Obtaining 8,800 Marriott/Bonvoy points for a stay

[get me outta here]

Am thinking to buy them (USD112.50), unless there is a better idea, like maybe a bonus offer, or anything?

 

[andye]

I understand that you can transfer up to 100k per year* to another member over the phone-pretty sure doesnt need to be family. My current pile is too little to help I'm afraid

Amex MR transfers are fairly similar in value to other schemes too now IMO

* USD10 fee applies

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

When do you need them by?

Ideally you would wait until they run another purchase bonus (they never did this until the merger so the first time ever was in April this year ..no idea when the next one will be).

Do you have any transfer options (like Amex to Bonvoy)?

Are you trying to secure an award where the cash offering is way higher than simply buying the points?

 

[andye]

Apologies if you know this already but you dont need to have the points in your account to hold the room

There are some changes to that coming up in Spetember to do with rate changes covered in the middle of this headforpoints article

How does Marriott Bonvoy peak and off-peak pricing work?

Marriott Bonvoy is finally launching peak and off-peak reward pricing on 14th September, along with changes to '5th night free' and 'Points Advance'.

www.headforpoints.com

 

[get me outta here]

The stay is not for a while, so no rush, but was thinking of booking before some of the changes in a few weeks as the stay is in NYC which tends to be popular. I don't have any AMEX options unfortunately.
Yes, the room rate for my stay varies up to USD540pn currently, but this will get cheaper closer to the time, but will never be as low as USD112 - the price to buy points.
I asked the operator when the next bonus is, but of course he'd didn't know. I also I asked him to just give me the points, but he just laughed at that.

When do you need them by?

Ideally you would wait until they run another purchase bonus (they never did this until the merger so the first time ever was in April this year ..no idea when the next one will be).

Do you have any transfer options (like Amex to Bonvoy)?

Are you trying to secure an award where the cash offering is way higher than simply buying the points?

 

[get me outta here]

Yes, am aware, but do not antipate a points earning stay in between.

Apologies if you know this already but you dont need to have the points in your account to hold the room

There are some changes to that coming up in Spetember to do with rate changes covered in the middle of this headforpoints article

How does Marriott Bonvoy peak and off-peak pricing work?

Marriott Bonvoy is finally launching peak and off-peak reward pricing on 14th September, along with changes to '5th night free' and 'Points Advance'.

www.headforpoints.com

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Buy now!

The stay is not for a while, so no rush, but was thinking of booking before some of the changes in a few weeks as the stay is in NYC which tends to be popular. I don't have any AMEX options unfortunately.
Yes, the room rate for my stay varies up to USD540pn currently, but this will get cheaper closer to the time, but will never be as low as USD112 - the price to buy points.
I asked the operator when the next bonus is, but of course he'd didn't know. I also I asked him to just give me the points, but he just laughed at that.

 

[get me outta here]

Bought the points, but as they take 48 hours to credit, I phoned up again and she made the bkg for me based on my purchase receipt number. To pay for the bkg would have been USD1056. To buy the points was USD112.50. Plus 70K points.

 

[get me outta here]

Update. I bought the needed 9000 points to make a reward booking, from the Marriott site on Monday at around 1300, but the points take up to 48 hours to be credited.
I wanted to lock that booking in so immediately called the agent and she made the booking. Those points arrived at 0300 Wednesday and the booking is now confirmed on line.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Thanks for the follow up it is good to have a knowledge and examples of the entire process. Enjoy NYC!

Update. I bought the needed 9000 points to make a reward booking, from the Marriott site on Monday at around 1300, but the points take up to 48 hours to be credited.
I wanted to lock that booking in so immediately called the agent and she made the booking. Those points arrived at 0300 Wednesday and the booking is now confirmed on line.

ansk

 

[get me outta here]

Following up again up on this: I rec'd the email, "Off-Peak and Peak Redemption Rates Are Now Live," recently so went to check my booking hoping that I may not need so many points, but found the opposite.

Bkg says that I now don't have enough points. After a bit of discussion again with the 'associate' on 1800 4504442, the short answer is that I need to call back tomorrow (after current system update), to get them to add the points to my bkg. Pity they couldn't effect this automatically.

 

[get me outta here]

Anyone have 'management' contact details for Marriott that's higher up than a normal membership associate please?

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Sorry ...to take a step back. Don't you already have a confirmed booking using X amount of points at the time of booking that were deducted from your account. Is that correct?

Now what are you trying to do next ..are you trying to see if the variable peak/off peak rates will provide you an opportunity of changing the booking to lock it in at a lower points total?

 

[get me outta here]

Many emails back and forth when they insisted that I needed to pay another 30K points as the reward was now 100K points.
I have a confirmed booking for 70K points and it fell on me to convince them of this; sending a pdf didn't work as they couldn't see it, it became a joke of incompetence at their end etc.
I pointed out that they had made the booking and therefore the onus falls on them to honour it and to check their records, which apparently they don't keep. Anyway, finally it is sorted out and they have decided to honour the booking they accepted. Having wasted a lot of time on this I have asked for 20K points to recompense my time.
I'd like to speak to someone who can make this decision.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Oh okay ..glad you have that reservation locked in.

Regarding compensation you have 5 options the way I see it.

1. Keep hammering at the customer service email contact you are working with saying you want to make an official complaint blah blah.
2. Tweet your displeasure or 'facebook it' to the official Marriott accounts
3. Raise an issue on News | Marriott Bonvoy Insiders or contact a Marriott 'Lurker' on Flyertalk
4. Communicate to the General Manager of the property
5. Send a communication attention to Bill Marriott (they have an official office that handles the more egregious issues)

or ... my recommendation given the pain and suffering and rising amount of time you are having to commit:

6. Walk away from it ...Feel free to scream in to a pillow or hit a shot of Tequila and look forward to hitting New York City baby!

Choose your poison!

 

[get me outta here]

Ok, I'll try all of the above! Thanks for those contact details. Their system deficits should be fixed.

 

[get me outta here]

Have been given 10K points. Would've preferred 20K as then I would've had enough accumulating for 1 night elsewhere. Ho hum.