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When Marriott Bonvoy announced their latest promotion for double points and double elite credit, we reported being told that stays including at least one paid night would earn double elite credit (but award stays without any paid nights would not earn double credit). In other words, if you booked a stay with one paid night and several award nights under a single reservation, you would receive double elite credit for the entire stay. When the registration page debuted yesterday, the terms didn’t seem to support that statement — though we have since been able to confirm that a mixed paid and award stay will indeed earn double elite night credits.
The terms on the registration page suggest that award stays will not earn double elite credit. That page says:
“…and nights spent while redeeming an award are not eligible for bonus points or double Elite Night Credits.”
We followed up with Marriott’s public relations team to clarify since we had previously been told that full award stays would not qualify for double elite night credits but that stays including at least one paid night would qualify. We specifically gave the following example:
- Suppose someone books a 6 night stay where one night is paid and 5 nights are on points. Would they earn 12 elite nights because all nights are doubled? Or maybe they would earn 7 elite nights because only the paid night is doubled?
Our contact with Marriott then checked with the Promotions team to ensure an accurate response and this is what we were told:
- This Member will earn a Bonus of 6 Elite Night Credits (5 for the redemption Nights and 1 for the Paid Night) which equals a total of 12 Elite Nights
- This Member will earn Double Points on the Paid Night (A Redemption Stay has no revenue so no points)
While I wouldn’t be inclined to take that answer at face value if it came from a front line customer service representative, in this case I am as confident as I can be that our sources are giving us accurate information. My best guess is that the system somehow recognizes a stay with at least one paid night as a “paid stay” whereas a stay with zero paid nights is recognized as an award stay only.
The good news is that it is easy to customize a stay and choose one paid night with several award nights.
You can even choose to use free night certificates for some nights if you so choose. I wouldn’t on this stay given the price of 4,500 points per night, but you could in a situation where it makes sense.
For more on how that works, see this post: Bet You Didn’t Know: Maximizing Marriott’s 5th Night Free on longer stays or check out this video tutorial:
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[…] wait, it’s even easier, although the return may not be quite as good. Marriott has confirmed that for the double elite nights promo, so long as the first night is a paid, night, all other […]
Hi, i recently stayed marriott hotel for 6 nights: 5 nights with point and 1 night with paid. I should have 12 elite nights including 6 bonus elite nights. However, I only see 7 elite nights (5 elite night for point, 1 elite night for paid, and 1 bonus elite night.) where should I contact to resolve the problem?
Marriott says to wait 14 days for the extra bonus nights to post. Contact them if they don’t show up by then: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-double-elite-nights-not-yet-working-as-expected/
[…] wait, it's even easier, although the return may not be quite as good. Marriott has confirmed that for the double elite nights promo, so long as the first night is a paid, night, all other […]
Using the Customize feature would not allow me to book the paid night with a deeply discounted AAA discount. So I booked one night at the AAA rate and the other with a FNC. Then I called Bonvoy and they combined the 2 nights into 1 reservation.
Good to know that works, thanks!
I did 2 separate stays this same way (1 nt at a deeply discounted rate, the others either FNCs or points, then had c/s link the nights). Both stays posted with double points, & I also received my full 22,500 bonus points. Waiting on the double elite credits to post.
I do not see how to use that Build your own points/cash combination???
It just shows me cash + points for each night???
Did you try clicking the link in the last paragraph? It has a full explanation. There is a customize payment button. See the part of this post that says:
For more on how that works, see this post: Bet You Didn’t Know: Maximizing Marriott’s 5th Night Free on longer stays.
Do mixed paid/award stays count as an “eligible paid stay” for the “Exclusively for You” promos as well? I have one for stay twice get X points
Would be interesting to see how this works in practice. I booked a 6-night stay with paid night first followed by 5 nights on points (pay 4, stay 5), but not until March to see how those in February actually get rewarded.
Maybe I missed this – Hyatt status is good through 2023 if it is earned this year, is that the same for Marriott?
Yes. That’s the same with almost any loyalty program under the sun. Unless you’re doing some sort of a status challenge promotion, you’re always earning this year to have status for the next calendar year. rather than make you wait until next year to have the status though, everybody lets you have the status as soon as you’ve earned it and through the end of the next calendar year. Some programs end their membership year on December 31st, others not until January or February. I think Marriott status would actually end February 1st 2023.
Thanks for confirming this with the source Nick. One other question — do you think that it’s clear under the terms of this promotion that the double nights count for lifetime elite status as well. I think the term “Elite Night Credit” in the terms and conditions is actually the same as the defined term in the Marriott program, so I think it’s reasonably clear. But just want to be sure nobody else reads it differently since lifetime status is a motivator for me on this.
with 43 nights I need 7 more for Platinum – Contemplating a mileage run – Local Marriot is 9K a night or $90. – I have 2 35K certs expiring in August or I can pay using points – Should I blow the 35K certs on the platinum? Any idea how long it takes after the stay for Platinum to become effective?
When should I expect my 13 Gold rollover nights to post? as of right now (2/2), they have not. I have both the Business and Personal Marriott cards so a mattress run to qualify for Platinum is only worth it with the rollover nights. Should I call Marriott?
I’d give it a few days. My wife is in the same boat. I’ve received my 38 nights from having Titanium, but she hasn’t received anything from having Gold. I am nearly 100% sure that no front line Marriott rep is going to have the power to do anything about it, so you’re likely just wasting time and effort calling at this point. Like I said, I’d give it at least a few days.
I would suggest waiting too. Even tho I had 50 nights last year, my status downgraded to Gold. I contacted the Twitter team and they sent my message to the right department. It didn’t take Marriott long to get back to me and fix it. It took almost 2 days for Platinum to come back. I did follow back asking if the 50% bonus would apply correctly and it did today.
What about a paid stay beginning on Feb 15 and checking out Feb 20?
Thanks for this article, Nick. I actually came to frequentmiler.com expressly to look for info about this, and bam, it’s at the top of the page. Appreciate you reading my mind and providing awesome content.
A Note About This Promotion
We’re sorry, but there was an error in directing you to this promotion.
The reason for this error could be:
Try clearing cookies or opening in a different / incognito browser. The registration page is live and works on my end.
Strange, I am not able to see that promotion, as well. Whether by clicking through the promotion link, or looking under promotions in my account.
It’s also showing in the app.
I can see the promotion landing page. However, as soon as I log into my account, I get that I’m not eligible. I’ve tried mobile which forwards me to mobile browser to log in. I’ve tried multiple desktop browsers including incognito/private. In all cases after login, I get the page Wil mentions above.
I also checked my Promotions page after I logged in. I have the double points offer, but none about double elite nights.
Just to confirm, this doesn’t work with free night awards at all? No way to mix FNA with paid nights?
Yes it does. Just follow the “customize payments” tip shown at the bottom of the post. I added a screen shot showing that you can use free night certificates on the payment page assuming that’s what you’re asking about.
Wow, that’s amazing! I don’t know how I missed your screenshot. I have 60k certs expiring early next month and can’t get them extended so maybe I will add on one paid night. I think what I was thinking of is not getting the fifth night free with a combination of certs.
Do you have a guide on using Marriott gift cards? Do I use them when I checkout even if it’s advance purchase reservation? Can I use them overseas? Hopefully conversions to USD aren’t too awful. I’ve been stocking up given all the good Amex offers lately. I think Amex needs to add in 10x+ on Marriott too. Hehe 😉