Can spouse use MR number?
 

Next month my wife will be staying at a Marriott. Is it permissable for her to use my MR Gold number so she might be upgraded or get concierge privileges?

Permissible? Of course not.

Would you get away with it? Probably.

In my experience, UpgradeMe is absolutely correct. And in the words of Forrest Gump, "that's all I'm gonna say about that."

Not trying to get away with anything. I saw on the Hilton forum that you can register your spouse and then share the same account. Was wondering if MR had a similar arrangment.

Honestly, I do this all the time and really see nothing wrong with it. Our point of view on these forums is that most Rewards members are business travelers, and that may be true. But many, many of my Marriott stays are as a family and we initially signed up for Marriott Rewards because of personal stays, not business stays. To me, we travel together and earn points together.

I did put my name on my husbands Marriott account over two years ago. To this day, I have never received any document, membership card, statement or mailing that indicates I am on this account.

When checking into a Marriott without my husband, I usually take his Platinum card with me. Usually, if I am occupying the room alone, I will call ahead and state that, and get the room changed to my name, still under our account number. On other occasions, if they ask if Mr. Flyerwife is here, I'll tell them that he is checking in late. Never encountered any problems with this. In fact, I always am given Concierge access, Platinum gift, and almost always an upgrade or suite.

Hmmm....

The MR Terms and Conditions (#6 under "Earning Points" seem to make it clear:

• No other person except the member may earn points for his/her account.

There are no listed exceptions for spouses. Still, there have been numerous reports on this board of successful attempts - intentional and inadvertent - to circumvent this rule.

Points from one spouse's account can be combined with those of the other for purposes of claiming an award. Thus, the only reason I can see to use the other spouse's account number upon check-in is to obtain a benefit that would not otherwise be available - such as an upgrade or getting to a higher elite level through more nights at Marriott. That would seem to border on fraud and runs the risk, however small, that Marriott might invoke General Membership Rule #9:

• In the case of fraud or abuse involving Marriott Rewards, point credit, mileage credit, reward use, or a participating hotel, Marriott and its travel partners have the right to take appropriate administrative and/or legal action, and all frequent flyer miles or points and certificates earned through Marriott Rewards may be forfeited and the account closed.

flyerwife -

It seems that your actions include intentional deception - making a reservation in your spouse's name when you will be the only occupant and saying he will be there later when you know he won't - presumably to get benefits you wouldn’t be entitled to if you always stayed under your own name and MR number.

It puzzles me as to why you see nothing wrong with that.

Also, it makes sense that you would not have received anything from Marriott regarding adding your name to your spouse's account. Marriott doesn't allow for joint accounts and your actions seem to acknowledge that.

If he and I occupy the rooms together for 75 nights that get our account to Platinum status, why would I not be as entitled as he to the same priviledges? If as you state, Marriott only allows for one name on the account, wouldn't this be discriminatory towards couples traveling together?? Frankly, I was never aware of that, if in fact it is their rule. As I stated, I called and asked to be put on the acccount and my information was taken. Really never gave it much thought.

Personally, after 75 nights (actually 120+ nights) in a Marriott for the past 5 years, I would be absolutely livid if Marriott were to refuse Platinum benefits. Guess what? When I stay as one person, tell them I am staying alone, and present the MR Platinum card, I have never been refused. I have always been welcomed as their best customers should be.

Sorry, this one doesn't fly with me. Most hotel rooms are priced with the standard of "double occupancy" in mind. A person occupying alone rarely pays less than 2 people in the same room, certainly not in the US. To think I would not use the Marriott Rewards status that was earned by my family is ridiculous.

Dave M, you may have misread the part of my post where I said I call ahead and change the name on the reservation. I do that all the time. Have never, ever encountered a problem. Never been asked to remove the Marriott account number. Never been refused points or benefits. If what I do makes you uncomfortable, I suggest you don't do it.

In our case, we often make reservations for two rooms, if my husband is traveling on business with an associate, or if we are on vacation with friends or family. Certainly Marriott themselves knows that my husband cannot physically occupy two rooms at a time. Yet, we've always gotten the credits. Never had to ask for them, never had to resubmit. They do it. As does Hilton, as does Starwood, both chains in which we are also Gold members. As do Avis and Hertz, with whom we rent cars under our preferred status. We tell them I am the one picking up the vehicle. All preferred member benefits are extended...always.

Up to you.

flyerwife-

You ask why would you not be entitled to the same privileges as your husband - assuming the benefits were earned on his account? I don't believe Marriott could have made the terms I quoted more straightforward. Because you don't like the rules as written and choose to circumvent them doesn't make it right.

As for saying a spouse is coming in later, I believe that should be and is allowable - if the spouse will be coming in later. You seem to say you do it even when your spouse isn't coming. That, to me, sounds as though you very clearly know you're doing something wrong.

I'm not sure why you would believe it to be discrimination to not allow you the same benefits on your own as your husband has earned. The two of you have the choice each time you stay together to decide whose account gets credited. I don't believe there are any discrimination-related laws that would overturn Marriott's rules as they are written. And given our litigious society, you can bet someone would have successfully challenged the rules you don’t like if it were possible to do so. You have the choice to follow those rules, complain about them, intentionally circumvent them (as you appear to do), or stay somewhere else.

As for getting credit for two rooms, there is nothing wrong with that. The specific provision states, in part:

• A member is eligible to receive points for staying at participating Marriott Rewards hotels for his/her guestroom and up to two additional rooms.

One thing that has not been mentioned here is the woman traveling solo's safety. Why wouldn't a woman want the staff (front desk, bellmen, room service, etc) or the guest behind her at registration to think she is being joined by her husband? I think that is a good argument to support Flyerwife. I am not saying to use it for fraud, but for commonsense and increased safety.

What do you think about that angle? I guess one could say that the female guest should still use her own MR number and just mention that her husband will join her. Thanks for your thoughts.

Paradocs that is an awesome point.

Though my Marriot status is MINE - earned solely by me - I always request two keys at check in

Well I am also good at losing keys http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif this also implies to anyone behind me that i will not be staying alone in the room, I think in this day and age that that is a good thing to do

Flyerwife
Why not join and get a card in your own name?