I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[Judique]

Hi again! It’s the annoying Marriott noob here to ask 2 more questions.

1) If DH hits his 50 nights in April, thus achieving Platinum status, when will that status begin and end? I *thought* it would be effective fairly immediately and end in December of 2022. Therefore, we could get 5 Suite Night Awards this year and next year again. Am I right?

2) the method that @Lain linked me to for booking a hotel stay that was 1 night cash and 2 free nights wouldn’t work for the particular stay I booked. I even spent a frustratingly long amount of time on the phone with a Bonvoy rep who also couldn’t figure it out. So we had to book as 2 separate consecutive reservations. Called the hotel directly and they assured us that we wouldn’t have to switch rooms. But do you think we will no longer qualify for the “double the nights” promotion? We are staying 3 consecutive nights at the same hotel, all under DH name. Just two different reservation numbers.

My apologies for bothering you all with more questions! Thank you for all the help you’ve given so far!

Once he reaches 50 nights this year he will have platinum until February of 2023, if they leave things the same.

In order to qualify for double it says this:

*A “stay” is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/checkout activity on any points-eligible rate (“Qualifying Rate”).

Registration of your Marriott Bonvoy™ account is required. Marriott Bonvoy members who register for this promotion by April 13, 2021, will earn double points plus double Elite Night Credits on eligible paid stays of two nights or more during the promotion earning period. The promotion earning period is for stays between February 16, 2021, and April 27, 2021, at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties. The double points earning is only applicable to members’ base points earned per eligible stay. Only stays made after registration will qualify toward the promotion. A “stay” is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/checkout activity on any points-eligible rate (“Qualifying Rate”). Rates available through most third-party online retailers and select travel agency rates do not qualify for this promotion. Homes & Villas by Marriott International, ExecuStay®, Marriott Executive Apartments® and Marriott Vacation Club® owner-occupied weeks are not eligible for bonus points or double Elite Night Credits, and nights spent while redeeming an award are not eligible for bonus points or double Elite Night Credits. Only one room per hotel is counted toward a member’s Elite Night Credits or stay. Bonus Elite Night Credits will be awarded to the member’s account within 3–7 business days after the qualifying nights post. Elite Night Credits will count only toward the status year in which they are posted. A member who elects to earn miles is not eligible for this promotion. For a list of current participating hotels, visit www.marriott.com/loyalty/earn/hotels.mi. All Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions apply. See www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi for more information. Visit http://marriottbonvoy.com/bettertogether or call 888-MARRIOTT (888-627-7468) for complete details.

It looks like you need 2 cash nights to get doubled.

 

[wanderlust7]

I really hope the rumor about the AF hike in the personal platinum is wrong. Those sound like horrible "benefits" to me. DH will definitely be product changing his card if those come into effect. Frankly, IMO the best thing they could do would be make those travel credits easier to use. I wish they would just do what Chase does. I may try to apply (I have business plat), but I think I'm out of luck because I had the personal platinum years ago.

I want this so badddd....to bad I got all the SPG's back in the day and am therefore ineligible

If you've closed the card a number of years ago, maybe Amex has already "forgotten". Conventional wisdom is 7 years after you close, but I've seen DP as low as 4. Seems worth a try if it's been a few years, you'll just get a pop-up if they haven't forgotten.

 

[platamama]

Hi! public opinion poll: i have AmEx Blue Cash Preferred that I normally use for groceries. Just received AmEx Gold, should I switch to that? Having a hard time comparing since one is cash back and one is MR. Thanks

If you just received your AmEx Gold, you need to be putting spend on that card anyway to get the SUB, right? After you've met your MSR, then for groceries it will depend on what you value an MR at. Pure cash out as statement credit 1MR=$.006. If you have a Schwab Plat then 1MR=$.0125. Or if you have certain stores that you wouldn't mind a gift card to, then some of those gift cards are redeemable at 1MR=$.01, you'll have to do the legwork to figure out which ones. For example, Home Depot gc are 1MR=$.01 (with a min 2500MR redemption) but Apple gc is 1MR=$.0085 (min 1176MRs). If you're in this for travel, some people like to transfer out MRs to AmEx's travel partners to get airfare for higher value out of their MRs. As you can see, MRs are very flexible but also quite nuanced.

