So Choice doesn't award bonus points based on actual paid days spent sleeping in their hotels? More like "when we get around to updating, you're good then"? 49 nights and no Diamond bonus for 43 through 49-

I do apologize for any inconvenience caused. It shows me you became an elite Diamond member after your stay on 11/10/13 and since this stay was posted on your account on 11/18/13 and the last check in was on 11/17/13.

Due to the fact that the previous stay was posted on 11/18/13; your stay on 11/17/13 qualified to earn Platinum points.

However, I am happy to inform you that from now on you will earn elite Diamond bonus points on every new stay.

You know, even Wyndham back-dated their gold program (I'm long since triple) and counted every night that wasn't free.

And I posted it in the wrong forum. If a moderator sees this, can you move it to Choice please?

Choice is far from the only program that doesn't update your elite status until the stay that qualifies you posts. I've seen countless threads in many hotel forum on FT where people run into the same thing while crossing elite in the middle of a multi-night stay, and in most programs the answer is the same (the system won't see you as having the new elite status until the whole stay posts, so you generally can't get the new elite status benefits in the middle of your stay). At Choice, it's simply a few bonus points that you miss out on; at some other hotel programs, it's things like free internet and/or free breakfast (where they aren't free for everyone) that you miss out, and I'd say that's probably much higher value than the difference between Platinum and Diamond bonus points at Choice on a handful of nights.

WyndhamRewards doesn't have a true elite status program (they simply have a promo for a free night after 20 stays which they misname as elite status). So I don't think you can compare it to that, and I don't see why chose the only "major" hotel program without a true elite status as your comparison point.

Huh. I think that I'm just venting and a bit disgruntled to see 49 nights and Platinum points.

I get per Diem, so it's mainly about the room rate for me. Wyndham *is* my only other comparison. Handing me 18k gratis points post dated from a 2.5 month stay a $32 per night Days Inn tickled me.

Finding that Choice's 10/20/40 really means that many plus however many until your next checkout, then a few more until it posts...whatever.

My current location is the first time that I've found Choice rates consistently beating Wyndham, soundly in fact. It's all new to me.

Of the four programs I used extensively, Choice was the weakest on program enforcement. I had a property refuse to upgrade me to a downstairs room and corporate said I had to work it out with the property. I had a property fail to post my stay and corporate said they have a week to post. When the week came and went I was told they have 30 days...

So Choice has become NO Choice for me.

Choice is not about perks for frequent guests. If perks are what you are looking for, then you do need to stay somewhere else.

Choice is about a good value at a reasonable price. They throw in a few points and you get a few free nights.

Yep. No status needed for the free wifi and breakfast. Room upgrades? A better view of the parking lot off the interstate? Status recognition at the front desk might be very flattering, but unless there's something attached to it, I don't need it.

Choice is not for every traveler, but I suspect that many travelers who are footing their own bills rather than submitting expense reports or those who have work to do in small towns not serviced by Hilton, IHG, SPG, or Marriott find the program to be adequate for their needs. I don't think anyone makes the argument that across the board, Choice is a superior chain for location, comfort, or beauty of facilities, but you'll generally pay extra for those features. If your demographic fits the program, and you know where the sweet spots are, Choice can be a very rewarding program.