Marriott Rewards had a unique feature in its loyalty program that allowed members to make an unlimited number of award reservations that were not backed up points in the accounts. Instead, you needed to have them 14 days before the intended stay.
Under Bonvoy, the Points Advance has been devalued several times; the number of active award reservations without backed points was reduced to three, you needed to have the points within 60 days of making such a reservation or 14 days before the stay, and these reservations no longer locked in the points rates. Now, Marriott Bonvoy is ending them altogether on March 28, 2023, citing low demand as a reason.
You can access Marriott Bonvoy here.
READ MORE: Marriott Bonvoy Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Marriott’s Email:
What Marriott States On Its Website:
Important: Points Advance Reservations capability will be retiring on March 28, 2023.
- Rest assured, Reservations booked using Points Advance prior to March 28, 2023 will be honored.
- Remember, you must have the Points in your Account 60 days from the time of booking, or 14 days prior to arrival, whichever comes first.
Can I still book a Reservation using Points Advance?
You may book a new Points Advance Reservation through March 27, 2023. Points Advance Reservations must be made at least thirty (30) or more days from the arrival date, and will be held for up to sixty (60) days from time of booking, or no later than fourteen (14) days prior to arrival date, whichever occurs first.
Can I book a Redemption Reservation without sufficient Points in my Account after March 28, 2023?
If there are insufficient Marriott Bonvoy® Points in your Account to cover the booking, you may purchase Points or use Cash + Points to book.
Why are Points Advance Reservations going away?
Due to varying factors such as low demand, we are no longer offering Points Advance Reservations. You may still purchase Points or use Cash + Points to complete a Redemption booking should you have insufficient Marriott Bonvoy® Points in your Account.
What happens to the Points Advance Reservation I have already booked?
Reservations booked using Points Advance prior to March 28, 2023 will be honored. Remember, you must have the Marriott Bonvoy® Points in your Account 60 days from the time of booking, or 14 days prior to arrival, whichever comes first. A Member may only have three (3) Points Advance Reservations at one time.
What if my stay booked using Points Advance occurs after March 28, 2023?
Stays that occur after March 28, 2023 that meet the rules of Points Advance Reservations will be honored.
What happens if I need to modify or cancel my Points Advance Reservation between now and March 28, 2023?
Prior to March 28, 2023, you may cancel or modify your Points Advance Reservations (e.g. change the dates or location, if available). You can modify or cancel your Points Advance Reservation in your Account profile on Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy® Mobile App.
What happens if I need to modify or cancel my Points Advance reservation after March 28, 2023?
Cancellation of the Points Advance Reservation is allowed, but always subject to the cancellation policy tied to the Reservation. If you are modifying the Reservation dates after March 28, 2023, it cannot rebooked as a Points Advance Reservation, only as a paid Stay.
What happens if I don’t have enough Marriott Bonvoy® Points to cover my Points Advance Reservation(s) after March 28, 2023?
As long as you have the Marriott Bonvoy® Points in your Account 60 days from the time of booking or 14 days prior to arrival (whichever comes first) to cover your existing Points Advance Reservations, your Reservation will be honored.
See scenarios below:
Example 1: You make a Points Advance Reservation on February 15, 2023 with an arrival date of July 15, 2023. If there are insufficient Marriott Bonvoy® Points in the Account for the Stay on April 15, 2023, the Reservation will be cancelled at that time.
Example 2: You make a Points Advance Reservation on February 15, 2023 with an arrival date of April 1, 2023. If there are insufficient Marriott Bonvoy® Points in the Account for the Stay on March 18, 2023, the Reservation will be cancelled at that time.
Conclusion
Many Marriott Rewards members loved this program feature I have never used because you could lock in the points reservations year in advance while planning your trips and firm them up or cancel closer to the intended stay while earning the required points.
The changes institutes in the past couple of years, from not locking the number of points required to limiting the number of active Points Advance reservations you can have at any one time, have led to low demand among program members.
Sad to see this option canned by Marriott.