Newport Coast - new policy on II guest certificates

[LAX Mom]

Recently I had a family member book an II getaway at NCV. As I've done in the past with friends, I called the resort and asked that his name be added to the reservation so he could check-in.

They told me that NCV has a new policy and and now require an II guest certificate to allow someone else to use the room. This is because II made an issue of them allowing other people to check-in without purchasing a guest certificate.

 

[siesta]

Recently I had a family member book an II getaway at NCV. As I've done in the past with friends, I called the resort and asked that his name be added to the reservation so he could check-in.

They told me that NCV has a new policy and and now require an II guest certificate to allow someone else to use the room. This is because II made an issue of them allowing other people to check-in without purchasing a guest certificate.

I was under the impression this was the case everywhere. II charges $49 for guest certificate, and if they allowed you to add names to a reservation by calling the resort, they are out that money.

 

[LAX Mom]

I was under the impression this was the case everywhere. II charges $49 for guest certificate, and if they allowed you to add names to a reservation by calling the resort, they are out that money.

It has always been II's policy, they want that $49 for the guest certificate. But in the past I have been able to call the resort directly and tell them my friends (or family) would be arriving ahead of me. They were always willing to let them check-in before I got there. (Others on TUG have reported doing the same thing to avoid paying the extra $49.) That has now changed. If someone else besides the person named on the II exchange will be checking in you need to get a guest certificate.

 

[BocaBoy]

Recently I had a family member book an II getaway at NCV. As I've done in the past with friends, I called the resort and asked that his name be added to the reservation so he could check-in.

They told me that NCV has a new policy and and now require an II guest certificate to allow someone else to use the room. This is because II made an issue of them allowing other people to check-in without purchasing a guest certificate.

If the family member booked the Getaway, why wasn't his/her name already on the reservation? If you booked the Getaway for them, I think the change in II practice is appropriate.

 

[LAX Mom]

If the family member booked the Getaway, why wasn't his/her name already on the reservation? If you booked the Getaway for them, I think the change in II practice is appropriate.

I booked it using my II account, but my BIL's credit card. II is fine with that, but I didn't get a guest certificate. I wasn't joining him on this trip and I was just trying to save him the extra $49.

However, in the past I've done this when I was traveling with friends. I often travel with friends and they sometimes arrive ahead of me. (I travel standby and often my friends will have a confirmed seat on the flight.) I've never had any trouble calling the Marriott resorts and telling them that my friends will be arriving ahead of me. I hate to pay for a guest certificate when I might arrive with my friends anyway.

A couple of years ago I booked an exchange into NCV and planned to vacation with some friends. My son had a medical emergency so I was delayed by a day. My friends arrived and checked in without any problems because I had called ahead and alerted the front desk.

I don't have a problem with this new policy of requiring a guest certificate. You are correct that this has always been II's policy, they want an extra $49 if someone else will be checking in.

I just wanted to alert others that NCV now requires a guest certificate if the individual on the confirmation isn't the one checking in. They no longer allow you to call and have them add another name.

Now I know what to expect when traveling to NCV with friends/family that might arrive ahead of me.

 

[dioxide45]

What they may have determined is that too many people weren't showing up after their guests, but rather not showing up at all.

It is a bummer that what was once a free option is no longer there. $49 is a big hit for a simple guest certificate.

 

[rundmc]

name on certificate

Unfortunately for me, our various ownership arrangements within Marriott have not translated very well over to II. [DC did not help!]. My name always seems to appear on the certficate even though I will not be there - one of my joint owners [all family] will be using the week.

Hopefully this will continue to be workable within the Marriott exchanges.

David

 

[RBERR1]

The approach that I have always used is that if I am going to be at that resort or a resort nearby, I do not bother to get the guest certificate as I can be there for checkin if necessary.

If I am not going to be within a 10 minute drive then I get the guest certificate.

 

[LAX Mom]

Unfortunately for me, our various ownership arrangements within Marriott have not translated very well over to II. [DC did not help!]. My name always seems to appear on the certficate even though I will not be there - one of my joint owners [all family] will be using the week.

Hopefully this will continue to be workable within the Marriott exchanges.

David

Newport Coast let my BIL checkin because we have the same last name. If his last name was different than mine we would have been required to get the guest certificate from II.

 

[siesta]

Newport Coast let my BIL checkin because we have the same last name. If his last name was different than mine we would have been required to get the guest certificate from II.

how do you have the same last name as your BIL?

 

[tschwa2]

Because her BIL is her husbands brother or less likely she has a very common last name and her sister married someone with the same last name as her husband.

 

[siesta]

Because her BIL is her husbands brother or less likely she has a very common last name and her sister married someone with the same last name as her husband.

husbands brother is likely it. For some reason I couldnt figure how the relation would work. Was long workday :ignore:

 

[LAX Mom]

how do you have the same last name as your BIL?

My husband's brother.

 

[dlpearson]

Not limited to just Newport Coast Villas

I was told the same thing by Ko Olina last year when attempting to do something similar for family. Had to buy the guest cert from II (different last name-wife's brother).

If it's your own home resort reservation, Marriott will let you add a name no problem. If it's an II exchange, they no longer allow you to call directly and add a name (which I have been able to do in the past at various Marriotts). Looks like it depends on the resort/management.

-David