Before Marriott and Starwood’s loyalty programs combined on August 18th, Marriott would not disclose how their Travel Packages would map to the new award chart if they were purchased but not yet attached to a hotel reservation. It was pretty sneaky not to tell their guests, but many folks purchased these packages in hopes that Marriott would be fair with the categories they could be used at.
Unfortunately, Marriott announced a pretty unfavorable when they mapped old travel packages to the new award chart. People speculated (myself included), that everything would map to one category higher. Folks who purchased a category 6, category 8, or Tier 1-3 travel package certificate definitely overpaid as they could have purchased the package below for less points and to get the same exact results. 
Well I just received an email stating that those who did purchase these three different travel packages (category 6, category 8, and tier 1-3) are able to request a one-time exchange for a package one category lower. This is good news for those that feel royally screwed by Marriott. To request the exchange, go here and select “package – deals” from the drop down menu.
The other good news is that the month long hold that they thought they were going to have to put on redeeming travel packages has been lifted. The technology is working better then they thought so you can go ahead and redeem your certificates.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Marriott back tracked a little. But, they did not “make good” on the travel packages. They still haven’t released important details about the packages. What happens to certificates already attached in case of reservation cancelation? Official Marriott representatives gave factually wrong and misleading information over the past weeks and months. The packages are materially worse (no up- or downgrades, apparently Tier 4-5 can’t be used for Cat 8, etc). This is not “making good”.
I agree. They should allow tier 4-5 to be with Category 8. Most of the properties will be Category 8 and right now only requires 60,000 not 70,000 points.
So what if you purchased a Cat 9 certificate for use at what was a Cat 9 hotel (which is now a Cat 6) hotel? How did those of us who did that come out?
@Jimbo – That category 9 hotel probably has a different category now attached to it, so it depends on what that new hotel category is.
If I downgrade a Cat 6 (old program cat) to a Cat 5 can I upgrade my Cat 8 to a Cat 9 for the points I get back (30k is what I ‘paid’ to upgrade 5 to 6)?
@Charles – Unfortunately not.
Can a travel package be upgrade one or two tier higher? I have a cat 7 that got reduce to to cat 5 but the hotel I want is in cat 6 and 7. Can anything be done to sulvage this situation?
@Nid – As of right now, they are still saying that you cannot upgrade or downgrade travel packages.
I don’t see the “packages – deals” link when I open the Contact form