires on 11/28/07! I explained the above, and the CSR talked to her supervisor, who called the property, and the manager refused to honor the reservation. The supervisor then called MR customer service, and I was told that MR would not honor the reservation, extend the expiration date, or make any other adjustment, even though it was a MR reservation agent who made the reservation for me back on 5/29/07. Apparently, these certificates expire 6 months from the date of issue, and have to be used by then, not just applied to a future reservation by then. In the end, I did apply the certificate to another reservation, so I will get to use it.
Sorry for being so long-winded, but I was really shocked at the indifference of MR customer service (and so was the very helpful agent who tried to help me today). Anyone else encounter this problem?
Thanks.
1. This free night certificate is an e-certificate; there is no paper certificate, and although I've asked at least 4 different MR CSRs, none have indicated that I needed a certificate number. Am I going to have a problem at check-in or check-out? Do I need to insist on getting a certificate number? As other posters have indicated, my reservation confirmation simply indicates that this is a Marriott Rewards reservation, and my online reservation indicates that I need a 20,000 point reward certificate, though all the CSRs tell me that I'm confirmed for the Visa free night award.
2. My Visa free night award (34A) was electronically deposited in my account right after I got my MR Visa, on 5/28/07. On 5/29/07 I called MR and made a reservation for 12/22/07. The agent didn't mention any problem with expiration of the award. On 6/10/07 I reconfirmed this reservation, and again the CSR did not mention an expiration date problem. Today, I called again to reconfirm, and the CSR told me that the award expires on 11/28/07! I explained the above, and the CSR talked to her supervisor, who called the property, and the manager refused to honor the reservation. The supervisor then called MR customer service, and I was told that MR would not honor the reservation, extend the expiration date, or make any other adjustment, even though it was a MR reservation agent who made the reservation for me back on 5/29/07. Apparently, these certificates expire 6 months from the date of issue, and have to be used by then, not just applied to a future reservation by then. In the end, I did apply the certificate to another reservation, so I will get to use it.
Sorry for being so long-winded, but I was really shocked at the indifference of MR customer service (and so was the very helpful agent who tried to help me today). Anyone else encounter this problem?
Thanks.
Sep 24, 2007, 7:35 pm
#90
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
Regarding #2, absolutely. Got the same run around with a paper certificate being mailed to me with 3 weeks to go before it expired. Complained for 2 years and never got anywhere with a few arrogent clerks at MR, Utah.
BTW, just got a 9/12/07 letter from Chase stating that an electronic cert 1-5 is being deposited into my account for the premier CC renewal. I can't find it anywhere but it expires "in 6 months from my anniversary date." Why can't they define it and tell me upfront?
BTW, just got a 9/12/07 letter from Chase stating that an electronic cert 1-5 is being deposited into my account for the premier CC renewal. I can't find it anywhere but it expires "in 6 months from my anniversary date." Why can't they define it and tell me upfront?