The bonvoyed.com website
#61
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
It was never a published benefit therefore Marriott Bonvoy didn't take anything away from you.
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
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#63
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
If they can't ensure hotels follow the rules for suite upgrades, how can they ensure hotels follow the rules for points/breakfasts. Wouldn't those fall into the same 'monitoring for compliance' so to speak?
#64
Join Date: May 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K/1.5MM, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz PC, National Emerald Executive
Posts: 424
Funny? Just more of the boring complaining which is seen on this website. A lot of which is misunderstanding of terms, some of which is a temporary glitch that will be resolved that is expected to be resolved immediately, more of which is a change in terms that people are not happy with. I'm relatively new to the program, but I don't seem to have any of these huge issues people are experiencing. Yes, some things could be better, there could be less IT problems, there could be better descriptions of terms. When I read forums about other hotel rewards programs I see the same things though, so people that say they are jumping ship I don't always believe, especially those with Lifetime status. I also like the name Bonvoy. I'm happy to be Bonvoyed so far. The game always changes with any rewards program, adjust and play the game well...
#65
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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[Quoted post has been removed]
?? This is the first time I've been told I don't get breakfast/lounge if I take the points. In Marriott-land, you used to have to choose between the points and the wine/cheese amenity, but not between points and lounge. In my SPG Plat years, there was never a question - it was just points + breakfast.
The choice - one or the other - is definitely new to me.
?? This is the first time I've been told I don't get breakfast/lounge if I take the points. In Marriott-land, you used to have to choose between the points and the wine/cheese amenity, but not between points and lounge. In my SPG Plat years, there was never a question - it was just points + breakfast.
The choice - one or the other - is definitely new to me.
Last edited by hhoope01; Mar 13, 2019 at 8:49 am Reason: Removed references to deleted post.
#66
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; IHG Plat; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 11,721
One point of note, lounge access is not part of the Plat Welcome amenity. You should get that whether you choose the points or you choose the Food/Beverage or breakfast option. So breakfast in the lounge should still be an option even if you choose the points.
#67
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It's been years since legacy Marriott offered a choice between points and a wine-and-cheese amenity in North America. Before August, it was points or $10 voucher.
#68
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*shrug* I've been staying at Marriotts for 25 years on 4 different continents and many of them have done wine and cheese as a welcome amenity. Some properties do other things; some do only points. Oddly enough, I have never been in a Marriott where they offered me a $10 voucher. I've had a few U.S. stays in the past 2-3 years where it was just points, no option for a voucher. My main point is that I have never been asked to give up other Platinum benefits as a condition for accepting the points or the welcome amenity. That happened to me for the first time on my first U.S. "Bonvoy" stay, this week.
#69
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Wait, so I didn't get bonvoyed because I had to pay for parking in downtown San Francisco?!
I've never had to do that before in any of my Marriott or SPG hotel stays there before...they would always valet my car for free and tip themselves. hmph.
(#sarcasm)
It's already happening unfortunately. People (in general, not pointing at the OP) will use any excuse they can to say they were 'wronged'. But it's never their fault for not reading the program website or terms/conditions.
I've never had to do that before in any of my Marriott or SPG hotel stays there before...they would always valet my car for free and tip themselves. hmph.
(#sarcasm)
It's already happening unfortunately. People (in general, not pointing at the OP) will use any excuse they can to say they were 'wronged'. But it's never their fault for not reading the program website or terms/conditions.
Oddly enough, I have never been in a Marriott where they offered me a $10 voucher. I've had a few U.S. stays in the past 2-3 years where it was just points, no option for a voucher. My main point is that I have never been asked to give up other Platinum benefits as a condition for accepting the points or the welcome amenity. That happened to me for the first time on my first U.S. "Bonvoy" stay, this week.
#70
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If you accepted the credit or points, did they deactivate your lounge access? Or did you get both?
#71
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
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I think it's useful to categorize the different types of complaints.
1. Dissatisfaction with the program rules.
Maybe you don't like the travel package rates, or the recent re-categorization of hotels, or that LT titanium is no longer achievable, or the absurd complexity of the breakfast benefit, or the capacity control on reward nights at a majority of hotels. Valid complaints all, but every hotel chain will have their own set of issues. "Bonvoyed"? I'd say no.
2. Failure to deliver on promised benefits.
This is a biggie. This covers everything from IT failures, missing stays or points or certs, hotels not honoring elite benefits, excessive time to respond to emails/calls and to resolve issues, and so on. "Bonvoyed"? Definitely.
3. Communication issues.
This includes complaints from folks unaware of program changes. I'd say the fault here is often with the customer not reading emails and snail mailings, but when it's widespread, then some of the blame has to go to Marriott for not designing a communication strategy with better results. "Bonvoyed"? Mostly not.
But Communication Issues also includes cases where Marriott never made the info available, like years of status prior to Aug 18, or what years were supposed to count ("proprietary"), or whether or when the sweeps have run, or how many dollars of spend you have, or how existing old travel package certs would be handled. All this info would be specific and actionable, and yet the program made decisions - explicitly or implicitly - not to share it with customers. "Bonvoyed"? Yup.
