Originally Posted by
fireworksboy
Not sure why anyone would feel this way as complimentary upgrades are a benefit for Golds as well as Plats. As a matter of fact, on Marriott's website, the complimentary upgrade is defined in a single section listed as "Additional Gold and Platinum Benefits". It says nothing about Platinum members having a higher priority for those upgrades.
Don't get me wrong - it probably should. But it doesn't as far as I can tell. So, if a Plat and Gold are checking in at the same time with only one upgrade room available, the Plat should get it. But - by Marriott rules - if there's only one room available and the Gold member walks up a minute before the Plat, the Gold should get it.
Also, I don't think anyone should need to beg for an upgrade. It should be automatic.
Well this cuts to the crux of the issue. Should a PP that checks in at 8pm be locked out of an UG because a bunch of Golds checked in at 4pm? And what does best available room mean? If PP's and Plats are pre-blocked into rooms are there 'available' rooms for Golds to UG to?
It would seem bizarre to say we'll give our lower tier elites equal footing for UG's with the upper level elites.
It would be similar if the airlines said, on the day of flight if a Gold member gets to the gate first they get the UG instead of the Plat member. Both are entitled to an UG based on the defined benefits, but the airlines just clearly document who has first priority.
If Marriott wanted to only UG people who wanted it, then they should put the option to request and UG on the res, similar to what the airlines do. Then people that don't care won't be UG and those that do would have a better opportunity.