Hi again! It’s the annoying Marriott noob here to ask 2 more questions.

1) If DH hits his 50 nights in April, thus achieving Platinum status, when will that status begin and end? I *thought* it would be effective fairly immediately and end in December of 2022. Therefore, we could get 5 Suite Night Awards this year and next year again. Am I right?

2) the method that @Lain linked me to for booking a hotel stay that was 1 night cash and 2 free nights wouldn’t work for the particular stay I booked. I even spent a frustratingly long amount of time on the phone with a Bonvoy rep who also couldn’t figure it out. So we had to book as 2 separate consecutive reservations. Called the hotel directly and they assured us that we wouldn’t have to switch rooms. But do you think we will no longer qualify for the “double the nights” promotion? We are staying 3 consecutive nights at the same hotel, all under DH name. Just two different reservation numbers.

My apologies for bothering you all with more questions! Thank you for all the help you’ve given so far!

1) It may take a few days (2-4) for his status to be updated to Platinum. It will last until end of Feb 2023. The 5 suite night awards earned this year expire Dec 31, 2022. In order to get another 5 suite night awards, he would have to reach Platinum again (50 nights) in 2022, and those would expire Dec 31, 2023.

2) That promotion requires one paid night and at least two consecutive nights (as @Judique was kind to share) to count as a stay. You should get the double nights promotion on the one reservation that is two nights long (as long as one of those nights is paid). I did a dummy booking locally, and was able to apply free nights to 2 out of the 3 nights by picking "Customize Payments." Are you sure that there is availability for free nights on the dates at the place you're planning on staying? The times I've not been able to do "Customize Payments" has been when there is no free night availability due to capacity controls.

 

[MKTokyo]

I could probably ask elsewhere but the boards are scary outside this thread

DH and I will probably be in New York another month or so, visiting my now-fully-vaccinated parents (yay!). We were planning to go home next week but we got excess vaccine doses yesterday so we’re going to stay for the second ones. We have been working (too much ) while here but we are considering taking a week off after our second doses are fully effective and going down to WDW before going home.

For those who have gone in the current situation... would you go again? We booked a resort but nothing else, and we would need to make park reservations soon. I’m mostly wondering how you found the current crowd levels, your ability to find nice places to eat, and the availability of things to do. We don’t care about the mask requirement; I’m mostly wondering if it still feels like WDW without parades, fireworks, and characters.

I won’t be heartbroken if you say it’s no fun because we will go to Super Nintendo World when we complete our return quarantine, so would really like honest opinions

 

[MarBee]

Once he reaches 50 nights this year he will have platinum until February of 2023, if they leave things the same.

Thank you! So does this mean he can get the 5 SNAs in 2021, 2022, and then January of 2023? So 15 total SNAs there?

 

[wanderlust7]

I won’t be heartbroken if you say it’s no fun because we will go to Super Nintendo World when we complete our return quarantine, so would really like honest opinions

Would love to hear about Super Nintendo World after you go.

 

[Judique]

I could probably ask elsewhere but the boards are scary outside this thread

DH and I will probably be in New York another month or so, visiting my now-fully-vaccinated parents (yay!). We were planning to go home next week but we got excess vaccine doses yesterday so we’re going to stay for the second ones. We have been working (too much ) while here but we are considering taking a week off after our second doses are fully effective and going down to WDW before going home.

For those who have gone in the current situation... would you go again? We booked a resort but nothing else, and we would need to make park reservations soon. I’m mostly wondering how you found the current crowd levels, your ability to find nice places to eat, and the availability of things to do. We don’t care about the mask requirement; I’m mostly wondering if it still feels like WDW without parades, fireworks, and characters.

I won’t be heartbroken if you say it’s no fun because we will go to Super Nintendo World when we complete our return quarantine, so would really like honest opinions

No answers, just nice to see you stateside and getting vaccinated!

