Originally Posted by Dr. HFH

Maybe. If you stay in popular properties in popular locations, perhaps not so much.


The upgrade isn't what you earned by giving Marriott your business. You earned the chance for an upgrade, or, depending on how you look at it, eligibility for an upgrade, both at a level above what an elite member is entitled to by default.


Undoubtedly a good idea. No reason to stay with a program which doesn't meet your needs.


Except that Marriott apparently doesn't have trouble filling its rooms, nor does it appear to have trouble retaining many loyal members. And I don't see a lot of hotels dropping out of Marriott, so the owners seem to be mostly satisfied, too.


With some, but not all, airlines. Same as with hotel upgrades. I'm told that Hyatt offers upgrades to its elite members that can be confirmed at booking. Marriott does not.


And, without question, you are entitled to your beef. Other Bonvoy elites have NUA experience which differs from yours. Your dissatisfaction with the program doesn't mean that it's a terrible program. It means that it doesn't meet your needs. It does, on the other hand, meet mine. (For reference, I stay in Marriott properties in Europe, Middle East, and Asia.) So I stay with Marriott, and you take your business elsewhere. That's exactly how things should work!


Surely you're not just figuring this out now. It's always been like this. Sounds as though Bonvoy (or SPG if you're from there) didn't meet your needs from the beginning. Which raises the question of why, knowing that the upgrade certificates never offered "an advance lock", you chose this program (or SPG), if it didn't offer a benefit which is important to you.

In any case, I think that this horse is dead. Feel free to have the last word, as I won't be responding again. Enjoy the day!