scubaccr

Hotels rely on guests not all checking in at published 2pm or 3pm time.

Pre 'recently added benefit' of guaranteed late checkout at checkin , hotels could/would previously offer nice suite upgrade without a late checkout, or say 2pm latest , or offer lesser room with late checkout. I guess waiting on suite is more prevalent these days due to the 4pm guarantee. Elites can't have it both ways, as occupying suite to 4pm delays the incoming elites checkin.

As elites we need to take a realistic view, in that
1)we elites get upgraded to better rooms (suites) that there are less of than lower base/second/third from bottom categories
2)the suite occupant the night before arrival is thus likely also an elite exercising the 'recent' 4pm guaranteed checkout.
3)if location / city is top heavy with elites, then many rooms have 4pm checkouts and hotels cleaners/roommaid numbers do not support each 4pm room to be refreshed at 4pm, but instead over a period
4)often top named suites eg Royals etc require the will need need a triple check my a manager after the supervisor check, a further delay

o I have declined a 'delayed' suite upgrade from time to time in favour of a more immediate upgrade , though usually first ask if planned (pencilled in) upgrade room is occupied by elite using 4pm privilege
o I have been given foc 10am sute at hotel, so on another occasion at same hotel would not be able to complain if informed sorry 6pm for your room
o Not often comped f+b, more likely is lounge access whilst waiting on room.
o Although not a part of MR benefits (unlike IHG Royal Ambassador) I have been given temporary entry level rooms at Marriott , either
a)1hour or so to simply shower and go out
b)4hours or so whilst waiting on room

nb's
o Even with 4pm checkout rights if not needing room to rest, then I don'tt room block if hotel has a nice lounge, I offer+do vacate room for lounge at 2pm to aid the hotel and other elites that will be checking in
o A well organised hotel may even have a nominated spare room to allow early/late departing guests to have a 15min shower/changeto freshen up.
o I also feel bad if room is maid responsible for nn rooms/floor, finishes all makeups by 2pm, and is stuck waiting on cleaning just my 1x room 4-5pm, maybe not my problem to deal with but is often how cleaning is divied up... and maybe poor maid earns little/nothing those exra 3hours. So another reason I only take 4pm room over 2pm + Lounge unless must have room over lounge