Likelihood Marriott will Take Away Lounge Access from Platinum During Next Downgrade?
Feb 2, 2019, 6:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,003
Likelihood Marriott will Take Away Lounge Access from Platinum During Next Downgrade?
Now that they have created additional tiers like Titanium and Ambassador, what do you think the likelihood is that Marriott will take away lounge access from Platinum members during the next downgrade of the Bonvoy program (say in a year or two)? SPG used to give lounge access to their gold members but removed that benefit a few years ago. Hyatt, on the other hand, gives 4 lounge access to their Explorist tier. In addition, the current PP members are complaining that there is little differentiation for their more advanced status. Would the same happen to Platinum members down the road?
Update: Added my reasoning from Post #10 .
I think removing lounge access for Plat is a real possibility for several reasons:
One possible solution is to remove unlimited lounge access at the Platinum level. Possibly they can take the approach of Hilton and Hyatt combined. Platinum will still have free breakfast (for whatever it is worth) and 4 lounge passes annually.
I don't like the possibility but please tell me it's not a legitimate concern.
Update: Added my reasoning from Post #10 .
I think removing lounge access for Plat is a real possibility for several reasons:
- At the mid status level at other major hotel chains, there is no unlimited lounge access. (Plat level is now the mid-level status of the new Bonvoy program. Ambassador requires 100 nights, and Plat requires 50 nights.)
- IHG Plat (40 nights): Gets a "raid the bar" card. ($10 food credit?)
- Hilton Gold (40 nights): Free breakfast. No lounge access.
- Hyatt Exploriat (30 nights): 4 lounge passes per year.
- Club Carlson Gold (30 nights): No breakfast or lounge access.
- New Titanium doesn't currently offer differentiated benefits over Platinum, and many members are asking for more to justify the additional 25 nights.
- It looks that the merge of SPG and Marriott accounts has created a lot of LTP and LTPP members who would not have otherwise achieved the LT status in either program alone. For example, I had close to 750 LT nights before the merge, but I was nowhere close to 1.6m points. Now I'm LTP. I know a friend who was mostly MR Gold over the past 10 years, but now he is LTPP because of the nights from SPG.
One possible solution is to remove unlimited lounge access at the Platinum level. Possibly they can take the approach of Hilton and Hyatt combined. Platinum will still have free breakfast (for whatever it is worth) and 4 lounge passes annually.
I don't like the possibility but please tell me it's not a legitimate concern.
Last edited by naumank; Feb 2, 2019 at 9:07 pm
Feb 2, 2019, 6:54 pm
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Not sure why this has been suggested. Plat is now equivalent to old Marriott Gold and old Gold got lounge access.
The word is that part of the reasoning behind the change to new names is to ensure Titanium get priority over Platinum for upgrades. Although honestly under the old Marriott system upgrades seemed pretty random for Golds vs. Plats.
The word is that part of the reasoning behind the change to new names is to ensure Titanium get priority over Platinum for upgrades. Although honestly under the old Marriott system upgrades seemed pretty random for Golds vs. Plats.
Feb 2, 2019, 6:57 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
Now that they have created additional tiers like Titanium and Ambassador, what do you think the likelihood is that Marriott will take away lounge access from Platinum members during the next downgrade of the Bonvoy program (say in a year or two)? SPG used to give lounge access to their gold members but removed that benefit a few years ago. Hyatt, on the other hand, gives 4 lounge access to their Explorist tier. In addition, the current PP members are complaining that there is little differentiation for their more advanced status. Would the same happen to Platinum members down the road?
Marriott Platinum is really the old Gold. And Gold had lounge access so I’m not sure why you would be concerned
Feb 2, 2019, 7:40 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,276
I can't imagine Marriott dropping lounge access for Platinum Elite (50-night tier) and above.
It's a terrific incentive for guests to achieve at least 50 nights per year — even if those guests could have saved money by staying at hotels not affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy.
On top of that, it's a relatively inexpensive way of providing a breakfast benefit to frequent guests. Platinum Elite (and higher) guests can pop into the lounge, grab a few hot and cold items, and serve themselves a cup or two of coffee. It undoubtedly cost less to provide than the real restaurant breakfast.
In other words, lounge access is a cost-effective part of frequent guest marketing program. It's a great way sell more rooms at higher rates.
It's a terrific incentive for guests to achieve at least 50 nights per year — even if those guests could have saved money by staying at hotels not affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy.
