How to Use Your Current Travel Package Certificate Prior to 8/18
Aug 15, 2018, 1:41 pm
#31
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New York
Programs: MB-LTT , HH-Diam., HGP-Expl.
Posts: 778
First, I agree... Thanks to the Lurker for responding, at least someone cares... I'm a long time Marriott supporter but the lack of communication from them on this is embarrassing. I'll reserve my final judgement on it until I hear how they are going to map the certs... The only excuse I would find acceptable is if they plan on being super generous, under that scenario I can see why they couldn't afford to tell us ahead of time.
Last edited by rny321; Aug 15, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Aug 15, 2018, 1:53 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
If you have an existing Travel Package and would like to use for a SPG hotel, you will need to wait until after 9/18. Or, you can redeem points for a new Travel Package under the new program starting 8/18, including SPG hotels.
Between 8/18 and 9/18, you can cancel a Travel Package reservation, but you will not be able to rebook until after 9/18.
Kind regards,
Alexandra Baker
Specialist, Social Media
Starwood Hotels and Resorts
[email protected]
Between 8/18 and 9/18, you can cancel a Travel Package reservation, but you will not be able to rebook until after 9/18.
Kind regards,
Alexandra Baker
Specialist, Social Media
Starwood Hotels and Resorts
[email protected]
Or must I leave my TP unattached if I want to be able to change properties later?
Aug 15, 2018, 2:44 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,755
Hello all,
After 8/18, certificates cannot be upgraded or downgraded, regardless of when they were purchased.
Kind regards,
Alexandra Baker
Specialist, Social Media
Starwood Hotels and Resorts
[email protected]
After 8/18, certificates cannot be upgraded or downgraded, regardless of when they were purchased.
Kind regards,
Alexandra Baker
Specialist, Social Media
Starwood Hotels and Resorts
[email protected]
How can Marriott expect the customers can correctly GUESS which category of the Travel Package they should redeem when they are not told how the existing program's certs would be converted to the new program's certs other than the "similar" value? Cat 6 does NOT have the exact match for example.
You have 2 years to sort out the 2 programs differences and then 4 months since the April announcement on when the final merger to occur, and yet, there is still muddier than mud on how the current travel package certs would be handled after Aug 18th?
This is really shameful by not allowing any upgrade / downgrade after Aug 18th.
Aug 15, 2018, 2:46 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 19
I'd love to go ahead and upgrade...if I knew what category I need to upgrade to...but I still don't. What a mess they have with this.
Last edited by Jennlynd; Aug 15, 2018 at 2:47 pm Reason: spelling
Aug 15, 2018, 3:10 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Thank you for the update, Alexandra.
This still leaves us with this catch 22, though: if you can't attach your certificate now because the dates or too far out or because you want to book an SPG property then you don't know which category you need to buy or upgrade to now to be able to secure that reservation after 9/18. If upgrades will not be allowed then you're stuck if your converted certificate does not match the category of the property you want. Could you please find out if there's any solution for this problem?
This still leaves us with this catch 22, though: if you can't attach your certificate now because the dates or too far out or because you want to book an SPG property then you don't know which category you need to buy or upgrade to now to be able to secure that reservation after 9/18. If upgrades will not be allowed then you're stuck if your converted certificate does not match the category of the property you want. Could you please find out if there's any solution for this problem?
It’s unfortunate that booking SPG hotels isn’t easier with these certs (and that the new TP’s are so much more expensive) but as these are legacy MR certificates, IMO I don’t think it should have been reasonably expected that these could be used at SPG hotels.
Aug 15, 2018, 3:17 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 746
There isn't going to be "SPG hotels" after 8/18. Being able to use them at any Marriott property is absolutely a reasonable expectation--and nothing from Marriott has ever indicated otherwise.
Aug 15, 2018, 3:21 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: AS 100k, BA GGL, UA 1k, DL DM, AC SE, B6 Mosaic4, Hyatt/Hilton/Wyndham/IHG Diamond, Marriot Ti
Posts: 1,248
I am interested and willing to upgrade my travel package now. I know which hotel I plan to use it at. But I have no information on which package I even need. This is frustrating.
Aug 15, 2018, 3:25 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 110
What hotel? If it's an SPG then you'll have to guess. If it's a Marriott the only guarantee is to buy it's current category and attach it before 8/18.
Aug 15, 2018, 3:33 pm
#39
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: AS 100k, BA GGL, UA 1k, DL DM, AC SE, B6 Mosaic4, Hyatt/Hilton/Wyndham/IHG Diamond, Marriot Ti
Posts: 1,248
St Regis Maldives
Aug 15, 2018, 3:40 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Not the fact that current travel packages are based on categories that won’t exist in a couple days (and don’t correspond to current SPG properties), and the fact that they released a completely new TP chart to coincide with the official merger of the loyalty programs?
Aug 15, 2018, 3:42 pm
#41
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 746
Ok, I'm assuming there is some communications going from you up the chain of command. At the VERY LEAST Marriott needs to give converted travel package holders a one-time chance to adjust the category they are in. I was told by a CSR when I purchased mine, explicitly and without prompting, that I could change the category of the certificate as needed. It simply is not reasonable to pull this basic, long-time functionality of the instrument away with no warning and no recourse.
Aug 15, 2018, 3:47 pm
#42
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Ok, I'm assuming there is some communications going from you up the chain of command. At the VERY LEAST Marriott needs to give converted travel package holders a one-time chance to adjust the category they are in. I was told by a CSR when I purchased mine, explicitly and without prompting, that I could change the category of the certificate as needed. It simply is not reasonable to pull this basic, long-time functionality of the instrument away with no warning and no recourse.
Aug 15, 2018, 4:19 pm
#44
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 486
As mentioned above, it’s not even clear if you’ll still be able to extend expirations, in which case there is no “too far out” as you’d need to book within the year.
It’s unfortunate that booking SPG hotels isn’t easier with these certs (and that the new TP’s are so much more expensive) but as these are legacy MR certificates, IMO I don’t think it should have been reasonably expected that these could be used at SPG hotels.
Aug 15, 2018, 4:26 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: United 1P
Posts: 688
Dear Starwood Lurker,
Thanks for keeping us posted. I am sure you are working tirelessly behind the scene to make the transition as smoothly as possible. I hope the rewards program will consider giving us the opportunity to upgrade the certificate. I don’t think we are asking Marriott a favor, instead we are asking for fairness to our fellow members. We do not know how current TP’s categories are mapped to the new categories. It is unfair to ask us members to guess and gamble on the category mapping. You could have released the mapping earlier to give us enough time to plan. However, given the short notice until 8/18 for us to decide, I suggest that the rewards program give us the opportunity to upgrade or downgrade after 9/18. Thank you for your consideration.
Best Regards,
Kevin
Thanks for keeping us posted. I am sure you are working tirelessly behind the scene to make the transition as smoothly as possible. I hope the rewards program will consider giving us the opportunity to upgrade the certificate. I don’t think we are asking Marriott a favor, instead we are asking for fairness to our fellow members. We do not know how current TP’s categories are mapped to the new categories. It is unfair to ask us members to guess and gamble on the category mapping. You could have released the mapping earlier to give us enough time to plan. However, given the short notice until 8/18 for us to decide, I suggest that the rewards program give us the opportunity to upgrade or downgrade after 9/18. Thank you for your consideration.
Best Regards,
Kevin