First Long Trip After New Program Takes Effect
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA,UAL Gold,AS,DL,MRD PP
Posts: 145
First Long Trip After New Program Takes Effect
I made a 32 day road trip traveling across the country and back starting 3 days after the new program took effect. I was PP before the new program and stayed at PP in the new program. Although there were no defined benefits for the old PP, all P’s in the old program became PP.
Here is brief summary of my check in experience for the 17 Marriott properties I stayed (or attempted to stay)
Check in by brand:
FS Marriott hotels -6
Courtyard - 3
Fairfield Inn and Suites – 3
Spring Hill Suites – 2
Renaissance -1
Residence Inn – 1
TownePlace -1
Upgrades Received as PP – 0
Welcomed as PP – 2
Welcomes as P – 13
No Acknowledgement of Status -2
$10 Voucher at FS Marriott’s Offered without asking)– 1
Bed Type NOT honored – 2 (told this is no longer a benefit)
Market Place Item at Non FS Marriott – 8 (3 say no longer a benefit)
Breakfast in restaurant at FS Marriott when lounge closed - 3 of 5 (2 say no longer a benefit)
Walked – 1 Albuquerque Marriott – Sent to a Holiday Inn Express
ALL Properties on this trip no longer provide "Enhanced" internet speed. There's no log in anymore so everyone gets the same slow unusable speed. Another benefit "Enhanced".
With the constant devaluation of Points and now reduced benefits and the fact that I am LT PP, I see very little incentive to choose Marriott properties as a first choice . I had 217 nights last year and 125 this year to date. I’m sure Hilton and Hyatt will all have thier down side also, but I will now stay at the best rate and location without regard to brand, It seems that none of the chains are too concerned with loyalty. At 80% occupancy they don’t need to worry about loyalty, but when the economy turns again, I think they may realize some of the errors they have made with the “Enhancements”.
Here is brief summary of my check in experience for the 17 Marriott properties I stayed (or attempted to stay)
Check in by brand:
FS Marriott hotels -6
Courtyard - 3
Fairfield Inn and Suites – 3
Spring Hill Suites – 2
Renaissance -1
Residence Inn – 1
TownePlace -1
Upgrades Received as PP – 0
Welcomed as PP – 2
Welcomes as P – 13
No Acknowledgement of Status -2
$10 Voucher at FS Marriott’s Offered without asking)– 1
Bed Type NOT honored – 2 (told this is no longer a benefit)
Market Place Item at Non FS Marriott – 8 (3 say no longer a benefit)
Breakfast in restaurant at FS Marriott when lounge closed - 3 of 5 (2 say no longer a benefit)
Walked – 1 Albuquerque Marriott – Sent to a Holiday Inn Express
ALL Properties on this trip no longer provide "Enhanced" internet speed. There's no log in anymore so everyone gets the same slow unusable speed. Another benefit "Enhanced".
With the constant devaluation of Points and now reduced benefits and the fact that I am LT PP, I see very little incentive to choose Marriott properties as a first choice . I had 217 nights last year and 125 this year to date. I’m sure Hilton and Hyatt will all have thier down side also, but I will now stay at the best rate and location without regard to brand, It seems that none of the chains are too concerned with loyalty. At 80% occupancy they don’t need to worry about loyalty, but when the economy turns again, I think they may realize some of the errors they have made with the “Enhancements”.
Last edited by wvactions; Sep 24, 2018 at 3:29 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,318
In terms of your "upgrades" (assuming only FS Mar and Ren as options) - did you get any deluxe / corner rooms or the like, or are you counting only something like a jr. suite and above (which is what I would do personally)?
#3
Original Poster




Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA,UAL Gold,AS,DL,MRD PP
Posts: 145
Nope. Just standard rooms. No comer rooms, No lounge floor rooms. 2 Queens when king requested. In FI and RI, was given studios when 1BR were available online. When I asked why they were available online was told not available as upgrade.
#4




Join Date: May 2016
Location: In btw SJC & SFO
Programs: Marriott Titanium & LTP, Hilton Diamond (Aspire card), Hyatt Globalist, UA Silver from Bonvoy
Posts: 516
The result would be much different if you have stayed all those nights across APAC countries. If majority of my stays are in US probably I won't chase hotel elite except free with credit cards like Aspire and kayak the cheapest rooms among the major hotel chains and make sensible decisions. Luckily at least 95% of my stays are in APAC (East and Southeast Asia) and most of those hotels are so superior, even very occasionally you don't get meaningful upgrade you still enjoy other excellent benefits like great lounge offerings.
Last edited by tomwhom; Sep 24, 2018 at 3:49 pm
#7
Original Poster




Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA,UAL Gold,AS,DL,MRD PP
Posts: 145
#8


Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 348
Guaranteed room type still applies, as does the Guaranteed lounge access that they told you does not.
#9




Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Finnair Platinum, Bonvoy LT Plat, GHA Tit, Turkish Elite
Posts: 9,177
This is a shitshow. (Unsurprisingly), you're facing a large proportions of properties are just making stuff up. I have yet to get an upgrade from "particularly base base room" on a single stay since the merger and frequently hear hotels misquoting their obligations under the scheme.
#11


Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: EDUU
Programs: Hyatt Glob., Marriott Titanium Elite, HH Diamond, PC Dia. Amb, BA EC Gold, Asiana Diamond, TK Elite
Posts: 216
The result would be much different if you have stayed all those nights across APAC countries. If majority of my stays are in US probably I won't chase hotel elite except free with credit cards like Aspire and kayak the cheapest rooms among the major hotel chains and make sensible decisions. Luckily at least 95% of my stays are in APAC (East and Southeast Asia) and most of those hotels are so superior, even very occasionally you don't get meaningful upgrade you still enjoy other excellent benefits like great lounge offerings.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: England - UK
Posts: 512
My experience has been pretty similar and I'm wondering if hotels have been given as much a hard time as we have. I've had 6 stays at Marriott brand properties since this has been going on and the attitude of staff has plummeted. Only last week a cleaner came into our Marriott room without knocking or identifying themselves and casually asked if we were leaving soon, 30 minutes later another walked in. A few weeks prior staff in a Renaissance restaurant who have always been considerate and friendly were openly complaining about working conditions, then another family walked into our room after being given our key. No one said bye like they usually did and they're practically spitted out the 'thank you for being a loyal customer' phrase.
Personally I can do without Marriott's alleged upgrades but people walking in is a deal breaker for me.
Personally I can do without Marriott's alleged upgrades but people walking in is a deal breaker for me.


