Author Topic: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate  (Read 2376 times)

Offline NYHeel

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Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« on: May 23, 2022, 03:46:45 PM »
My wife has a Marriott free night certificate expiring 6/30/2022. I have an opportunity to use that certificate but my wife won't be with me. I know you can't transfer certificates but is there some way I can get it that I can check in using her certificate? Maybe having my wife call the hotel after booking and telling them her husband will be checking in earlier for her?

Has something like that worked before?

Offline cgr

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2022, 03:53:45 PM »
According to the Marriot Certs Sale thread's wiki:

10.   It's not possible to entirely remove the certificate owner from the reservation but your name is added as a secondary guest and a special code is added (M8 code) to inform the hotel that this reservation is in fact gifted to you. The hotels are very much aware of this.

You should be able to check-in as you would to a regular reservation with your own ID. You will need to provide a credit card to cover any incidentals, resort fees, and parking fees if there are any.


I'm wondering if this is still accurate as I'd like to purchase a certificate to be used in Europe, and I can't afford to arrive and find out that I can't check in.

Offline NYHeel

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2022, 04:40:47 PM »
Yeah, if anyone could confirm, that would be great. I'm not even doing anything particularly nefarious. I just want to use my wife's certificate and not mine since hers is expiring on June 30th and we likely don't have another opportunity to use it before it expires.

Offline ckmk47

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2022, 06:16:49 PM »
Yeah, if anyone could confirm, that would be great. I'm not even doing anything particularly nefarious. I just want to use my wife's certificate and not mine since hers is expiring on June 30th and we likely don't have another opportunity to use it before it expires.
And your wife won't be with you when you check in?
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Offline simplicity

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2022, 08:20:41 PM »
Yeah, if anyone could confirm, that would be great. I'm not even doing anything particularly nefarious. I just want to use my wife's certificate and not mine since hers is expiring on June 30th and we likely don't have another opportunity to use it before it expires.
in the USA? Yes has been done 100’s of times

Offline Alexsei

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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2022, 08:29:02 PM »
in the USA? Yes has been done 100’s of times
Although lately lots of properties have been making issues

Offline NYHeel

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2022, 10:22:08 AM »
And your wife won't be with you when you check in?
Correct. She's not coming with me. I'm trying to use her certificate since it's expiring in a month.

Do I just have her call and add me to the reservation?

Offline flyingace

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2022, 12:29:51 PM »
I am having the same dilemma re a hotel in Zurich. The last time I used s cert in Miami for a family member with the same last name it was quite a hassle. The cert owner had to call during check in. I wish Marriott would allow transfers or points conversions especially with the post covid build up.

Offline cgr

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2022, 06:33:02 PM »
Although lately lots of properties have been making issues
Is this true even if the certificate owner calls Marriott Reservations and the hotel directly in advance to explain that the certificate was gifted and that the original cert holder will not be checking in?

Offline sds1493

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2022, 05:33:23 AM »
Certs are not allowed to be gifted, and there forward CSR's are often reticent to put a second name on the reservation, especially if it is random. However, IME at hotels in the US, contacting the hotel directly to add second guest works fine.
Point reservations can be gifted. Officially, this means that the reservation is made in the other person's name, meaning no status benefits will apply. However, I have yet to find a CSR who actually does that, rather they make a regular reservation and add the other person as the second guest.

Offline simplicity

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2022, 12:37:19 PM »
in the USA? Yes has been done 100’s of times
I myself have done it 100’s of times. If you see the thread posted above it’s been done 1,000’s of times.

Offline S209

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2022, 02:41:00 PM »
I myself have done it 100’s of times. If you see the thread posted above it’s been done 1,000’s of times.
Yes but recently some US properties have made issues (Residence Inn Surfside).
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline flyingace

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2022, 12:07:14 AM »
Is this true even if the certificate owner calls Marriott Reservations and the hotel directly in advance to explain that the certificate was gifted and that the original cert holder will not be checking in?
They will not allow a reservation if the account holder is not going to be there.The best way to book is by phone for the owner and a second guest at the same time. The problem is that some hotels have started asking for the account holder at check in. I had a mobile check in that would not allow check in without an ID from the owner.

Offline yitzgar

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2022, 12:13:38 AM »
I had an experience recently where they wouldn't add a second guest after the reservation was made. They said the only way was to cancel and rebook so they could add a second guest at the time of the reservation. (It worked out)

Offline simplicity

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #15 on: May 27, 2022, 01:50:29 AM »
I had an experience recently where they wouldn't add a second guest after the reservation was made. They said the only way was to cancel and rebook so they could add a second guest at the time of the reservation. (It worked out)
you called main Csr or hotel desk?

Offline S209

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #16 on: May 27, 2022, 09:23:23 AM »
I had an experience recently where they wouldn't add a second guest after the reservation was made. They said the only way was to cancel and rebook so they could add a second guest at the time of the reservation. (It worked out)
Same
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline flyingace

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #17 on: May 27, 2022, 09:59:04 AM »
you called main Csr or hotel desk?
Both wouldn't do it.

Offline yitzgar

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #18 on: May 28, 2022, 11:23:33 PM »
you called main Csr or hotel desk?
Can't remember. I think csr

Offline ah giten

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Re: Using Someone Else's Marriott Certificate
« Reply #19 on: May 28, 2022, 11:27:04 PM »
Yes but recently some US properties have made issues (Residence Inn Surfside).
How recently did this happen? Was it the check-in agent by day or at night?
More DPs would be greatly appreciated. Since I believe this property is heavily booked using these certificates.