So close to Platinum: Need strategy to cross the finish line
Oct 21, 2018, 8:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 6
So close to Platinum: Need strategy to cross the finish line
I have exactly 40 nights of Marriott stays so far this year, not counting the 15 nights of elite credit I'll get with my Chase Marriott Rewards Signature Visa. Unfortunately, Chase says Marriott only posts those award nights 6-8 weeks AFTER I renew the card on my anniversary date. My anniversary date is on or around November 15th.
Chase won't allow me to pre-pay the renewal fee. Consequently, Marriott doesn't have to give me the 15 nights until January. My guess is that they probably won't credit those nights until they absolutely have to. I don't want my 40 nights to count for nothing when I'm only 10 nights away from Plat.
All of my business travel is finished for the rest of the year. A 10-night "mattress run" seems like too much money and effort to be realistic. I could really use some advice on this. Are there any steps I can take to make sure I get those final nights needed?
Chase won't allow me to pre-pay the renewal fee. Consequently, Marriott doesn't have to give me the 15 nights until January. My guess is that they probably won't credit those nights until they absolutely have to. I don't want my 40 nights to count for nothing when I'm only 10 nights away from Plat.
All of my business travel is finished for the rest of the year. A 10-night "mattress run" seems like too much money and effort to be realistic. I could really use some advice on this. Are there any steps I can take to make sure I get those final nights needed?
Oct 21, 2018, 8:30 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
IME having had the card for 5 years now, the elite nights credit within a couple days of anniversary.
Having said that, not sure after the merger and the issuance of new program cards.
i would just wait until November before going on a mattress run.
Having said that, not sure after the merger and the issuance of new program cards.
i would just wait until November before going on a mattress run.
Oct 21, 2018, 9:00 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
I agree with myperks. In the past, credit card elite nights have always posted promptly. I suggest waiting until a week after your renewal date before pressing the panic button.
Oct 21, 2018, 10:22 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
As for the nights posting quickly, I'm pretty sure that's been my experience in the past, too. But that was back in the day when stays usually posted without intervention, phones were answered within the hour, reservations could be made online - you know, all that fancy stuff.
Oct 21, 2018, 10:29 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC e75K, *G, SPG/MR PPE
Posts: 315
Plat (50 nights) has lounge access - that was my SPG level, now my Starriott level, and I’ve experienced no changes as it relates to lounges. Is there something I’m missing?
Oct 21, 2018, 11:07 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
I have exactly 40 nights of Marriott stays so far this year, not counting the 15 nights of elite credit I'll get with my Chase Marriott Rewards Signature Visa. Unfortunately, Chase says Marriott only posts those award nights 6-8 weeks AFTER I renew the card on my anniversary date. My anniversary date is on or around November 15th.
Chase won't allow me to pre-pay the renewal fee. Consequently, Marriott doesn't have to give me the 15 nights until January. My guess is that they probably won't credit those nights until they absolutely have to. I don't want my 40 nights to count for nothing when I'm only 10 nights away from Plat.
All of my business travel is finished for the rest of the year. A 10-night "mattress run" seems like too much money and effort to be realistic. I could really use some advice on this. Are there any steps I can take to make sure I get those final nights needed?
Chase won't allow me to pre-pay the renewal fee. Consequently, Marriott doesn't have to give me the 15 nights until January. My guess is that they probably won't credit those nights until they absolutely have to. I don't want my 40 nights to count for nothing when I'm only 10 nights away from Plat.
All of my business travel is finished for the rest of the year. A 10-night "mattress run" seems like too much money and effort to be realistic. I could really use some advice on this. Are there any steps I can take to make sure I get those final nights needed?
https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/member-benefits.mi
Oct 21, 2018, 1:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Platinum, IHG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 81
It’s probably worth sitting down and figuring out if the cost is worth it.
2 x 5 night stays at a category 1 hotel will cost 30,000 points each, 60,000 total if you’d rather spend points.
I dont see rooms much cheaper than $85/night with taxes, so you’re probably looking to spend ~$1000 minimum.
Do you plan on gaining 60,000 point or $1000 worth of benefit from being platinum? If the answer is no, probably not worth it.