 

[MarBee]

If you just received your AmEx Gold, you need to be putting spend on that card anyway to get the SUB, right? After you've met your MSR, then for groceries it will depend on what you value an MR at. Pure cash out as statement credit 1MR=$.006. If you have a Schwab Plat then 1MR=$.0125. Or if you have certain stores that you wouldn't mind a gift card to, then some of those gift cards are redeemable at 1MR=$.01, you'll have to do the legwork to figure out which ones. For example, Home Depot gc are 1MR=$.01 (with a min 2500MR redemption) but Apple gc is 1MR=$.0085 (min 1176MRs). If you're in this for travel, some people like to transfer out MRs to AmEx's travel partners to get airfare for higher value out of their MRs. As you can see, MRs are very flexible but also quite nuanced.

1) It may take a few days (2-4) for his status to be updated to Platinum. It will last until end of Feb 2023. The 5 suite night awards earned this year expire Dec 31, 2022. In order to get another 5 suite night awards, he would have to reach Platinum again (50 nights) in 2022, and those would expire Dec 31, 2023.

2) That promotion requires one paid night and at least two consecutive nights (as @Judique was kind to share) to count as a stay. You should get the double nights promotion on the one reservation that is two nights long (as long as one of those nights is paid). I did a dummy booking locally, and was able to apply free nights to 2 out of the 3 nights by picking "Customize Payments." Are you sure that there is availability for free nights on the dates at the place you're planning on staying? The times I've not been able to do "Customize Payments" has been when there is no free night availability due to capacity controls.

Thank you for this! We are currently booked it first two nights with free night awards and the third night with cash. I read the instructions on how to customize the payments, but it would show “no availability” for the cash night that way. I even called Bonvoy to see why, and after about an hour on the phone, they couldn’t figure it out either. So we had to do two separate reservations: 2 with free nights; 3rd night cash.
We called the hotel who stated that we wouldn’t have to switch rooms. I’m just hoping it doesn’t screw up the double night promotion.

 

[Judique]

Thank you! So does this mean he can get the 5 SNAs in 2021, 2022, and then January of 2023? So 15 total SNAs there?

Check out @platamama 's post. The 5 earned this year expire Dec 31, 2022. I earned Plat in 2020 and mine expire 2021 dec 31. I will get 5 more in 2022 as I have already earned Plat for 2022 due to Bonvoy's generous nature regarding elite status this year.

But, @platamama - I don't think @MarBee's husband is going to get double credit with 2 award nights and 1 cash night. Can you clear me up on that? Maybe I'm reading what I quoted wrong?

 

[platamama]

Thank you for this! We are currently booked it first two nights with free night awards and the third night with cash. I read the instructions on how to customize the payments, but it would show “no availability” for the cash night that way. I even called Bonvoy to see why, and after about an hour on the phone, they couldn’t figure it out either. So we had to do two separate reservations: 2 with free nights; 3rd night cash.
We called the hotel who stated that we wouldn’t have to switch rooms. I’m just hoping it doesn’t screw up the double night promotion.

The way you have it set up right now, you won't get double nights at all on either of your reservations.

I'm a little confused about why there's "no availability" for the cash night. Are you trying a 3 night stay using points/certificates? If you want to share the details, I'm happy to try it out and see what you're talking about.

 

[tink1970]

Check out @platamama 's post. The 5 earned this year expire Dec 31, 2022. I earned Plat in 2020 and mine expire 2021 dec 31. I will get 5 more in 2022 as I have already earned Plat for 2022 due to Bonvoy's generous nature regarding elite status this year.

But, @platamama - I don't think @MarBee's husband is going to get double credit with 2 award nights and 1 cash night. Can you clear me up on that? Maybe I'm reading what I quoted wrong?

My experience with 2 recent reservations was I had one for 7 nights (4 points and 3 cash) and another for 4 nights (2 cash and 2 points) and only received double nights for the cash nights and single nights for the redeemed with points nights.

