Companion Pass Hotel Transfers are allowed again, through March 31, 2017 only!!
Feb 11, 2017, 12:10 pm
#136
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
Also note that transfers between your SPG and Marriott accounts will be rounded down to the nearest 1k.
Feb 11, 2017, 1:55 pm
#137
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,275
So, my math...
Ignoring the Marriott packages, transferring 5736 UR points to Hyatt would get me to 150k -> 90k WN CPQP. I have a flight next week earning 2,384 and a flight the second week of March earning 2,882. Plus the 1831 that I possess, that leaves me 12,921 CQPQ short of 110k. I would, therefore, need to transfer 27500 more UR points to Hyatt to allow for that extra 13,200 CPQP. Total outlay: 33236 UR + 144,264 Hyatt.
For the travel package, I'd move the 116k Amex MR points to *wood -> Marriott, yielding 116,074 points. Let's assume I get the 7 night + 120k points for 270,000 Marriott points. I now need 153,926 more Marriott points, which could be obtained via UR transfer. So, for this, I'm out 154k UR points and 116k Amex MR points (but get a 7 night hotel voucher).
Third option is to do some combination of the above, transferring some Hyatt points to WN while also purchasing a lower priced travel package. Again, a primary goal would be to deplete the Amex points, since I use them for practically nothing (unlike Hyatt/UR). With those 116k marriott points, I'd then need 81,196 more from UR to get the 200k (50k WN CPQP miles) package. With the planned flights, I'll be 52,903 short of CP, which could be filled by 98750 Hyatt points (practically 100k to get the 6k bonus). Total outlay, 100k Hyatt, 81k UR, 116k MR.
Looks like Marriott is valuing the 7 night cert for 150k points (21.4k points/night). I can get a decent Hyatt for 12-15k/night.
Paralysis by analysis.
Ignoring the Marriott packages, transferring 5736 UR points to Hyatt would get me to 150k -> 90k WN CPQP. I have a flight next week earning 2,384 and a flight the second week of March earning 2,882. Plus the 1831 that I possess, that leaves me 12,921 CQPQ short of 110k. I would, therefore, need to transfer 27500 more UR points to Hyatt to allow for that extra 13,200 CPQP. Total outlay: 33236 UR + 144,264 Hyatt.
For the travel package, I'd move the 116k Amex MR points to *wood -> Marriott, yielding 116,074 points. Let's assume I get the 7 night + 120k points for 270,000 Marriott points. I now need 153,926 more Marriott points, which could be obtained via UR transfer. So, for this, I'm out 154k UR points and 116k Amex MR points (but get a 7 night hotel voucher).
Third option is to do some combination of the above, transferring some Hyatt points to WN while also purchasing a lower priced travel package. Again, a primary goal would be to deplete the Amex points, since I use them for practically nothing (unlike Hyatt/UR). With those 116k marriott points, I'd then need 81,196 more from UR to get the 200k (50k WN CPQP miles) package. With the planned flights, I'll be 52,903 short of CP, which could be filled by 98750 Hyatt points (practically 100k to get the 6k bonus). Total outlay, 100k Hyatt, 81k UR, 116k MR.
Looks like Marriott is valuing the 7 night cert for 150k points (21.4k points/night). I can get a decent Hyatt for 12-15k/night.
Paralysis by analysis.
If you really value UR at 2 cents per point (and assuming that you can afford to spend some cash), I would recommend that you instead just buy SPG points. Even at their regular (not on sale) price, you pay 3.5 cents per point - but these xfer to Marriott at 1-->3, so you are paying an equivalent of under 1.2 cents per Marriott point. SPG limits you to 30000 points in purchases per year; spending $1050 would get you 30000 SPG --> 90000 Marriott points, which is enough for your third option above. If you want to gamble a bit, also set up an account for your wife (make sure it has the same address as your SPG account) and purchase an additional 21000 points in her account. You have to wait 30+ days from account creation to xfer the points in her account to yours - this takes several business days after you e-mail in your request to move points, is done by hand and has a small chance of taking longer if they ask you for proof that you live at the same address. This would get you to within 1000 Marriott points of redeeming for the 120K WN points, which could be done using 1000 UR points.
A more-detailed working of this plan (but with a sale price to buy SPG points) is here
Sorry to add to your "paralysis by analysis", but I would have to be very hard-pressed to xfer more than a few thousand points from UR to Marriott.
Last edited by HPN-HRL; Feb 11, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Feb 13, 2017, 10:29 pm
#138
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 403
I just converted 150,000 UR points to 90K (I might be off a thousand here or there) Hyatt points. I was not going to get up to 270K, and I really wanted a companion pass for next year, so figured this made sense. I know it's not the best deal, but hey - it will get be CP for next year and I can take advantage of the closing loophole!
