Done.

Just a reminder of the FT Rules : “Please create thread titles that are specific and descriptive and that contain an accurate (not misleading or sensational) characterization of the topic” and “Don't simply post a link by itself to another source, such as an article or blog. Posts containing such links should contain enough information so as to be contributive to FlyerTalk itself.” Perhaps the OP could edit their post to add some narrative ?

Exactly, it is amusing…suites will go bye bye

When my current experience is less than 1 out of every 100 stays results in an upgrade to a suite (even using suite upgrades), its difficult for me to see the material difference this will make?

Thanks for flagging - continues to validate that switching away from Marriott was the right choice.

I completely understand the value of certain room upgrades, such as a higher floor, a room with a view, or access to a club lounge. These enhancements can genuinely improve the experience. However, if the issue revolves specifically around an upgrade to a suite, it’s not something I particularly care about. The vast majority of my Marriott stays are business-related and I’m usually traveling alone, so a suite is unnecessary space. Of course, if I were on vacation at a beach resort, an upgrade to a suite would be far more meaningful and appreciated.

Could not agree more!

Waiting for more shoes to drop. Thankfully it’s just a backup status for me now.

Don’t be sensationalist. Isn’t the only singular shoe left 4pm late checkout?

Complimentary room upgrades (without using NUA) are still very common in second-tier and third-tier cities in Latin America and Asia/Pacific, especially locations that are less common tourist or business destinations for North American elites. The farther off the beaten path the property is, the more "impressed" the staff are likely to be with your status.

I once stayed at a property in a smaller city in South America, and they were so impressed with my Bonvoy Titanium status that they gave me a massive suite and the General Manager was waiting to greet me at breakfast, saying "we've never had a guest with your status in my time here!"

Breakfast esp for Plat

Let's take a look at what actually changed.

Here's the upgrade language for Platinum Elite members in the Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions. I underlined, bolded, and added colors.

Let's compare Before ("updated December 2024") and After ( "updated May 2025"). Marriott removed the text that I marked in red, and added the text that I marked in green.

ii. Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Platinum Elite Members. Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade to the best available room, subject to availability upon arrival, for the entire length of stay. Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors. At The Ritz-Carlton, suites are only included for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Members and rooms with direct Club access are excluded. Enhanced Room Upgrades are subject to availability and are identified by each Participating Property. The Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Platinum Elite Members and above is available at all Participating Brands except at StudioRes, Limited Sonder Properties,Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, The Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale, and Ritz-Carlton

The most significant change is the removal of the phrase "to the best available room." It's about time! All that phrase did was to cause unrealistic expectations. Consider the case of a member with a reservation for base level room checking in at 4 PM and demanding an upgrade to a super-duper suite on the basis of those five words, while ignoring the part about "subject to availability and are identified by each Participating Property."

With the removal of this five-word phrase, the T&Cs now reflect how the system really works -- or at least how it should work. For example, a member with a base level room reservation might be upgraded to a deluxe room, because a member with a deluxe room reservation might be upgraded to a junior suite, because a member with a junior suite reservation might be upgraded to an executive suite. Perhaps someone might even be upgraded to the Presidential Suite -- but not necessarily the member who thinks that reading the T&Cs to the front desk agent should score that upgrade. Upgrades are usually pre-assigned.

The defense of a program continually weakening its benefits is mind blowing. But I guess YMMV and all.

I don't think anyone is "defending" anything. In practice, it's just not a meaningful change for most people. You'd see more of an uproar over elimination of things like breakfast or late checkout.

The explanation is pretty simple. Some people's experiences are different from yours. Neither of you seems to allow for that, even if those people (like me) are in the minority.


That always makes me smile. "Fight for a suite upgrade"? The last thing I want to do when standing at the front desk and checking in to a hotel is get out my laptop or phone to see if there are suites available and start fighting with the FDC to get what I think that I'm entitled to. When having a suite is important to me, I book it. Otherwise, it's just a nice-to-have, but not terribly important.


Agreed. And there are always SNAs (or whatever they're called now). I've also found that I can increase my chances of an upgrade for special occasions (when the rate for a suite or the suite I want is more than I want to spend, etc.) by communicating with the GM in advance. But I do this rarely.

Clearly it’s meaningful enough of a benefit that Marriott felt the need to change the T&Cs to make it explicit we shouldn’t expect anything. I can still name the properties that gave me jaw-dropping upgrades (all from the “base” booking). I also remember how the same property (The Nines in Portland) continued to devalue its experience as SPG was subsumed into Marriott.

I must admit, I've never waved the T+C's to a FD before - or even knew this was a thing - although have certainly asked about/gently pressed for certain kinds of upgrades. Additionally, my experience in recent years has been that any upgrade generally gets pre-assigned in the app at around the 12-36 hour mark before check in and as a LTT, I've had pretty good luck with upgrades in the last couple of years - suites or otherwise. But I have also seen some pre-blocked upgrades get taken away at the last minute too. Understanding that this may happen for any number of reasons, I would honestly be irritated if I had a suite assigned in the app, only to be re-assigned to a lower level room because some other Plat guest coerces the FD to "abide by the T+C's".

If this language change eliminates this behavior without limiting the # of upgrade opportunities, then I'm all for it. Time will tell of course, but I just don't see this as a doom and gloom "no more suite upgrades" move on Marriott's part. Perhaps this was simply a way of streamlining their check in process because it's a hassle and a waste of time (and not fair to other status guests) to have to constantly re-assign upgrades/rooms to T+C's sticklers?