Marriott Hotels Are Gaming Peak/Off-Peak Points Pricing

[CalGalTraveler]

Marriott Is Gaming Peak/Off Peak Points Pricing...

Hotels are taking advantage of vague standards in Marriott Bonvoy's off peak, peak, and standard points redemptions. Properties are ditching off peak for..

www.godsavethepoints.com

 

[Ken555]

Not surprised. Totally expected, in fact. As with most mergers, the customer is the last to benefit. I’ve got about a million points and not sure where to use them...even if I was comfortable traveling, which I probably won’t be for a long time.


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[Fasttr]

Worth less... moving sadly too quickly to worthless.

 

[Bunk]

Besides all of the above, our credit cards have been devalued. If we get 50,000 points as an annual free night, that used to mean we could stay at a Category 6 hotel at any time during the year. Those cards that give us 35,000 points as an annual free night used to mean we could stay at a Category 5 hotel throughout the year. But that no longer applies for Peak nights. So if we want to use our free night during peak time, our free night has been devalued by being reduced by one category. And we are not permitted to use our own Bonvoy points to make up the 5K (as to Category 5) or 10K (as to Category 6) shortfall

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Besides all of the above, our credit cards have been devalued. If we get 50,000 points as an annual free night, that used to mean we could stay at a Category 6 hotel at any time during the year. Those cards that give us 35,000 points as an annual free night used to mean we could stay at a Category 5 hotel throughout the year. But that no longer applies for Peak nights. So if we want to use our free night during peak time, our free night has been devalued by being reduced by one category. And we are not permitted to use our own Bonvoy points to make up the 5K (as to Category 5) or 10K (as to Category 6) shortfall

Good point. If there is little/no off-peak availability for higher tier hotels and the free night is capped at 35k and 50k. That's the equivalent of a devaluation to force the anniversary nights to a lower tier peak season hotel.

We will be downgrading our Brilliant card once we receive the anniversary night because the 50k is not going to help us when our other anniversary nights are only 35k. Although we only pay $150 after MF credit, the extra $55 could be spent on a dinner out and we have 2 unused 50k anniversary nights - one of which may go unused unless they extend.

 

[DanCali]

The pricing can also change for the same dates during the year. For example, I found more than once that I will see some hotel available for 25K points per night only to come back two weeks later and the pricing changed to 30K points per night for the exact same dates and hotel.

One would think that if September in Florida is "off-peak" then that designation shouldn't really change to "standard" or "peak" 2 weeks later. It's still hurricane season and it's post summer break.

 

[ski_sierra]

I'm so glad we burned a lot of Marriott points a couple of years ago. We have two 50k and one 35k certificate that will go unused and expire because we can't find anyplace interesting to use them. All these cards will be closed at the next annual fee in summer. That's one of the nice things about credit cards unlike timeshares. If it no longer works, you can get out pretty easily.

 

[Dean]

The pricing can also change for the same dates during the year. For example, I found more than once that I will see some hotel available for 25K points per night only to come back two weeks later and the pricing changed to 30K points per night for the exact same dates and hotel.

One would think that if September in Florida is "off-peak" then that designation shouldn't really change to "standard" or "peak" 2 weeks later. It's still hurricane season and it's post summer break.

Was this not due to a category change for the hotel(s) in question. The recent shake up of Categories was just over 2 months ago.

 

[klpca]

I'm so glad we burned a lot of Marriott points a couple of years ago. We have two 50k and one 35k certificate that will go unused and expire because we can't find anyplace interesting to use them. All these cards will be closed at the next annual fee in summer. That's one of the nice things about credit cards unlike timeshares. If it no longer works, you can get out pretty easily.

I just closed ours. I have found that we prefer the Hyatt properties anyway but the dynamic pricing was the deciding factor. May as well just use cash.

 

[DanCali]

Was this not due to a category change for the hotel(s) in question. The recent shake up of Categories was just over 2 months ago.

No - hotel category didn't change in 2020 (Courtyard Miami Homestead).

