Originally Posted by
chelly1540
@ Tommy yes I hear what your saying and there is some value--but if it comes down to the club level upgrade certificates leaning you towards this card understand from what I can see there is literally zero value in them--each time/property I have tried to use them the cost is more. I think its the principle--almost feels like as a consumer I am being scammed with the so called benefit. Lastly dollar for dollar we do much better with say the SPG card. Gold status, bonus far beyond 10%, and stay credits that get me to platinum much easier. Plus the fact that SPG's properties are far more easy to find.
The 10% is an additional bonus at year end for all earned points, so essentially, marriott, air/car/dining, other spend, earns 5.5/2.2/1.1 points per dollar, respectively. So, combined with gold status you're earning 18 points per dollar when you're staying at marriott. That's not too shabby. If you happen to make plat then you're earning 20.5.
I agree with you on the club level certs. Ritz sent out a survey around this time last year to some cardhders that showed they were contemplating changes to the benefits, including removal of the club level certificates. Some of the ideas the floated were guaranteed suite upgrades, fewer club certs and $400 airline credit, and free breakfast if I recall.
They implemented some change that were mentioned in the survey, namely the 10% annual points bonus, platinum at $75k spend, providing the $100 resort credit when using the club cert, and bumping the airline credit from $200 to $300.
I have benefitted from the club cert a handful of times, but I agree, most of the time you can find a better package deal being offered by the hotel. Certain properties, like Cancun, where their club level room is. 400-700 a night more than the standard room can be decent places to use the cert. I also had luck with it in south beach on more than one occasion (that property tends to not have very appealing package deals for the club level).