Marriott Travel Packages - What Airline Points to Convert to?

[kamchatsky]

Given the recent merger of Marriott and SPG, I am looking at their Marriott Travel Packages in detail. It does have some great deal. I am looking at converting Amex MR points to SPG then to Marriott reward points.

I am looking at staying for 7 nights at Tokyo later this year, I am looking at purchasing the travel packages which gives me 7-night reward certificate plus a whole bunch of airline points of choice:

Flight and Hotel Packages | Marriott Hotel Packages

I am looking at Cat 8 Marriott hotels (either Tokyo Marriott or The Price Sakura Tower Tokyo) so I am looking at 360000 Marriott points ( = 120000 Starwood Points = 240000 Amex Points). This would get me 7 nights free on Cat 8 hotels, plus the following option of airline miles:

- 132000 United Mileage Plus
- 120000 BA Avios, or AA Advantage Miles, or Alaska Miles, or Delta Skymiles, or VS Virgin Atlantic
- 85000 Qantas Points, or SQ Krisflyer, or CX Asia Miles, or EK Skywards Miles, or EY Etihad Guest Miles, or Avianca LifeMiles

At the moment I could not decide which airline miles to get, as I still have a large bunch of AA, QF and VA miles.

The question is, which one would you choose and why?

 

[andye]

Were you trying to upgrade a new certificate, or an old certificate to a new upgraded certificate?

I managed to convert an old Cat 6 certificate +30k points and upgrade it to a new Cat 5 certificate using some instructions found on FT.

The key was not to ask for an upgrade, but guide the agent into cancelling the old cert and ordering the new one, giving them the product code to do so rather than the category number. That way, the agent would order the new certificate for you without realising it was really an upgrade.

It was a new one. I had already banked the 30k points for the loss of value in the realignment of categories

 

[verduzzo]

Were you trying to upgrade a new certificate, or an old certificate to a new upgraded certificate?

I managed to convert an old Cat 6 certificate +30k points and upgrade it to a new Cat 5 certificate using some instructions found on FT.

The key was not to ask for an upgrade, but guide the agent into cancelling the old cert and ordering the new one, giving them the product code to do so rather than the category number. That way, the agent would order the new certificate for you without realising it was really an upgrade.

Do you mean you used your goodwill 30k points for the new Category mapping downgrade of old Cat 6, or you used an additional 30k points to upgrade to new Cat 5? I'm in the same boat!

 

[andye]

Do you mean you used your goodwill 30k points for the new Category mapping downgrade of old Cat 6, or you used an additional 30k points to upgrade to new Cat 5? I'm in the same boat!

No. I had old cat 6 which mapped to new 1-4. I claimed 30k points which Marriott were giving for the reduced benefit.
I had converted earlier than was strictly necessary not realising that I would be locked in to maximum cat4 properties
(edit: was 6 not 5)

 

[HTG2016]

anyone here can transfer Amex MR -> Marriot / SPG Successfully after the merger in August recently ? I am looking to top up my Marriott account for an upcoming award reservation but couldn't do it online keep asking me to called Amex phone number

 

[verduzzo]

Were you trying to upgrade a new certificate, or an old certificate to a new upgraded certificate?

I managed to convert an old Cat 6 certificate +30k points and upgrade it to a new Cat 5 certificate using some instructions found on FT.

The key was not to ask for an upgrade, but guide the agent into cancelling the old cert and ordering the new one, giving them the product code to do so rather than the category number. That way, the agent would order the new certificate for you without realising it was really an upgrade.

Hi fairbasa, just wondering, was it an extra 30k points to 'upgrade' or did you use your 'refunded' 30k points from Marriott for the overpayment in points for old Cat 6? Many thanks, V.

 

[fairbasa]

Hi fairbasa, just wondering, was it an extra 30k points to 'upgrade' or did you use your 'refunded' 30k points from Marriott for the overpayment in points for old Cat 6? Many thanks, V.

It was an extra 30k to go from an old Cat 6 to the New Cat 5. It was either take the 30k refund and stick with new Cat 4, or pay an extra 30 and move to new Cat 5.

 

[verduzzo]

It was an extra 30k to go from an old Cat 6 to the New Cat 5. It was either take the 30k refund and stick with new Cat 4, or pay an extra 30 and move to new Cat 5.

Thanks for the clarification fairbasa