Question: SPG redemption change after Aug. 1???
Apr 20, 2018, 10:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
Question: SPG redemption change after Aug. 1???
Hi all,
Pardon me for asking this dumb question but I need the answer somewhat urgently. (At work so can’t shift through 3000+ pages in the sticky post regarding merger).
Some kind FTers in a different thread suggest that Gritti Palace (cat 7) will need a lot LESS SPG points for redemption after Aug. 1 this year.
I am quite confused as to why.
I need to book a room at the hotel for November. Should I book now or wait? It’s our dream vacation and we absolutely cannot risk not having the inventory when August comes. Can we book a room under C&P this month and change it to full points redemption (if the full points required are a lot less than current regime) under the same reservation #?
Please advise and thank you all.
Again My apologies if this is a stupid question and there’s an obvious answer else where.
Pardon me for asking this dumb question but I need the answer somewhat urgently. (At work so can’t shift through 3000+ pages in the sticky post regarding merger).
Some kind FTers in a different thread suggest that Gritti Palace (cat 7) will need a lot LESS SPG points for redemption after Aug. 1 this year.
I am quite confused as to why.
I need to book a room at the hotel for November. Should I book now or wait? It’s our dream vacation and we absolutely cannot risk not having the inventory when August comes. Can we book a room under C&P this month and change it to full points redemption (if the full points required are a lot less than current regime) under the same reservation #?
Please advise and thank you all.
Again My apologies if this is a stupid question and there’s an obvious answer else where.
Apr 20, 2018, 11:34 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,110
No one knows for sure how many points a given hotel will cost after 8/1. So unless the reservation would be non-cancellable, I'd recommend booking the room now, and then if it's available in August for cheaper, cancel and book again at the new rate.
Apr 20, 2018, 11:51 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
Here's the explanation that another poster gave to a similar question:
60K MR works out to only 20K SPG, which is less than the SPG site currently wants for that property.
Originally Posted by Preacher7 
b/c on aug 1, all ritz and spg properties will be merged into the Marriott category system, even the uber-lux properties that currently charge a ton of points. Since Marriott properties max out at 60K ppn, this will be awesome, until early 2019 when they revise their charts for peak and off-peak pricing, maxing out at 100K ppn.
b/c on aug 1, all ritz and spg properties will be merged into the Marriott category system, even the uber-lux properties that currently charge a ton of points. Since Marriott properties max out at 60K ppn, this will be awesome, until early 2019 when they revise their charts for peak and off-peak pricing, maxing out at 100K ppn.
Apr 20, 2018, 12:00 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 301
There is absolutely nothing that would lead to the expectation that you will be able to change a C&P into a FNA reservation — you can’t do it now under the current terms of the program, unlesse FNA are already available for booking.
So, book now and maybe cancel later in august if there is availability.
I can not see how the Gritti, the Danieli and the sort will not be going way down in points cost come August.
The new top category will be cat. 7 for 60000 MPG points per night, that’s just 20000 Starpoints, about 60% of what those hotels currently cost.
Apr 20, 2018, 12:05 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
There is absolutely nothing that would lead to the expectation that you will be able to change a C&P into a FNA reservation — you can’t do it now under the current terms of the program, unlesse FNA are already available for booking.
So, book now and maybe cancel later in august if there is availability.
I can not see how the Gritti, the Danieli and the sort will not be going way down in points cost come August.
The new top category will be cat. 7 for 60000 MPG points per night, that’s just 20000 Starpoints, about 60% of what those hotels currently cost.
Apr 20, 2018, 5:09 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA GLD, Bonvoy Titan, HH Dia, WoH Exp
Posts: 2,673
Will all these hotels release "standard rooms" for points only redemption post Aug 1st? I can imagine many not releasing points only rooms.
Apr 20, 2018, 5:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: Accor PLT,Thai Silver, HH Dia, SPG Titanium (LT Gold), Aegean Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 5,116
I read that if you have a reservation and it drops in points in August you can contact CS and have the points difference refunded.
Apr 20, 2018, 5:33 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Pittsburgh
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Do you have enough points to reserve both? That would be simple solution.
Apr 20, 2018, 5:46 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: South Florida
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To the OP, if it's an important trip, book it NOW if you can. There are no guarantees the property will play nice if they think they will loose (eg. not load point rooms).
Apr 20, 2018, 10:45 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: YYZ
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Posts: 785
You cannot change C+P into FNA. You will have to cancel one and make a new reservation for another.
Apr 21, 2018, 6:18 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Apr 21, 2018, 6:28 am
#12
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
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Note that you do have to be logged into your account to make any award reservation. If you are still having problems with the online tool, you can call MR and a reservations agent can make the award reservation for you as well.
Apr 21, 2018, 7:09 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
Also, keep in mind MR currently allows you to book a point stay without having the points, so IF that holds going forward, you can book the second rez and then cancel the first to get your points back to cover the second. There will probably be a lot of little details like this that may not survive the merger and we may not find out via an announcement.
To the OP, if it's an important trip, book it NOW if you can. There are no guarantees the property will play nice if they think they will loose (eg. not load point rooms).
To the OP, if it's an important trip, book it NOW if you can. There are no guarantees the property will play nice if they think they will loose (eg. not load point rooms).
Thanks!! That’s a great tip. We do not have enough to book two rooms- only enough for C+P. We could transfer from Amex but been told that’s awful value.
Apr 21, 2018, 9:53 am
#14
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For further info/discussions on MR program points advance, there are plenty of threads on the MR forum with guidance.
Apr 21, 2018, 9:57 am
#15
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OP, if you "absolutely cannot risk not having the inventory when August comes", then book it now in whatever currency you want to use. Don't assume it will be cheaper, don't assume you can convert reservations, etc.
All these may happen, but the future is a somewhat fuzzy unknown. Signs are that you will have options, but don't bet a "must have" on it. Especially when whatever you book now can always be cancelled.
All these may happen, but the future is a somewhat fuzzy unknown. Signs are that you will have options, but don't bet a "must have" on it. Especially when whatever you book now can always be cancelled.
