Status and cost to obtain
Apr 22, 2019, 1:13 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
It is. I can't argue you on that one. I have hit Platinum / Titanium status on personal travel (and a few business trips) before, but i wouldn't dream of Ambassador-ship those years. This year isn't one of those years luckily.
Apr 22, 2019, 1:27 pm
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
I had a few years where I barely qualified Plat. As in, I'd get to December, and sometimes book a random (cheap) weekend getaway with the family to get a couple nights. I had a couple years where I landed on 75 EQN exactly.
I recall that in those years, it was 57 actual nights in the hotels. That meant 3 nights were due to a total of $9,000 spend (something less than $12,000 anyway). Which makes sense...my corp rate was $180-ish in a few of my "regular" cities, I had the occasional NYC business trip, and then a few random cheap stays.
Getting there on $70/nt is probably more doable now with so many more midrange brands and expansion across Asia, Middle East, etc. In the U.S., you can sometimes get those rates in very empty suburban hotels on weekends (often Courtyards). Even Fairfield Inns, with steadier demand along Interstates, stay closer to $100/nt.
I recall that in those years, it was 57 actual nights in the hotels. That meant 3 nights were due to a total of $9,000 spend (something less than $12,000 anyway). Which makes sense...my corp rate was $180-ish in a few of my "regular" cities, I had the occasional NYC business trip, and then a few random cheap stays.
Getting there on $70/nt is probably more doable now with so many more midrange brands and expansion across Asia, Middle East, etc. In the U.S., you can sometimes get those rates in very empty suburban hotels on weekends (often Courtyards). Even Fairfield Inns, with steadier demand along Interstates, stay closer to $100/nt.
Apr 22, 2019, 2:58 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Out of the 75 nights 15 were from CC bonus and 10 from a meeting, so he really only stayed for 50 nights - hence why his $/night were so low
For another data point, i am at $5300 and 83 nights - $64 a night average.
I start another 49 night stay there tonight and with double points/elite night bonus I'll be roughly 180 and $8600 for a whopping $48 a night average
Hotel is in Mexico and the rooms are like $70 a night
Apr 22, 2019, 3:25 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA Exp / Marriott Titanium / Hilton Gold / Hyatt Globalist / United Silver
Posts: 958
I don't think I will be an ambassador this year.
I was targeted for double elite night promo then i got hit by a car so I did a month long stay at a Fairfield Inn w/ Long Term Stay rate while recovering.
Apr 22, 2019, 4:07 pm
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
at the moment I think I will end up for 2019:
AMEX Card: 15 Nights
RC Koh Samui x2 = ~$1,200
Protea Walvis Bay x1 = ~$80
RC New Orleans x3 = $900
RC San Francisco x3 = $1,000 + one points night
Hotel St. Louis x3 = ~$600
RC Budapest x1 = $650
W West Beverly Hills x 3 = $1,145
4 Points Mexico City x 1= Points
RC Moscow x5= $1,660
RC Hong Kong x2= $457 + points
Le Meridien Munich x1= $240
Westin Munich x2= $125 + points
RC Bahrain x2 = points
JW Marriott Baku x2 = $320
RC Abu Dhabi x1 = $225
W Chicago x2= $500
RC Chicago x1= $500
TBD Toronto Property x1 = ?
JW Marriott Phu Quoc x4 = $2,200
55 nights for a hair under $12,000. Would be nice if Bonvoy status had a spend component, since as you can see I give Marriott 4x the amount of $ the original poster does, but he gets upgrade preference over me.
AMEX Card: 15 Nights
RC Koh Samui x2 = ~$1,200
Protea Walvis Bay x1 = ~$80
RC New Orleans x3 = $900
RC San Francisco x3 = $1,000 + one points night
Hotel St. Louis x3 = ~$600
RC Budapest x1 = $650
W West Beverly Hills x 3 = $1,145
4 Points Mexico City x 1= Points
RC Moscow x5= $1,660
RC Hong Kong x2= $457 + points
Le Meridien Munich x1= $240
Westin Munich x2= $125 + points
RC Bahrain x2 = points
JW Marriott Baku x2 = $320
RC Abu Dhabi x1 = $225
W Chicago x2= $500
RC Chicago x1= $500
TBD Toronto Property x1 = ?
JW Marriott Phu Quoc x4 = $2,200
55 nights for a hair under $12,000. Would be nice if Bonvoy status had a spend component, since as you can see I give Marriott 4x the amount of $ the original poster does, but he gets upgrade preference over me.
