Marriott baited and switched us on the upgrade policy
Aug 18, 2018, 12:27 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
Marriott baited and switched us on the upgrade policy
Good discussion going on at OMAAT
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-...pgrade-policy/
We should have known better...
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-...pgrade-policy/
We should have known better...
Aug 18, 2018, 12:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,015
Good discussion going on at OMAAT
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-...pgrade-policy/
We should have known better...
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-...pgrade-policy/
We should have known better...
Aug 18, 2018, 12:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 687
As much as the SPG program was “guaranteed” I felt it was always at the properties discretion. I don’t think this “bait and switch” while change much of anything, the properties that upgrade will continue and the others that play fast and lose with upgrades won’t.
Aug 18, 2018, 12:44 pm
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
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Aug 18, 2018, 1:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: SPG Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, JetBlue Mosaic, AA Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 599
ABSOLUTELY worthy of its own thread. Frankly, this is the exact stuff we SPG members have been paranoid Marriott would screw us on. Turns out--yet again--that we were right to distrust them.
To be fair, there were definitely SPG hotels who didn't abide by the suite upgrade rules, but there is NO reason for Marriott to water-down the language now except to screw top-tier members.
Feel free to add to my list but here are just a few things SPG lost:
1. Free lounge access at resorts ("resorts" was already a questionable status with SPG & Marriott)
2. SPG Lifetime status wasn't equal to Marriott (finally changed after massive SPG upheaval)
3. Significant dilution of point value, now that programs have merged
4. No more "award nights without blackouts"
5. As of 2019, award categories blown to hell, causing massive devaluation. Also "high" & "low" periods, which will be a further additional devaluation.
6. Suite upgrades no longer guaranteed at any SPG/Marriott property
Time will tell, but it seems crazy that Marriott thinks they'll hold onto SPG members. My guess is that we'll mostly move on to other programs like Hyatt now that top tier benefits of the new merged program are a joke.
To be fair, there were definitely SPG hotels who didn't abide by the suite upgrade rules, but there is NO reason for Marriott to water-down the language now except to screw top-tier members.
Feel free to add to my list but here are just a few things SPG lost:
1. Free lounge access at resorts ("resorts" was already a questionable status with SPG & Marriott)
2. SPG Lifetime status wasn't equal to Marriott (finally changed after massive SPG upheaval)
3. Significant dilution of point value, now that programs have merged
4. No more "award nights without blackouts"
5. As of 2019, award categories blown to hell, causing massive devaluation. Also "high" & "low" periods, which will be a further additional devaluation.
6. Suite upgrades no longer guaranteed at any SPG/Marriott property
Time will tell, but it seems crazy that Marriott thinks they'll hold onto SPG members. My guess is that we'll mostly move on to other programs like Hyatt now that top tier benefits of the new merged program are a joke.
Aug 18, 2018, 1:46 pm
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
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Posts: 21,166
And a positive update
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-...omment-3992669
I won’t give kudos, as this would be JV stuff not to have clarified and updated by now, but at least it seems like the more consumer friendly language policy will win out.
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-...omment-3992669
I won’t give kudos, as this would be JV stuff not to have clarified and updated by now, but at least it seems like the more consumer friendly language policy will win out.
Aug 18, 2018, 1:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,963
Starwood offered top tier elite members upgrades to the best available room subject to availability, including suites
Aug 18, 2018, 1:52 pm
#8
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Yeah, OK ... been reciprocal Plat since 9/'16, and had a few SPG stays in that time and still had to beg for upgrades (i.e., the room I got after asking was better than the room they'd had set out for me at check-in), so I wouldn't go grabbing for pitchforks just yet.
and of course no SPG Plat gets upgrades 100% of the time
Aug 18, 2018, 2:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: lounge next door
Programs: *A Gold / ST Elite+ / OWS / EK G / HH Diam. / MR Tit / Hyatt GLOB / IHG Diam. / SL Jade / GHA Tit.
Posts: 1,523
Nobody mention the 1000 welcome points (was 500 spg = 1500) and the fact that I don't see any mention of make a green choice. Those are lost benefits.
Aug 18, 2018, 2:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: somewhere north of stateside...
Posts: 4,143
Totally agree that some LSPG properties were very good about upgrading Plats to suites, while others were not.
However, my impression is that SPG properties - as a whole - did a better job on Plat upgrades than Marriott properties, again as a whole.
IMHO, one big reason for that is the expectation set by SPG corporate - and communicated to GMs and guests. Unfortunately, I'm not confident Marriott is setting the same tone.
However, my impression is that SPG properties - as a whole - did a better job on Plat upgrades than Marriott properties, again as a whole.
IMHO, one big reason for that is the expectation set by SPG corporate - and communicated to GMs and guests. Unfortunately, I'm not confident Marriott is setting the same tone.
Aug 18, 2018, 3:07 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: lounge next door
Programs: *A Gold / ST Elite+ / OWS / EK G / HH Diam. / MR Tit / Hyatt GLOB / IHG Diam. / SL Jade / GHA Tit.
Posts: 1,523
Totally agree that some LSPG properties were very good about upgrading Plats to suites, while others were not.
However, my impression is that SPG properties - as a whole - did a better job on Plat upgrades than Marriott properties, again as a whole.
IMHO, one big reason for that is the expectation set by SPG corporate - and communicated to GMs and guests. Unfortunately, I'm not confident Marriott is setting the same tone.
However, my impression is that SPG properties - as a whole - did a better job on Plat upgrades than Marriott properties, again as a whole.
IMHO, one big reason for that is the expectation set by SPG corporate - and communicated to GMs and guests. Unfortunately, I'm not confident Marriott is setting the same tone.
Even in aloft I almost always have upgrade.
Properties who did not upgraded was either fully booked or either mentioned that they didn't have smoking room (what I request).
Aug 18, 2018, 3:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: Bonvoy ambassador - lifetime plat / Hilton diamond / hyatt globalist / AA CK baby!
Posts: 869
I concur. it might ahve been a benefit, but in some instances you didnt get it. or you had to ask / haggle for it.
Those were rare, and often times you would get SOMETHING, but it wasnt an iron clad guarantee, but what I would call 'close enough'...
Those were rare, and often times you would get SOMETHING, but it wasnt an iron clad guarantee, but what I would call 'close enough'...
Aug 18, 2018, 3:28 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
4. This hasn't changed. Check the new T&C, section 3.2.n. "No Blackout dates"
3.2.n. Blackout dates refer to a limited number of dates when a Participating Property could choose not to permit Members to redeem Points for Awards, but the Company has a “No Blackout Dates” benefit so that if there is a standard room available for booking by any means, whether by cash, credit or Points, then a Member can reserve the room using Points.
Aug 18, 2018, 10:03 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,015
Agreed in ME/Asia/SA. I was 50% in Europe/Australia as Plat Amb and less than 25% in US. Some regions are better than others for upgrades... in major cities in US (SF/Boston), upgrades are hard to come by
