We generally do not find out until they actually send out the packages. Previously, it has included a small gift like a free WSJ app (last year), phone charger, etc. They eliminated the 20% discount at hotel restaurants that I actually liked a year ago. The only other benefit is access to the Platinum Premier line/e-mail. I have generally found the PP e-mail address is the only way to ensure you are getting access to the dedicated Platinum Premier team. They have been very responsive through e-mail and handled a variety of requests for me.

Oh, so we get something in the mail? Huh.

BTW, if that WSJ app includes paid WSJ access, isn't that worth a couple hundred $$/year?

I'm not sure of the cost, but yes, if it is somethign you would have paid for then, it's worth that to you, but to people who wouldn't have, probalby not. And it is only useable on iOS and not everyone has one of those.

You get a card with a special code to go to a dedicated website. It is only the WSJ Mobile Reader app (has the top stories every day). It is not to be confused with the iPad application that is the full electronic version of the WSJ with every article which requires the full subscription.

Plat Premier
 

So I'm a newly minted Plat Premier and had a c*£k up with booking - (corporate TA rather than Marriott) - all fixed direct with hotel via email and bookings manager. As part of the email exchange she wrote congrats on being made up to Platinum Premier. That sort of stuff makes me cringe in person (how very British) - but I know some on here love that sort of thing. Also got upgraded to a suite for 3 nights - but that probably more down to 30 mins it took to check in.... will see how it goes - already Top 50 at my usual haunt so unconvinced it is going to make much difference

My first four stays as PP were no different than before, or even worse:

The first hotel had assigned me the very same room I had in December as regular Plat - apart from that no difference in treatment except for calling a manager to check me in (Renaissance Karlsruhe). The second had assigend a suite several days before arrival, yet when I finally made it to the hotel the suite was gone and I got a regular executive-room (Dulles Airport Marriott), which worked fine for the one night, however (and probably was better that any bigger corner-room since mine was in striking-distance to the lounge). Third was a Residence Inn where I booked a Studio and received exactly that (RI Portsmouth Downtown/Waterfront) - however that was the only room-type bookable at time of checkin and the days before, so I don't blame them. Finally tonight back in Germany the Berlin Marriott provided a new low: No upgrade of any sort, and not even honoring the room-preference in terms of location. After lots of haggling I finally got a one-category upgrade on a mid-level floor out of the check-in agent, yet this is definetly not the experience I was looking for after making PP...

All in all: As many posters had warned be in advance, it seems that the PP status provides no notable increase in experience at the hotels at all...

Greetings - Dirk

It is absolutely meaningless in the broad corporate blanket sense, as most levels are, meaning Marriott wants you to believe that magic happens homogeneously & automatically across the world.

You have to proactively force the issue in advance and/or at the desk and run into an accommodating property that "gets it". Fairly uncommon....

I was welcomed as a Gold (yet again) at the Marriott near London City last week. Just what I wanted after 3 hours of delay and a 2 hour wait in a queue to be re-booked on a flight that may or may not go.

On the other hand, Houston Marriott West Loop by the Galleria (first stay here) welcomed me as PlatP and gave me points + welcome amenity and got me a room on CL level despite they were rather full (i.e. there was no bookable rooms the day of my arrival for 3 nights on web but I had prior reservation).

Last week I said I would report back on my upcoming stay at a Marriott resort property as a PP/LT Plat. Here's a summary:

-Offered a room on the lower half of the complex. I asked for a higher floor with the same room type, and they refused.
-No upgrade. In fact, they said they couldn't honor the upgrade I paid for and removed the upgrade charges. How kind of Marriott. :rolleyes:
-No Plat Arrival Gift until 30 minutes after check in. (Yes, I should grow a pair and collect my $100, but I can't even get the Operations Manger to call me back.)
-Had to spend half of my free long-distance calling allotment to have the Marriott PP line fix a concurrent certificate stay during the same trip because their website couldn't handle it.

If that is how Marriott wants to treat their top 2-3% of customers, it's disappointing. I will definitely be looking to stay at SPG and Hilton more for my upcoming travels.

It's as if Platinum Premier means that you are so loyal to Marriott that they don't even have to try in the US/Caribbean.

I think Marriott has an issue with properties distinguishing between and properly implementing the various elite level benefits. Some properties are good at it, many are not. The end result is there is very little benefit to being anything more than gold. If they want to recognize Plats & above they need to build the benefits into the program.

+1. And enforce the benefits (honestly) already promised. And stop giving away status so easily outside BIB.

4 poster suite this week (again at my regular haunt).... wasted on me when travelling alone - did not even go in the lounge... be good if you could accrue these type of benefits and then when on holiday with the family have a bit of extra space....

That is true, yorkshire. Tonight I checked into the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. The very friendly front desk agent noted that I hadn't stayed here in over a year (which is true), then apologized saying they didn't have any suites like they upgraded me to the last time. I told her that the last time was a weeklong vacation with my family when I really, REALLY appreciated the suite upgrade. For a one-night business stay by myself, I'm just happy to be on the concierge floor. That's when she sheepishly told me they didn't even have that available with my one king bed, but I happily told her that in the interest of karma, given that awesome free upgrade the last time, I was happy anyway. I could kind of tell that she was expecting a DYKWIA moment, and was pleasantly surprised to find that I was actually a nice, reasonable person.

Anyway, that's a long way for me to say that I agree I'd like the chance to "lock in" the better upgrades when they matter most.

Any 2012 PP get confirmation of 2013 PP ? Was 2012 PP (first time) and I've yet to see any PLT or PP package. Is it probable since I didn't get a 1/1 PLT package as others have reported that I'll get a PP package come 3/1?

Not that it makes any real difference, but like to mention that around at check-in while playing the "subject to availability" upgrade game.