The Secret of Marriott’s Birthday Elite Night Credit

Please note: As of Jan 2020 Marriott has indicated these birthday elite night credits are on hold. 

To some of you, this might really be a secret, although that’s not what the title refers to.

Marriott’s Elite Night Birthday Gift

If you aren’t familiar with it, Marriott has a long standing tradition of gifting members an “elite night credit” on your birthday. It has no value except towards elite status, but it can certainly save you from needing to do a mattress run if you are at 49 nights and want to hit 50 for Platinum status, which I consider the lowest meaningful status level, due to that being the lowest level within Marriott Bonvoy that offers free breakfast at most brands and guaranteed 4pm late checkout.

You can get 15 elite nights a year just by having a Marriott Bonvoy branded credit card, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card and you can get 10 elite nights just for having a meeting. In as much as that is 25 of the 50 elite nights you need, this one extra could come in handy. I know that it will for me this year.

But last year, I didn’t get mine and got confusing and conflicting answers about why. I didn’t need the night though, as I’d already qualified for Titanium.

This year, it will be close. I’m trying to get to 70 elite nights and then use the 5 I can choose from my Marriott Platinum Elite Annual Choice Benefit to requalify for Titanium, mostly so I can get the free included United Airlines Silver status that comes with it.

Why the Marriott Annual Birthday Elite Night May Not Post?

So when the elite night credit didn’t come again, I reached out to Marriott. The first reply was non-sensical, that I should call my credit card company. I got back in touch with a representative I have dealt with before at Marriott who opened a new ticket for me, which reached a supervisor.

And this supervisor was able to help me with the real reason it didn’t post.

Regarding the inquiry into the night credit associated with your birthday.  The email was not sent as your account has the email communications disabled.  The  night would also not be able to be adjusted with the communications disabled.

The options can be enabled by signing into your online account.  Next select Profile, then communication preferences.   There are 3 different email options.   The birthday night can only be added when News & program information is enabled. 

And there you have it. Enable this email preference and you should automatically get the annual elite night on your birthday (you’ll also need your birthday in your profile, if that isn’t obvious!).

If you have it enabled and it doesn’t arrive within a couple of weeks, you can open a ticket and at least you can explain exactly the email setting you have enabled which should help avoid some back and forth.

Just be aware that you may well get some incorrect info along the way.

Do You Get The Annual Marriott Free Elite Night Credit for Your Birthday?

Let me know me here, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group.

You can find credit cards that best match your spending habits and bonus categories at Your Best Credit Cards. 

New to all of this? My “introduction to miles and points” book, MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points is available on Amazon and at major booksellers.