This is is how I decide to mattress run or not.
2 x 5 night stays at a category 1 hotel will cost 30,000 points each, 60,000 total if you’d rather spend points.
I dont see rooms much cheaper than $85/night with taxes, so you’re probably looking to spend ~$1000 minimum.
Do you plan on gaining 60,000 point or $1000 worth of benefit from being platinum? If the answer is no, probably not worth it.
This is is how I decide to mattress run or not.
Oct 21, 2018, 2:18 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHX
Posts: 623
Oct 21, 2018, 2:19 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840
My business travel appears done as well, so I'm going to visit relatives for the holidays, four nites at Thanksgiving and four at Christmas. You can make those reservations and see if your credit card nites post, which hopefully will occur just before Thanksgiving.
Oct 21, 2018, 2:26 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
I value concierge access at around $25 a night. Breakfast is usually worth $15, and a bit of food at night or some dessert, plus beverages throughout the day, and I get $25. So, at 40 nights, you are about breaking even from a dollar perspective.
One thing - are you currently at 50-night status from last year? If so, if you're at 40 nights, chances are high that you will retain Plat (old Gold) status for this year. My experience - and many others - is that you will keep your status if you're fairly close to making it and/or you exceeded the requirements for the next lowest tier. That was my case when I was regular old Platinum. Some years I made 75 nights, others I didn't but always did over 50. I was Plat for 15 years that way and probably only exceeded 75 nights 8 or 9 times.
One thing - are you currently at 50-night status from last year? If so, if you're at 40 nights, chances are high that you will retain Plat (old Gold) status for this year. My experience - and many others - is that you will keep your status if you're fairly close to making it and/or you exceeded the requirements for the next lowest tier. That was my case when I was regular old Platinum. Some years I made 75 nights, others I didn't but always did over 50. I was Plat for 15 years that way and probably only exceeded 75 nights 8 or 9 times.
Oct 21, 2018, 2:27 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,048
A cheap meeting should do it...
But given you're willing to do credit cards, I would give Marriott a wide berth, get the Hilton card and switch chains.
Marriott is currently a disaster, with no willingness to communicate or throw massive resource at solving issues. Some people feel invested in their current status / points balance / etc. and figure "I'll just hang on for awhile longer". But if you're not yet Platinum, I would just skip the hassle and move on...
But given you're willing to do credit cards, I would give Marriott a wide berth, get the Hilton card and switch chains.
Marriott is currently a disaster, with no willingness to communicate or throw massive resource at solving issues. Some people feel invested in their current status / points balance / etc. and figure "I'll just hang on for awhile longer". But if you're not yet Platinum, I would just skip the hassle and move on...
Oct 21, 2018, 3:11 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 6
Thanks for some very good advice and insights....
It's very likely that I will come close to that: Lounge access will be especially valuable on a planned leisure trip to Europe next spring. Unlike most US lounges, European Marriott lounges serve spreads that are so lavish they actually replace several meals. Good wine and beer flow freely. Easily worth $75 a day compared to breakfasts, lunches, and libation in London and Munich.
Unfortunately no.
A good suggestion in theory. But a week after my renewal date takes me just about to December. That leaves me just a month to do a 10-night mattress run. Even if I thought the cost was worth the Platinum benefit next year, my work and other demands make 10 nights in one month impractical.
Do you plan on gaining 60,000 point or $1000 worth of benefit from being platinum?
One thing - are you currently at 50-night status from last year?
I suggest waiting until a week after your renewal date before pressing the panic button.
Oct 21, 2018, 3:18 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: HH Diamond; Marriott Tit, LTP;Omni Black;IHG Spire; Hyatt Glob
Posts: 124
5 nights at a Ritz gives you 10 nights as Ritz nights count double. If you live near Modor on the Potomac, the Tyson's or Pentagon Ritzs have good prices in Nov. and Dec. weekends.
As that you are a 'Texan for life', check out the Dallas Ritz
As that you are a 'Texan for life', check out the Dallas Ritz
Last edited by GrandOldTurkey; Oct 21, 2018 at 3:20 pm Reason: adding additional line
Oct 21, 2018, 5:29 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHX
Posts: 623