Marriott Travel Packages - What Airline Points to Convert to?

[kamchatsky]

Given the recent merger of Marriott and SPG, I am looking at their Marriott Travel Packages in detail. It does have some great deal. I am looking at converting Amex MR points to SPG then to Marriott reward points.

I am looking at staying for 7 nights at Tokyo later this year, I am looking at purchasing the travel packages which gives me 7-night reward certificate plus a whole bunch of airline points of choice:

Flight and Hotel Packages | Marriott Hotel Packages

I am looking at Cat 8 Marriott hotels (either Tokyo Marriott or The Price Sakura Tower Tokyo) so I am looking at 360000 Marriott points ( = 120000 Starwood Points = 240000 Amex Points). This would get me 7 nights free on Cat 8 hotels, plus the following option of airline miles:

- 132000 United Mileage Plus
- 120000 BA Avios, or AA Advantage Miles, or Alaska Miles, or Delta Skymiles, or VS Virgin Atlantic
- 85000 Qantas Points, or SQ Krisflyer, or CX Asia Miles, or EK Skywards Miles, or EY Etihad Guest Miles, or Avianca LifeMiles

At the moment I could not decide which airline miles to get, as I still have a large bunch of AA, QF and VA miles.

The question is, which one would you choose and why?

 

[tizey]

I haven't kept up to date. If I have a cat 8 cert, but it was applied to a pre 18/8 booking (for April 19), am I able to get the 30k refund or was it for floating certs only?

 

[fairbasa]

Floaters only.

 

[potm]

I haven't kept up to date. If I have a cat 8 cert, but it was applied to a pre 18/8 booking (for April 19), am I able to get the 30k refund or was it for floating certs only?

If the property you booked is going down to cat 1-4 then you can cancel the booking, get a refund and make the booking again with your new cat 1-4 certificate. It’s unlikely that an old cat 8 would be in cat 1-4 though.

Their systems are still a mess, especially with travel packages so I wouldn’t try anything for a bit.

 

[tizey]

yeah its been recategorized from a cat 8 to a cat 6 under the new regime, so I think I've locked in at the cheaper rate than I otherwise could under the new rates. I dont want to mess with it and lose the accomodation booked.

I had another booking which I had reservation made, but points not taken yet. I was able to reprice this on the system a few days ago (I purposely booked 1 extra night then I needed to ensure I had a reason for it to re-price, just in case Marriott were painful about it). Dropped from 25k/night to 17.5k/night. 5 nights for 70k points - I'm pretty happy with that.

 

[lilkid28]

Anyone with Cat 6, 8 and Tier 1-3, has been able to ring Marriott to obtain the 30k refund in points?

 

[andye]

i made the application online and received an email suggesting I make the application online

 

[lilkid28]

i made the application online and received an email suggesting I make the application online

Even the call centre with Aus number normally redirect to SE Asia office (Malaysia?), put me on hold for 10 minutes then it got disconnected. The whole company is in a mess right now. After my platinum premier (still yet to map from Plat) expires, definitely won't be staying there as much.

 

[annielee]

can i get some clarification...prior the changes, i've made reservations for 7nights Cat6 hotel with the voucher (Cat 1-5), knowing i need to topup 30k point for an extra category. But now, minor changes required on the dates, arriving few days earlier, does that means i will not be able to book it anymore (with the existing voucher) since the hotel category is Cat5 now. ?

 

[potm]

Any changes would require the certificate to be unattached, upgraded to cat 5 with 30k and then reattached to the booking.

The issue is that the rules don’t allow certificate upgrades, only downgrades and 30k refund for old cat 6 and 8 and tier 1-3 certs.

Some people have managed to get upgrades though while others have been refused. You may have to try a few times to get someone who is competant and willing to do it for you. Good luck.

 

[annielee]

thanks for your prompt reply, just tried the AU no, and mentioned cant be upgraded.. to Cat 5..

Any changes would require the certificate to be unattached, upgraded to cat 5 with 30k and then reattached to the booking.

The issue is that the rules don’t allow certificate upgrades, only downgrades and 30k refund for old cat 6 and 8 and tier 1-3 certs.

