It depends on the property. I've seen upgraded room types available for points+points (i.e., the base points for a standard room plus a points-paid upgrade certificate) as well as points+cash (i.e., the base points for a standard room plus a case surcharge). You'll pay either the points or cash surcharge for the fifth night, even though you won't pay any points for the base room rate for that 5th night.

Also, note that if you pay for the upgrade with cash, you will no longer earn Marriott Rewards points for that upgrade fee. It's a stealth change that doesn't appear in the T&C, but one which they seem pretty insistent about.

Aha, I gotcha.

I was doing some more research on the site, and that's what I was starting to realize.

Thanks for the info.

One little quirk of Marriott's program is that you can only use points for an upgrade if you used points for the room. Those 5K upgrade certs won't do you any good on a normal "paid" stay, only on an award stay will you possibly be able to use upgrade certs.

And I put "possibly" in there as a hotel doesn't have a to offer anything more than the required standard rooms for awards, though most resort hotels do offer some upgraded rooms with points.

Yeah it is pretty nasty how they don't give any points credit for the stay even if you upgrade for cash.

I know it's poor form to quote myself, but in this instance, i believe its appropriate

Cancelled my stay; instead i've booked the most excellent Grosvenor House, JW

Only by voting with our feet (points!) will this hotel learn...

Just a follow up. Emailed Marriott corporate with a full write up when I got back stateside. Got the boilerplate "we passed this along to management" response.

I did actually eventually get a response from the Front Office Manager at St. Ermin's who said the issue was discussed with her management team and that if I was in London in the future to please reach out and she'd make sure I was taken care of.

No comp of any kind though in reality this was the outcome I was looking for (after the upcharge on the upgrade was removed - which it was). Hopefully it leads to changing behavior for future Plats staying there.

However my next stay in May (which will be paid stay) will be at the St. Pancras Marriott (both for convenience because we will be returning from a wedding in Royston on the Great Northern and then flying out to Santorini ex-LHR the next day so it's an ideal location to accomplish) and because I don't really care to have a repeat performance especially when paying cash this time.

Thanks for the follow up. I moved from St. Ermin's to LMCH due to your trip report. Didn't want to chance it on my honeymoon.

Voting with your feet is a great start. However, if the property nevers knows, I doubt their policy will change. Sending a message to the GM, or MR, letting them know anyone can effect a change. So even if it's not a HVC, they may influence one. Treat everyone correctly and you will be ahead of the game.

I know I'm coming in late, but I have to say that all the best upgrades I've gotten were on award stays...usually because that means I'm traveling on my own dime, the wife is along, and I've made an effort to ask nicely.

If that benefit was taken away then upgrades become nearly worthless to me and I'm switching programs fast.

Offering you a paid upgrade at the door is a slap in the face. Do they think we become Platinum members because we get that special line at check in? Because of that awesome Marriott Platinum line (is there one?) It's because of the upgrades at the door FOR FREE. (OK maybe a little for the wifi and fake eggs).

Property: Ritz Carlton FLL
Dates: July/Aug 2016
Award stay: No
Room type booked: Intercostal King
Room type received: Ocean View King with Pool Access
Elite Level: Platinum
Plat Arrival Gift: 1k points
Other Gift or Benefit: F&B amenity
Comments: At check-in was offered a choice of rooms with pros and cons of each room. Was given an early 9 am check-in without issue and proactively offered a 4pm late check-out. Paid for club lounge access (first time ever). It was listed in their paper for $150 per person but we were offered by phone a price of $125 for 2 adults total and it was worth it. Excellent service and food in the lounge.

For one night or a longer stay?

Out of curiosity, who denied the compensation and what did they say? Also, are you planning to do anything about it? Thanks.

longer, it was 3

I wrote about it here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...l#post26916695

I only asked for the comp because of the attitude I got and ultimately I got it a week after checkout. Overall it was an interesting hotel, nice elevators and unique rooms, but service wasn't great and not my style.

How do you define an upgrade? I think we we are getting down graded.
 

Trying to get some opinions and some possible courses of action. We are headed to Aruba Aug 30-Sept 6. Sept 4-6 we are staying at the Ren. We have an ocean view room booked at the Hotel side of the property. That's the adults only side that we really like.

We got an email that we were "upgraded" to the family suite side-no guaranteed view. These are larger suite type rooms, but also no windows in the bedroom area. There are kids there. Usually not an issue, but we are celebrating my wife finishing some serious medical treatments. We want to just enjoy the hotel side.

The issue is the hotel side is oversold. Do we have to accept this as an "upgrade"?