you are correct - it's only a price adjustment...the rate will include any components that it originally included and all elite benefits will continue to apply

I've had great experiences using LNF rates - never have seen any issue or "downgrade" when using teh adjusted rate.

OP you may be better off complaining about soup offerings at hotels.

All of my bookings are either LNF or reward redemptions. While I don�t get upgraded every time, I do have an excellent track record. I was even upgraded on my USD 9.50 rate (from a standard room to a Jacuzzi suite).

Make sure to give an appropriate review on TA, to let the general public know.

I have not noticed any difference in room allocation between my corp rate and LNF rate, FWIW.

I just wanted to note that most of my stays are LNF as well, and I have experienced the same thing as OP at many of them.

"wow, you got a nice rate *rolls eyes*"
"Yeah, I try. Do you happen to have any upgrades available?"
"Nope sorry we're full".

All the while the Marriott site will concurrently list purchasable suites...

Still well worth my time, since super low LNF rate rooms are worth far more to me than regularly priced upgrade rooms.

Um that happens on expensive rates too. Suites available online, etc.

Can we that agree that this is not policy and there is not even consensus about how often this happens?

Unfortunately the web inventory does not represent actual rooms, especially for the higher rate rooms. A property will post availability beyond actual inventory and gladly walk a "lesser guest" for a high rack rate if there is ample availability in the area. And if they feel they can sell a higher rate room to a walk-up, they will do that over giving it away as an upgrade (i.e. airline model).

Some properties/chains have invested heavily in number crunchers, be they people or programs to predict sales. Although T&Cs call for upgrades being offered, many times you have to ask to get a FDC to make the effort to look. I don't think any FDC gets brownie points for giving away a room that could have generated more revenue (Look boss, I upgraded someone to the Presidential Suite and resold the $79 room to a walk-up!). Need to keep in mind the properties are in the business to make money not to satisfy loyalty members.

OP's experience sounds like the typical Marriott experience - finding an upgrade is like looking for the loch ness monster - far and few in between, LNF or not.

I'll agree

Cheers.

Apparently not

"Thank you for your additional inquiry regarding Marriott's Look No Further(SM) Best Rate Guarantee.

Please be advised that the comparison rate was for the room only. Based on this scenario, your approved Look No Further rate does not include breakfast.

In order to retain the free breakfast the comparison rate must also include free breakfast.

We appreciate your additional inquiry and look forward to serving you in the future.

Thank you for choosing Marriott."

This statement is true. Did both the rate you booked from Marriott and the comparison rate both have breakfast? If so, Marriott made the mistake and you should email them back. If not, they responded correctly.

Also if you compared a room only rate and the comparison site includes breakfast you'll loose the breakfast when you get your LNF too! (I saw someone got it after writing to LNF, so I guess it's a YMMV) - I tried to find a breakfast inclusive rate at Marriott but it's not available on those dates.

Not sure about worse treatment but I did get some comment about my rate:

SFO Marriott - wow that's a very low rate, how did you get this?
CY Hong Kong - you booked a 'Look No Further' rate in an unfriendly tone
FFI Santa Cruz - are you using Senior rate?
Karlsruhe Ren - Where did you find this rate? We need to nail the OTA down so that we don't loose $

P.S. It's getting more difficult to find LNF rates - especially in smaller cities in the US (close to Yosemite, Sequoia), Hamburg, Bremen etc.

You are misunderstanding what the email you received says - they are saying you are comparing two different rates, one includes breakfast and one does not therefore they are not equal and the LNF does not apply....if both included breakfast your LNF would have been approved and your LNF rate would have included breakfast

Yes, if one rate includes breakfast, then the other rate must include breakfast. Even if the breakfast included rate was lower than the not included rate, it's a no go for LNF. Now if both rates did include breakfast but the LNF confirmation did not mention breakfast, then you should go back and get it updated.