Platinum Status: Devaluations / changes inevitable after credit card changes?
Sep 22, 2022, 12:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,888
Platinum Status: Devaluations / changes inevitable after credit card changes?
The Amex Bonvoy Brilliant changes now make Platinum very easy to get. Benefits like breakfast and lounge access now seem like a bit much to offer. Will these be curtailed?
Sep 22, 2022, 12:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Here there everywhere
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, BA Silver, Aegean Gold, Aeroplan 25k, AA EXP
Posts: 2,823
$650 is still an expensive annual fee. The Hilton Aspire at $450 offers a lot more value and hasn't seen negative changes to diamond. That makes me believe the number of people who actually sign up to these very premium cards remains quite low or many people have status regardless.
Sep 22, 2022, 12:59 pm
#3
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
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Sep 22, 2022, 1:03 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
Similar situation happened when UA Gold elite included MR Gold status which had (what is now bonvOY Plat benefits). Lounges were overrun until bonvOY devalued Gold to not include breakfast and sent UA Gold elite packing
Sep 22, 2022, 1:21 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), AA Gold, UA (*G) Gold
Posts: 5,099
Given that Marriott was already giving away Platinum status to new Bonvoy Brilliant applicants last year, perhaps, the numbers aren't as high as we might think. I can't imagine that Marriott would allow this change if it caused the Platinum numbers to increase to a prohibitive amount, but perhaps, that is just wishful thinking...
Sep 22, 2022, 1:21 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
Don't forget that during that period, SPG Gold was getting lounge access at Marriotts. And SPG Gold was incredible easy to get.
$650 is a very steep barrier, and only people that travel a lot will impact the lounges. If you're already traveling a lot (or into credit cards), you probably already have Plat via other means.
Sep 22, 2022, 1:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,770
Not every person can justify a $650 card fee and there’s a whole world of people outside of the USA who are unlikely to be able to access this card anyway.
Sep 22, 2022, 1:42 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott, United, Jetblue
Posts: 155
Given that Marriott was already giving away Platinum status to new Bonvoy Brilliant applicants last year, perhaps, the numbers aren't as high as we might think. I can't imagine that Marriott would allow this change if it caused the Platinum numbers to increase to a prohibitive amount, but perhaps, that is just wishful thinking...
Sep 22, 2022, 1:42 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), AA Gold, UA (*G) Gold
Posts: 5,099
This is a very fair point - I just had a conversation with my parents who hold the Bonvoy Brilliant but travel rarely (once every two months or so). Giving folks like them Platinum won't affect the lounges and breakfasts significantly (even though my mother claims my father used the lounge access they have from the Ambassador Platinum gift this year to eat 15 strips of bacon all at once).
Sep 22, 2022, 1:42 pm
#10
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: 13,031
Given that Marriott was already giving away Platinum status to new Bonvoy Brilliant applicants last year, perhaps, the numbers aren't as high as we might think. I can't imagine that Marriott would allow this change if it caused the Platinum numbers to increase to a prohibitive amount, but perhaps, that is just wishful thinking...
If you own a hotel and Marriott says to "treat our best and most frequent guests well" and then you find out that the "best guests" are just a bunch of people who paid $650, why would you deliver elite benefits of any relevance? Especially since Marriott clearly isn't enforcing the rules any more?
Sep 22, 2022, 1:44 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Programs: MB Ambassador, WOH Globalist, HH Diamond (Aspire), AA Gold, UA (*G) Gold
Posts: 5,099
Regardless of the overall # of Platinums...
If you own a hotel and Marriott says to "treat our best and most frequent guests well" and then you find out that the "best guests" are just a bunch of people who paid $650, why would you deliver elite benefits of any relevance? Especially since Marriott clearly isn't enforcing the rules any more?
If you own a hotel and Marriott says to "treat our best and most frequent guests well" and then you find out that the "best guests" are just a bunch of people who paid $650, why would you deliver elite benefits of any relevance? Especially since Marriott clearly isn't enforcing the rules any more?
Sep 22, 2022, 2:03 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,911
gonna probably be no more automatic lounge access if not upgraded to club level (a la Hilton gold), though those that qualify for the card and use it in the USA won’t probably feel the difference with the lack of lounges or offerings anyways… if Bonvoy goes down this route, it’ll hurt the card ineligible members overseas the most.
maybe also cut down on the 4pm late checkout to 2pm and maybe enhanced upgraded up to club level only, and not standard.
only way to differentiate between platinum (now available through cc) and titanium and ambassador.
maybe also cut down on the 4pm late checkout to 2pm and maybe enhanced upgraded up to club level only, and not standard.
only way to differentiate between platinum (now available through cc) and titanium and ambassador.
Sep 22, 2022, 2:31 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,858
$650 is still an expensive annual fee. The Hilton Aspire at $450 offers a lot more value and hasn't seen negative changes to diamond. That makes me believe the number of people who actually sign up to these very premium cards remains quite low or many people have status regardless.
Sep 22, 2022, 2:47 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,180
Honestly I earned Hilton diamond for years before I got it via credit card and I’m not noticing a big difference in treatment. Not sure Marriot will be any different. While I did get decent treatment overseas the Us was laughable. From what I read it’s similar here. It’s been a minute since I’ve stayed with Marriot but the new card has me willing to give them a go as a Hyatt backup.
Sep 22, 2022, 2:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Every time something is given away with CC's, devaluation follows, When Caesars partnered with Wyndham and one could match to their at the time highest level, Diamond, it did not take long for Caesars to add 2 extra Diamond tiers: Diamond Plus and Diamond Elite. Only Diamond Plus and Diamond Plus have automatic access to their Laurel Lounges.
I guess Bonvoy should have never renamed their 3 flavors of Platinum. I guess Platinum, Platinum Elite, and Platinum Ambassador is coming back! There is no way they can keep the current Platinum benefits while giving it away with CC's, based on what we've already seen from Hilton and other hotel chains that have done this.
I guess Bonvoy should have never renamed their 3 flavors of Platinum. I guess Platinum, Platinum Elite, and Platinum Ambassador is coming back! There is no way they can keep the current Platinum benefits while giving it away with CC's, based on what we've already seen from Hilton and other hotel chains that have done this.