Last edited by GetSetJetSet; Apr 22, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Apr 22, 2019, 5:02 pm
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: USA
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 519
I’m at 40 nights with a couple promos at just over $6K.
No CC nights as I keep just my core 7 cards.
Will do a meeting. I’ll likely hit 75 EQN. Prolly not 100. So I should be able to do it for abut $150 avg a night as my work travel is to modest prices cities. And it’s on my own dime. My pleasure travel is much higher.
Honestly, it’s really not worth chasing status unless you stay at some big $ properties to enjoy the bennies for leisure. I had over 100 nts last year and have only chose to bother using one of my 10 SNA’s.
Would do Hyatt if I hit more big cities. But I think the lower half of Bonvoy properties much bettter then slogging through Hyatt Places.
Just my 2 cents
No CC nights as I keep just my core 7 cards.
Will do a meeting. I’ll likely hit 75 EQN. Prolly not 100. So I should be able to do it for abut $150 avg a night as my work travel is to modest prices cities. And it’s on my own dime. My pleasure travel is much higher.
Honestly, it’s really not worth chasing status unless you stay at some big $ properties to enjoy the bennies for leisure. I had over 100 nts last year and have only chose to bother using one of my 10 SNA’s.
Would do Hyatt if I hit more big cities. But I think the lower half of Bonvoy properties much bettter then slogging through Hyatt Places.
Just my 2 cents
Apr 22, 2019, 6:21 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,718
I’m at 36 nights and $10K, of which 6 have been on points (yay SGS). My average spend is down on last year now I’m investigating other options than Marriott for luxury hotels in particular, but depending on the rest of my year I expect to requalify for Ambassador potentially for one last time on ~$30-40K with around 100 nights, 10 or so on points. Those of us in countries without credit cards have to actually sit through all the nights - that’s 18% more nights plus we have fewer points to spend on award nights, so it makes quite a big difference - I’d say 25-30% more actual Marriott spend required (which does make it annoying when Marriott treats us like second class members).
Apr 22, 2019, 7:03 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
“Easy” obviously being a relative term - one still has to do the windshield time. Also, “someone else is paying the bills” probably encapsulates the vast majority of those with status of any real consequence (of course there are exceptions, but I don’t gather that most FTers are independently wealthy types who spend 100+ nights out-of-pocket). And in any event, why does it matter? Many of us who travel on a reimbursable basis have anywhere from wide to complete latitude in terms of where we stay, and we look for loyalty to be rewarded by way of status.
Apr 22, 2019, 7:36 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Programs: Marriott Platinum - LT Gold
Posts: 688
If you visit Dubai get it from ENBD 150k welcome bounce 5 elite nights every year free category 5 night every year for approximately $400 .. 3 points for every $ any where 6 points for using it with Marriott
If you don't live in Dubai just open saving account then apply
This is the easiest way around the world if you care !
Good luck ..
If you don't live in Dubai just open saving account then apply
This is the easiest way around the world if you care !
Good luck ..
Apr 22, 2019, 9:42 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
Apr 22, 2019, 11:47 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BC, Canada
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium Elite, VSE/MVC Chairman's Club
Posts: 546
Canadian-based, averaging $100USD/nt on paid stays. Have a long out-of-country trip planned this summer, so hopefully that brings the average up.
Will easily make the nights requirement (projecting 165+ through to the fall right now between paid, points, bonus, CC) to requalify, but I don't think I'll quite hit the $20K spend requirement -- might get close.
Will easily make the nights requirement (projecting 165+ through to the fall right now between paid, points, bonus, CC) to requalify, but I don't think I'll quite hit the $20K spend requirement -- might get close.
Apr 23, 2019, 4:50 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
It’s looking like I’ll end up will over the $20K threshold, but may not even get the nights needed for Titanium (currently Ambassador). My travel pattern switched from 2-3 cities every week to weeklong stays in high-cost areas 1-2x/month. Also had a winter vacation to a BonVoy-less region.
Apr 23, 2019, 4:55 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
Interesting info. As an european I'm looking for a Marriott credit card but there are none here. Guess I can squeeze in a holiday this fall to Dubai and apply for a saving account and then ENBD. All can be done in the same bank and day? Do you happen to know if any deposits to the saving account are required? Guess the year fee of 400usd.
Iwas lucky to have that option i guess