GenevaFlyer

Any link to that announcement?

Thanks,

GenevaFlyer

CPRich

http://www.rewards-insiders.marriott...ge/64741#64741

(consider it leaked )

btw - also note the clarification request at the end of that thread, to be sure.

oxfordjames

I don't consider it a "leak" to be posted on here when posted in a public forum. I don't find Michellel's post helpful and is actually boarding on being rude, Marriott needs to take a long look at their social media relation skills.

What she has posted makes no sense there is no requirement at the moment for a "minimum number of years at a specific level".

As long as you have been a member of the program 12 years and reached the level at least once, you don't need to have been a platinum member x amount of years to get lifetime platinum as I read Michellel's post.

RogerD408

It's a leak as MR has pretty much abandoned FT for their own site. Personally keeping up with FT is trying enough, I'm not about to go to a dozen other sites and track their account requirements.

oxfordjames

Just seen another post by Michellel on insiders:

I have it in writhing in several emails from Marriott Rewards the current lifetime 'criteria'.

I don't consider this a "Urban Legend"

CPRich

You apparently missed both my and my note to check the end of the thread for clarification on exactly that point.

Sorry if you found it annoying, feel free to ignore it.


(I could also re-open the already-beat-to-death topic of "officially published" vs. email and web forum postings, but I've had enough grief for the day)

oxfordjames

Sorry I wasn't directly replying to your post, just commenting on what Michellel had posted

MSPeconomist

Personally, I'm sorry to hear this. Twelve years in the program at any level for lifetime status such as Plat doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Otherwise someone could earn lifetime status from a short period of spending almost every night in a Marriott property, perhaps even from one long stay. It doesn't seem at all like a reward for loyalty.

R&R

I am wondering why they call it LIFETIME, if it takes only 10-12 years to qualify?

TrojanHorse

Does marriott give credit after 30 consecutive days at one property? One of the majors do not, just can't recall who


Seems like a lifetime ago when I joined MR or its predecessor

VA1379

Marriott and Hyatt give credit for 30+ night stays. They would have a harder time getting people to do such stays if they did not. I thought Starwood was the one that capped point credit at 30 nights.

OU812

As someone who is on the verge of Lifetime Platinum under the old rules that should hit it by year end (literally a few nights away and less than 5000 points), I get a little nervous when Michellel says, "don't worry," on Marriott Rewards Insiders. Let's not forget Michellel was the one who strung us along for 10 months with promises of the BOGO benefit coming back better than ever and kept telling us not to worry. And we all know what happened there!

Hopefully those who qualify under the old rules of "urban legend," retain their status and the new requirements aren't reduced to the point that everyone hits LT after traveling for a few years or with significant spend on their MR Visa credit card.

I also hope that MR doesn't decide to reduce the benefits or make those with LT status second class elites. (i.e. LT Plats do not get CL access or upgrades, but get the welcome amenity and 50% bonus.)

I guess we will see what happens when they formally announce it in January.


Regards,

RIP...

lfrank

I have absolutely no information from Marriott, but my guess is that Marriott wants more life time and regular Platinum level members because such people probably generate a lot of income for the hotel chain. We can see evidence of Marriott strategy, e.g., by lowering life-time Platinum point requirements to 2 M, adding rollover nights, and crediting a night for every $3000 spent on the Marriott Visa card plus the 15 nights for renewing the card each year. As a Lifetime Platinum member who was granfathered in because I joined when the program first started, and also having earned it under the old rules--3 M points, 1000 nights, and many more than 12 years with the program with most of them earned at the Platinum level--I am concerned about watering down of the requirements. I usually get nice upgrades and usually complementary breakfast coupons on weekends at Marriotts by asking nicely (e.g., recently received breakfast coupons for my wife and I at the Mariott Marquis after being upgraded on a certificate stay to a corner room right on Times Square). I can understand Marriott's interest in generating more income, and support this goal because I want the chain to stay in business and continue to provide excellent accommoditions. But if the benefits I have received as a Platinum member are not as available as before these changes to the program, then I will start checking availability of hotels from other chains that can provide equivalent accommodations. I have stayed almost exclusively in Marriott chain hotels for many years, but this will change, if the Platinum perks I have enjoyed are less available. My suggestion is that the requirements for Platinum Premier be made explicit, and this level reserved for people who really have demonstrated their loyalty to Marriott. They should be first in line to receive upgrades, and provided breakfast coupons without having to ask when the lounge is not open on weekends. It would be nice to have the upgrades be best unsold room (suite) in the hotel for the duration of the stay, although not essential. Additional perks would be nice, but these are the two that are highest on my suggestion list.

PHLGovFlyer

My guess (and it is only a guess) is that MR will add a requirement similar to SPG's where a member has to have achieved an elite level for a certain number of years in order to get that level for life. IIRC in SPG's program you need 5 years as a Gold member or 10 years as a Plat member to get that lifetime status level (there are other requirements in addition to years for each LT level).

This would tie in with the idea about eliminating the 12 year requirement since it might actually make it more difficult to achieve a lifetime level.

CPRich

That's my hypothesis also, along with (possibly) a dollar alternative to the points/nights. But a dollar alternative would likely create a huge amount of work to develop a history (unless the had a well-defined and consistent data architecture and conversion process over the last 15+ years).

I would be fine with this, and I agree that 10 years PLT is even tougher than 12 years as a member (and OK with me, as I have both).