On top of that, it's a relatively inexpensive way of providing a breakfast benefit to frequent guests. Platinum Elite (and higher) guests can pop into the lounge, grab a few hot and cold items, and serve themselves a cup or two of coffee. It undoubtedly cost less to provide than the real restaurant breakfast.
In other words, lounge access is a cost-effective part of frequent guest marketing program. It's a great way sell more rooms at higher rates.
Feb 2, 2019, 7:42 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Bonvoy titanium
Posts: 537
Although I’d say it would be pretty dumb of Marriott to remove this benefit for platinum I would actually be in favor of such a change
im looking for Marriott to distinguish titanium over lower tiers and right now there isn’t enough “do you know who I am” with titanium
if a plat shows up to the same hotel before me, they get my upgrade and they get into the lounge. Why did I spend more money at Marriott to get the same treatment as a plat
unless Marriott is willing to give a titanium more I’m in favor of taking away from others to make top status more valuable
i think how airlines do status makes sense. My upgrade for a plane seat is based on status tier and then dollar spend in that tier. If two platinums show up for a room the person who gets it should be the one who spends the most money not the first to check in. Similarily a titanium should always get the upgrade over a platinum, no questions asked
until marriott gets this right, take away platinum benefits please
for what it’s worth, I know my opinion won’t be popular
im looking for Marriott to distinguish titanium over lower tiers and right now there isn’t enough “do you know who I am” with titanium
if a plat shows up to the same hotel before me, they get my upgrade and they get into the lounge. Why did I spend more money at Marriott to get the same treatment as a plat
unless Marriott is willing to give a titanium more I’m in favor of taking away from others to make top status more valuable
i think how airlines do status makes sense. My upgrade for a plane seat is based on status tier and then dollar spend in that tier. If two platinums show up for a room the person who gets it should be the one who spends the most money not the first to check in. Similarily a titanium should always get the upgrade over a platinum, no questions asked
until marriott gets this right, take away platinum benefits please
for what it’s worth, I know my opinion won’t be popular
Last edited by Nuhusky; Feb 2, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Feb 2, 2019, 7:56 pm
#7
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Join Date: Jun 2007
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Why would you even speculate about this? No one here can answer that question anyhow. Would you make booking decisions based on someone's guess? 
Feb 2, 2019, 9:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Washington DC Metro Area
Programs: A: PP, LTG/1.5M | UA: SLV | Bonvoy LTTi | IHG PLT| Avis PC | Nat'l Emerald Club EE
Posts: 1,067
This makes sense. I don’t know how many elites there are in the new MR, but dropping Plats from lounge access seems likely to be a large enough reduction in lounge-users to make them cost-inefficient with respect to breakfast and appetizers (i.e., would there be enough PP/Ti or higher guests staying at any property on an average night to justify the space, staff, and consumables required to operate a lounge?).
Feb 2, 2019, 9:02 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,003
- At the mid status level at other major hotel chains, there is no unlimited lounge access. (Plat level is now the mid-level status of the new Bonvoy program. Ambassador requires 100 nights, and Plat requires 50 nights.)
- IHG Plat (40 nights): Gets a "raid the bar" card. ($10 food credit?)
- Hilton Gold (40 nights): Free breakfast. No lounge access.
- Hyatt Exploriat (30 nights): 4 lounge passes per year.
- Club Carlson Gold (30 nights): No breakfast or lounge access.
- New Titanium doesn't currently offer differentiated benefits over Platinum, and many members are asking for more to justify the additional 25 nights.
- It looks that the merge of SPG and Marriott accounts has created a lot of LTP and LTPP members who would not have otherwise achieved the LT status in either program alone. For example, I had close to 750 LT nights before the merge, but I was nowhere close to 1.6m points. Now I'm LTP. I know a friend who was mostly MR Gold over the past 10 years, but now he is LTPP because of the nights from SPG.
One possible solution is to remove unlimited lounge access at the Platinum level. Possibly they can take the approach of Hilton and Hyatt combined. Platinum will still have free breakfast (for whatever it is worth) and 4 lounge passes annually.
I don't like the possibility but please tell me it's not a legitimate concern.
Feb 2, 2019, 9:19 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,519
No Lounge Access for Platinum status will only work if they first let you get LTPP (or I should say LTT) again . Otherwise anyone who starting staying Marriott now will not get lounge access from the highest LTP status, which the question - why bother give Marriott the loyalty then.