Feb 20, 2017, 11:20 am
#139
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: USA
Programs: All of em...
Posts: 1,265
I just converted 150,000 UR points to 90K (I might be off a thousand here or there) Hyatt points. I was not going to get up to 270K, and I really wanted a companion pass for next year, so figured this made sense. I know it's not the best deal, but hey - it will get be CP for next year and I can take advantage of the closing loophole!
Edit 4 hours later - they showed up and I was able to add my wife as my companion! Stoked.
Last edited by x712xdamx; Feb 20, 2017 at 3:24 pm Reason: update
Mar 19, 2017, 6:27 pm
#140
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Choice Privileges has finally rebuilt website functionality for online transfer of Choice points to Southwest and other airlines. The rate is still 6k Choice to 1.8k Southwest:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choic...le-online.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choic...le-online.html
Mar 20, 2017, 4:53 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 468
I am trying to decide between the 250K package and the 270K. My dilemma is that I am a bit short for the 270k. Before I buy 20K Marriott points to make up the difference, I have a question: Do the 6K points from renewal of SW Premier count for CP? I am thinking they should, but have not been able to find confirmation.
I will be renewing my SW Premier card which provides 6,000 points at renewal in June. I also have some points from flying SW which would give me the 10k for CP if the 6k renewal points count.
Thanks!!!
I will be renewing my SW Premier card which provides 6,000 points at renewal in June. I also have some points from flying SW which would give me the 10k for CP if the 6k renewal points count.
Thanks!!!
Mar 20, 2017, 5:14 am
#142
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 27
I am trying to decide between the 250K package and the 270K. My dilemma is that I am a bit short for the 270k. Before I buy 20K Marriott points to make up the difference, I have a question: Do the 6K points from renewal of SW Premier count for CP? I am thinking they should, but have not been able to find confirmation.
I will be renewing my SW Premier card which provides 6,000 points at renewal in June. I also have some points from flying SW which would give me the 10k for CP if the 6k renewal points count.
Thanks!!!
I will be renewing my SW Premier card which provides 6,000 points at renewal in June. I also have some points from flying SW which would give me the 10k for CP if the 6k renewal points count.
Thanks!!!
Mar 20, 2017, 8:14 am
#143
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
I am trying to decide between the 250K package and the 270K. My dilemma is that I am a bit short for the 270k. Before I buy 20K Marriott points to make up the difference, I have a question: Do the 6K points from renewal of SW Premier count for CP? I am thinking they should, but have not been able to find confirmation.
I will be renewing my SW Premier card which provides 6,000 points at renewal in June. I also have some points from flying SW which would give me the 10k for CP if the 6k renewal points count.
Thanks!!!
I will be renewing my SW Premier card which provides 6,000 points at renewal in June. I also have some points from flying SW which would give me the 10k for CP if the 6k renewal points count.
Thanks!!!
Mar 20, 2017, 7:43 pm
#146
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
You SHOULD be ok as mine took 2 days but you also have the weekend to deal with and possible rush of last minute people going for CP
Mar 20, 2017, 10:05 pm
#147
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
2 business days for MR-->Rapid Rewards. Phone up MR the day you show 270K in your MR account. Just did it a few days back. The only unsettling thing of it all is there is no email trail while you sweat those 48 hours (the only email you get shows you surrendered the MR points, but not why, to which program etc).
Mar 20, 2017, 11:09 pm
#148
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Mar 21, 2017, 7:20 am
#149
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CLE -> BNA
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, RR A-List
Posts: 312
Some YMMV DPs for booking the 5 night package recently: http://www.theartoftravelhacking.com...ckage-success/
Mar 21, 2017, 8:20 am
#150
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
I can say that Marriott has been cracking down on enforcing the MVCI ownership requirement for the 5-night TP award. Most of the posts in the Marriott forum have been folks getting denied when trying to get one.
From the article, I noticed the Ireland agent didn't know about the 50K limit exception when ordering an award. So my guess is that agent hasn't received (or didn't retain) the training around TP awards. But if someone from Marriott sees that blog, that agent may be quickly brought up to speed. So if you are keen on trying to get a 5 night TP award (without being an MVCI owner) then you probably should be calling that MR call center very quickly.
From the article, I noticed the Ireland agent didn't know about the 50K limit exception when ordering an award. So my guess is that agent hasn't received (or didn't retain) the training around TP awards. But if someone from Marriott sees that blog, that agent may be quickly brought up to speed. So if you are keen on trying to get a 5 night TP award (without being an MVCI owner) then you probably should be calling that MR call center very quickly.