If you’ve been a part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, you’re probably familiar with the free night certificates that come with certain co-brand credit cards from Chase or American Express. These certificates are a great perk, allowing you to book award nights at properties up to the value of your certificate—whether it’s 35,000 points, 50,000 points, or even 85,000 points for those with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® or Ritz-Carlton™ cards. Plus, Marriott lets you add up to 15,000 points to your certificate to unlock more options. But here’s the rub: Marriott’s dynamic award pricing, introduced in March 2022, means the points cost for award nights often fluctuates—and not always in your favor. In fact, dynamic pricing has become another reason loyal members sometimes feel Bonvoyed.
The Frustrating Trend of “Just Out of Reach” Pricing
Dynamic pricing can make it feel like some Marriott properties are playing a game, setting award nights just above the value of commonly issued free night certificates. Rooms priced at 51,000 or 66,000 points are frustratingly common, especially for those holding 35,000 or 50,000-point certificates. Sure, you can top off with a few thousand points, but those with lower-value certificates—like 35,000-point ones—are effectively locked out.
For example, when booking a stay at the Moxy Times Square, I noticed the nights were priced at 53,000 and 54,000 points each. My 50,000-point certificate covered most of the cost but required me to top off with extra points. Those holding only 35,000-point certificates wouldn’t have been able to book at all. I encountered this again recently while planning another stay. Initially, award nights were priced at 51,000 points each—just outside the range of my 50,000-point certificate. But since Marriott’s pricing is dynamic, I kept checking, and sure enough, the prices dropped. Eventually, the nights adjusted to 49,000 and 52,000 points, which allowed me to use my free night certificates strategically.
If you’re just a few points short of covering a stay, topping off your certificate may be worthwhile by transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards®, or Bilt Rewards®. These programs all transfer to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio and can provide the extra boost needed to secure a free night.
Dynamic Pricing in Action
Below is an example of how the pricing changed for my stay:
This screenshot shows the two nights’ pricing at 49,000 and 52,000 points. The lower price allowed me to:
- Use a 35,000-point free night certificate (topped off with additional points) for the 49,000-point night.
- Use an 85,000-point certificate from my Ritz-Carlton card for the 52,000-point night.
Had I booked earlier, when both nights were priced at 51,000 points, this wouldn’t have been possible.
What You Can Do
If you find yourself in this situation, don’t give up hope. Here are some strategies to maximize your certificates despite dynamic pricing quirks:
- Check Award Pricing Regularly: Dynamic pricing means costs can change daily. If your travel dates are flexible or still weeks away, keep checking to see if prices drop into your certificate’s range.
- Top Off Your Certificates: Adding up to 15,000 points to a certificate can be a game-changer, giving you access to properties just out of reach. If you’re only short by a few points, consider transferring points from Chase, Amex, or Bilt.
- Be Strategic About Card Benefits: Consider the certificates that come with different Marriott cards. If you frequently stay at higher-end properties, cards offering 50,000 or 85,000-point certificates may provide more value.
- Don’t Rule Out Splitting Stays: Using certificates for part of your stay and paying cash for the rest can still save you significant money.
Final Thought
While Marriott’s dynamic pricing can sometimes feel like a hurdle, patience and persistence often pay off. Yes, some properties seem to deliberately price rooms just above certificate thresholds, but by staying vigilant and leveraging the flexibility to top off certificates (or transferring a few extra points from Chase, Amex, or Bilt), you can still find great value. Situations like these lead many Marriott Bonvoy members to feel Bonvoyed.
Have you experienced similar challenges with Marriott’s dynamic pricing? Share your story in the comments!
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1 comment
The other thing to do IMHO is if you see a good rate and are pretty sure you want to stay at that hotel on that date lock it up with the certificate. Don’t wait a day or 2 to “think about it” or run it by someone else. You can always cancel and get the certificate automatically added back to your account but if you delay you run the risk of the price increasing due to demand or just an algorithm.