1. Dissatisfaction with the program rules.
Maybe you don't like the travel package rates, or the recent re-categorization of hotels, or that LT titanium is no longer achievable, or the absurd complexity of the breakfast benefit, or the capacity control on reward nights at a majority of hotels. Valid complaints all, but every hotel chain will have their own set of issues. "Bonvoyed"? I'd say no.
2. Failure to deliver on promised benefits.
This is a biggie. This covers everything from IT failures, missing stays or points or certs, hotels not honoring elite benefits, excessive time to respond to emails/calls and to resolve issues, and so on. "Bonvoyed"? Definitely.
3. Communication issues.
This includes complaints from folks unaware of program changes. I'd say the fault here is often with the customer not reading emails and snail mailings, but when it's widespread, then some of the blame has to go to Marriott for not designing a communication strategy with better results. "Bonvoyed"? Mostly not.
But Communication Issues also includes cases where Marriott never made the info available, like years of status prior to Aug 18, or what years were supposed to count ("proprietary"), or whether or when the sweeps have run, or how many dollars of spend you have, or how existing old travel package certs would be handled. All this info would be specific and actionable, and yet the program made decisions - explicitly or implicitly - not to share it with customers. "Bonvoyed"? Yup.
#72
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At certain SPG properties, the breakfast benefit is part of the welcome amenity. That's why you are offered either points or breakfast.
I know the rules are unduly complex, but it would probably be helpful to the discussion if you read them.
#73
Join Date: Apr 2003
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At Marriotts with a lounge, you get lounge access. If the lounge is closed, you get breakfast in the restaurant. You also get the choice of a welcome amenity, which is now 1000 points or a $10 F&B credit. These are separate benefits. This is the same basic rule that's been in place forever.
At certain SPG properties, the breakfast benefit is part of the welcome amenity. That's why you are offered either points or breakfast.
I know the rules are unduly complex, but it would probably be helpful to the discussion if you read them.
At certain SPG properties, the breakfast benefit is part of the welcome amenity. That's why you are offered either points or breakfast.
I know the rules are unduly complex, but it would probably be helpful to the discussion if you read them.
*shrug* I've been staying at Marriotts for 25 years on 4 different continents and many of them have done wine and cheese as a welcome amenity. Some properties do other things; some do only points. Oddly enough, I have never been in a Marriott where they offered me a $10 voucher. I've had a few U.S. stays in the past 2-3 years where it was just points, no option for a voucher. My main point is that I have never been asked to give up other Platinum benefits as a condition for accepting the points or the welcome amenity. That happened to me for the first time on my first U.S. "Bonvoy" stay, this week.
If you stay at the Seattle Renaissance, you get lounge access with breakfast and light snacks at dinner plus a $10 voucher (or points in lieu of the voucher).
If you stay at the Seattle Westin, you get breakfast in the restaurant or a $10 voucher.
This is how it has worked before the SPG acquisition, before 8/18, before Bonvoy, and now. SPG made you choose. Marriott did not.
Obviously, the benefit at the Renaissance is objectively better since you get breakfast, dinner snacks, and $10 but there are SPG loyalists who insist passionately that the benefits at the Westin are better. (and yes, I know the benefits at resorts were better under SPG)
Last edited by C17PSGR; Mar 13, 2019 at 12:05 pm
#74
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Obviously, the benefit at the Renaissance is objectively better since you get breakfast, dinner snacks, and $10 but there are SPG loyalists who insist passionately that the benefits at the Westin are better. (and yes, I know the benefits at resorts were better under SPG)
#75
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But this is how SPG has always done it, and there is no change.
If you stay at the Seattle Renaissance, you get lounge access with breakfast and light snacks at dinner plus a $10 voucher.
If you stay at the Seattle Westin, you get breakfast in the restaurant or a $10 voucher.
This is how it has worked before the SPG acquisition, before 8/18, before Bonvoy, and now. SPG made you choose. Marriott did not.
Obviously, the benefit at the Renaissance is objectively better since you get breakfast, dinner snacks, and $10 but there are SPG loyalists who insist passionately that the benefits at the Westin are better. (and yes, I know the benefits at resorts were better under SPG)
If you stay at the Seattle Renaissance, you get lounge access with breakfast and light snacks at dinner plus a $10 voucher.
If you stay at the Seattle Westin, you get breakfast in the restaurant or a $10 voucher.
This is how it has worked before the SPG acquisition, before 8/18, before Bonvoy, and now. SPG made you choose. Marriott did not.
Obviously, the benefit at the Renaissance is objectively better since you get breakfast, dinner snacks, and $10 but there are SPG loyalists who insist passionately that the benefits at the Westin are better. (and yes, I know the benefits at resorts were better under SPG)
IMHO, properties following written policy is not being "bonvoyed" but a pressure for letter-of-the-law adherence to rules company-wide at SPG properties could be considered that.