Feb 2, 2019, 9:37 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Washington DC Metro Area
Programs: A: PP, LTG/1.5M | UA: SLV | Bonvoy LTTi | IHG PLT| Avis PC | Nat'l Emerald Club EE
Posts: 1,067
I recall a colleague was telling me around the Year 2010 that SPG had removed lounge access at his tier (I believe it was gold). I could be wrong on this.
I think removing lounge access for Plat is a real possibility for several reasons:
One possible solution is to remove unlimited lounge access at the Platinum level. Possibly they can take the approach of Hilton and Hyatt combined. Platinum will still have free breakfast (for whatever it is worth) and 4 lounge passes annually.
I don't like the possibility but please tell me it's not a legitimate concern.
I think removing lounge access for Plat is a real possibility for several reasons:
- At the mid status level at other major hotel chains, there is no unlimited lounge access. (Plat level is now the mid-level status of the new Bonvoy program. Ambassador requires 100 nights, and Plat requires 50 nights.)
- IHG Plat (40 nights): Gets a "raid the bar" card. ($10 food credit?)
- Hilton Gold (40 nights): Free breakfast. No lounge access.
- Hyatt Exploriat (30 nights): 4 lounge passes per year.
- Club Carlson Gold (30 nights): No breakfast or lounge access.
- New Titanium doesn't currently offer differentiated benefits over Platinum, and many members are asking for more to justify the additional 25 nights.
- It looks that the merge of SPG and Marriott accounts has created a lot of LTP and LTPP members who would not have otherwise achieved the LT status in either program alone. For example, I had close to 750 LT nights before the merge, but I was nowhere close to 1.6m points. Now I'm LTP. I know a friend who was mostly MR Gold over the past 10 years, but now he is LTPP because of the nights from SPG.
One possible solution is to remove unlimited lounge access at the Platinum level. Possibly they can take the approach of Hilton and Hyatt combined. Platinum will still have free breakfast (for whatever it is worth) and 4 lounge passes annually.
I don't like the possibility but please tell me it's not a legitimate concern.
I wonder if there’s a skewed view of just how many elites there are based on the relatively small sample represented here (?). I did not expect to be LTPP/Ti, but that’s not going to make me stay at Marriotts more. If anything, it makes me a free-agent, less-incentivized to always choose Marriott because I don’t have to chase the status anymore.
Maybe MBv’s plan is to “devalue PLT” in a year or two; or maybe it isn’t. But the program will change...that’s certain and always is. We’ll have to wait and see.
What else do you suppose you could do about it?
Feb 2, 2019, 9:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,790
I recall a colleague was telling me around the Year 2010 that SPG had removed lounge access at his tier (I believe it was gold). I could be wrong on this.
I think removing lounge access for Plat is a real possibility for several reasons:
One possible solution is to remove unlimited lounge access at the Platinum level. Possibly they can take the approach of Hilton and Hyatt combined. Platinum will still have free breakfast (for whatever it is worth) and 4 lounge passes annually.
I don't like the possibility but please tell me it's not a legitimate concern.
I think removing lounge access for Plat is a real possibility for several reasons:
- At the mid status level at other major hotel chains, there is no unlimited lounge access. (Plat level is now the mid-level status of the new Bonvoy program. Ambassador requires 100 nights, and Plat requires 50 nights.)
- IHG Plat (40 nights): Gets a "raid the bar" card. ($10 food credit?)
- Hilton Gold (40 nights): Free breakfast. No lounge access.
- Hyatt Exploriat (30 nights): 4 lounge passes per year.
- Club Carlson Gold (30 nights): No breakfast or lounge access.
- New Titanium doesn't currently offer differentiated benefits over Platinum, and many members are asking for more to justify the additional 25 nights.
- It looks that the merge of SPG and Marriott accounts has created a lot of LTP and LTPP members who would not have otherwise achieved the LT status in either program alone. For example, I had close to 750 LT nights before the merge, but I was nowhere close to 1.6m points. Now I'm LTP. I know a friend who was mostly MR Gold over the past 10 years, but now he is LTPP because of the nights from SPG.
One possible solution is to remove unlimited lounge access at the Platinum level. Possibly they can take the approach of Hilton and Hyatt combined. Platinum will still have free breakfast (for whatever it is worth) and 4 lounge passes annually.
I don't like the possibility but please tell me it's not a legitimate concern.
The biggest risk to those with lifetime elite status and status that comes with spending on credit cards without qualification by nights.
Feb 2, 2019, 10:01 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Tit, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold, Carlson Gold, UA*S,
Posts: 1,363
I would also like to see the SNA's stretch into stays rather than nights... so you could have 5 stays of however long your stay is, say up to 7 nights.