Buyer Beware: Month-Long Blackout Period Coming for Marriott Certificates
August 18 is just around the corner, and with it comes the official integration of the Marriott and Starwood Preferred Guest programs. One of the big outstanding questions is how Marriott will handle outstanding certificates issued as part of its Hotel + Air travel packages. The current iteration of this redemption option can offer some terrific value (well, for the next week anyway), while the new version that will go live on August 18 is almost universally terrible.
While we still don't have a definitive answer of what Marriott plans to do with existing certificates, we did just get an update directly from the company. If you're sitting on a certificate that isn't attached to a reservation, you'll want to read this carefully:
"You will not be able to modify your certificate for an existing reservation or attach it to a new one between August 18 and September 18, 2018."
This essentially means that there will be a month-long blackout on doing anything with these certificates. You can't make a new reservation with one, and you won't be able to change an existing reservation with one. While it doesn't explicitly say it, you most likely won't be able to cancel a reservation with one of the certificates attached if your plans suddenly change. This is a pretty significant window of time, so it's essential to carefully consider your options.
Here are the additional details provided to us (copied word-for-word):
"If you currently have a Travel Package Certificate that's not yet attached to a hotel reservation, you have the following options:
- If you know when you want to travel, make a new reservation or attach your certificate to an existing one prior to August 18, 2018.
- If you are still trying to plan that perfect trip, you can hold onto the certificate and will be able to add it to a reservation starting September 18, 2018."
My advice? I'm sticking to my guns from my article with tasks to complete before the programs combine on August 18: attach these certificates to reservations now. There's been rampant speculation of what will happen with these outstanding certificates, with some saying they'll be cancelled and converted to equivalent points, others claiming they'll transfer into corresponding categories in the new award chart and still others warning that they'll be cancelled with a partial refund of points (worst case scenario). The above verbiage implies that the new program will keep the certificates intact to be attached to reservations starting September 18, but again, we have no idea exactly what this will look like.
Call me conservative, but I'd rather play it safe and have a confirmed reservation that I could actually use rather than rolling the dice to see what will be available on September 18. In fact, since they're hinting that these certificates will still be valid as of September 18 and that you'll once again be able to modify existing reservations with these certificates as of that date, I see no downside to attaching them now. If they're devalued, you at least have a confirmed room. If they're not, you should still be able to change the reservation once the blackout period is over.
Keep in mind too that removing the ability to do anything with them for an entire month gives everyone else a lot of time to lock in award stays at high-demand properties. If you were hoping to use these at a top-tier legacy Starwood property that would temporarily be priced as a Category 7 redemption through the rest of this year, there's a solid chance that award availability would be nearly (or completely) dried up by September 18.
Bottom Line
We still don't know exactly how outstanding Marriott certificates from the current Hotel + Air packages will be handled in the new program, but we've now been told that you'll be unable to do anything with these for a full month after the integration goes live. My earlier advice was to attach these certificates to existing reservations ahead of August 18, and this update reinforces that recommendation. If you choose to wait, there's a small chance your certificate will get more valuable, but I'd rather lock-in my redemption now. Don't say we didn't warn you!
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees