When will starwood properties be back up and running for mobile check in? I can check in on my app but the hotel isn't able to do anything with it. When I do mobile check in on the Marriott side I have keys waiting for me and off I go. (or even a few properties have mobile keys) The element I usually stay at had a mobile key (if you didn't park a vehicle) before the merger but it hasn't worked since the August merger. The Sheraton doesn't have keys or send your room is ready message. The front desk clerks just keep saying they are waiting on their systems to be upgraded. Marriott needs to get on the ball.

Marriott App - Mobile Check In
 

Hi all,

Has anyone gotten this App to actually check you in - assign you a room and provide you a scannable key card onto your phone? Is this property specific cause I've yet to ever see this. When I do 'check in now' it just confirms that I'll be checking in, but doesn't do anything else it seems.

Question 1: If it is property specific, which property lines have this?

Question 2: Would I be able to check in, pay, never show up, and check out, without physically being at the hotel? Like let's say I need one hotel night credit and found a cheap night in a different city, could I do a hotel-night run with mobile check in and never have to enter the hotel?

Regarding question #1 , Marriott mobile key is only supported at the hotels listed here. Even when listed, your mileage may vary - I've heard iPhone users report a lot of good results, but the mobile key has never functioned properly on my Samsung Galaxy S8.

#2 ? Maybe theoretically. I don't know if the app performs any check on location or if the local staff could rat you out. I wouldn't chance it with 1 Rewarding Event meeting (for first meeting) posting 10 elite qualifying nights when you could just book a half hour at a favorable rate at a local hotel and then just browse the wifi for a few minutes.

This did not age well. It's still a pointless endeavor.

I did sometimes ask FD if OLCI is making any difference when I check in. I ask out of curiosity and did not try to force an opinion.

I got different answers.
Some FD claim its only good to inform hotel that you will be coming after hours, so it will be next to useless if you arriving daytime.
Some FD claim its quite useful as guests still have to provide ID and credit card so they still have to queue at the front desk even though the key already made for the guest.
Some straight reply its useless

I also ask if they prefer guest to do OLCI or manual check in
Majority did say OLCI helps a little due to room was already assigned beforehand and keys was made.
Although there are few FD that prefers guests do check in manually.

Interesting answer was from W Sentosa, the FD said that if I want to activate their mobile key feature, then I should do OLCI as they cant activate them if I did normal check in.

Personally I still do OLCI on most of my stays as it does inform me when the room is ready.

Re Question 2 - it isn't relevant to Marriott - but at Hilton their mobile check in with digital key has enabled me to check in via app, go to room, and check out on app all without ever seeing an FD agent. Marriott is well behind the times in this regard.

And I love being able to pick my room from the Hilton app.

You can do that at Marriott. I did it last week at the Charlotte SouthPark FS. Checked in online, got the notification that my room was ready, Mobile Key in the app, check-out on the app and received my bill via email. (I had already received the advance copy overnight.) It was a quick one night, in late, out early hop, but I never even saw the front desk. Used the side door next to the elevators coming and going. House keeping and the door/key logs were the only things that ever knew I was physically onsite.

Good to know Marriott has some properties that make this available. From my stay pattern I've never seen one. But at least there are some.

I love mobile check in. I recently completed a 4 week business trip throughout Europe staying in many different hotels. For many of the stays, I arrived in the city at ~9am, and using the mobile check in 24-48 hrs in advance, my room was always available when I arrived at 9am. I saw many other people told to come back at 3pm, but my room key was already prepared the night before.

Marriott San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is another one where mobile key works without a visit to the front desk.

I stayed at a new property last weekend that supported both mobile check-in and mobile key entry. I only learned about the mobile key entry after checking-in, and the app prompted me to verify my ID (something I did when I checked-in in-person) at the front desk before mobile key could be enabled. So they essentially wanted to ID me twice.

The process could have been streamlined a bit more. I understand the security concerns, but I will relish the day I can check into a hotel and get into my room without having to speak to any of the staff. I suppose that is a luxury you can experience only in Japan ;).

Marriott's implementation is certainly frustrating. Sometimes mobile keys are enabled in the app automatically, sometimes they require a stop by the FD. Sometimes they are enabled without asking at check-in, sometimes not. Sometimes they work for entrance doors, lounges, fitness rooms, etc., sometimes they don't. Overall, they have a long way to go before you can just count on it.

I can never consistently get mobile to work. Especially at this property, where it just won't. And this is over a large sample size of trips.

But, otherwise, the Southpark Marriott and the staff are great, so ^