"Gifting a Marriott Free Night Certificate" is a topic that often comes up in loyalty program discussions, and it's surrounded by a fair bit of misinformation and policy nuances. Let's break down exactly how Marriott's Free Night Awards (FNAs) work and what your options are if you want to use one for someone else.
The Reality of Gifting Marriott Free Night Awards
First things first, let's address the core of your question: Can you directly gift a Marriott Free Night Award to another person?
The short answer is generally no.
Marriott's official policy, as stated in their terms and conditions, is that Free Night Awards issued from Marriott Bonvoy Partner Credit Cards (or as part of your Annual Choice Benefit, etc.) cannot be transferred or gifted to another guest. They are intended for the use of the Marriott Bonvoy account holder to whom the award was issued.
However, there are ways to facilitate a stay for someone else using your Marriott Bonvoy benefits, but it's crucial to understand the distinction between "gifting an award" and "booking a stay for someone else."
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| How To Gift Marriott Free Night |
Understanding Marriott Free Night Awards (FNAs)
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's clarify what a Marriott Free Night Award is and how it's typically earned.
What is a Free Night Award?
A Free Night Award (FNA) is a certificate or e-certificate deposited into your Marriott Bonvoy account, typically earned through:
Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards: Many credit cards offer an annual Free Night Award as a benefit for cardholders, often with a specific point value (e.g., up to 35,000 points, up to 50,000 points, or even up to 85,000 points).
Annual Choice Benefits: Marriott Bonvoy members who achieve certain elite status tiers (e.g., 50 or 75 Elite Night Credits in a calendar year) can choose an FNA as one of their annual benefits. These often have higher point values.
Promotions: Occasionally, Marriott Bonvoy may offer FNAs as part of special promotions or targeted offers.
Key characteristics of FNAs:
QuickTip: A quick skim can reveal the main idea fast.
They have a specific point value cap, meaning you can use them for a night at a hotel that costs that many points or fewer. You can often "top off" an FNA with additional Bonvoy points if the desired hotel costs slightly more than the certificate's value (e.g., a 35k FNA can be topped up with up to 15,000 points for a 50k redemption).
They have an expiration date, and historically, Marriott has been strict about extensions.
They are generally non-transferable and non-exchangeable for points.
How to "Gift" a Marriott Free Night (The Indirect Way)
Since directly transferring an FNA isn't allowed, the strategy revolves around you, the account holder, making the reservation and ensuring your intended guest can check in without you being present. This method is often referred to as a "gifted stay" when done with points, but with FNAs, it's more about booking it in your name and then adding the guest's name to the reservation.
Step 1: Identify the Free Night Award in Your Account
First things first, let's make sure you know exactly what Free Night Awards you have available. Have you checked your Marriott Bonvoy account recently?
Online: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website. Navigate to "My Account" and then "Activity" or "Earned Awards." You'll see your available Free Night Awards listed with their expiration dates.
Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App: Open the app and tap on "Account" at the bottom of the screen, then "Free Night Awards" to view your certificates and their expiration dates.
Note the expiration date! This is crucial, as the stay itself must occur before the certificate expires, not just the booking.
Step 2: Find a Hotel That Fits the Free Night Award Value
This is where the fun begins – thinking about where your loved one would enjoy a complimentary night!
Search Marriott's website or app: When searching for hotels, make sure to toggle on the "Use Points / Awards" option.
Filter by point range: Look for hotels where the standard room rate for one night is at or below the point value of your Free Night Award. Remember the "top-off" option if needed!
Check availability: Ensure there's availability for a standard room on the desired dates using points/awards. Free Night Awards are generally only redeemable for standard rooms.
Step 3: Book the Reservation in Your Name
This is a critical step: the initial booking must always be made under your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Proceed with booking: Select the desired hotel and room type (a standard room eligible for award redemption).
Apply the Free Night Award: During the booking process, you'll see an option to apply your available Free Night Award. Select it.
Complete the booking: Confirm the reservation. You will receive a confirmation email.
Step 4: Add the Guest's Name to the Reservation
This is the most crucial part of facilitating a "gifted" stay with an FNA. There are a few ways to attempt this, with varying degrees of success and official adherence:
Tip: Keep scrolling — each part adds context.
Sub-Step 4a: Calling Marriott Bonvoy Member Support
This is generally the most recommended and official way to add a guest's name to a reservation, especially if they are checking in before or instead of you.
Prepare your information: Have your Marriott Bonvoy account number, the reservation confirmation number, and the full name of the guest you want to add.
Explain your request: Call Marriott Bonvoy Member Support. Clearly state that you have booked a room using a Free Night Award and you would like to add another guest's name to the reservation so they can check in. You may need to explain that you will not be present at check-in or will arrive later.
Request "Guest of Honor" or "Gifted Stay" Notation (for point redemptions, less common for FNAs): While typically used for point redemptions, some agents might be able to flag it as a "guest of honor" or "gifted stay" if you emphasize that the guest will be arriving first. This ensures the hotel is aware and can facilitate their check-in. However, note that Marriott's official policy explicitly states FNAs cannot be transferred or gifted, so this might be more of a "courtesy" request than a guaranteed policy for FNAs.
Confirm details: Ask the agent to confirm that the guest's name has been added and that they will be able to check in without you. Get the agent's name or a reference number for the call.
Sub-Step 4b: Contacting the Hotel Directly
Sometimes, dealing directly with the property can be effective, but it's less consistent.
