Originally Posted by
cesco.g
There might be some discertionary spending on award stays, which prompted SPG's offer. (e.g. breakfast & dinners on our last stay at a SPG property in Maui).
I doubt that had much to do with it. It was more likely seen as a way to generate goodwill at minimal cost. All it does is lower the qualification thresholds a bit for people who use their points.
I've long thought that UA should have done this when they moved to spend-based earning, for the same reason. It wouldn't have been difficult for them to give PQM on UA-operated award flights, and it would even have given people an incentive to choose UA metal over partner awards. (Trying to get it done on partner flights might have been a bridge too far).
With the elimination of PQM, though*, and UA showing that their primary criterion across the board is spending -- PQF aren't actually necessary and merely lower the spending requirements -- there's no chance that they will do anything like this. I suppose they could "enhance" the Million Miler program by counting awards, but I'm not sure I'd like to see the corresponding cut...
* MacOS somehow autocompleted this to "thoughtcrime" when I first typed it, which seemed amazingly apropos.