Forgetting the lifetime status stuff for a second, the OP said "can they see differences in the same status." Yes as has been mentioned Plat and Gold aren't the same status, but if they can see the number of lifetime nights as well as YTD nights, technically if there were 2 people checking in with the same status and 1 upgrade available, shouldn't it probably go to the person who has more YTD nights (all else being equal, not factoring in things like if 1 of the people was a regular at that hotel)?

Probably belongs in a different thread but IME it seems like you will only get really upgraded if you ask, and in the case of some of my co-workers, if you come pretty close to demanding.

I understand what you're saying, but doesn't that assume they're checking in simultaneously/real-time? How often does that happen at hotels (vs upgrade lists on flights)?

Cheers.

Not to mention the days when hotel clerk #1 is checking in plat #1 who has 100 lifetime nights, but clerk is having a bad day and just wants to plow thru as quickly as possible so gives preassigned room, and hotel clerk #2 is checking in challenge Gold with 20 nights having a wonderful day and feeling generous and gives him an upgrade.

I do it about once a month with co-workers who are usually also plat.

They're literally keying in at exactly the exact same second in different lines & swiping cards & doing everything at the exact same second/real-time?

Cheers.

I guess that was a bad example but my point is I often check-in with co-workers within 1 or 2 minutes of each other, and many times one of us will get on the Concierge Level and one of us won't. And it's highly highly unlikely that every time this has happened it's because that was the last room available on the Concierge Level.

... or even assuming they know the program at all. I had one try to tell me once you make Plat (75 nights) you don't have to do it again! Ummm, no, it don't work that way.

A little twist on the OP's issue:

My profile shows that I prefer 2 queen/double beds. I get "upgraded" to a king room a couple of times a month, usually by a young FDA that thinks a king bed is better than a queen bed.

On weekends I will gladly take a king - in most hotels the double beds are at a premium. During the week, the kings are at a premium. Only when traveling with my family does it truly matter which bed type I get.

Do I start making a stink about it and claim the bed type guarantee or forget the whole matter? (Weekends excepted)

What about Acapulco Gold?

The only times I make an issue is if I think the hotel is trying to play games with me or lying to me. If I'm by myself, I really don't worry about whether I'm in a king or 2-doubles. If the hotel has a far more of one over the other and would like to give me 2-doubles instead of a king. No big deal.

But if I'm travelling with my wife, we prefer a king bed and I will expect the hotel to provide it. If they try to "upgrade" me to a 2-double room, I'll kindly ask for the stated preference in my reservation. Or if like last weekend, I was traveling with my son and asked for 2 doubles. The hotel "upgraded" me to a king on the CL. I thanked them, but asked them for a room with 2 doubles as I requested in the reservation. They did not have one on the CL unfortunately, and thus I was moved to a different floor. But again, I understood and didn't make any issues of it.

So basically, if the bed preference is in your reservation and you do want one or the other, then ask for it or invoke the guarantee (the hotels choice as to which option they prefer.)

Maybe a couple?