Find the hotel's direct number: Look up the specific hotel's phone number online.
Call the front desk: Explain that you have a reservation under your name and would like to add your guest's name so they can check in.
Be prepared for varying responses: Some hotels are very accommodating, especially for domestic stays, while others might stick strictly to the rule that the account holder must be present. International hotels, in particular, may have stricter check-in policies due to local regulations (e.g., requiring the passport of the booking guest).
Sub-Step 4c: Adding a Second Guest Online (with caveats)
This method is less reliable for ensuring independent check-in, but it's a quick way to add a name.
Modify your reservation online: Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account, go to "My Trips," and find your reservation.
Add a second guest: There's usually an option to add a second guest's name to the reservation. This technically adds them as a co-guest, but it doesn't always guarantee independent check-in, as the primary name on the reservation remains yours.
Follow up with a call (recommended): After adding the name online, it's still highly advisable to call either Marriott Bonvoy Member Support or the hotel directly to confirm your guest will be able to check in without you.
Step 5: Prepare Your Guest for Check-in
To ensure a smooth experience for your recipient, provide them with all the necessary details. Imagine their delight when they walk into a Marriott property for a free night!
Provide the confirmation number: Give your guest the Marriott reservation confirmation number.
Inform them about incidentals: Advise your guest that they will likely need to provide their own credit card for incidental charges (mini-bar, room service, etc.) at check-in. The room rate and taxes are covered by your FNA, but incidentals are not.
Advise on identification: Remind them to bring valid photo identification.
Share your Bonvoy Member number (optional but helpful): While the reservation is in your name, having your Bonvoy number might sometimes help if there's any confusion.
Consider a pre-check-in call (for your guest): If you're particularly concerned, your guest could call the hotel themselves a day or two before arrival, mention they are checking in for your reservation, and confirm everything is set.
Important Considerations and Potential Pitfalls
Official Policy vs. Practicality: While Marriott's official stance is clear (no direct gifting of FNAs), many members have successfully had others check in on their behalf by correctly adding names to reservations and communicating with the hotel or customer service.
Hotel Discretion: The success of an independent check-in for a "gifted" FNA stay can sometimes depend on the specific hotel and the front desk agent. Some properties are more lenient than others.
International Travel: Be particularly cautious with international bookings. Some countries have strict laws requiring the person whose name is on the reservation to be physically present and present their passport.
Elite Benefits: When you book a gifted stay with points, the recipient typically does not receive your elite benefits (like complimentary breakfast, upgrades, lounge access, or elite night credits). The same generally applies to FNAs. The stay will not count towards their elite status or earn them points.
Last-minute changes: If you need to modify the reservation (dates, room type, etc.), you, as the account holder, will need to do it by contacting Marriott or the hotel.
Resort Fees/Parking: While the FNA covers the room rate and applicable taxes, it generally does not cover resort fees, parking fees, or other incidentals. Your guest will be responsible for these.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to Use a Marriott Free Night Award for a Friend?
Tip: A slow skim is better than a rushed read.
You cannot directly transfer a Free Night Award to a friend. Instead, you book the reservation in your name using the FNA and then call Marriott Bonvoy Member Support or the hotel to add your friend's name to the reservation as an authorized guest to check in.
How to Add Someone Else to My Marriott Free Night Reservation?
After booking your Free Night Award stay in your name, call Marriott Bonvoy Member Support or the hotel directly and ask them to add the full name of the person who will be checking in to the reservation. Emphasize if you will not be present.
How to Ensure My Guest Can Check-in Without Me with a Free Night Award?
The most reliable way is to call Marriott Bonvoy Member Support after booking the FNA reservation in your name and explicitly request that the guest's name be added for independent check-in. Get confirmation from the agent.
How to Avoid Issues When Gifting a Marriott Free Night Stay?
Communicate clearly with Marriott (either customer service or the hotel) that another guest will be checking in, provide all their details, and ensure they have the reservation confirmation. Advise your guest to be prepared to show ID and provide a credit card for incidentals.
How to Transfer Marriott Points to Someone Else (if Free Night Gifting isn't possible)?
While you cannot transfer a Free Night Award, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to another member's account. Both accounts must be in good standing, and you can transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year to other accounts (and receive up to 500,000 points). This is done through the Marriott website's points transfer tool.
Reminder: Save this article to read offline later.
How to Find Hotels That Accept Marriott Free Night Awards?
On the Marriott website or app, when searching for a hotel, check the box "Use Points / Awards" or toggle the "Book with Points" option. The search results will then show hotels available for award redemption, and you can see if the point value matches your FNA.
How to Top Off a Marriott Free Night Award with Points?
If your desired hotel costs slightly more points than your Free Night Award's value, you can often add up to 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from your account to cover the difference during the online booking process.
How to Check the Expiration Date of My Marriott Free Night Award?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the Marriott website or mobile app. Navigate to the "Earned Awards" section (on desktop) or "Free Night Awards" (on the app) to see all your available certificates and their expiration dates.
How to Cancel a Marriott Free Night Award Booking?
You can cancel a Free Night Award booking online or through the Marriott Bonvoy app, similar to any other reservation. Ensure you cancel within the hotel's cancellation policy to have the FNA re-deposited to your account.
How to Utilize a Marriott Free Night Award for Family Members?
Similar to gifting to a friend, book the FNA in your name and then contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support or the hotel to add your family member's name to the reservation for their independent check-in. Ensure they have the confirmation details and are aware of incidental charges.
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