Marriott Makes Negative Changes To Points Advance Program

Marriott has made some negative changes to ‘Points Advance’. This feature allowed you to book an award stay even if you’re short on points as long as you pay in full 14 days before your stay. You now need to earn the required points within 60 days of making the reservation, for example if you make a booking for January 2022 now then you’d need to earn the points within 60 days of making that reservation rather than just needing the points in your account 14 days before your stay. To make matters worse the new rules apply to existing bookings as well (you have 60 days from May 27 to earn the required points). The fine print states:

Effective May 27, 2021, Members who seek to make an Award Redemption reservation with an insufficient Points balance may book an Award Redemption reservation (“Points Advance Redemption Reservation”) that is at least thirty (30) or more days from the arrival date, and hold it for sixty (60) days from time of booking, or no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the Member’s arrival date, whichever occurs sooner. Points Advance Redemption Reservations booked prior to May 27, 2021 will be placed on a 60-day hold beginning on May 27, 2021, or held no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the Member’s arrival date, whichever occurs sooner.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

12 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

Alicia
Alicia (@guest_1198922)
June 1, 2021 14:45

I think it is a great move. It prevents hoarding of award inventory and allowed more users to actually make an award booking they are serious about.

Blah Blah
Blah Blah (@guest_1198771)
June 1, 2021 11:04

just remove point advance already… it never make sense.

David
David (@guest_1198519)
May 31, 2021 17:17

Actually, points advance is already so bad that this change cannot make it much worse. They might as well get rid of the points advance program completely. For example I made a points advance reservation at 35k/night for 3 nights. Before I could earn the required points the rate increased to 55k/night 1.5 months before the check in date.
I had no choice but to cancel the entire reservation. I checked again by the check-in date the rate was already 60k/night. It really makes no sense to book with point advance when the rate could increase by more than 70% before the needed points are earned.

Sam
Sam (@guest_1198484)
May 31, 2021 15:31

well, hopefully there will be more FN availability given fewer people would be able to block the rooms a year ahead

LDoc
LDoc (@guest_1198464)
May 31, 2021 14:22

There is a silver lining IMO. Now inventory will not be reserved on wild point earning speculation thus freeing up rooms for people with the points and a realistic ability to get any needed points in a timely manner.

My guess is that hot properties were getting reserved by people with hopes to aquire the required points with new Marriott cards, pooling points with friends/family, stays that don’t happen, etc.

Jordan (Professional MSer)
Jordan (Professional MSer) (@guest_1198462)
May 31, 2021 14:15

What a shitty move!!! I got Bonvoyed on all SNA awards, and I’m a Titanium!!!!!!

Henry
Henry (@guest_1198450)
May 31, 2021 13:14

This is a positive change. Too many people make speculative booking and causes availability to disappear, not to mention drive up award prices during nearby dates. I wish Marriott would do away with Points Advance altogether.

YoniPDX
YoniPDX (@guest_1198442)
May 31, 2021 12:40

Got Bonvoyed on a 35K FNA

In March I found a 35K room for a Spring Hil suites – was $270 at the time booked it – the FNA cert never attached (had two valid and current FNA left at the time – one attached automatically this one didn’t).

Was emailed the reservation – also took screenshots of the 35k /$270 rate.

Got an email saying I needed 40K points for this reservation under new terms or I can pay the current cash price of $615 with tax (COVID Cabin fever effect).

ML
ML (@guest_1198439)
May 31, 2021 12:31

Marketing team: “Exciting changes”

Vy
Vy (@guest_1198425)
May 31, 2021 11:46

Outwaged!