I love credit cards so much!

[miztressuz]

I know people say stuff like this but I can't wrap my head around it. Maybe because you are calculating how much each point is worth or something? I never really do that for any points. All I know is our hilton points get us many, many free nights per year....and free nights on the beach make me quite happy.

I think it's kind of a result of how easy they throw points at you... almost literally. If points were worth so much, why would they be so free with them? Cuz they know you still need way more to redeem than you earn. The 100k bonus looks great, but when you go to spend it each night is 30-50k. Whereas programs like Marriott and IHG I can get the same rooms for 10-20k. So yeah, I wouldn't calculate it down to the penny (although I probably should) but when you look at the valuations sometimes you're talking dollars to pesos. (not everywhere, but generally it seems so)

This past weekend we stayed in the Pittsburgh area. I looked at Hilton and Marriott in the same location with equivalent brands. Spent 12,500 a night at Marriott vs the 30,000 a night Hilton asked. Both Marriott and Hilton cards give you the same 100k so in this scenario we'd get many more nights with Marriott. So it's easy for Hilton to be the butt of a joke Doesn't mean we don't all grab the card and stay with them anyway. If there can be Skypesos there's bound to be a land equivalent, Hilton just seems to be "it" for now. I'm sure they'll tag someone sooner or later.

 

[Judique]

I've got 26 now (which adds up to me because I had 15 in SPG and 11 in Marriott before combining), Marriott anniversary is next month so 15, I've got a 6 night stay at the Dolphin next month... I get 47, so 3 nights?

You didn't upgrade yet to the Premier Plus, right?

No. I'm keeping it at 25K night for now.

I think it would be worth it to make the effort to get 3 more nights (esp if you have points for them). Gold is meh, but platinum gets you some good stuff - I'm a fan of lounge access, breakfast and am intrigued by the "suite nights" where you can request an upgrade to a suite in advance a certain number of times per year. Never had those before, so hoping my upgrade luck will improve once I get them.

I agree!

I did get the 5 nights, I had a total of 10, but then the merger happened and 5 are gone. I need to call, I haven't merged the accounts because I want this fixed before all the data disappears. I have 32 Marriott nights and 10 SPG nights. I have 8 nights booked before the end of the year.

Can you let us know what happens when you call? I've not seen the extra 5 nights at all.

 

[tink1970]

There's also an additional 20k points, so I'm guessing someone out there used my link and didn't tell me. Don't be a stranger; we're all friends here. Thank you so very much.

I used your link (I think, it's been so long...) but didn't say anything since I didn't know if it would credit when I had to go to recon.

Thanks! I am surprised the points posted that quick for you!. I applied at 11:45 that night and as of yesterday afternoon, it was still pending.

Um, he still might get another 20K if mine triggered the first one (see above).

 

[WVMomof3]

I have no rollover nights showing. So, if silver elite is 10, I should have 5 rollover nights? From last year?

I'm new to Marriott status so have no clue. I wonder if since I was so close to the end of the year, the nights just didn't post?

My account says 5 paid nights and then credit card 18 nights - 15 for the Biz and 3 from spend. I don't know. I'll finish my SPG biz $1K spend today and then go from there. I think it's possible to hit platinum based on my plans with the 15 nights posting in December.

Since you don't have any rollover nights I am guessing your Marriott nights posted after the first of the year. I know we did not get right away after opening, but not sure how long. Also if you just applied for SPG biz with the $5000 spend for 100,000 points you will not get any nights for it. I think you had to apply before Aug 1 to get the 5 nights.

 

[Lain]

I used your link (I think, it's been so long...) but didn't say anything since I didn't know if it would credit when I had to go to recon.



Um, he still might get another 20K if mine triggered the first one (see above).

Uh... you mean 15k? Max referral bonus is 55k/year. 1 self-referral and 2 support clicks maxes me out. I'm off to remove my SPG personal link!

Thanks tink1970! Whether another bonus credits or not, I really appreciate @tink1970 and @MrPTato for the thought and taking the extra time to go out of your way to use my link. I'm really humbled guys.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

So . . . for those with the SPG Luxury card AND the $300 Amex offer . . .

If I charge exactly $300 at the Marriott front desk, will I get $60 back from the Amex offer AND the $300 Lux credit? Or, would my Marriott spend be netted as $240 for Lux credit purposes. Just wondering if I should charge $360 at the front desk, which would net me $300 in order to use up the Lux credit.

