When Does the New Marriott Program Really Begin? (It May Not Be When You Think)

by Gary Leff

Yesterday writing about Marriott’s new list of hotel redemption pricing that will go into effect in August I mentioned the new Marriott program starting August 1.

A Marriott spokesman e-mailed quickly to correct me to say we don’t know when the new award chart will start, because we don’t know when the new program starts. But that’s not what their website says.

To clarify, we have not announced the date when the programs will unify in August. You cited August 1. The new award chart will take effect when the two programs are unified in August. The date will be announced soon.

Except that it’s Marriott’s said the date would be August 1 for instance,

Since announcing the new program in April there’s been inconsistent information about breakfast, about lounge access, and about redemptions for Starwood properties that previously charged double points compared to the standard award chart. There’s still no terms and conditions for the new program. And there’s even inconsistency in when the new program is supposed to start and we’re mere weeks away.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Pingbacks

Comments

  2. If I redeem for a 7 night cat 9 nine cert + 132K united miles what happens to the cert in August? Does it get put back into points (315K) or can I still apply it based on old points chart?

  3. Thanks for your posts Gary. Can you possibly reach out to Marriott to clarify what’s gonna happen to the certificates from travel packages not attached to a hotel? As the reader above asked. I’ve tried but I cannot get a reasonable straight answer. You carry some kudos I think! 😉 Many thanks if possible

  4. W Amman not on the redemption list, was looking to book. Wonder if I picked the only hotel that they missed out or if its a larger issue?

  6. I am trying the same thing to use the category certificate on spg hotel in August and have united flight miles. I can’t get an answer from Marriott. I think it is yo risky but I need to book flights and like to use this perk.

  7. My husband’s SPG free night award (a perk of being Japan SPG credit card member) is usually awarded around 4 Aug. The award is redeemable against up to category 6 hotels. The hotel that we’ve been eyeing on for the redemption, the Royal Hawaiian, is going up one category to category 7 under the new chart, which means even a few days will make all the difference.

  8. I think you are being too nik-picky. Everything I have read recently has said the month of August – no exact date given. The one example given doesn’t “prove” Marriott was trying to be underhanded or trying to defraud any one – it could simple be a typo. Marriott is combining three major hotel chains into one (not an easy task) all the while trying to be fair to everyone – including their share holders. There are going to be people who will complain – but some of these people will complain no matter what Marriott does.

  9. Jim, I think plenty of people would be happy if the start date got pushed back. The issue is that Marriott won’t admit they said August 1st. And, it clearly wasn’t a typo, because they gave that date multiple places.

    Oh, and while we’re being picky, it’s nitpicky, not nik-picky.

Comments are closed.