This is such a vague benefit how do you know you are getting a better late checkout time than a non-elite? I'm at a FI, and they told me the latest checkout time is 1pm. That's an hour after the regular checkout time. I've gotten later checkout times at hotels I don't have status with. If they don't list a specific time, I see this benefit as useless. Doesn't Starwood specifically say 4pm? There are some hotels, that do go above and beyond, but in general it's not a benefit you can count on 100% of the time.

I dunno if it's 'cause I'm Plat but I've never been denied checkout as late as 4PM; in fact, the FI I've been calling a 2nd home lately pretty much sets my last day's checkout time at 3pm on my keys as a matter of course (I come back and get my stuff out after lunch).

Never had a problem getting a late check out up until 3:00 PM. It's not likely they'll exceed the 3:00 PM time unless there is some really compelling reason. They're always nice about allowing me to store my bags with the bellboy and using the hotel's facilities as long as I'm out of the room by three. This seems fair and reasonable to me.

I've had the following experience a couple times: Knowing that I'd be checking out late the next day, when I check in, I ask if I can keep the room until, let's say, 2:00pm. The desk clerk initially says something like, "You'll need to call down to the desk in the morning. Oh, wait, your Plat. I'll be able to arrange that."

This leads me to believe that at many properties, the guy off the street is held at bay so the Plat/Gold/Silver Rewards Member has an opportunity to be given the late check-out first.

Although this does not allow you to compare what you are getting to what someone else is getting, it does show some effort at giving MR members with status some priority.

They may hassel you (and they may need to clean the room as house keeping going, etc) - but if you need it, you are guaranteed to 4 pm. period

Where is the guarantee in writing?

sorry but I reviewed the SOP Database on elite benefits earlier this evening - there is no guaranteed time in this benefit, only states elites will be given priority in late checkouts, if for some reason a hotel isn't able to grant any late checkouts they dont need to and they will still be meeting this benefit (not sure I can quickly come up with an explain of why a hotel wouldn't be able to but I'm certain it happens although very rarely)

I am almost always offered 2 p.m. and rarely 1 p.m.
As for when a hotel wouldn't be able to, I was denied a late checkout at the Biscayne Bay Marriott last year when I was checking out on the day of the superbowl (which was in Miami). They were nice in telling me this at check-in (no late checkouts tomorrow).

Not as rarely as one might think. We've been in situations where the hotel is expecting a large number of guests due to a convention or conference starting the next day. We were recently at the LALive Marriott on business and our group occupied the entire hotel. In a case like that, the hotel management puts a lot of pressure on front desk personnel to get existing guests out just as early as possible because housekeeping is going to be unusually busy getting all rooms ready for occupancy. This can be a daunting task.

Late check-out is my biggest source of frustration with all hotel properties and across all chains. Most places make me haggle with them in some fashion like this:

me: "I'd like a 4 p.m. checkout, please."
them: "Our checkout time is 12:00, but you can have until 1:00."
me: "Even for Platinums?"
them: "I suppose we can do 2:00. We're very busy." [Total b.s. in most cases, as I ask other hotel clerks what the capacity is.]
me: "I work at night and sleep in the day. I don't expect to get to bed until 9 or 10 a.m. You can't let me get at least 6 hours of sleep?"
them: "ugggghhhh....okay, you can check out at 4 p.m."

After all this crap, I end up getting awakened at 12:15 by housekeeping who was never informed that I had a late check-out, then again at 1:00 by security or a manager who is also unaware. So much for a good night's sleep.

If they are expecting full hotel or if they are letting their maids go home early, they can defend themselves against it. However, according to managers at hotels I usually stay at, THEIR instructions are to allow to 4 pm.

(they can do later, with questionable weather and whether plane would take off, I have been offered until 6 pm)

I'm curious what the hotel chains' official protocol is on allowing the housekeeping staff to go home after they've finished doing their last room. I know some large hotels have a skeleton cleaning staff working 'round the clock where there is a frequent turnover of rooms, ie. where many airlines house their off-duty flight crews, etc. Someone has to be around to service the rooms where there are late check outs, early check ins, middle of the night plumbing problems, etc. I think all of this plays a role in allowing one a late check out. I personally think a 4 PM late checkout is being more than fair on management's part (and I'm not a "company" man).

From what I understand, most of the hotels are privately owned (I think the JWs are owned by Marriott). It is a business and they don't tell a hotel to waste money by keeping rooms open and staff available that they don't need). Most hotels do send housekeeping home after a certain time - keeping some for turn down, etc with managers doing some of the jobs thereafter.

They try to do the 4 pm. If they can't, they usually explain it. BUT, you often have to "go above" the lowly desk clerk to the manager on duty.

I thought the JWs were just as likely to be franchisees as are any other MI hotels. Off the top of my head, I believe Amway owns the JW in Grand Rapids and the Indy JW is owned by White Management. Minor owns one or two of the JWs in Thailand.

I don't know. It is what I have been told by Marriott people