Booked a one-night award stay on-line last night that showed as a "pointsaver". This was for a CY in the DC area (Category 2).

After selecting the room type (King room w/sofabed), I got a pop-up on the next screen (the one where your preferences are shown at the bottom) that said "Preferences not valid and cannot be loaded with this rate". I tried selecting the preferences manually, and got another pop-up that said "Preferences not valid on this rate, please select the 'no preferences' box and press the 'skip this step' button". Upon doing so, I was able to complete the reservation.

This struck me as very odd, because my preferences have always carried to the hotels in the past when booking award stays. I'm SM (4 nights from Gold, which I'll make easily in December).

While I'm not too worried about it because I know the hotel quite well - and it's only one night, I always thought that our preferences carried, regardless of whether it is a paid or award stay. There were two types of room offered (king and double queen), so it's not a big deal, but I'm curious whether this will be an issue in the future. It would be less than satisfactory to achieve Gold and be denied access to the C-lounge because that benefit doesn't apply to an award stay.

Any thoughts?

I have had this problem recently as well on a couple of stays. However having written the preferences in the comments box they have all been given at check-in (not sure if by luck or design)

I am a Plat, so that may have something to do with my ability to work around the system. I encounter this problem when using AAA and other discounted rates. These rates often will not guaranty a form of bedding, your MR acknowledged preferences notwithstanding.

Check availability. Check the "No Preferences" box . Now confirm tne reservation. Once you have a confirmation number, go to "Change/Cancel Reservations" on the reservations menu. Go to the reservation in question. Click on "Modify (?) Reservation". When this screen appears, click on "Room Type". In my case, I prefer doubles/queens. I simply make this change. A review screen then appears telling me that the doubles/queens are now guaranteed. I click on "Change Reservation", and the new reservation data shows this change.

Hopefully this will work for you too.

My experience is that the hotels will normally do everything they can to honor your requests/prefs during reward stays.