Originally Posted by
kai.lileboo
Meliá hotels and its management is getting worse each month. I have been a Platinum member since 2012, so two years ago I already qualified fot Lifetime Platinum, which Meliá ignored until today. First they said I would get it in 2023, then they corrected themselves saying that the Covid year (in which one additional year was granted) didn't count towards the Lifetime, and last year they said I haven't complied with all requirments and that I will not be granted a Lifetime as did not stay 500+ nights in Meliá hotels. This rule was added last year, as before that it was OR points OR 500 nights + 10 consecutive years. Apparently it is now AND.
So here I am in my 13th Platinum year and I cannot contact anyone but reservation in order to deal with it. In 33 days my actual status will expire but it seems Meliá will not adjust the valid date.
I think that the best thing would be go to court, but before that I would like to ask if anyone had lived any similar?
I contaacted Meliá many times, and although they confirmed by email that I will become LT in 2023, nothing happened. The other claims remain unanswered and nobody is responsible.
Is this really happening?
I have been platinum for a few years although will lose it now after completely giving up with Melia (see a few post above). But this was something I noticed they changed in their terms some time back. It's not quite as you described, which had I continued to stay with Melia would have been no issue for me, but it is instead:
a) Platinum For Life status. Members must meet the following requirements: Be a Platinum Member for ten (10) consecutive periods of twelve (12) months, making at least 500 stays in that period which have earned Points or have been booked by redeeming Points.
So it's not 500 nights, it is 500 stays!? In 10 years!? How niche is that even among those of us who half live in hotels! No other hotel scheme has such a difficult/impossible term to achieve for lifetime status and the big hotel chains have significantly more hotels in many more locations so they are easier to achieve. This term makes the whole platinum for life thing basically a scam now in my eyes. I would love to be able to find out, but I do expect Melia didn't email you about it because they don't automatically do platinum for life because nobody at all has achieved it since this term was applied.
Honestly, I think they have the ability to change the scheme however they wish, and I don't think court will help (which would be Spanish court, no?)
I am at least glad that this thread exists as a warning to people about how Melia operates.
My advice, switch to Hyatt/Marriott/Hilton. I've been using Hyatt and I can assure you the grass is much greener!