Benefits of Earning Status This Year
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 28
Benefits of Earning Status This Year
My priority coming into this year was maintaining Platinum for two more years to earn lifetime Platinum status. Now that my status has been extended for a year - including a year of lifetime - is there any advantage (other than choice of gift and the points) in trying to earn status this year? I assume earning through stays and card spend wouldn't earn a 2nd year toward lifetime. It would definitely be a stretch, so if there isn't a significant advantage I won't go out of my way to make it happen.
#2
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: 14,820
Years of lifetime status must be "earned".
This implies that an "extended" year does not count toward lifetime status. However, as set forth below, The Points Guy confirmed with Marriott that it will count toward lifetime.
So, in your situation, it sounds like another earned year would be helpful only with respect to choice awards, total lifetime nights, and avoiding uncertainty about what is not yet in the terms and conditions.
This implies that an "extended" year does not count toward lifetime status. However, as set forth below, The Points Guy confirmed with Marriott that it will count toward lifetime.
So, in your situation, it sounds like another earned year would be helpful only with respect to choice awards, total lifetime nights, and avoiding uncertainty about what is not yet in the terms and conditions.
Last edited by SPN Lifer; May 14, 2020 at 12:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,842
When they give a soft landing you get another year of Platinum status on the counter. Or at least I did. Why would an extension be different?
#4
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kuwait (KW)
Programs: Qatar Airways, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 2,696
Thank you!
khabah
#5
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,190
My priority coming into this year was maintaining Platinum for two more years to earn lifetime Platinum status. Now that my status has been extended for a year - including a year of lifetime - is there any advantage (other than choice of gift and the points) in trying to earn status this year? I assume earning through stays and card spend wouldn't earn a 2nd year toward lifetime. It would definitely be a stretch, so if there isn't a significant advantage I won't go out of my way to make it happen.
I'm in the same situation as you and am aiming for 50 nights this year and 50 nights next year (2021) to get lifetime Platinum as I'm currently on eight years. I have 32 nights so far and it's not a reach to get to 50 by the end of December. But if I am to be gifted this lifetime year as part of the Corona status extension then I'd like to know definitively now to take off the pressure.
Thanks.
#6
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: 12,975
Can you link to the T&Cs / Bonvoy Statement that says the status extension includes a year of lifetime to remove any speculation, doubt, and debate please. Or is this a speculative comment on your part? I do not recall seeing this but that doesn't mean it's not a fact.
I'm in the same situation as you and am aiming for 50 nights this year and 50 nights next year (2021) to get lifetime Platinum as I'm currently on eight years. I have 32 nights so far and it's not a reach to get to 50 by the end of December. But if I am to be gifted this lifetime year as part of the Corona status extension then I'd like to know definitively now to take off the pressure.
Thanks.
I'm in the same situation as you and am aiming for 50 nights this year and 50 nights next year (2021) to get lifetime Platinum as I'm currently on eight years. I have 32 nights so far and it's not a reach to get to 50 by the end of December. But if I am to be gifted this lifetime year as part of the Corona status extension then I'd like to know definitively now to take off the pressure.
Thanks.
Soft landings weren't a published benefit, but were a widely known feature. Then Marriott apparently changed their minds this year - despite firm guidance from lurkers that it wouldn't - but then if you pushed hard enough via social media you might have received your soft landing again. And many people have reported an extra LT Platinum year from soft landings in the past. (as well as fast tracks FWIW)
All of this is to say that you either play the game or you try to lock it in by staying 50 nights. (even though Marriott IT is also dumb enough to turn off the year counter for everybody this year)
Marriott won't confirm a big loophole towards LTP and nobody really knows how they will treat these status extensions.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,190
Marriott doesn't work that way.
Soft landings weren't a published benefit, but were a widely known feature. Then Marriott apparently changed their minds this year - despite firm guidance from lurkers that it wouldn't - but then if you pushed hard enough via social media you might have received your soft landing again. And many people have reported an extra LT Platinum year from soft landings in the past. (as well as fast tracks FWIW)
All of this is to say that you either play the game or you try to lock it in by staying 50 nights. (even though Marriott IT is also dumb enough to turn off the year counter for everybody this year)
Marriott won't confirm a big loophole towards LTP and nobody really knows how they will treat these status extensions.
Soft landings weren't a published benefit, but were a widely known feature. Then Marriott apparently changed their minds this year - despite firm guidance from lurkers that it wouldn't - but then if you pushed hard enough via social media you might have received your soft landing again. And many people have reported an extra LT Platinum year from soft landings in the past. (as well as fast tracks FWIW)
All of this is to say that you either play the game or you try to lock it in by staying 50 nights. (even though Marriott IT is also dumb enough to turn off the year counter for everybody this year)
Marriott won't confirm a big loophole towards LTP and nobody really knows how they will treat these status extensions.
#8
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: 12,975
Right, thank you, so it's speculation that the announced status extension will result in an additional lifetime year. (And nothing to do with soft landings, eh?) That's all I wanted clarification on: a statement that was made as fact by the OP that is in fact speculation. I'll do my 50 nights as planned this year.
I have higher confidence in gaining a free Platinum year than the word "speculation" might suggest. But it's not written anywhere and I doubt that it will be.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,782
One thing that I have learned is that 'A bird in the hand' is worth more than an implied promise. Soft landings and status extensions are nice and may actually happen, but when all is said and done do you want to find out the expected credit didn't happen? If you are traveling and need a room why not use the same metric use?
#10
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Germany
Programs: HH Diamond, LT Marriott Plat
Posts: 86
The extra year will count toward Marriott lifetime elite status.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/marrio...e-coronavirus/
https://thepointsguy.com/news/marrio...e-coronavirus/
#11
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,842
The extra year will count toward Marriott lifetime elite status.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/marrio...e-coronavirus/
https://thepointsguy.com/news/marrio...e-coronavirus/
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: HSV
Programs: Hy Glob,Choice Dia, MR TIT,IHG SPR,HH Dia, Wyn Dia, UA Sil, WN Alis, Hert 5*, National EE
Posts: 1,188
Would be nice if Marriott allowed rollover or something for those that kept staying with them but I highly doubt they will do anything.
basically all you will gain is the choice benefits.
Marriott should offer additional choice benefits past 75. Seems dumb not to at least do some extra useless suite nights.
basically all you will gain is the choice benefits.
Marriott should offer additional choice benefits past 75. Seems dumb not to at least do some extra useless suite nights.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New York City
Programs: UA: 1K, Hyatt: Explorist and Marriott: LF Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,268
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,151
Even if they give 1 additional year towards LTP, for many people who usually only do circa. 50 nights per year, theyd still be short of the total nights. Ill probably need to do 13 years to get it anyway so the additional year wont make much difference, even more so if Im not doing the nights this year. For a few, it might help if youve already done enough nights but I suspect thatll be the minority.