Even more accurate for *some*, like my experience, but certainly not most, would be:

You purchase a coach ticket
You checkin online and are assigned business class seat.
You purchase an additional business class seat next to you for your friend, solely relying on the fact that you were upgraded and you reasonably believe it wasn't an error
You arrive at the airport to check a bag and the airline informs you that you were accidentally given someone else's seat. (sharing seat's probably isn't allowed by the FAA)
You haven't boarded the plane, much less even gone through security and the seat assignment has already been corrected.


Marriott did the right thing. Though most errantly-upgraded customers probably didn't do anything as a result, a minority of us relied on the information as accurate to our detriment. Now that's moot, as Marriott has made it up to us, and then some.

I finished last year with 72 nights. So, I rollover 22 nights, just got 3 more from a 3-night stay in MCO, and now the 10 "apology" nights. Throw in the 10 VISA nights which I havent gotten yet, and I'm up to 45 nights already for 2010. SO I really only need to scrape up 5 more paid nights to keep the Gold for 2011.

I didn't expect to get comped to PLAT and I'm not upset that they reduced me back to Gold. But, wouldnt it make more sense for Marriott to let me keep the PLAT and zero-out my rollover nights? Now, I have little incentive to achieve over 50 nights. If I dont think I will close the gap between 50 and 75 this year, why not re-qualify for Gold and switch to Hilton?

Essentially...if you finished 2 or 3 nights short of the next level, and they "comped" you the status, they gifted you the remaining 2 or 3 nights to get to the next level. Now, instead, they are gifting me 10 nights for screwing up the process...see where I am going here?

I did appreciate the email, I felt it was sincere and straight forward.^ I'm just wondering if Mariott looked closely at the folks who they "goofed" that were within reasonable striking distance of getting comped to the next level anyways.

Is the additional purchase refundable? And how much notice was provided? (Were you ever proactively notified of either the upgrade or correction?)

What would make you reasonably believe the upgrade was not an error?

Good point, but keep in mind that there is a cost for having someone at Plat vs Gold (welcome bonus, higher points rewards, etc).

Where I think there may be generous upgrades is more P's being bumped up to PP. There's no additional published benefits and no extra cost, yet P's rollover beyond 75 nights, while PP's rollover beyond 100. Therefore Marriott has zero additional cost and may be eking out an extra 25 nights/year.

I remain, as of 12:49am EST a lucky bump to Plat from Gold. I will book 60 nights in 2010 in order to retain Plat Stat. If I get an email tomorrow advising me of a mistake and bumping me back to Gold, I'll take my business to HH or SPG on a matter of principal.

I did stay over 60 nights (butts in beds) in 2009 (intentionally to gain status and prove loyalty) plus a nice bump of 15 stays from Marriott Visa Premier Platinum and I assume that might be why I am still elevated to Plat stat. Just my personal opinion, I think MR is doing the right thing by keeping those who REALLY made an effort in the upper tiers. Also, I have stays booked well into 2010 to prove that I intend to to keep loyal. Perhaps that helps? Who knows....

Yes, 60 + 15 = 75 = plat. You should not be at risk of correction back to gold. The errors were the 43-49 night (total, inc. Visa and bonus night) plats.

Thanks lexdevil,

You make good sense. I never was good at math

Makes perfect sense now.

JB

I haven't been able to maintain Gold this year and was wondering when my online status will change to Silver?
Does it change at the end of this month?

Not necessarily true. I finished with 66 nights and got the bump up to Plat, then correction back down to Gold.

In my case:

No, the purchase was not refundable. I was notified of my new status when I logged into my account, I knew what additional perks come with Platinum status, and I reasonably assumed the bump was legit as I had a flurry of activity that I thought might have qualified under either the "platinum challenge" scenario, or perhaps their loose rules for bumping when someone is close or otherwise showing aggressive usage patterns.

Every time I skim through this thread I log into my father's account to see if he's been downgraded, which has not yet happened. I also checked his future reservations once, then checked again to make sure I hadn't deleted any by accident.

I completely missed the extra room he booked to invite my uncle and his girlfriend (my uncle's girlfriend) up to celebrate my birthday. There's another night to get my father up to real Platinum.

At the end of the year I had 74 nights and rolled over 24 nights. I needed one night by April 30 for 75 and platinum b/c of the 12 month rolling status. I was moved to Platinum with this whole mess up. I stayed one night the first week of January. So, I rightfully was platinum. Now, they've moved me back to gold. I'm sure that if I call, I'll be moved to Platinum. It's annoying that I need to call though.

They probably will if you call.

Keep in mind that, as mentioned numerous times over the years (feel free to do a search), that the rolling 12 months was an undocumented benefit that could be taken away at ANYTIME. It appears as though that is exactly what has happened. Unfortunately you have nothing documented to fall back on. [SARCASM]Yes it is annoying to call to ask for a benefit for which you are not entitled according to the documented rules.[/SARCASM]

When I called Marriott last month to ask about being comped the one night so that I didn't miss platinum by one night, I was told by the customer service rep not to worry about it since I had until the end of April to stay the one night with the rolling 12 month rule. So, yes it is annoying to have to call again.

Heck yeah- that half-bottle of wine and grocery-store cheese cost me (as in "my pocket") $9800!

(I also have a couple of $11K Dove Bars in my freezer at home, too. Never got around to eating 'em when checked-in.)