Scrambling to try and figure this out before we leave town tomorrow. Marriott res tomorrow night!

Following to see how this works out!!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm having the same problem, they are all the sudden not counting the nights from one card - they were counted before the merger. I hope they didn't all the sudden change the T&Cs because that's just BS.

I think it’s their websites all wonky. I have gold elite right now and I pretty sure their stats are wrong. It says I have 37 nights. Under Bonus nights it says 24 night, detail is 1 promotional, 15 Rewards credit card.
Umm 15+1 is not 24

 

[Judique]

So I received my SPG Biz, confirmed it, log in, and see that it does not have my Marriott number attached even though I put it on my application. It just says "not available." When I click the only button available which says "earn now," it just takes me to the SPG page where I log in to Marriott account. What gives? Are my accounts not connected?

ETA: Never had an SPG account or number before, only Marriott.

Your post prompted me to check my accounts. My 'new' spg lux is linked to my old Marriott account number. My old SPG regular is linked to a 'new' spg number that they sent me an email about. My SPG Biz is linked to the 'new' number same as the SPG regular card. I combined my accounts early last week while I was at the hospital for my daughters surgery.

 

[tink1970]

Uh... you mean 15k? Max referral bonus is 55k/year. 1 self-referral and 2 support clicks maxes me out. I'm off to remove my SPG personal link!

Thanks tink1970! Whether another bonus credits or not, I really appreciate @tink1970 and @MrPTato for the thought and taking the extra time to go out of your way to use my link.

Oh sure, forgot the funky 20k/20k/15k link. Again, sorry I didn't pm just didn't want to give false information-better to be surprised than disappointed

 

[platamama]

So, I just booked an AS award flight on Cathay in business from South Africa to SanFran with a week and half stopover in Hong Kong where I'll use my 7 night Marriott cert next year... oh. my. gosh. ...My first big, international award booking. I'm still processing that I just did that, when I'm thinking a bit clearer I'll come back and lay out some of the process details in case anyone else is looking at using AS miles to book Cathay.

Score!! Nice going!

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

So I upgraded my SPG to lux. My anniversary date is March 31st so between the credit and 100k points it seemed to make sense.
Finished MSR on my SPG BIZ, got almost 3k done on BGP, will start cracking on DHs SPG biz and now need to get it done on the SPG. It’s a lot but with the holidays approaching and plans for home improvements i think it will happen. This will prob push my CIP back a little though!!

 

[Judique]

Since you don't have any rollover nights I am guessing your Marriott nights posted after the first of the year. I know we did not get right away after opening, but not sure how long. Also if you just applied for SPG biz with the $5000 spend for 100,000 points you will not get any nights for it. I think you had to apply before Aug 1 to get the 5 nights.

Nothing posted after the first of the year. 15 nights posted when I got the Marriott Biz in June. I'm not expecting any nights for the Lux card. The issue is I applied for the SPG Biz on July 31 the night before the new offer came out. I then asked Amex for a match to the new offer, which I don't expect and haven't heard back on. If I got that match, it would be highly unusual as apparently Amex doesn't match offers?

That said, if I got the match - I need to meet the spend and I'll be swimming in another 100K points! I'm just waiting now to see if my statement credit hits.

 

[Lain]

@SBWB48 and @platamama -

I bought 2x $100 MCGCs and 2x $50 MCGCs last night at Safeway to take advantage of the deal at Albertsons-owned grocery stores, going through 9/8/18, where you get $15 off 2x $100 MCGCs (each with a $5.95 activation fee) and $10 off 2x $50 MCGCs (each with a $4.95 fee), and work on my Biz Plat MSR. The MCGCs are US Bank-issued with registration at the prepaidgiftbalance site. I registered the cards with my info first. Then logged into Plastiq incognito, clicked on the card to Add New Card, clicked on +More Ways to Add, which caused the generic Masterpass button to show up, logged into Masterpass, selected generic Masterpass again, added the $100 MCGCs to my Masterpass wallet, selected the MCGC I wanted to use, went back to Plastiq to pay a student loan -- AND IT WORKED! NO ERROR, NO FEE!

As if payments in $250 increments weren't terrible enough. I've sent 2x $100 payments so far. I've yet to try the $50s, but will tonight. I still have the Safeway deal on my wife's account, so we'll have her grab another $300 worth and chip away a little more at those student loans and MSR.

