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.
Here in Europe I get upgraded basically all of the time (Titanium). My stays tend to be short (generally not > 5 nights) but my hit rate with Suite upgrades is in the 80-90% range. It's why I don't care so much about SNAs.
Recently I did 5 nights in CY Gdynia (Poland) and didn't get a suite but they have literally one suite in the entire property, plus I was travelling solo so the Sea View upgrade was all I needed. A colleague is Platinum and he has similar luck with upgrades. I haven't been to Asia since 2018 so it's hard for me to comment about that, but in Europe I do just fine.