How Can I Modify a Marriott Bonvoy Award Reservation?

Effective March 29, 2022, the Marriott Bonvoy program switched to a dynamic chart. As a result, hotel point rates now closely track cash rates.

In addition, 200 Marriott Bonvoy hotels now require more points.

But because of that, a hotel booked on points before March 29, 2022, may cost less. And that’s what happened to several people in our Facebook group.

There is an easy way to update a reservation and have the points refunded. This avoids cancelling your reservation and making a new one with the new rate.

This method is also valid for rates paid in cash.

Here’s how, step by step.

A few weeks ago, I booked a 5-night stay with my points at Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. The initial reservation was 160,000 points. I did the trick of updating my reservation during the evening of March 29 and was able to get my reservation at 156,000 points.

Then, on the morning of March 30, I checked again and the new pricing was at 155,000 points! Here’s how I was able to save another 1,000 points.

First, go to your Marriott Bonvoy profile.

Click on“My Trips” at the top right.

Find your reservation made with points and click on“View/Edit“.

In the details of your room, click on“Edit room“.

You will find yourself on the page of the rooms and their rates. The system shows you the same equivalent room, with the new rate.

If the point cost has increased, tough luck. Close the reservation and do nothing.

Considering my room was originally 156,000 points and now it’s 155,000 points, that’s perfect! The rate has dropped by 1,000 points so I want to get it at that price.

Click on“Update“.

A page opens and shows you the summary of changes.

The top section shows that my reservation will be at 155,000 points.

Then the bottom section shows that 1,000 points will be put into my Marriott Bonvoy account.

Click“Yes” to confirm.

Then, the reservation is updated and the difference in points is instantly credited to your account. Congratulations! You now have more points!

In the“Activity” section, you will see the point redemptions.

In my example, you can see the two changes I made at two different times for my reservation at Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort:

• my rate of 160,000 points has decreased to 156,000 points
• and finally to 155,000 points

Feel free to check the rates in points from time to time and repeat the above steps until your stay.

But sometimes the rates may increase.

As in this example at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa. It is on the list of 200 hotels targeted for the point increase.

At the time of booking a few weeks ago, the demand for points was 190,000 points.

And now it is at 266,00 points, for the same dates! This is an increase of 76,000 points, all at once.

One of our group experts warned the other members last night:

Then, it was a deluge of points awarded!

Even if you only save 500 Marriott Bonvoy points, it’s still a lot more in your account! Bravo Mathieu! ?