I still have the old credit card that gives the 25K certificate so that jump from 25K to 30K matters to me for that hotel. We like to use that Courtyard when we visit the Everglades National Park (and I like that credit card because I can get credit for nights by spending, which is useful if I am just shy of 50 or 75 nights).

I also have the Amex cards that give 35K and 50K certificates and have seen similar issues with higher category hotels too. For example, the Courtyard in Key Largo may be 35K and a few days later it will show 40K for the same dates.

 

[Dean]

No - hotel category didn't change in 2020 (Courtyard Miami Homestead).

I still have the old credit card that gives the 25K certificate so that jump from 25K to 30K matters to me for that hotel. We like to use that Courtyard when we visit the Everglades National Park (and I like that credit card because I can get credit for nights by spending, which is useful if I am just shy of 50 or 75 nights).

I also have the Amex cards that give 35K and 50K certificates and have seen similar issues with higher category hotels too. For example, the Courtyard in Key Largo may be 35K and a few days later it will show 40K for the same dates.

Thanks for the additional information, I have not seen such issues other than variations by season or weekend/weekday. I have seen point savers come and go and hotels change categories but not just change up and down otherwise.

 

[Superchief]

I used points for a one-night reservation on 9/19 at the Marriott MDW hotel and it required peak points. How they can justify peak points on a weekend stay at an airport hotel in off season illustrates abuse of this system. Out of curiosity, I checked several other dates at this hotel and all were peak priced.

 

[Bunk]

If you use your free night certificate or five night certificate are you still required to pay resort fees?

 

[frank808]

If you use your free night certificate or five night certificate are you still required to pay resort fees?

Yes you still pay the resort charges.

One thing I like about using Hilton Honors points or Hilton free night certificates are no resort fees. Your nights are truly free except for ancillary spending.

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[CalGalTraveler]

If you use your free night certificate or five night certificate are you still required to pay resort fees?

Wow resort fees too? So much for a free night. We are downgrading our Brilliant once we receive the anniversary night for previous year because $450 AF is not worth it. But not yet ready to close the personals for the free nights and Amex offers which can offset the fees. Will now need to factor resort fees into whether it is worth it.

The Hilton Aspire offers no cap on the hotel night. So you can stay at a Waldorf or Conrad as long as it is on a weekend. Much more value for the $450.

 

[Dean]

Wow resort fees too? So much for a free night. We are downgrading our Brilliant once we receive the anniversary night for previous year because $450 AF is not worth it. But not yet ready to close the personals for the free nights and Amex offers which can offset the fees. Will now need to factor resort fees into whether it is worth it.

The Hilton Aspire offers no cap on the hotel night. So you can stay at a Waldorf or Conrad as long as it is on a weekend. Much more value for the $450.

I've had some luck getting them to waive or reduce resort fees but it's been hit or miss. Resort fees often list things that are included for higher VIP levels like free internet.

 

[frank808]

Wow resort fees too? So much for a free night. We are downgrading our Brilliant once we receive the anniversary night for previous year because $450 AF is not worth it. But not yet ready to close the personals for the free nights and Amex offers which can offset the fees. Will now need to factor resort fees into whether it is worth it.

The Hilton Aspire offers no cap on the hotel night. So you can stay at a Waldorf or Conrad as long as it is on a weekend. Much more value for the $450.

The Brilliant is net $150 because of the $300 Marriott credit. If you own a Marriott timeshare or have hotel stays, you easily get the $300 rebate.

For all Hilton free weekend certificates that expires March 31 2020 and later this year, plus those certificates issued this year, Hilton has made them better. First you can use these certificates for any day of the week not just weekends. Also all certificates expiring this year have their expiration dates extended 12 months. Certificates issued this May 1st or later this year have 24 months till expiration.

If there is availability, Hilton Maldives are calling. Imagine using 7 certificates for a weeks stay costing about $10,000 in peak times.

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[CalGalTraveler]

If there is availability, Hilton Maldives are calling. Imagine using 7 certificates for a weeks stay costing about $10,000 in peak times.

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Agree that Hilton (and Southwest) have been very generous with credits.

Love this idea of Maldives but the thought of having to sit in a petri dish for 15+ hours to get there kind of kills it.