Your points are more flexible than ever
Jan 13, 2008 | 3:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Marriott Silver, Starwood Preferred Guest, Kimpton InTouch
Posts: 105
Your points are more flexible than ever
http://www.marriott.com/rewards/learn/prgnews.mi
So if you decide to use points at check-in or to extend your stay, you'll be charged the Stay Anytime rate? Wow! 
I thought everyone could use points to upgrade?
Now you can use points at check-in or to extend your stay. If you have enough points, simply redeem them at the Stay Anytime rate. Subject to hotel availability.*
Checking out early? Take your points with you! If youre staying at the hotel using points, inform the front desk that youre leaving sooner than planned - and your points will be credited.*
Silver members can now upgrade their stay using points. Upgrade rewards require 5,000 points per upgrade level and cannot be reserved in advance. Subject to hotel availability.*
*At hotels in the US (except Hawaii) and Canada, not including Ritz-Carlton and MVCI.
Silver members can now upgrade their stay using points. Upgrade rewards require 5,000 points per upgrade level and cannot be reserved in advance. Subject to hotel availability.*
*At hotels in the US (except Hawaii) and Canada, not including Ritz-Carlton and MVCI.
Jan 13, 2008 | 6:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ORD, MKE, MDW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, AAdvantage Gold, Air Canada Elite, Avis Pref Select, Hertz Gold,
Posts: 1,844
I'm not quite sure what to make of this, but after last spring's "episode" with the MR program, I'll believe I'll hold off forming opinions and commenting until AFTER the Freddies.
Jan 14, 2008 | 5:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 9,108
More corporate marketing doublespeak?
Can't imagine how this might work. Say I get lucky and need a room and its 2am. I can get in at double the points right on the spot? Imagine arguing with the clerk trying to do so without paperwork?
Actually if it works, it might come in handy. But why double the points?
Can't imagine how this might work. Say I get lucky and need a room and its 2am. I can get in at double the points right on the spot? Imagine arguing with the clerk trying to do so without paperwork?
Actually if it works, it might come in handy. But why double the points?
Jan 15, 2008 | 5:45 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DCA, EGE, IAD
Programs: MR LTT, BA Gold, AA LTP, UA Silver
Posts: 6,093
If there is standard award availability at the hotel then just go book the standard award room online and tell the front desk that you have back-to-back reservations. This is just marketing and hoping/allowing you to bypass the online system and possibly use double the points in the process.
BTW, if you are extending your stay at 2 AM it would be for the next night for which you could possibly book the extra night online as a standard award. Extending your stay implies you would have to arrange the extra night prior to check-out. If you have checked out then you would need to make a new reservation. Whether you can book an award stay at 2 AM for that night is another question. But then again, if you are in that dire need of a room and/or were not able to plan ahead, then just cough up the bucks.
BTW, if you are extending your stay at 2 AM it would be for the next night for which you could possibly book the extra night online as a standard award. Extending your stay implies you would have to arrange the extra night prior to check-out. If you have checked out then you would need to make a new reservation. Whether you can book an award stay at 2 AM for that night is another question. But then again, if you are in that dire need of a room and/or were not able to plan ahead, then just cough up the bucks.
Jan 15, 2008 | 7:11 am
#5
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: 11,775
I have had a few instances in the past where I decided, last minute, to try and use points for a room. Even before the advent of e-certs, I was able to make this work. But with e-certs, this shouldn't be a problem at all.
Just check online and see if Standard award inventory is available, if so, book it. With e-certs now the norm, there shouldn't be any real issues. The biggest one might be trying to keep the same room, if you happen to already be in the hotel.
Just check online and see if Standard award inventory is available, if so, book it. With e-certs now the norm, there shouldn't be any real issues. The biggest one might be trying to keep the same room, if you happen to already be in the hotel.
Jan 15, 2008 | 2:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium (former PP), Hilton Silver, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,906
If there is standard availability, you can book via the reservation line on the day of the award. I have done this successfully to extend a stay or to get a new reservation. Sometimes, I have even been able to get a pointsaver award. As for extending a stay and staying in the same room, that has never been a problem for me.
Jan 16, 2008 | 3:44 am
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,881
An improvement that actually is an improvement!
"Checking out early? Take your points with you! If youre staying at the hotel using points, inform the front desk that youre leaving sooner than planned - and your points will be credited.* "
We have lost points several times by having to cut a stay short. If this is correct, then I give Marriott credit - this actually IS an improvement!
We have lost points several times by having to cut a stay short. If this is correct, then I give Marriott credit - this actually IS an improvement!