Paying Marriott MF

[BocaBoy]

We live close to DTW so it would seem Delta would be my first choice in airlines. However, I've had the opposite experience as you and most of the time the Delta flights I've looked for have the highest requirement for miles.

My experience has been the same as yours, with Delta having much higher mileage requirements and more limited availability. We used to live in the Twin Cities (a large Delta hub) and now we are not near a hub. It was the same in both places and we have essentially quit trying to use them. We still have 75,000 Delta miles remaining and when we burn them I doubt I will ever fly this airline again. Our experiences have been so much better with American, United and Southwest that there is really no comparison.

 

[VacationForever]

Maybe it is a East Coast (or mid-west) vs. West Coast thing? United requires 150K each way to Europe (they may have increased further when they adjusted everything upwards on Nov 1 2017) for Polaris class, 180K each way to Asia.

Delta requires 70K to 110K on DeltaOne for one way to/from Europe. So I can get a round trip business class on Delta for 1-way ticket on United.

 

[jeepie]

I seem to recall some people having posted that miles were showing up in their accounts very quickly. However, I cannot recall if that was just the base miles for the travel package or bonus miles as well.

My last travel package, earlier this month, resulted in the 132,000 United miles posting in 48 hours (a bit faster than advertised). I expect the 25,000 additional miles before the end of January.

 

[rrazzorr]

As an update, last week I converted 250K MRP for a Category 6 five-night certificate and 120K Delta SkyMiles; hotel certificate posted to my account instantly, Delta SkyMiles posted on the following day. I had a bit of a run-around, when I called Marriott Reservations line they referred me to MVCI Representative, which in turn pointed me to Marriott Rewards line; Marriott Rewards specialist was able to do this fairly quickly.
Hotel certificate expires one year after it has been issued. This is an excellent deal.

 

[rrazzorr]

I know there's a long thread on PointsGuy where people question the validity of the 5-Night TP's for timeshare owners (and many PG members have done anything and everything to try to get them as non-owners,) but it's very odd to me that someone would question it here. This is an ownership benefit that's been around for ages with many TUGgers successfully ordering them.

In my experience the Owner Services reps are also able to process these, although it's been a few years so I don't know if it's now required to order them via a Marriott Rewards rep.

Why is it odd; I've never done this conversion in the past, now that I've acquired enough points and started researching the topic it has come to my attention (via TPG) that an MVCI owner can claim a five-night certificate (instead of widely advertised seven-night package, so naturally, I turned to MVCI owners for additional info.

PS: Owner Services reps are not able to process these, it had to be done through a Marriott Rewards department.

 

[ArubaOwnsRoytman]

Why is it odd; I've never done this conversion in the past, now that I've acquired enough points and started researching the topic it has come to my attention (via TPG) that an MVCI owner can claim a five-night certificate (instead of widely advertised seven-night package, so naturally, I turned to MVCI owners for additional info.

PS: Owner Services reps are not able to process these, it had to be done through a Marriott Rewards department.

PS: These 5 night owner exclusive category specific travel packages are most definitely processed daily by competent advisors at Owner Services.

 

[ArubaOwnsRoytman]

As an update, last week I converted 250K MRP for a Category 6 five-night certificate and 120K Delta SkyMiles; hotel certificate posted to my account instantly, Delta SkyMiles posted on the following day. I had a bit of a run-around, when I called Marriott Reservations line they referred me to MVCI Representative, which in turn pointed me to Marriott Rewards line; Marriott Rewards specialist was able to do this fairly quickly.
Hotel certificate expires one year after it has been issued. This is an excellent deal.

The hotel portion of the certificate says one year but will actually never expire. Marriott rewards will extend these as many times as needed at no additional cost.

 

[bazzap]

The hotel portion of the certificate says one year but will actually never expire. Marriott rewards will extend these as many times as needed at no additional cost.

They may do, but there is no guarantee and it would be rather risky to depend on this.
My personal experience is that I have extended for one year on a number of occasions and for two years on one occasion when I did need to speak to a supervisor who said they would agree to do it as an exception.
They certainly have no obligation to do so, even if they generally do.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I agree. When I extended mine it took so long to get the approval that it did not give me any confidence that I could do it indefinitely.

 

[pedro47]

We have only two (2) credit cards and needed are Marriott credit cards. We have been given/offer some excellent incentives lately from Marriott and Ritz Carlton to open a credit card.
Should we try it. Please share your advice good & negative. Thanks a very frugal senior citizen.

 

[jeepie]

We have only two (2) credit cards and needed are Marriott credit cards. We have been given/offer some excellent incentives lately from Marriott and Ritz Carlton to open a credit card.
Should we try it. Please share your advice good & negative. Thanks a very frugal senior citizen.

Since Marriott bought Starwood, I suggest you also consider the SPG AmEx. They offer, in essence, the same points because once you set up and link your Marriott Rewards and SPG accounts, the points are freely interchangeable at a ratio of one SPG point=three MR points. Most knowledgeable observers suggest using the SPG card over the other two (except in special situations such as Ritz stays with free club lounge access), as long as the merchant accepts AmEx. I have all three cards btw. I rarely put “spend” on the Marriott or Ritz cards though. Finally, keep in mind the programs are expected to merge in 2019 and nobody knows what will happen then. Happy travels. Cheers.

 

[samara64]

We did just that. Opened 2 x Marriott and SPG Amex. You can make close to 360,000 MRP on the spot if you do it right.

 

[pedro47]

Thanks samara64 & jeepie for your suggestions.

 

[MOXJO7282]

We did just that. Opened 2 x Marriott and SPG Amex. You can make close to 360,000 MRP on the spot if you do it right.

I tell so many people how to do this. It's easily a $4500 value in my estimation.

