Spouses/family sharing Bonvoy account - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

rockstarclown

Join Date: Feb 2019

Posts: 5

My wife occasionally travels by herself to Korea to visit family. We/she usually stay at the JW Marriott in Gangnam, and at first, we would get the night credits for her stay on our (technically, mine) Bonvoy account. However I'm not sure if there was a policy change, but the last time she was there we were no longer given the credit because the account owner (me) wasn't present for the stay. Googling, this seems to be standard policy, and her earlier stays where we did get credit might have been the flukes?

She's currently booked to stay again in a few weeks, and I'm wondering if there is any way we can get credit on our account for her stay without me also being there?

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shimps1

Join Date: Nov 2016

Posts: 821

Guate87

Join Date: Jun 2019

Location: IAH

Programs: UA1K, AS Gold 75K, HH Diamond, MR Titanium LT Gold, IHG Platinum, HZ PC, CLEAR

Posts: 341

What you describe has also been my experience with Marriott, Accor, Hilton and Hyatt. In the past they awarded points if your account number was listed and/or you made the reservation but now you have to be physically present to receive credit.

My family members used to travel, put my loyalty number in their reservation then I got the points; not anymore.

The only "exception" that I have experienced lately was at a Mercure in Singapore, where I checked in with my wife, stayed two nights, flew to other countries while my wife stayed in Singapore, then she checked out a few days later and met me at the airport. I received credit for all of the nights even though I was only physically present for two of the nights. I had planned to return to the hotel and spend a few nights but this was in March 2020. When I landed at Changi I was not allowed into the country because the new Covid restrictions started at 11:00 p.m. the night before. I did not intentionally not return to the hotel.

Maybe hotels now only monitor this on checkin?

Last edited by Guate87; Apr 7, 2021 at 4:09 pm

escapefromphl

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: SF Bay Area

Programs: None - previously UA

Posts: 4,942

You can't guarantee it without being there physically. With just her it's YMMV situation and you may not be able to retroactively claim. It is probably better for her to just have her own account, you can always transfer any points earned back to your account, so at least you are guaranteeing the points earning.

SPN Lifer

Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum

Posts: 15,494

You can transfer 100K points per year from her account.

Is there a referral bonus available for signing her up?

Maybe she needs a business and personal Marriott Bonv°y credit cards, too.

I am within 50 nights (and one year) of Lifetime Platinum Elite. My wife is within 25 nights of Lifetime Silver Elite, and we are now crediting most joint stays to her account.

Doppy

Join Date: May 2000

Location: أمريكا

Posts: 26,782

Hotels really only ever monitored at check-in. Most places wouldn't have the infrastructure (or desire) to track whether you actually slept in your assigned bed every night.

In any event, I don't see any T&C or ethical conditions if you only spend the first part of a stay at the hotel and then depart before another guest.

craigthemif

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane

Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 13,142

MIght I suggest that you stop referring to it as "our" account, especially when communicating with a Marriott hotel or Bonvoy customer service.

It is "your" account and yours alone, and you risk losing it by treating it as a family account. Your wife can have her own account and you can pool your points together.

There has been no policy change. Merely some hotels are paying more attention to blatant violations of the rules.

writerguyfl

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Posts: 3,360

Here is the part of the Program Terms and Conditions that addresses this topic:

Source: https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi

If Marriot (or someone at a hotel decides to report you to Marriott) discovers that you are sharing you account, the following may happen:

Source: Same as above

I strongly suggest you follow the advice given and stop sharing your account. All it takes is one zealous person having a bad day and you will lose all of your points. And as SPN Lifer noted, you can transfer points. It's actually a part of the Program Terms and Conditions:

Source: Same as above

rockstarclown

Join Date: Feb 2019

Posts: 5

Thanks for all the replies!

We're actually more interested in the nights, as opposed to the points (which we seldom use anyways). If she were to make her own account, is there any way we can combine our nights? I'm assuming not...

FWIW, a close friend runs a business where he often is entertaining guests from abroad and books multiple guests into multiple rooms at a hotel (he himself does not stay, since he is local). He's thus been able to rocket up elite status quickly. So based on what people are saying here, this technically isn't allowed?

anteater

Join Date: Nov 2016

Location: On a plane or a beach

Programs: Yes

Posts: 3,228

No, it’s completely against the T&Cs. If Marriott finds out his account would likely be terminated.

Sadly, quite a few people do this willingly in order to cheat the program.

cre95

Join Date: Aug 2007

Programs: DL DM

Posts: 1,088

It’s not based on what people are saying here... it’s what the rules of the program state. The program calls for individual accounts not family accounts or shared accounts. People here went through the effort of cutting pasting sections of the rules to help you out. Take heed of their advice.

craigthemif

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane

Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 13,142

It's like speeding in your car.

You might think that everybody does it and that you aren't hurting anybody. Your friend with a Ferrari might say he's never been pulled over.

But there's nothing "technically not allowed" about it when you are stopped by the cops.

You have been shown the exact clauses of the T&Cs that you (and your friend) are breaking.

Marriott15

Join Date: Sep 2017

Posts: 575

My take on this. Paying or doing awards redemption. I have done this 100's of times. I will list my name on the reservation. Add my best friends name to the reservation. I will call up the hotel and ask that my friend is allowed to check in before my arrival (some times I never show up) and to charge the credit card on file. I will also tell them I want either the welcome points/or amenity over the phone too. My buddy also is signed into my Marriott app via his phone for hotels that have a mobile key. Never even has to stop at the front desk.

I have never had a hotel ever tell me no. I am also ambassador so I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

Now I will note this is only in the USA. People have posted that outside the USA it is a lot more strict.

Like people have said above you have to make the choice what you want to do. Your going to have people on here that will follow the terms/conditions and you will have people on here that test the waters. Only you can decided that for yourself..

Jsmit

Join Date: Jun 2021

Posts: 1

My fiance' has a Bonvoy Elite account and they will not allow him to put me on as an authorized person to discuss the account i.e.make reservations, transfer points for flights, etc...

I'm the one that handles all of our travel arrangements, and knows the program. I think it is absurd that he cannot add an individual (at least one) to the account to handle things for him. What if heaven forbid something happens where he can't physically make the arrangements himself or speak to someone about the account does that mean he can't use his account any longer?

Has anyone dealt with this situation, and if so we're you able to add an authorized person to make transactions/reservations on the account?

GrayAnderson

Join Date: Jan 2014

Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference

Posts: 3,160

So, I've landed in a sort-of sideways version of this position this year: I did some points reservations for friends (I was quite explicit with the CSR on the phone that I wasn't going to be staying...one was a "patch" of a week while a friend had their furniture moved between apartments and their SO was stuck in limbo as a result). The nights still posted (it was less trouble for the CSR to put me first on the reservation and them second). Mind you, this was a points reservation, not a paid reservation, so the dynamics are undoubtedly a little different.

While there's undoubtedly some cracking-down by properties looking not to have to pay for the points for your reservation, I feel like there are a lot of other properties that are still going to "phone it in" (especially given thin staffing).