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In an unannounced change to its terms and conditions, Marriott is eliminating Hotel + Air packages next week. The effective end date is Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Here’s what you need to know about this change.
Updated from original article to include additional information.
What Are Hotel + Air Packages?
Marriott’s Hotel + Air packages—previously known as “Nights and Flights”—were a combination award booking that included both flights and a multi-night hotel stay. You reserved these using your points and according to the hotel category you wanted to stay at. Obviously, a higher hotel category would cost more points. The package also included transferring points to an airline you selected during the reservation process. Interestingly, the miles went to your account at that airline, but you could use them later–even if not connected to the same trip as the hotel booking.
Marriott took over these packages after the Starwood merger and integrated them into the new Marriott Bonvoy program. These packages were originally a Starwood thing and were highly valued before a massive increase in cost a few years ago.
However, renewed interest in these packages came when Marriott announced the removal of its award chart. With dynamic award pricing came new opportunities to score an excellent deal on these Hotel + Air packages. And that may be part of why Marriott is eliminating them.
Remember, these packages are priced at a flat rate according to the hotel category. Imagine booking at this flat rate and then redeeming during peak / holiday periods at a hotel where the number of points required during your stay is far higher than what you paid for the fixed-price package.
End Date Announced
Marriott is eliminating the Hotel + Air packages effective January 19, 2022. We haven’t seen any announcement or publicity around this from Marriott. However, View From the Wing noticed this change in the Marriott Terms & Conditions:
3.14 Hotel and Air Travel Packages
Effective January 19, 2022, Hotel and Air Travel Packages are no longer available for purchase.
Interestingly, Marriott later reached out to View From the Wing to say that this advance notice in the terms was an error. It seems that the terms were supposed to be updated only on the day that these packages ended. Advance notice / warning was not intended.
For Those With Existing Packages
Marriott has now created a page for those with existing packages not attached to a reservation. If you are in this position, you have until February 28, 2022 to create a reservation. After that point, any packages not attached to a reservation will be refunded in the form of points in your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Additionally, any changes post-March 2, 2022 to bookings made using Hotel + Air packages will require contacting Marriott Bonvoy Member Support.
Bottom Line
Marriott is eliminating Hotel + Air / “Nights and Flights” packages on January 19, 2022. If you’ve been considering booking one of these, you need to act fast. The usefulness of these packages has significantly decreased over the past few years. However, if you find something that you think is a good value and want to reserve a package, make sure to do it before the deadline.
What do you think about this change? Have you ever booked a “Nights and Flights” package with Marriott / Starwood?
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I booked one of these several years ago under SPG and used the points to obtain my Southwest Companion Pass and a 7 night Category 5 Starwood hotel. Since the change, it was lowered to a Category 4. I asked for and received two extensions. Then Covid hit and they’ve extended it several times, I currently have until end of June to use it up. I can’t remember how many points the package was but it worked as the next year Southwest stopped allowing those points to be used for CP status. As always, they seem to get worse and worse with the value and harder and harder to redeem…hotel space has been open but booking with all the Covid restrictions and confusion is a pain. I did notice that Amex now has a nice web page to help you navigate travel in the Covid Age!
I appreciate Marriott focusing on their core business and trimming options.