 

[WBP]

Hopefully, neither Marriott or JP Morgan Chase force the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card to extinction. It is conceivable that if JP Morgan Chase has or negotiates an "exclusive" credit card arrangement with Marriott, that Marriott or JP Morgan Chase could force the SPG American Express card to extinction. And hopefully, American Express doesn't blow it, as they or Costco did with Costco warehouses, and the Costco American Express card.

In my experience, the Starwood Preferred Guest program, and American Express, represents the best of both worlds.

I don't know this for a fact, but I'd speculate that whatever bank or lending institution backed the Marriott Rewards credit card, at the time, forced Marriott to withdraw from American Express' Membership Rewards program - - another loss to Marriott Rewards members.

It seems to me that Marriott will continue to use every opportunity they have to "Spin Sell" the Marriott Rewards program. That represents a whole lotta spinning.

 

[MOXJO7282]

In my experience, the Starwood Preferred Guest program, and American Express, represents the best of both worlds

Please tell me why you think this is so? Better than the value from a Marriott travel package? I know someone said SPG has travel packages. Can someone do a value comparison? Always looking for the best value out there.

 

[dima]

if I understand this right, SPG card brings 1 more MR point on spending then Marriott Visa CC.
But what I value with MR card is that it has yearly free night certificate.
So, it really depends on how much you spend on particular credit car within Marriott and Starwood system. If one spends a lot, probably SPG card is better, if not much, MR card might work better.
Please correct me or suggest your ideas for getting more value from each card.

 

[pedro47]

I liked the yearly free night certificate idea.

 

[m61376]

Joe- I'd love a breakdown on the cards. We've been using the Marriott Visa, but I'm surmising that we may do better with the SPG card? I'd appreciate the info.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Well until the SPG ends the 3 to 1 exchange to MAR points it a no brainer to use the SPG as much as possible and there really isn't a need to use the Marriott Visa at all until they stop the 3 for 1. Even for Marriott MFs, using the SPG you get SPG 2 points per dollar on Marriott spend then that 3 to 1 conversion to MAR points gives you the 6 points per dollar vs the 5 points that you get for the Marriott Visa.

 

[samara64]

By the way, can we transfer SPG points from one account to the other. I know we can do it with Marriott up to 50K per year.

P.S. I think I see it under Give Starpoints. Works if both share same address so only for Family members which is fine.

 

[VacationForever]

By the way, can we transfer SPG points from one account to the other. I know we can do it with Marriott up to 50K per year.

P.S. I think I see it under Give Starpoints. Works if both share same address so only for Family members which is fine.

Yes we do that regularly with my husband's SPG account and mine.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

The only possible exception with using Marriott Visa vs SPG is lifetime points accumulation. The points stay as SPG accumulation when if you transfer them to Marriott. I am not sure if we know that the SPG points will eventually count towards Marriott lifetime points. SPG does not use total points for lifetime status. I still use the SPG but if someone was close or wanted to make sure they are accumulating Marriott lifetime it is worth considering.

 

[Quilter]

I'm pondering the credit cards we have. I'd appreciate any insight.

SPG was good when we got it earlier this year because of the high sign up bonus (35K). It's downfalls are it doesn't give a free night to offset the annual fee and doesn't have a wide range of bonus categories. Besides m/f's and incidentals we rarely pay for a night at SPG or Marriott hotels. On the one occasion this year where I had a significant charge at a Renaissance I pulled out the MR Visa by habit. It wasn't until I was doing some reading on TUG that I realized I should have used the SPG AmEx.

Bottom line: Because it doesn't get high bonus on everyday spend my annual spend on the card is low relative to others.

The MR is good for the annual night certificate. I can't see any other benefit.

For most of our everyday spend we use cards with bonus categories. These can be shuffled through various ways to combine with SPG or MR, besides other airline accounts.

Those include Chase Sapphire Reserve (restaurants; travel), Freedom (bonus categories), Southwest and Hyatt (free night) and the American Express Everyday (grocery which can be 4.5 pts with the 50% bonus for 30 transactions) and Hilton Surpass (grocery, gas).

AmEx just let me know the Hilton card is getting an increase on annual fee. Will possibly downgrade that to the no fee card.

 

[jeepie]

I'm pondering the credit cards we have. I'd appreciate any insight.

SPG was good when we got it earlier this year because of the high sign up bonus (35K). It's downfalls are it doesn't give a free night to offset the annual fee and doesn't have a wide range of bonus categories. Besides m/f's and incidentals we rarely pay for a night at SPG or Marriott hotels. On the one occasion this year where I had a significant charge at a Renaissance I pulled out the MR Visa by habit. It wasn't until I was doing some reading on TUG that I realized I should have used the SPG AmEx.

Bottom line: Because it doesn't get high bonus on everyday spend my annual spend on the card is low relative to others.

The MR is good for the annual night certificate. I can't see any other benefit.

For most of our everyday spend we use cards with bonus categories. These can be shuffled through various ways to combine with SPG or MR, besides other airline accounts.

Those include Chase Sapphire Reserve (restaurants; travel), Freedom (bonus categories), Southwest and Hyatt (free night) and the American Express Everyday (grocery which can be 4.5 pts with the 50% bonus for 30 transactions) and Hilton Surpass (grocery, gas).

AmEx just let me know the Hilton card is getting an increase on annual fee. Will possibly downgrade that to the no fee card.

I have most of the same cards, and now Pay MFs and Marriott stays with the Chase Sapphire Reserve (although I often use the Citi Prestige for 4 night stays). For me, having waaay too many Marriott Rewards points already, I now am building up my Ultimate Rewards balance. I will be planning some international travel and want as much flexibility as possible, fwiw. Everyone’s situation is unique. Cheers.