Also, the way I read it was the same as you did-the cash minimum is 2 to qualify for the double nights promotion. Of course who knows with Bonvoy

 

[platamama]

My experience with 2 recent reservations was I had one for 7 nights (4 points and 3 cash) and another for 4 nights (2 cash and 2 points) and only received double nights for the cash nights and single nights for the redeemed with points nights.

Also, the way I read it was the same as you did-the cash minimum is 2 to qualify for the double nights promotion. Of course who knows with Bonvoy

Bonvoyed!

There's a post on FM that shows a lot of people experienced the same as you. Hopefully you'll see those extra elite nights within 14 days?!?

 

[tink1970]

Bonvoyed!

There's a post on FM that shows a lot of people experienced the same as you. Hopefully you'll see those extra elite nights within 14 days?!?

Maybe-I'm not holding out hope tbh...because, Bonvoy, lol.

 

[Judique]

My experience with 2 recent reservations was I had one for 7 nights (4 points and 3 cash) and another for 4 nights (2 cash and 2 points) and only received double nights for the cash nights and single nights for the redeemed with points nights.

Also, the way I read it was the same as you did-the cash minimum is 2 to qualify for the double nights promotion. Of course who knows with Bonvoy

After reading @platamama 's frequent miler link, it looks like some squeaky wheels are going to get the extra nights. If it's worth it to you, you might want to make a call.

I need 20 nights to get to Titanium and my planned nights for the year don't include enough nights to worry about it, since I'm spread over 4 hotel programs plus DVC. Plus, my niece just recently offered me the rental property in Reunion again. Too big for just 1-2 of us as no one is really interested in going right now.

Maybe if I get the automatic Platinum in 2022 (like this year but earned for 2023) I'll get started early and try for it. But right now I'd be throwing cash at something I wouldn't actually need at the Courtyard <g>. If I were doing something fabulous I'd be all over it. I have the 5 suite night awards to use also and $300($296 remaining) brilliant credit to burn.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I could probably ask elsewhere but the boards are scary outside this thread

DH and I will probably be in New York another month or so, visiting my now-fully-vaccinated parents (yay!). We were planning to go home next week but we got excess vaccine doses yesterday so we’re going to stay for the second ones. We have been working (too much ) while here but we are considering taking a week off after our second doses are fully effective and going down to WDW before going home.

For those who have gone in the current situation... would you go again? We booked a resort but nothing else, and we would need to make park reservations soon. I’m mostly wondering how you found the current crowd levels, your ability to find nice places to eat, and the availability of things to do. We don’t care about the mask requirement; I’m mostly wondering if it still feels like WDW without parades, fireworks, and characters.

I won’t be heartbroken if you say it’s no fun because we will go to Super Nintendo World when we complete our return quarantine, so would really like honest opinions

YAY on your shots!!!

I like it and intend on returning for my third trip next month (making use of my AP!). That said it’s a mixed bag, some hate it. It’s my life escape this year as I cannot travel abroad and life is dang stressful so I’m enjoying this weird hopefully once in a lifetime version of WDW. I also have a sneaky suspicion prices are gonna up, up, up and away once the normal stuff comes back and the 50th kicks off so I am not convinced the value proposition argument fits everyone, 20% cheaper for no shows or M&Gs? Count me in (#ChildlessMillenial)

Like:
-spacing. I don’t like people up in my business to the point I can panic. I can’t do fireworks shows without a desert party for some bubble space or parades. Now I don’t have to avoid those areas of the parks
-characters, I don’t do character M&G so I’m loving the random characters popping up and mini drive by cavalcades
-buses. Everybody gets a seat!
-Skyliner. Private cabins!
-no rope drop crowds
-no security backups at park entry (that should be here to stay as the new tech isn’t going anywhere)
-no FP keeps lines moving at a steady pace
-dining, I no longer feel like I’m dining with the parties next to me and people are far enough away my klutzy self will no longer spill water in a strangers lap (LTT 2019 )