Some people have managed to get upgrades though while others have been refused. You may have to try a few times to get someone who is competant and willing to do it for you. Good luck.

 

[potm]

There’s a big thread on flyertalk about it. From what I’ve read it’s getting harder to find agents willing to upgrade with their internal tables stating that upgrades are not allowed.

 

[lilkid28]

Any changes would require the certificate to be unattached, upgraded to cat 5 with 30k and then reattached to the booking.

The issue is that the rules don’t allow certificate upgrades, only downgrades and 30k refund for old cat 6 and 8 and tier 1-3 certs.

Some people have managed to get upgrades though while others have been refused. You may have to try a few times to get someone who is competant and willing to do it for you. Good luck.

thanks for your prompt reply, just tried the AU no, and mentioned cant be upgraded.. to Cat 5..

I also called the AU number, which seems to be directed to the office in SE Asia (KL?) and got an old Cat 8 upgraded to the new Cat 6 for an extra 30k points. This was done 2 weeks ago.

 

[annielee]

im a little bit confused, as i've already a Cat6 booking (using the previous Cat1-5 package) but the extra points not deducted (30k) from my account yet, does that means im holding a Cat6 cert ?

I also called the AU number, which seems to be directed to the office in SE Asia (KL?) and got an old Cat 8 upgraded to the new Cat 6 for an extra 30k points. This was done 2 weeks ago.

 

[lilkid28]

im a little bit confused, as i've already a Cat6 booking (using the previous Cat1-5 package) but the extra points not deducted (30k) from my account yet, does that means im holding a Cat6 cert ?

OLD Cat 1-5 = NEW Cat 1-4
OLD Cat 6 = NEW Cat 1-4 (can get 30k refund) or New Cat 5 (pay 30k to upgrade)
OLD Cat 7 = NEW Cat 5
OLD Cat 8 = NEW Cat 5 (can get 30k refund) or New Cat 6 (pay 30k to upgrade)
OLD Cat 9 = NEW Cat 6

Check out Flyertalk's forum for more information.

 

[potm]

im a little bit confused, as i've already a Cat6 booking (using the previous Cat1-5 package) but the extra points not deducted (30k) from my account yet, does that means im holding a Cat6 cert ?

You have to work out what you currently have. Is it just an old cat 1-5 cert that is not attached to your existing booking or an existing booking with an old cat 6 cert attached. From what you’ve described either they upgraded your cert from old 1-5 to old 6 and forgot to deduct 30k, or the cert was never upgraded and attached.

To go from old cat 1-5 cert to a new cat 5 would require 60k points, that’s if you manage to get it upgraded.

 

[andye]

I finally got round to claiming my 30k refund due to the change from cat 6 to cat 1-4 by phone last night. 20 minute wait to be connected, no problems explaining the issue, 10 minute hold but all done.

 

[annielee]

Called the US no this morning, and no questions asked about extra points or they couldnt change the dates.. Dates changed to arrive one day earlier and no cancellation or reissue required.

Happy with the outcome..

 

[andye]

I struggled a bit to find a Cat 1-4 property that suited us.
Multiple agents (correctly) adamant that not possible to upgrade a new Cert with points or cash.
Ended up going with Sheraton in Lombok (3 Certs 3 Rooms).
It took a bit of time on the phone I think because it is a former SPG property.
The various SPG brands were being rolled out gradually to be able to be booked with Marriott Travel Certs but seems all available now.

 

[fairbasa]

Were you trying to upgrade a new certificate, or an old certificate to a new upgraded certificate?

I managed to convert an old Cat 6 certificate +30k points and upgrade it to a new Cat 5 certificate using some instructions found on FT.

The key was not to ask for an upgrade, but guide the agent into cancelling the old cert and ordering the new one, giving them the product code to do so rather than the category number. That way, the agent would order the new certificate for you without realising it was really an upgrade.

 

[appaz]

I've booked the Cat 4 Courtyard Marriott HKG - at about $280 a night, a weeks voucher represents good value. Another one I'm looking at booking is the JW Marriott Hanoi (I have 3 vouchers to spend in the next 12 months)