Master Thread of Discussion on Marriott / SPG Merger

[yelped]

how long does it take to reset? i have a stay on 1/6. will i still have status?

February, iirc.

[CS1]

Status never resets on 1/1

however the nights reset for 2019 already, right? Same status, however I'm back to zero nights for the new year.

[zow]

so we are not having a DO in Calgary after all 

I guess not. 
I was unfortunately not able to transfer my Calgary certificates to New Category 5 property directly.
The agent cancelled them and they now sit in my account as "7 Night Travel Package Category 1-5 Hotels".
The agent (SPG) first said they were worth 132k points...then when I asked her to use one to book at Cat 5 hotel, she got confused, because it costs 210k for a week in the Cat 5.  Then she read that the Cat 1-5 certificate is worth 270k Marriott reward points.  Then she got flustered and said she had to contact her "assist" team. That's where I stand right now...

[yelped]

I don't blame the poor customer rep for getting confused....

[zow]

I don't blame the poor customer rep for getting confused....

I don't blame her at all. I'm just hoping that the outcome is favorable.
She told me that she had to transfer me over to Marriott....I guess the merger isn't quite complete.

[shulem92]

I guess not. 
I was unfortunately not able to transfer my Calgary certificates to New Category 5 property directly.
The agent cancelled them and they now sit in my account as "7 Night Travel Package Category 1-5 Hotels".
The agent (SPG) first said they were worth 132k points...then when I asked her to use one to book at Cat 5 hotel, she got confused, because it costs 210k for a week in the Cat 5.  Then she read that the Cat 1-5 certificate is worth 270k Marriott reward points.  Then she got flustered and said she had to contact her "assist" team. That's where I stand right now...

even if she manages to book you into a category 5. the reservation will error out eventually, (usually a week before when it becomes official/no more cancelling, or whenever their cancellation policy is...)

[KSMH]

In general always call Marriot lines when dealing with certs [not former spg lines], the are usually more competent in certs, if not then HUCA.

You also have to know what your doin, as to guide them thru the process. It sounds crazy, but have done it multiple times.

In your case with old Marriot cert Cat 1-5 attached to a Cat 5 changing to a new hotel Cat 5,
I don't think the system will allow you to do it.

They have to reissue the cert which will auto convert it to a 1-4.

If you have any luck rebooking with the old cert  report back as for a DP and ask them what they did so others can follow.

[zow]

In general always call Marriot lines when dealing with certs [not former spg lines], the are usually more competent in certs, if not then HUCA.

You also have to know what your doin, as to guide them thru the process. It sounds crazy, but have done it multiple times.

In your case with old Marriot cert Cat 1-5 attached to a Cat 5 changing to a new hotel Cat 5,
I don't think the system will allow you to do it.

They have to reissue the cert which will auto convert it to a 1-4.

If you have any luck rebooking with the old cert  report back as for a DP and ask them what they did so others can follow.

even if she manages to book you into a category 5. the reservation will error out eventually, (usually a week before when it becomes official/no more cancelling, or whenever their cancellation policy is...)

Well, @hvaces42 had better success than the rest of us with the SPG agents.  It stood to reason that SPG agents might not know the details of these certificates and might allow more flexibility. Alas, as both of you just said, it seems not to be in the cards for me.

The SPG agent came back and said that actually the 1-5 Certs are no longer in existence and that they are now being reissued as Partial Package - 7 nights category 1-4.  And in fact, when I logged out and logged back in, that's what I see in my account.  She said that Marriott would credit me 40,000 Marriott points for my trouble, but those have yet to show up. 

She also said that she couldn't book me for a week at the Sortis in Panama City because it's a Category 5...that's just wrong, as it's a Category 3.  I'll have to HUCA.  She left me hanging on hold waiting to speak with a supervisor. I think I'll need to call back.

[bobeli]

Can someone point me to where it's discussed whether to combine marriot and spg or not. They keep telling me to.

which credentials are better spg or marriot?

[mochjas]

which credentials are better spg or marriot?

its the same

[Moshe26]

what did ppl here do with their cert which was attached to Domes Of Elounda pre merge? I just realized I have a 5 night cert attached to it which I will likely not using.

[Yehudaa]

New combined program announced:

https://meetmarriottbonvoy.marriott.com

[Bosco]

I have a 7 night cert attached to EUGENIA DE MONTIJO, from before the merger when the cert was 1-5. As it is coming up soon and I didnt want to detach it for fear of having it reduced to a 1-4, I was going to change the nights of my stay. When I went online to do it, it showed that, while my initial "cost" was 270k points for the 7 night stay, it is not 210k points for 7 nights, for the new dates that I selected. It showed that 60k points will be redeposited. Does that actually happen? Will I actually get 60k points?

Also, any advice for the best approach to take with an old 1-5 cert to maximize the value?

[KSMH]

Do you want to change the dates?

[Bosco]

Do you want to change the dates?

Yeah, cuz it's attached to a hotel for next week. And I wont be in spain next week.

[KSMH]

Call the hotel directly and ask them to change it. Make sure the  dates available with the same room type.

[Bosco]

Call the hotel directly and ask them to change it. Make sure the  dates available with the same room type.

Why would i do that if I can just do it online (and potentially get 60k points deposited in my account)?

[sammdaman]

+1

Likely you upgraded from SPG to new Luxury SPG card, spent 75K between those cards combined which immediately makes you Platinum Elite...

Here is the verbiage from Amex Website:
COMPLIMENTARY GOLD ELITE STATUS
Enjoy complimentary Gold Elite status with your Card.‡ Earn Platinum Elite status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.‡

[Naftuli19]

Likely you upgraded from SPG to new Luxury SPG card, spent 75K between those cards combined which immediately makes you Platinum Elite...

Here is the verbiage from Amex Website:
COMPLIMENTARY GOLD ELITE STATUS
Enjoy complimentary Gold Elite status with your Card.‡ Earn Platinum Elite status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.‡

But i didn't!

[sammdaman]

But i didn't!

very strange, no clue in that case...

either way enjoy the benefits