Two Program Enhancements Announced 15 Jun : Pointsavers and Head Start on Status
Jun 15, 2020, 3:09 pm
#46
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
And I checked June/July dates, not August.
Jun 15, 2020, 3:18 pm
#47
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
With 33 Marriott nights already, this will put me over 75. With Ambassador already extended through next year, I now have no status-based incentive for any further Marriott stays (as I don't care about gifting Plat).
Jun 15, 2020, 4:41 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,205
Well, I'm happy with this. Titanium with 33 nights this year and 489 lifetime nights. I was only aiming for 50 nights this year to *guarantee* my 9th Qualifying Platinum Year but this extra 38 qualifying nights will deliver me numerous unexpected benefits: (a) immediate 50-night gift; (b) trivial 4-nights to get the 75-night gift which could be the 5 EQNs from the 50-night gift; (c) immediate bump to 527 Lifetime Nights; (d) at most 4 more nights needed in 2020.
In the event, I will take the 5 SNAs as my 50-night gift which I will again use with a 5-night points redemption at the JW Phu Quoc for one of the most lucrative redemptions in the entire network; I will take the free night as the 75-night gift leaving me with two of these for 2021 for a luxurious weekend away somewhere (let's face it, probably Bangkok as I don't generally look to maximise the value of these certificates and just view them as a nice free night); and only 73 nights to go for my ultimate goal of Lifetime Platinum in my planned retirement year at which point the clouds part and sunlight streams into my world.
In the event, I will take the 5 SNAs as my 50-night gift which I will again use with a 5-night points redemption at the JW Phu Quoc for one of the most lucrative redemptions in the entire network; I will take the free night as the 75-night gift leaving me with two of these for 2021 for a luxurious weekend away somewhere (let's face it, probably Bangkok as I don't generally look to maximise the value of these certificates and just view them as a nice free night); and only 73 nights to go for my ultimate goal of Lifetime Platinum in my planned retirement year at which point the clouds part and sunlight streams into my world.
Jun 15, 2020, 4:49 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,268
Jun 15, 2020, 5:11 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
Hmmm, this Titanium is happy! I am at 39 nights through March 4th. With the 38 gifted EQNs in July, that will put me at 77 nights and I will get 50 & 75 night choice awards. I will most likely choose 5 SNAs & 40K FNA respectively. For Lifetime status, I am at 7 years gold or higher but 39 nights short of Lifetime Gold. I think there is incentive for me to stay one more night and I can use the FNA. Beyond that my benefits are the incentive to keep staying at Marriott. (no need pointing out that benefits are currently reduced, that is for another thread and not everyone is concerned about it)
This is extremely generous. In the slight chance there is a lifetime Titanium status resurrected in the future, those extra nights and (earned) year of Titanium Status just might come in handy.
James
This is extremely generous. In the slight chance there is a lifetime Titanium status resurrected in the future, those extra nights and (earned) year of Titanium Status just might come in handy.
James
If Marriott is reading this, please reintroduce LT Titanium as I don't think it's fair that certain people have it and I don't have even a remote chance of attaining it.
Jun 15, 2020, 5:12 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
Absolutely! I would give Marriott more of my business if this becomes a reality again.
Jun 15, 2020, 5:15 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
I wonder if not the notion that we have too many PLT and TIT members is a commentary which describe the US more than the rest of the world. The actual less number of hotels and the absence of CC nights would be the main drivers of this divergence, does not make it less true in the US of course.
Jun 15, 2020, 5:17 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,911
Yeah... until you hit LTT and back to “what will Marriott do for me”. (Not you specifically, just generalizing) Might as well not open it back up. Same with members at LTP asking why they should go for more stays at this point where LTT is not attainable.
Jun 15, 2020, 5:17 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
lol! This is so silly! I don't even know why Marriott didn't do a better job for Ambassadors considering they're spending US$20k per year! This isn't $20k in any currency other than the good old USD. If I was an Ambassador, I wouldn't even remotely be interested in gifting Platinum to anybody either.
Jun 15, 2020, 5:31 pm
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
Jun 15, 2020, 6:03 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
We can discuss this topic again in 2030...
Jun 15, 2020, 6:04 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
The added lifetime nights seem like an unnecessary gift - most likely really just reflecting Marriott's craptastic IT not being able to treat them separately
Last edited by yosithezet; Jun 15, 2020 at 6:25 pm Reason: OT content redacted.
Jun 15, 2020, 6:24 pm
#58
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,059
Like others I may have preferred the fun of a promotion, but realistically in my last double elite nights promo (in 2019 without COVID), I only got ~20 nights, so this is more generous and a lot less effort.
It doesn't seem that likely I'd hit Ambassador this year either, but at least this is a realistic incentive to get my 50 and 75 night benefits (3 nights and 28 nights to go now with my extra points, my stays have been entirely stopped by COVID and lockdown). Whilst it remains that the main constraint on me hitting the 75 night threshold is out of my control - i.e. quarantines being lifted, the same as many I guess, if the world did reopen by Q3/Q4 then I would look to push for the extra 20 nights. However it is very unlikely I'd do 50 nights of staycations to get Ambassador.
So overall: Seems positive. Whilst on FlyerTalk we may worry about "elite dilution", the number of people who are going to be doing even 20 nights in a hotel this year is going to be fairly low, so I can live with it.
It doesn't seem that likely I'd hit Ambassador this year either, but at least this is a realistic incentive to get my 50 and 75 night benefits (3 nights and 28 nights to go now with my extra points, my stays have been entirely stopped by COVID and lockdown). Whilst it remains that the main constraint on me hitting the 75 night threshold is out of my control - i.e. quarantines being lifted, the same as many I guess, if the world did reopen by Q3/Q4 then I would look to push for the extra 20 nights. However it is very unlikely I'd do 50 nights of staycations to get Ambassador.
So overall: Seems positive. Whilst on FlyerTalk we may worry about "elite dilution", the number of people who are going to be doing even 20 nights in a hotel this year is going to be fairly low, so I can live with it.
