Originally Posted by sdsearch

That would simply make the whole Marriott-United tie-up disappear with a year.

Here's what would happen:

Every blogger in the world would publish how to get UA Gold status for $800:
Marriott would get flooded with new Platinums who got Platinum this way only for the purpose of getting UA Gold cheaply.

UA would realize this and totally end the Marriott tie-in.

Ie, it can't be just about what's fair, it also has to be about what makes each company earn money vs what makes each company lose money. If they give away too much, they lose money.

Keep in mind, for reference, that Detla's tie-in with SPG is even weaker in this direction, as it doesn't even give first status level up at Delta to SPG Platinums. So there's no precedent for second-level up at an airline being given on an ongoing basis to anyone with status at any non-airline program.