how to use amex free night certificate?
Oct 16, 2018, 10:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: HKG, TPE, SAN
Programs: Marriott Plat, JAL Sapphire
Posts: 260
how to use amex free night certificate?
Hi, I have received the annual free night certificate for up to 35,000 points (for those that do not know where it is, I log into my SPG account, click my name on the top right, choose overview, and there is a section called Reward Certificates). However, I have been trying to use the free night but have not found a way to apply it. I can't find anywhere that allows me to use the certificate when I book using either points or cash. Has anyone have any success on using it?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Oct 17, 2018, 5:50 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSE
Programs: BA Silver, TK Elite, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 466
As recently as last week, I booked a points stay and using the Amex free night award showed up as an option (in fact I didn’t even know that I had this free night award until I booked this). But looking at literally the same property today, I can book on points but not using the certificate. So I’m leaning towards an IT glitch of some kind at the moment.
Oct 17, 2018, 8:16 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Hartford, WI
Programs: Marriott Titanium, WN CP, AS MVP75
Posts: 15
Had to call to get it applied
I had the same issue where I couldn't apply the certificate. (I had no problem with the other free certificate I got for my annual benefits choice). I ended up making the reservation I wanted at the hotel (making sure it was under the 35K points) and then calling customer service and asking them to attach my certificate and refund my points. Took about 5 minutes.
Oct 17, 2018, 10:06 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London, Vancouver, Tokyo, San Francisco, NYC
Posts: 265
Yours are still good....
In my case, the rep mistakenly deducted 50,000 pts instead of AMEX SPG certificate. Although I asked to use certificate, they insisted "The Marriott Certificate is not applicable to legacy spg hotels." --- Wrong! it is SPG Certificate and they steal 50,000 and now useless certificate remains, as they "Have a Technical Issue".....
Taking about 6 weeks and not resolved 
Be careful
In my case, the rep mistakenly deducted 50,000 pts instead of AMEX SPG certificate. Although I asked to use certificate, they insisted "The Marriott Certificate is not applicable to legacy spg hotels." --- Wrong! it is SPG Certificate and they steal 50,000 and now useless certificate remains, as they "Have a Technical Issue".....
Taking about 6 weeks and not resolved I had the same issue where I couldn't apply the certificate. (I had no problem with the other free certificate I got for my annual benefits choice). I ended up making the reservation I wanted at the hotel (making sure it was under the 35K points) and then calling customer service and asking them to attach my certificate and refund my points. Took about 5 minutes.
Oct 18, 2018, 4:56 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,504
Yours are still good....
In my case, the rep mistakenly deducted 50,000 pts instead of AMEX SPG certificate. Although I asked to use certificate, they insisted "The Marriott Certificate is not applicable to legacy spg hotels." --- Wrong! it is SPG Certificate and they steal 50,000 and now useless certificate remains, as they "Have a Technical Issue"..... Taking about 6 weeks and not resolved
In my case, the rep mistakenly deducted 50,000 pts instead of AMEX SPG certificate. Although I asked to use certificate, they insisted "The Marriott Certificate is not applicable to legacy spg hotels." --- Wrong! it is SPG Certificate and they steal 50,000 and now useless certificate remains, as they "Have a Technical Issue".....
Taking about 6 weeks and not resolved Also, I didn’t think those Amex certs had been around for 6 weeks. This is very confusing.
Oct 18, 2018, 2:22 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 35
How long after your renewal until the certificate showed up? My upgraded Luxury card renewed, the points from the statement posted at least a week ago - but still no 50K certificate...
And still waiting to be upgraded to platinum based on YTD spend...
Not terribly thrilled with the timing lags on these new 'luxury' benefits.
And still waiting to be upgraded to platinum based on YTD spend...
Not terribly thrilled with the timing lags on these new 'luxury' benefits.
Oct 19, 2018, 9:55 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London, Vancouver, Tokyo, San Francisco, NYC
Posts: 265
That was former CAT1-6 SPG cert from Amex. The hotel is now 50,000 pts (former CAT6) and they mistakenly deduct 50,000 pts instead of using the cert...
