Sep 18, 2016, 11:02 am
Last edit by: samosa
Post your results for upgrades, etc
Property:
Dates:
Award stay:
Room type booked:
Room type received:
Elite Level:
Plat Arrival Gift:
Other Gift of Benefit:
Comments:
If you were made aware of an upgrade in advance, such as through e-mail or a preassigned upgrade in your reservation, put it in the comments.
Property:
Dates:
Award stay:
Room type booked:
Room type received:
Elite Level:
Plat Arrival Gift:
Other Gift of Benefit:
Comments:
If you were made aware of an upgrade in advance, such as through e-mail or a preassigned upgrade in your reservation, put it in the comments.
Questions about getting upgraded
May 4, 2016, 9:43 am
#181
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 78
I'll give you Hyatt but Hilton certainly doesn't have a very limited selection of hotels.
Direct from the Marriott International Corporate Overview webpage: "Marriott International, Inc., is a global leading lodging company with more than 4,200 properties in 79 countries and territories."
From the Hilton Worldwide About Us webpage: "Hilton Worldwide is one of the largest and fastest growing hospitality companies in the world, with more than 4,600 hotels, resorts and timeshare properties comprising more than 758,000 rooms in 100 countries and territories."
Marriott source:
Hilton source: http://hiltonworldwide.com/about/
Direct from the Marriott International Corporate Overview webpage: "Marriott International, Inc., is a global leading lodging company with more than 4,200 properties in 79 countries and territories."
From the Hilton Worldwide About Us webpage: "Hilton Worldwide is one of the largest and fastest growing hospitality companies in the world, with more than 4,600 hotels, resorts and timeshare properties comprising more than 758,000 rooms in 100 countries and territories."
Marriott source:
Hilton source: http://hiltonworldwide.com/about/
May 5, 2016, 2:17 am
#182
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Had this happen two times over the last several weeks at two resorts, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country and the Gaylord Opryland Resort. Similar scenario at both:
Now I understand upgrades are not guaranteed especially at resorts when the resort is close to being sold out. But in both cases the resorts were not even close to sold out. All room types from standard rooms to suites were shown as available for the entire 4 nights on the Marriott website. I am used to receiving some type of upgrade at Marriott Resorts, instead of the standard room on the 2nd floor overlooking the parking lot (which is what I received at both resorts on my recent stays).
Upgrades are really the only tangible benefit we get a resorts. If MR is truly moving towards a model of offering upgrades for cash at resorts to non-elites while denying complimentary upgrades to Plats, it may be time to rethink my loyalty and move my future stays to Hyatt or Hilton.
Regards,
RIP...
- Attending a conference. Conference rate about $50 less than room rate available at check-in. Room booked on Marriott.com using group code.
- Neither resort was sold-out. All room types and suites available @ check-in time for entire 4 night stay.
- At check-in inquiry about upgrade is met with resistance, then refusal.
- Told rooms available for upgrade have been previously allocated.
- Find out from other elites they did not receive upgrade either. Also learn from several co-workers and other conference attendees with no MR status they were offered upgrades for cash! Some checked in before and after I did.
- Upgrade price ranged from $25 per night for a view room to $150 per night for a suite.
- Later inquiries with Front Desk Supervisor (after learning above) at both resorts, met with same story regarding allocation. At the JW I was also told offers to non-elite MR members was attempt to earn their loyalty, promoted by MR.
- MR Platinum Line no help. Two different calls, two different supervisors yields same response, "Upgrades are not guaranteed. Each hotel determines availability of upgrades, and each resort can offer upgrades for cash."
Upgrades are really the only tangible benefit we get a resorts. If MR is truly moving towards a model of offering upgrades for cash at resorts to non-elites while denying complimentary upgrades to Plats, it may be time to rethink my loyalty and move my future stays to Hyatt or Hilton.
Regards,
RIP...