 

[miztressuz]

I have no rollover nights showing. So, if silver elite is 10, I should have 5 rollover nights? From last year?

I'm new to Marriott status so have no clue. I wonder if since I was so close to the end of the year, the nights just didn't post?

My account says 5 paid nights and then credit card 18 nights - 15 for the Biz and 3 from spend. I don't know. I'll finish my SPG biz $1K spend today and then go from there. I think it's possible to hit platinum based on my plans with the 15 nights posting in December.

No. I'm keeping it at 25K night for now.

Ok, so an upgrade shouldn't throw you off then from this year's points. Still perplexed why you have no rollovers, it says to "Please allow 6 to 8 weeks from account open date and account anniversary date every year for the 15 nights to be credited to your Marriott Rewards® account." So you should have had either 15 nights or 5 nights from 2017 depending on when they posted, but I'd expect the 5, and since you didn't "spend" all of them to get Gold status.

In your case, everything seems to point that you should have had 5 rollover nights from 2017 card opening, 5 from SPG anniversary, +5 from SPG Biz pre 8/1, 15 from Marriott Biz, 3 from spend and then, in theory, the 15 anniversary nights in Dec. I'd have thought you'd be at 48 by the end of the year.

 

[Lain]

So, I just booked an AS award flight on Cathay in business from South Africa to SanFran with a week and half stopover in Hong Kong where I'll use my 7 night Marriott cert next year... oh. my. gosh. ...My first big, international award booking. I'm still processing that I just did that, when I'm thinking a bit clearer I'll come back and lay out some of the process details in case anyone else is looking at using AS miles to book Cathay.

Save the details for the weekly trip reports and reap that good karma.

 

[Judique]

Ok, so an upgrade shouldn't throw you off then from this year's points. Still perplexed why you have no rollovers, it says to "Please allow 6 to 8 weeks from account open date and account anniversary date every year for the 15 nights to be credited to your Marriott Rewards® account." So you should have had either 15 nights or 5 nights from 2017 depending on when they posted, but I'd expect the 5, and since you didn't "spend" all of them to get Gold status.

In your case, everything seems to point that you should have had 5 rollover nights from 2017 card opening, 5 from SPG anniversary, +5 from SPG Biz pre 8/1, 15 from Marriott Biz, 3 from spend and then, in theory, the 15 anniversary nights in Dec. I'd have thought you'd be at 48 by the end of the year.

I like your math! Since I didn't key in on rollover nights until you posted about them, I was counting 43 nights. I'll give them a little time and then call. Actually I'm waiting to see if a statement credit posts. Right now that's pretty much what I'm expecting and when that happens, I should also be due the 5 nights from the biz. Then my phone call can be less complicated. I'd only be calling about the rollover nights.

 

[jhoannam]

Well, I have 125K MR, I have no idea what to do with them. I don't want to go the Schwab route, I'm not ready for the $550 fee. I need to figure out if we can use them to fly to Costa Rica next summer or Spain the following summer.

 

[jhoannam]

I think it’s their websites all wonky. I have gold elite right now and I pretty sure their stats are wrong. It says I have 37 nights. Under Bonus nights it says 24 night, detail is 1 promotional, 15 Rewards credit card.
Umm 15+1 is not 24

I finally got at pop up message saying that stat might be wrong, they are working on it and to be patient. I’m holding off until they fix it before I merge the accounts.

 

[1st*toright]

Just a PSA on Marriott Rollover nights as everyone is counting nights on fingers and toes - I believe that 2017 was the last year for rollover nights, so if you are thinking of trying for elite status in 2019, don't count on any rollover nights from 2018 to help you along. Seems like 2018 should be pretty easy to score elite status - stacking credit card nights, rollover nights, generous meeting policies. Options get fewer in 2019 - maybe that means that elite status will mean more when fewer people can achieve it? (I will probably never know because I'm not sure I'll ever make it to an elite level without some of the things that helped me along this year!)

 

[CyndiLouWho]

So I upgraded my SPG to lux. My anniversary date is March 31st so between the credit and 100k points it seemed to make sense.
Finished MSR on my SPG BIZ, got almost 3k done on BGP, will start cracking on DHs SPG biz and now need to get it done on the SPG. It’s a lot but with the holidays approaching and plans for home improvements i think it will happen. This will prob push my CIP back a little though!!

Do you have Marriot cards or just SPG?