Existing reservation. Points reduction in August. Refund?
May 19, 2018, 8:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
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Existing reservation. Points reduction in August. Refund?
I swear I thought I saw the answer to my question somewhere on FT but now I can't find it...
I have a reservation at a cat 7 SPG property for early 2019. It's 5 nights at 30,000 per night, so 120,000 SPG points (with the 5th night free). With the new award chart coming in August the property will almost certainly become a "new" category 7 at 60,000 MR points per night (20,000 SPG equivalent). So I could book the same reservation for 240,000 MR points in August which is significantly less than the 360,000 MR equivalent points I spent for the existing reservation.
Will the points difference be automatically refunded to my combined account in August?
The catch here is that the dates I'm booked no longer have availability for points bookings so I can't just cancel and rebook in August.
I have a reservation at a cat 7 SPG property for early 2019. It's 5 nights at 30,000 per night, so 120,000 SPG points (with the 5th night free). With the new award chart coming in August the property will almost certainly become a "new" category 7 at 60,000 MR points per night (20,000 SPG equivalent). So I could book the same reservation for 240,000 MR points in August which is significantly less than the 360,000 MR equivalent points I spent for the existing reservation.
Will the points difference be automatically refunded to my combined account in August?
The catch here is that the dates I'm booked no longer have availability for points bookings so I can't just cancel and rebook in August.
May 19, 2018, 8:40 am
#2
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C6. Will existing SPG award reservations be honored at the same rate after August 1?
Stays booked now will be honored at current booking rates even if the stays occur after the new redemption rates take effect. There’s no need to take any action. Note that for stays booked with points, if you modify your stay dates after August, you will be subject to the new Free Night Award Chart point values. Extending your stay or shifting your stay dates will result in a recalculation of points required for your reservation. <added by Starwood Lurker 30Apr18
C7. If a member cancels an SPG award reservation after August 1, how many points will be refunded? Refunds will be returned at the converted value. <added by Starwood Lurker 30Apr2018>
C7. If a member cancels an SPG award reservation after August 1, how many points will be refunded? Refunds will be returned at the converted value. <added by Starwood Lurker 30Apr2018>
May 19, 2018, 8:41 am
#3
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I don't see any way they magically credit you back any points differential...you just have to hope space opens up and then re-book at the lower rates
May 19, 2018, 9:54 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 147
A previous Q&A stated reservations will need to be cancelled and then rebooked to redeem rates at the new award chart. I would not expect an automatic refund. Even if points availability does not show online for your dates, if premium rooms are available they may be available on points by calling. I have not seen any information with respect to what the new program will look like for premium room redemptions, but it is one other avenue for you to consider should availability not be displayed on your dates come August 1.
May 19, 2018, 11:07 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
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Posts: 5,035
Stays booked now will be honored at current booking rates even if the stays occur after the new redemption rates take effect. There’s no need to take any action. Note that for stays booked with points, if you modify your stay dates after August, you will be subject to the new Free Night Award Chart point values. Extending your stay or shifting your stay dates will result in a recalculation of points required for your reservation. <added by Starwood Lurker 30Apr18
C7. If a member cancels an SPG award reservation after August 1, how many points will be refunded? Refunds will be returned at the converted value. <added by Starwood Lurker 30Apr2018>
C7. If a member cancels an SPG award reservation after August 1, how many points will be refunded? Refunds will be returned at the converted value. <added by Starwood Lurker 30Apr2018>
To my reading it's not entirely clear what is meant by "Refunds will be returned at the converted value." I assume that it means that my 120,000 SPG points would be returned as 360,000 MR points which would be fine. However, it could also be read as the points would be returned based on the new (lower) points rate in effect after August 1.
A previous Q&A stated reservations will need to be cancelled and then rebooked to redeem rates at the new award chart. I would not expect an automatic refund. Even if points availability does not show online for your dates, if premium rooms are available they may be available on points by calling. I have not seen any information with respect to what the new program will look like for premium room redemptions, but it is one other avenue for you to consider should availability not be displayed on your dates come August 1.
