Originally Posted by
fastflyer
The value in Bonvoy Platinum (or Titanium, or the lifetime version of either) is the free breakfast and lounge access at full-service city properties. Many Marriotts just do not do upgrades (some notable exceptions). You need to use Suite Upgrades for most properties. This is not new. Marriott has never, in my 30+ years loyalty, upgraded members with any consistency based on elite status. You are buying a consistent brand, with services based on the property type. The status is only icing on the cake.
The current travel profile of heavy resort usage and light business usage means that many travelers with status are at properties where status is somewhat meaningless. Overseas may be better. But the disconnect between people going to resort destinations and expecting extravagant Bonvoy benefits -- this is not going to improve.
This is my reasoning. Free breakfast for "life" or as long as they honor lifetime platinum is a good enough reason for me to spend one more year in 2023 qualifying for platinum.
But I'll be missing Hyatt and complaining the whole time. Confirmed suite upgrades are amazing and even the comp ones have been great lately
We did a small mattress run during the double EQN promotion and my wife had breakfast when I was gone and checked out and was already complaining about the marriott's stingy cash credit vs just getting a full breakfast w/o issue at any Hyatt we've been at... but we both agree it makes sense to just secure the "free-ish" breakfast benefit for life and then be free agents and just book a Hyatt because like it, not because we are chasing status.