Starting Feb 15 Marriot Platinum members get 30% bonus Black 20% bonus and Gold 10% bonus .But no more 25% airline bonus.

msg53, I posted the change previously, but where did you see that the 25% airline bonus is going away? The material I received had nothing about that. If true, this really takes Marriott Rewards down a notch (or two). The new structure (if the airline bonus still applied) would have made Marriott competitive with Hilton. If no airline bonus, they are actually dropping benefits.

Also, the correct bonus %'s are 20/25/30 (not 10/20/30).

I just got off the phone with Marriott. The 25% airline bonus will be ending on April 1, 1999. I guess those staying at Marriotts between now and then make out OK since both bonuses will be in place til then.

I realize it's only February and we don't know what the rest of the year will bring, but I would like to take this opportunity to formally announce the start of the campaign to dislodge Marriott Rewards from its perch as reigning champ of the Freddies. I voted for them this past year, but this reduction in benefits with the new structure and the disappearing airline bonus (net 5% less for platinum, 10% less for black, 15% less for Gold, and 25% less for no status) is a major step backward. I'm very disappointed - Starwood here I come.

Marriott just sent out an addendum to all elite participants about the program changes.

I agree with MileKing. The slight increase for the elite levels will not offset the loss of 25% airline bonus. For me, the change from 10% bonus for Hertz to 150 points was also a loser, but offset by promotions.

Unfortunately, Marriott is not alone. Hilton Honors has downgraded its membership as well.

While Hilton is offering what appears to be a generous offer of double points and double miles through March 31st, what is not seen is the inflation in points needed to redeem awards.

It is sad indeed, since I go out of my way to maximize Hilton and Marriott stays for the bonuses, upgrades and awards. Truth is, that without the points and upgrades, I would not choose to stay at many of the Hilton properties, although I have been impressed with most Marriotts -- especially the Marriott Suites.

I have not seen any changes to Hilton's award structure except for the addition of the Platinum level properties and the increase in points required for a free airline ticket. I believe the points required for free stays is unchanged. JGill, have you seen something else?

I have already written a letter to Marriott Rewards expressing my displeasure with the changes. I am seriously considering changing loyalty to the new Starwood program. With no capacity controls, a generous 50% bonus for Gold members, and the extra 5K miles bonus for every 20K transferred, this is looking real good.

Are you sure that there are no capacity controls with Starwood? My impression is that there are no blackout dates, but that there are capacity controls.

pgupta011, you may be right. I thought I read the no capacity controls somewhere, but I can't find it on the web site. In any case, Marriott is headed south and Starwood is looking up.

Regarding Hilton Honors, MileKing, you correctly pointed out two of the bigger point inflation problems: Higher points now needed to redeem a airline award, and the additional premium catagory for Hilton awards.

The additional catagory now makes most all Hilton properties that one would like to utilize as vacation spots "cost" 30k to 35k points per night.

Some of the other "changes" include:

1) no more 20k point certificates each year to Gold VIPs

2) erosion of upgrades at time of check-in. While this may not be official policy, it has been my experience that more and more Hilton properties are finding reasons why they will not upgrade Gold VIPs at check-in.

As to Starwood -- I am not familar with a single Starwood Hotel, so I do not know how that can be compared with Marriott.

Somewhat off topic to help those who are unfamiliar with Starwood hotels..

They are NOT named Starwood hotels. They are caleld Sheratons (upper end Business hotels) and Westins (very nice business and some luxury hotels.) CATMAN

MileKing, I did a comparison of Starwood vs Marriott from the perspective of airline miles.

Starwood: 3 miles per dollar (if Gold) and then 25% bonus (for 5K bonus on transfer of 20K miles) so 3.75 miles per dollar.

Marriott (with the changes): 10 hotel points per dollar plus 20-30% elite bonus, so 12-13pts per dollar, and 30,000pts->10,000 airline miles, so 4 to 4.33 miles per dollar. This would be less for Courtyard, Renaissance and Fairfield Inn since they do not qualify for the elite bonus, for them it is 3.33 miles per dollar.

But then, I plan to use hotel points mainly for hotel stays and not for airline miles.

pgupta011, thanks for the analysis! I hadn't thought of this and am surprised to learn that Marriott, with the changes, can still crank out more value than Starwood. Like you, I usually use hotel points for stays rather than airline miles. Although Starwood may offer more value in terms of hotel stay earning power, no one can beat Marriott for the utility of their points (Marriott, COurtyard, Fairfield, etc.) Hmm, this decision will be tougher than I thought.

pgupta011, page 12A of todays's USA Today is a full page Starwood ad. It states, "No blackout dates. No limits on free room availability." Sounds like no capacity controls to me!!!