Dislike:
-plexiglass. It ruins Frozen. I actually don’t mind it on ROTR but some very much do. I think they added it to MFSR? I haven’t done it since COVID started as I don’t like MFSR. It’s being tested on Na’Vi
-hours, Disney dribbles out extensions every week but this is very annoying for planning and even extended they aren’t as long as they used to be
-buses (lol, I know but there is good and bad to some COVID aspects) lines get long and backed up first thing in the morning
-Skyliner, line at night to get out stretches back to BC (was about 25 mins)
-ADRs, it’s harder to get ADRs now than before due to capacity

 

[Lain]

Hi again! It’s the annoying Marriott noob here to ask 2 more questions.

1) If DH hits his 50 nights in April, thus achieving Platinum status, when will that status begin and end? I *thought* it would be effective fairly immediately and end in December of 2022. Therefore, we could get 5 Suite Night Awards this year and next year again. Am I right?

2) the method that @Lain linked me to for booking a hotel stay that was 1 night cash and 2 free nights wouldn’t work for the particular stay I booked. I even spent a frustratingly long amount of time on the phone with a Bonvoy rep who also couldn’t figure it out. So we had to book as 2 separate consecutive reservations. Called the hotel directly and they assured us that we wouldn’t have to switch rooms. But do you think we will no longer qualify for the “double the nights” promotion? We are staying 3 consecutive nights at the same hotel, all under DH name. Just two different reservation numbers.

My apologies for bothering you all with more questions! Thank you for all the help you’ve given so far!

You may have issues because Bonvoyed.

However, I think your two reservations should qualify as one “stay” since “[a] ‘stay’ is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/checkout activity on any points-eligible rate.”

https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/promotion.mi?promotion=DD21
Since your three nights are consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, they should count as a single stay and qualify for the double elite nights on all three nights.

However, I could see Marriott IT bonvoying you by not crediting the one-night reservation with double elite nights because the promo terms require a minimum of 2 nights; and not counting the two-night reservation if both nights are covered by points/certificates because the promo terms require at least one night paid.

If they don’t credit properly, be ready to call Marriott customer service.

 

[MarBee]

The way you have it set up right now, you won't get double nights at all on either of your reservations.

I'm a little confused about why there's "no availability" for the cash night. Are you trying a 3 night stay using points/certificates? If you want to share the details, I'm happy to try it out and see what you're talking about.

So I spent another 45 minutes on the phone with Marriott. It’s because they only have availability for the “upgraded” view with cash. The free nights are the “standard” view. Even when I told them I’d pay the premium for the standard view as long as I didn’t have to move, they said there was no way to override this in the system.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

It gets worse—at one point, way after my parents had broadband, my mom signed up too and they were both paying. At least she cancelled her account after not using it for five about years.

My dad pays for AOL and my mom pays for Juno in spite of having broadband for over a decade.

 

[tink1970]

After reading @platamama 's frequent miler link, it looks like some squeaky wheels are going to get the extra nights. If it's worth it to you, you might want to make a call.

I need 20 nights to get to Titanium and my planned nights for the year don't include enough nights to worry about it, since I'm spread over 4 hotel programs plus DVC. Plus, my niece just recently offered me the rental property in Reunion again. Too big for just 1-2 of us as no one is really interested in going right now.

Maybe if I get the automatic Platinum in 2022 (like this year but earned for 2023) I'll get started early and try for it. But right now I'd be throwing cash at something I wouldn't actually need at the Courtyard <g>. If I were doing something fabulous I'd be all over it. I have the 5 suite night awards to use also and $300($296 remaining) brilliant credit to burn.

I'm not sure any amount of money (or status) is worth dealing with Marriott's customer service!

 

[MarBee]

I'm not sure any amount of money (or status) is worth dealing with Marriott's customer service!

Agreed! We were SPG Loyalists, and then only kept cards bc I had a couple conferences at Swolphin. We were going to completely ditch our Marriott cards until DH became so close to achieving Platinum. Now they’re getting another year out of us. But every time I have to call I cringe so hard, then immediately regret calling.