May 5, 2016, 6:05 pm
#183
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
At Marriott if they want to give you nothing that what's you get. It's entirely their discretion and they can sell the upgrades for a nickel if they want. If I were operating a Marriott property it's what I would do. If I had a guest who was a frequent stayer at my property I would give them benefits to keep them coming back, but some random plat on one of dozens of stays all of the place? Why would I care about his/her loyalty? Only if MAR makes me, and they don't.
May 5, 2016, 8:18 pm
#184
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
It's one thing not to offer comp upgrades to elites. But to make paid upgrades available to non-elites without making that same offer of a paid upgrade to elites is just backwards.
May 5, 2016, 10:10 pm
#185
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA
Programs: UA 1KMM, Bonvoy LTE+A, HH D, Nat'l EE, Hertz Plat, Avis PC
Posts: 3,713
I've been top-tier at both Hilton and Starwood and actually found their treatment to be worse overall and equally inconsistent across properties.
May 6, 2016, 4:21 pm
#186
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
The OP's implication is that they intentionally did not even offer paid upgrades to elites, because then they would have had a lot more arguing at the front desk by elites saying that if an upgraded room is available, they should be getting it free of charge.
I've been top-tier at both Hilton and Starwood and actually found their treatment to be worse overall and equally inconsistent across properties.
I've been top-tier at both Hilton and Starwood and actually found their treatment to be worse overall and equally inconsistent across properties.
After insisting that late checkout is supposed to be an elite benefit, an empty hotel told me that it wasn't available but was available for $99. I was PP when this happened.
May 7, 2016, 4:45 am
#187
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Yeah unfortunately I think Marriott's website makes you (and everyone) SOL.
What the plat line said is pretty much word for word from the website...other than the part about specifying that properties can offer upgrades for cash. But you know when they say "availability is defined by each hotel," that "available" apparently doesn't really mean what we think it means.
Surprised they didn't pull the "we've upgraded you a room that about 6 inches bigger!" line.
What the plat line said is pretty much word for word from the website...other than the part about specifying that properties can offer upgrades for cash. But you know when they say "availability is defined by each hotel," that "available" apparently doesn't really mean what we think it means.
Surprised they didn't pull the "we've upgraded you a room that about 6 inches bigger!" line.
May 7, 2016, 10:14 am
#188
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
Or the "We've upgraded you to the executive floor" shenanigan. Y'know, the executive floor where the rooms are exactly the same as on other floors, just they're on a floor marked by a sign "EXECUTIVE FLOOR" in the elevator lobby.
May 7, 2016, 10:55 am
#189
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,474
May 7, 2016, 3:16 pm
#190
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
May 9, 2016, 7:47 am
#191
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I completely understand why this is upsetting for you. However, that being said, I intend to stay at the Intercontinental Willard Hotel in Washington D.C. next year. I am an IHG Platinum member. The Willard has a room they named the "Jefferson Suite". I would not be surprised if that room sits empty during my stay because there is no way they are going to upgrade me to that room at no additional cost despite being a Platinum member.
From my experience between Starwood, IHG and Marriott is that Starwood may actually upgrade one to that presidential suite. Marriott you have to ask for an upgrade, and sometimes you may get it. IHG you get that beautiful room with a view, as noted in other posts.
May 9, 2016, 5:33 pm
#192
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: BA Bronze, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 85
I've stayed at the JW in San Antonio 10 times as a gold rewards member and received one upgrade to a standard room with Juliette balcony from all of those. Funnily enough it was when the hotel was packed.
May 9, 2016, 9:45 pm
#193
Join Date: May 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: UAL 1K MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 438
I would say my upgrade rate (c-level, Jr suite) to be better then 50% of the time ladst 4 years as Platinum
May 10, 2016, 6:16 am
#194
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: NYNY
Programs: Marriott Ambassador & LT Titanium, UA Silver, AA PLT
Posts: 842
May 11, 2016, 5:47 am
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,206
That really is kind of insulting when the hotel is being that blatant about trying to sell upgrades out from under elites and basically lies saying that there aren't any available.
I can understand not upgrading to the exec suites etc, but even a better 'view' room? Come on.
I can understand not upgrading to the exec suites etc, but even a better 'view' room? Come on.