When to ask for an upgrade?
Mar 25, 2013 | 7:59 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 343
I respond with a request for complimentary upgrade whenever the hotel sends me the reminder, which normally includes a virtual concierge link. I also ask "Do I get an upgrade this time?" early during check-in.
I am a Platinum and mainly stay at Marriotts in Asia. I can say roughly at 70% of the ones I stay I have been getting 100% upgrade to suite.
I am a Platinum and mainly stay at Marriotts in Asia. I can say roughly at 70% of the ones I stay I have been getting 100% upgrade to suite.
Mar 25, 2013 | 1:48 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 981
Getting an upgrade will depend on your status, the length of your stay and the hotel's occupancy level during your stay.
What constitutes an upgrade is open to the interpretation of the hotel. Some hotels are better than others regarding upgrades. If an upgrade is really important to you, book the room you want. If you can't do that, any upgrade will depend on a lot of factors.
Waiting until check-in may make your upgrade subject to the whims of the Front Desk Clerk. Some are lazy and will tell you there is nothing available without even checking. Other FDCs respond better if you slip them $20, $50 or even $100 to secure an upgrade.
I have had mixed success requesting an upgrade through the virtual concierge. Sometimes all my requests through virtual concierge are ignored and other times I receive an upgrade in advance.
If it is a special occasion, I recommend contacting the GM directly. Introduce yourself, explain the special occasion, and that you appreciate anything the GM can do with regards to an upgrade to help you and your spouse/friends/family celebrate the occasion. Do not be demanding and most of all with Marriott, do not expect to get anything more than what you paid for.
Regards,
RIP...
What constitutes an upgrade is open to the interpretation of the hotel. Some hotels are better than others regarding upgrades. If an upgrade is really important to you, book the room you want. If you can't do that, any upgrade will depend on a lot of factors.
Waiting until check-in may make your upgrade subject to the whims of the Front Desk Clerk. Some are lazy and will tell you there is nothing available without even checking. Other FDCs respond better if you slip them $20, $50 or even $100 to secure an upgrade.
I have had mixed success requesting an upgrade through the virtual concierge. Sometimes all my requests through virtual concierge are ignored and other times I receive an upgrade in advance.
If it is a special occasion, I recommend contacting the GM directly. Introduce yourself, explain the special occasion, and that you appreciate anything the GM can do with regards to an upgrade to help you and your spouse/friends/family celebrate the occasion. Do not be demanding and most of all with Marriott, do not expect to get anything more than what you paid for.
Regards,
RIP...
Mar 26, 2013 | 1:28 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DEN
Programs: United Premier 1K, Marriott Platinum, Frontier, Delta, Hertz Gold, National Emerald Club
Posts: 927
I am not diligent with the follow-through as to why I'm not getting upgraded, but I should be. It is up to the individual to annotate this as an important benefit at checkin. Don't count on the system taking care of you. YMMV depending on the individual hotel, the individual checking you in, and the management of said hotel.
Mar 26, 2013 | 3:27 pm
#20
Moderator: Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,628
I ask for upgrades when I can most benefit from them. On one- or two-night work stays, I'm not too picky.
Mar 29, 2013 | 6:59 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2007
Location: HSV
Programs: MR LT TTM, HH DMD, AA PLT (LT GLD)
Posts: 7
Thanks for the tip.
Mar 29, 2013 | 8:28 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Raleigh, NC
Programs: AA 1mil SPG Gold and a variety of others
Posts: 210
I've had good luck emailing in advance and explaining any status I have or special circumstances that might be in my favor for getting an upgrade. They rarely promise an upgrade but usually note the reservation so they will upgrade before I check in.
Mar 29, 2013 | 9:55 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: Marriott Platinum
Posts: 48
I just tried to do this for an upcoming stay, but I don't see a Virtual Concierge link anywhere on the reminder email.. Could you let me know on what part of the email it's usually located?
Mar 30, 2013 | 10:34 am
#24
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Naples FL, Munich DE
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,815
At front desk, if I really want one (I often don't bother if it's a short visit with lots of meetings and I'll use the room mainly to sleep), I'll ask when they start to write out the room slip, "Did the Platinum upgrade clear?" If the answer is not an immediate, "Yes", on more than one occasion that question has resulted in the front desk associate going back into the computer and saying something like, "Yes, I think we can do that."
Mar 31, 2013 | 2:44 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.6MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; DL GLD, HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,913
I recently messaged the JWM BKK for an upgrade prior to my stay. They replied it would be granted if one was available. Checking on-line 24 hours prior to arrival, it said I would be in a suite - so I printed out the page from marriott.com.
Arriving at the hotel, the agent said, "I see your request for a suite, but unfortunately we have none available. The Guest Relations Manager has assigned you a non-smoking king." I told her of the pre-arrival notice and showed her the print-out. Two minutes of typing and one phone call later, and I was in a suite with no further questions asked.
Arriving at the hotel, the agent said, "I see your request for a suite, but unfortunately we have none available. The Guest Relations Manager has assigned you a non-smoking king." I told her of the pre-arrival notice and showed her the print-out. Two minutes of typing and one phone call later, and I was in a suite with no further questions asked.
Mar 31, 2013 | 10:00 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: L.A.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Delta Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,135
Calling of course can work, but if its in a another country then that's a slight issue..
Mar 31, 2013 | 10:07 pm
#27
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: L.A.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Delta Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,135
Apr 1, 2013 | 6:27 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plt, Hilton Gold, BA Silver, GE
Posts: 347
Other times, it is in the email remainder. Other times I call directly. It just depends on the property.
Prior stay at the Courtyard in Oklahoma City, I didn't bother since it was 3 nights. I would have tried if I knew to stay at the Renaissance instead.
Apr 1, 2013 | 10:29 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: L.A.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Delta Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,135
For Bogota, I called the Marriott Rewards phone number and they provided me the virtual concierge email address to the front desk for that property.
Other times, it is in the email remainder. Other times I call directly. It just depends on the property.
Prior stay at the Courtyard in Oklahoma City, I didn't bother since it was 3 nights. I would have tried if I knew to stay at the Renaissance instead.
Other times, it is in the email remainder. Other times I call directly. It just depends on the property.
Prior stay at the Courtyard in Oklahoma City, I didn't bother since it was 3 nights. I would have tried if I knew to stay at the Renaissance instead.
Apr 2, 2013 | 3:11 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plt, Hilton Gold, BA Silver, GE
Posts: 347