Originally Posted by
skywalkerLAX
My best guess: A random FD agent isn't seeing these things because it's not their job to look at it. The FO Manager or someone who prepares the "VIP List" on which the tiers show up on regularly looks at these details IF the property has a policy of doing a special approach for Lifetime members. If not then it's an irrelevant detail and the member is being treated just like the corresponding tier.
And to be honest I don't see why a hotel should make a big deal about Lifetime members. After all a Lifetime member could be a horrible customer who stays 2-3 nights a year with Marriott while the status holder of the same tier does a hard qualification every year. Business wise it makes more sense to treat active customers better. But this goes a step too far in applying common sense with a company that even treats their $20k Ambassadors like a doormat.
A lifetime member is not “could be a horrible customer”, but “is a horrible customer” especially on FT
. Active customers and those pursuing lifetime are the ones that Marriott are after. Lifetime members are a cost to Marriott. Most, if not all LTs, are going for elite status in other programs and just hanging out with Marriott when convenient.
What Marriott should really do is revamp the whole lifetime program and elite status to remove platinum lounge access and put in full breakfast benefits instead. That way lifetime platinums will need to reach titanium/ambasssdor on an annual basis to gain lounge access instead of full breakfast as the Platinum substitute. This will truly be “recurring” revenue generating. (I have no doubt some sort of devaluation is forthcoming on platinum status, like airline status). Ready to be reamed for these comments... GO!!! (I understand that there are LTTs but that population is probably not a lot in the grand scheme of things).
OT, I’m sure everyone agrees that Properties should be held accountable for elite benefits and without consistent application throughout system, it doesn’t really matter. Ambassador elite is basically titanium with an upgraded title. Titanium is basically platinum with potential ritz eligible suite upgrades and UA silver. There is no differentiation. Remove silver and just keep gold platinum titanium and ambassador and revamp more simplified benefits that can be implemented systemwide.