Been Platinum for many years, haven't seen any benefit beyond what Gold get except they called me once at 10pm local time asking if I'll really be coming so they won't walk me on a sold out night

As I posted in another thread, Ritz Carlton bought my two years of Platinum status for hosting my wedding in late 2016. I had never heard of this happening and was excited to accept. I wasn't sure if anyone had a similar experience.

IMO -- Yes

Not for the Plat vs. Gold benefits unless you fly United 5-10 per year and don't make status on your own.

Marriott's strength right now is their point value, even though they hiked up many hotel category levels, generally the points you earn by staying a Marriott make it easier to earn points for redemption. The 50% vs 25% bonus for plat vs gold and the welcome points can add up. I'm comparing most against hilton, since I need the ability to find Fairfield, Courtyard, HGI, type hotels...some who can pick Hyatt/SPG might say those programs have better value.

When you say "worth it" what is on the other side of the balance sheet? What is the cost to doing it?

If it is the $85 for the CC to get the 15 free nights, I say yes. If it is $2000 out of pocket to do 10 nights worth of mattress runs, then no.

For me the only cost is not getting status somewhere else, but who cares, I have to stay somewhere and they are all about the same.

Marriott Platinum worth it?
 

Don't forget platinums get same day change/cancellation instead of 24 hours ahead.

I would love to get walked and collect. Cha-ching. But it just doesn't happen. :(

Personally, I like the extra points and the lounges. My family and my wife's family are located very close to a Marriott and I can use the AAA or Military discount to get very good rates. So for the nearly 19 years we have been married, we take at a minimum one trip a year to each set of parents. This generates lots of points - and I also have the Marriott Chase Visa, which gives you even more. As a Platinum I get 20 points a dollar (10 per dollar plus 50% Platinum bonus and 5 points per dollar on the card).

We have traveled to Europe and the mid east in the last couple of years and in London and Brussels, the breakfasts were FREE (usual cost was 20 pounds in London and 25 Euro in Brussels. Plus drinks, snacks and desserts at night probably saved us over $100 a day in food alone.

But for me, it is the points - I transfer all the points with the Marriott travel packages to an airline and my family has in the last several years traveled business class to Hawaii, Europe and Alaska. Marriott is my first choice but my employer has the actual choice, so sometimes it is Hyatt or other hotels.

All things being equal, I chose a Marriott - but if there is a nice trip to Vegas or elsewhere, I chose the best hotel.

If you just want lounge access, Gold is really good enough, but if you want to maximize your points, I would aim for Platinum.

I haven't heard of this. Is it true, or sarcasm?

Same day change/cancellation is an unwritten and unpublished benefit, sort of like the flat tire rule when flying.

Nice to know .. thanks !

Is this really a benefit you can rely on? They just changed the cancellation deadline at the beginning of the year? How many times has it been tested, just because one agent makes an exception don't expect it to happen for you.

I don't think this is a "benefit." I've had two trips this year that due to weather and last minute flight issues, I had to cancel or come in a day late. Both times, calling into Marriott, I was denied the ability to change (as a PP) due to it being within the cancellation window.

Instead, I had better success calling the hotel directly (the first time, the agent did it), and both cases, they made the adjustments - one gave me credit for a future stay, and the other just made my stay one day shorter.

Until something is in writing from Marriott, I wouldn't believe that.

I think whether you think it's worth it depending on the hotel you are staying at. Some hotels respect status more than others. I have stayed at hotels where they don't see Platinum as anything and some that gives suite upgrade. Recently I talked to a FD in a CY in Asia and she said that they don't do suite upgrade anymore (they used to for 1 night), their GM pushes the FD to upsell them instead of giving it to Plat/Gold.

In the US I did get upgrade as Gold/Plat when staying at FFI/RI - twice at CY after asking.

The UA silver is a nice touch if you do fly UA.

According to MR customer service it is real benefit for Platinum. They confirmed it when I called but I was hesitant to ask for a link to documentation.

I'll believe it when I see something in writing. Just last week I thought I would have to cancel a NYC hotel within the 1 day window. When I called the Plat line to inquire about a day of arrival cancellation benefit for plats, I was first told by the first agent that there was no such benefit. When I spoke with a supervisor, he said, "At this time, there is no formal same day cancellation benefit for Plats! However, we will contact the hotel directly on your behalf and encourage them to permit cancellation or changes to your reservation without penalty. This is done on a case by case basis depending on individual circumstances. Ultimately, it is up to the individual property!"

I think this goes along with other FT's experiences. I can see MR not wanting to publish this as a benefit. As soon as this unwritten benefit gets abused, it will disappear and when it does, we won't be able to cry foul because it was never a formal benefit anyway.

Regards,

RIP...