More than any other loyalty program we track, Marriott constantly changes its Bonvoy loyalty program terms and conditions. Some of these changes are minor tweaks. Other times, Marriott makes more substantial changes to its over 34,000-word terms and conditions. Today is one of those days.<\/p>\n
Here's a recap of what you need to know about this week's changes to the Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions.<\/p>\n
Page Contents<\/p>
At the beginning of 2024, Marriott revamped its Suite Night Awards as Nightly Upgrade Awards<\/a>. Changes were generally positive, with the key negative being a reduced upgrade window. Instead of clearing these upgrades as many as five days before check-in, Marriott reduced the upgrade window to just three days before check-in.<\/p>\n Now, Marriott is reverting this decision. Marriott Nightly Upgrade Awards<\/a> will now clear as far as five days in advance — at least at most brands. In true Marriott style, this expanded upgrade window will exclude three luxury brands: EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, and St. Regis.<\/p>\n Here are the updated terms and conditions:<\/p>\n (5) Nightly Upgrade Award use is based upon availability of the requested suite or Premium Room. Checking for availability begins as early as five (5) days before arrival (effective December 2024, for all brands except for EDITION, the Ritz-Carlton, and the St. Regis where fulfillment will begin at three (3) days prior to arrival).<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Marriott rewards guests with a choice of benefits when they earn 50 Elite Night Credits and 75 Night Credits. For as long as we can remember, these Marriott Annual Choice Benefits<\/a> needed to be selected by January 7 of the year after hitting the threshold. So, if you earned at least 50 Elite Night Credits in 2024, you'd need to select your benefit by January 7, 2025.<\/p>\n Now, Marriott is giving members a bit longer to make a decision. Instead of having to pick during the first week of the year (or end up with the default choice), eligible members will have until “11:59 p.m. Eastern US Time on February 1<\/strong> of the year following the applicable Qualifying Period” to make a choice.<\/p>\n That's a welcome relief for travelers who may want to take a break from looking at their Bonvoy accounts over the holidays.<\/p>\n Getting a bit into the weeds, Marriott has changed how point transfers work in the case of a divorce. Formerly, Marriott would allow point transfers “in its sole discretion” upon getting divorce settlement documentation directing such a transfer. The former 83-word section was fairly straightforward:<\/p>\n iii. Divorce. In the event of a Member\u2019s adjudicated divorce\u00a0settlement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, allow unredeemed\u00a0Points to be transferred from one Member\u2019s Account to another Member\u2019s\u00a0Account upon the Company\u2019s receipt and review of all requested\u00a0documentation and communications including, without limitation, legal\u00a0documents directing such a transfer of Points. Awards, hotel stays,\u00a0Elite Membership Status, Lifetime Membership Status, and the related\u00a0benefits, including, without limitation, Elite Night Credit, will not transfer to the recipient of the Points.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Now, Marriott has expanded this section to spell out — in excruciating detail — exactly what it now requires to transfer points. I'll spare you a copy-paste of the 233-word section. But you can find the whole terms under section 1.6.c.iii of the Ts&Cs if you're going through this painful situation.<\/p>\nLonger Annual Choice Benefits Selection Window<\/span><\/h2>\n
Changes to Marriott Point Transfers at Divorce<\/span><\/h2>\n
Really Minor Changes<\/span><\/h2>\n
1,000-point minimum earnings for Point Multiplier<\/span><\/h3>\n