As a Plat, my expectations are never high when checking into any Marriott. Probably what happened in DJ's case was some Plat or Gold checking in before him whined about not being on the CL, so some inexperienced FDC took DJ's upgrade away and gave it to the whining elite.

Doesn't the FDC usually write the room # down on the key jacket and then show you the room # he/she wrote and mention the floor? When I check in, I always ask about the room type and location before leaving the front desk. If I had been preblocked into a CL room, I would have printed out a copy of the reservation and asked what happened to the CL room when it was not offered.

For some reason, Marriott consistly ignores preferences. I also prefer a high floor room and more often than not, my preference is ignored when checking in. Its not that they don't have high floors rooms available, its just that the FDC is trying to be efficient in getting you checked in and therefore grabs the first room that pops up.

Regards,

RIP...