Marriott Elite Status Soft Landing [Drop only one level if status is not re-attained]
Mar 23, 2020, 10:33 am
#211
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 202
I am literally speechless, I wrote back to Marriott on the same email that I got in Nov 19 re Titanium will be soft-landed to Platinum and the response I got TODAY was that the policy has changed since and the soft landing policy was no longer applicable. At least I could have redeemed all my points if I knew I was getting screwed.
Mar 23, 2020, 10:34 am
#212
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 87
Many former Ambassadors were soft-landed to Titanium is spite of not having stayed at least 75 nights last year, so some sort of soft-landing definitely happened.
Also, Titaniums going down to Gold is already a soft landing, isn't it?
If one had fewer than 25 QN last year, he/she should have become Silver or should have gotten no status at all, but it looks like all former Titaniums got at least Gold.
Also, Titaniums going down to Gold is already a soft landing, isn't it?
If one had fewer than 25 QN last year, he/she should have become Silver or should have gotten no status at all, but it looks like all former Titaniums got at least Gold.
Mar 23, 2020, 11:04 am
#213
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,858
All they need is a consistent policy you can rely on, and a years notice if they are going to change it. People make decisions based on what is understood to be the status quo. I assumed I would be soft landed to Plat this year, so planned on getting back to Plat and possibly even Titanium by the end of the year. I'm not sure I care to do 26 more nights with just Gold and may just give up and be a free agent. If travel restrictions lift in the second half of the year there will likely be some good promos around anyway. Quite frankly it seems there are some inexperienced people leading the Marriott loyalty department.
Mar 23, 2020, 11:13 am
#214
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Many former Ambassadors were soft-landed to Titanium is spite of not having stayed at least 75 nights last year, so some sort of soft-landing definitely happened.
Also, Titaniums going down to Gold is already a soft landing, isn't it?
If one had fewer than 25 QN last year, he/she should have become Silver or should have gotten no status at all, but it looks like all former Titaniums got at least Gold.
Also, Titaniums going down to Gold is already a soft landing, isn't it?
If one had fewer than 25 QN last year, he/she should have become Silver or should have gotten no status at all, but it looks like all former Titaniums got at least Gold.
Hilton is the one that never had it so you cannot cry foul about lack of soft landings there. Their policy has always been consistent (but unlike Marriott they might be generous with waivers).
Mar 23, 2020, 11:22 am
#215
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
All they need is a consistent policy you can rely on, and a years notice if they are going to change it. People make decisions based on what is understood to be the status quo. I assumed I would be soft landed to Plat this year, so planned on getting back to Plat and possibly even Titanium by the end of the year. I'm not sure I care to do 26 more nights with just Gold and may just give up and be a free agent. If travel restrictions lift in the second half of the year there will likely be some good promos around anyway. Quite frankly it seems there are some inexperienced people leading the Marriott loyalty department.
I'm not from the US so couldn't get the easy win of 15 EQN from the Amex CC, but if I had that (now available in the UK also) I would easily have cleared the 50-night requirement. I had planned to get the Bonvoy CC around Easter, but now I obviously won't be bothering.
Last edited by yurtripper; Mar 23, 2020 at 11:27 am Reason: Added details about credit card.
Mar 23, 2020, 12:18 pm
#216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,071
From what I've read, soft-landing doesn't necessarily mean going down one level.
Marriott seems to define soft-landing as going down one or two levels according to this LoyaltyLobby post: https://loyaltylobby.com/2020/02/13/marriott-bonvoy-elite-member-soft-landing-policy-in-2020
From the datapoints I've seen so far, soft landing did happen, and Titaniums and Plats got a two-level landing while many Ambassadors got a one-level landing.
Marriott seems to define soft-landing as going down one or two levels according to this LoyaltyLobby post: https://loyaltylobby.com/2020/02/13/marriott-bonvoy-elite-member-soft-landing-policy-in-2020
From the datapoints I've seen so far, soft landing did happen, and Titaniums and Plats got a two-level landing while many Ambassadors got a one-level landing.
Mar 23, 2020, 7:58 pm
#219
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 87
Im also Lifetime Gold but to me there is almost no difference with Silver, so from now on all my future stay will goes to my HHonors Gold account
Mar 24, 2020, 8:21 am
#221
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,911
Just got an email back from Marriott when I asked about the soft landing- " Our policies regarding the soft downgrade have only changed in the past week." See Below...
---Thank you for contacting Marriott Bonvoy™ Customer Care.
Our policies regarding the soft downgrade have only changed in the past week. So you were not misinformed, as we were not aware of this change until the change occurred.
I understand your point, and do not in principle disagree. However we can not currently offer you the Platinum status. As the crisis develops they may well update the policy again but at present there is unfortunately nothing this department can do.
---Thank you for contacting Marriott Bonvoy™ Customer Care.
Our policies regarding the soft downgrade have only changed in the past week. So you were not misinformed, as we were not aware of this change until the change occurred.
I understand your point, and do not in principle disagree. However we can not currently offer you the Platinum status. As the crisis develops they may well update the policy again but at present there is unfortunately nothing this department can do.
Mar 24, 2020, 8:21 am
#222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 14,994
Mar 24, 2020, 8:26 am
#223
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LCY
Programs: SQ Krisflyer, QR Privilege Club, MB LT Plt (1K+ nights thx MB)
Posts: 1,038
Just got an email back from Marriott when I asked about the soft landing- " Our policies regarding the soft downgrade have only changed in the past week." See Below...
---Thank you for contacting Marriott Bonvoy™ Customer Care.
Our policies regarding the soft downgrade have only changed in the past week. So you were not misinformed, as we were not aware of this change until the change occurred.
I understand your point, and do not in principle disagree. However we can not currently offer you the Platinum status. As the crisis develops they may well update the policy again but at present there is unfortunately nothing this department can do.
---Thank you for contacting Marriott Bonvoy™ Customer Care.
Our policies regarding the soft downgrade have only changed in the past week. So you were not misinformed, as we were not aware of this change until the change occurred.
I understand your point, and do not in principle disagree. However we can not currently offer you the Platinum status. As the crisis develops they may well update the policy again but at present there is unfortunately nothing this department can do.
Mar 24, 2020, 8:50 am
#224
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,761
Mar 24, 2020, 11:48 am
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,510
What a mess of a company ...why on earth did they not communicate this publicly (via fax or email) ...like "suspension of soft landing program due to severe circumstances ...." instead this ...or maybe its a wag the dog scenario IT dept. got its fair deal of cuts so they needed to do the simplest solution possible....
It really makes no sense to antagonize their members by withdrawing a benefit that was already promised, when they will desperately need business once this Covid 19 is done with.
