This has been discussed quite a bit. Bottom line consensus....and certainly my experience....seems to be that most properties used to give breakfast certs to elites. Sometimes it took a little arm-twisting, but usually you could do it.

Now it's pretty much the opposite. Most properties won't do it....although some still do. I'm unclear whether or not this is a corporate-mandated "crackdown". But whatever, it has to do with the economy.

On the plus side, most (but certainly not all) weekend rates are a bigger relative bargain than they used to be. And most properties offer a an SFB (free breakfast included) weekend rate that's a pretty good deal and also represents good savings over the regular weekday rate.

As an example, I have a weekend stay coming up in a couple of weeks where IIRC, the regular weekday corporate rate is close to $200. Weekend rate ...no breakfast....is just under $100. For a rate $12 higher, I get a full breakfast buffet for two. Still a good deal....and less than the $119 I paid the last time I spent a weekend (with comped breakfast certs) at this hotel a couple of years ago.

We complain...and rightfully so....about hotels "nickel and diming" us. But that happens to cut both ways, too.