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Help! Marriott Reward for Orient Express dilemna

Cathyb

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We are taking the Orient Express from Singapore to Bangkok in Jan. 2007. We intended to use Marriott Reward points to pay for it (a lot of points :bawl:

Now we are told the OE isn't sure they will renew their contract with Marriott next year. My question to you smart legal people (Dave M?) is: If we purchase the Certificate now for this train trip in January 2007 and they discontinue their contract -- must they grandfather us in??? Do we have a legal right to get those seats (2)?
Thank you for any insight!
 

Dave M

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If you spend the points to get the OE award, your contract at that point is only with Marriott. Then try to make your reservations using the award. Once you have done so, your contract is then with OE and your reservation should be honored.

If Marriott and OE have a contract renewal coming up, it's possible OE won't accept your reservation using an award until it knows whether the contract will be renewed.

If for some reason you make an award reservation and that award reservation isn't honored, such as cancellation of the partner arrangement between OE and Marriott, Marriott will refund the points it charged you for the award, just as it would for any other award that you are unable to use.

If that happens, you'll have to pay for the trip or find another method of travel, but you won’t lose the points.

It's likely that you won't be able to force OE to honor the reservation, as the terms of their agreement with Marriott almost certainly allow them to avoid carrying award passengers beyond the termination of their contract with Marriott.

However, the bottom line is that it’s unlikely that OE will accept your reservation unless they plan to carry through and honor that reservation. I would go for it.

That's a bunch of points! (500,000!)
 

pwrshift

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IMO it's a bad use of points so it might be a blessing for you...take a two week trip to Australia on business class air instead and you've really got value for your points. You've got time to get working on purchase prices as I think you might be able to find a 'deal' somewhere for the OE trip that would be must less costly than the above mentioned trip to Aussieland.

Brian
 

Dave M

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Brian -

I don't think the Aussie trip will work here.

What you have missed in other posts is that this train trip is just one part of a much more extensive trip that has already been planned.

Although I agree that it's a lot of points for "only" a train trip, that particular trip is one I will probably never take unless I do it with points as Cathy does.

Still, you make a valid point because the value per point when used for this trip is only about 6/10 of one cent, compared to two cents or more when Marriott Rewards points are used for the type of world trip in business class that you typically take.
 

Cathyb

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Thanks to both of you for the insight. Actually for the 'cheaper seats' I believe it is 165,000 per person, not 250,000 unless my notes have been outdated. That still is costly -- point use wise.:wall:

We are normally quite frugal in our trips, but this has been a dream of mine to go on the Orient Express for over five years. We are 74 and 68 years young so it it now 'or never'. We are using our 'Big Trip' Marriott certificate for 5 of the 6 nights in Bangkok as well as using more Marriott points and Starwood points along the way -- even in Siem Reap at Le Meridian for 5 nights. Maybe not the wisest use, but considering our age -- a benefit for us.

Again I thank you two for putting it all in front of us :bawl:
 

Dave M

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Thanks for the correction, Cathy.

I had posted the 500,000 (2 x 250,000) number from memory and made my per-point valuation calculation based on that. My number applies to State Class rather that your planned Pullman Class. Your planned trip translates to a more reasonable value of almost a penny per point.
 
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