Last edited by PHLGovFlyer; May 19, 2018 at 11:12 am
May 19, 2018, 11:14 am
#6
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To my reading it's not entirely clear what is meant by "Refunds will be returned at the converted value." I assume that it means that my 120,000 SPG points would be returned as 360,000 MR points which would be fine. However, it could also be read as the points would be returned based on the new (lower) points rate in effect after August 1.
I assume that any refund would not be automatic. My hope (and it's only hope) is that I will be able to contact MR and have the existing reservation cancelled and converted to the reduced points level and the difference refunded, essentially cancelling and re-opening award space for my dates. I've not seen any details regarding this sort of event on FT or the Marriott/SPG sites.
May 19, 2018, 11:28 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albany, NY
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To my reading it's not entirely clear what is meant by "Refunds will be returned at the converted value." I assume that it means that my 120,000 SPG points would be returned as 360,000 MR points which would be fine. However, it could also be read as the points would be returned based on the new (lower) points rate in effect after August 1.
I assume that any refund would not be automatic. My hope (and it's only hope) is that I will be able to contact MR and have the existing reservation cancelled and converted to the reduced points level and the difference refunded, essentially cancelling and re-opening award space for my dates. I've not seen any details regarding this sort of event on FT or the Marriott/SPG sites.
May 19, 2018, 11:30 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
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To my reading it's not entirely clear what is meant by "Refunds will be returned at the converted value." I assume that it means that my 120,000 SPG points would be returned as 360,000 MR points which would be fine. However, it could also be read as the points would be returned based on the new (lower) points rate in effect after August 1.
I assume that any refund would not be automatic. My hope (and it's only hope) is that I will be able to contact MR and have the existing reservation cancelled and converted to the reduced points level and the difference refunded, essentially cancelling and re-opening award space for my dates. I've not seen any details regarding this sort of event on FT or the Marriott/SPG sites.
May 19, 2018, 11:33 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2009
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My experience with SPG was ALWAYS that if there was a category change at a hotel and the number of points required decreased, I just called and was refunded the difference in points. They didn’t need to CANCEL my reservation. I don’t have experience with MR in this regard, but I would hope they’d do the same! DON’T cancel your own reservation, unless you are able to rebook successfully first, and don’t let a customer service rep cancel it either. If the policy isn’t crystal clear by the time the changes occur in August, I’d call and ask for the assistance of a customer service supervisor.
May 19, 2018, 11:42 am
#10
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Last edited by Travelosopher; May 19, 2018 at 11:43 am Reason: Typo
May 19, 2018, 11:47 am
#11
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Not sure if you're thinking Hyatt or not but the first time I attempted this I called SPG and was warned that there was no award space available and when they cancel my current reservation they could not guarantee award rooms would open.
May 19, 2018, 2:28 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albany, NY
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Keep the res but change the award certificate
I googled to try to find an answer to this question, and saw that in an April 16, 2018 blog post, View from the Wing quoted Marriott/David Flueck as advising those who experience a category decrease for an already reserved hotel to CALL Marriott Rewards in August, once the category changes are in place, to get help to CHANGE the AWARD CERTIFICATE attached to the reservation but KEEP the ORIGINAL RESERVATION intact. This is what I would do! It makes sense! (BUT if you handle it yourself, NEVER CANCEL the original reservation until you’re certain the new one is confirmed.)
Last edited by Travelosopher; May 19, 2018 at 2:48 pm Reason: Typo
May 19, 2018, 3:02 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,324
I googled to try to find an answer to this question, and saw that in an April 16, 2018 blog post, View from the Wing quoted Marriott/David Flueck as advising those who experience a category decrease for an already reserved hotel to CALL Marriott Rewards in August, once the category changes are in place, to get help to CHANGE the AWARD CERTIFICATE attached to the reservation but KEEP the ORIGINAL RESERVATION intact. This is what I would do! It makes sense! (BUT if you handle it yourself, NEVER CANCEL the original reservation until you’re certain the new one is confirmed.)
May 19, 2018, 3:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2013
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May 19, 2018, 6:19 pm
#15
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To my reading it's not entirely clear what is meant by "Refunds will be returned at the converted value." I assume that it means that my 120,000 SPG points would be returned as 360,000 MR points which would be fine. However, it could also be read as the points would be returned based on the new (lower) points rate in effect after August 1.