Originally Posted by
UA-NYC
You left out the key detail...18 nights *in 3 months*. Which annualizes to 72 nights annually. 6 nights/month qualifies most as a moderate road warrior.
Also, it's not really "50 nights vs. 75" when comparing the programs given how much easier it is to earn nights with Marriott (15 vs. 5 for CC, rollover nights, nights for ongoing credit card spend, conf room nights, etc.).
And many MR Plat members receive a free birthday night which (together with a MR CC) brings the plat threshold to 59 nights/year.
In some SPG fora they publish ways to earn SPG plat through this challenge for under 1,000 dollars (mainly through stays on SPG hot escapes rates in eastern Europe or Asia). That said, it is still more expensive (and may require more travelling) than the platinum in 8 days for 800 dollars process discussed in this flyertalk forum.
BTW: I am not in favor of overcrowded lounges and empty food platters...