Probably the ONLY thing I like better about the HHonors program over Marriott Rewards is that my wife and I were able to sign up for a "mutual fund" account 20 or so years ago whereby both our names are on the account and either one of us can stay, earning joint elite credit and points. I know HHonors no longer offers this option, but they have protected the grandfathered status to this day...

I think there is a "glitch" in the system because the UA program ends 1/31 and Marriott's ends on 2/28. I got my Gold status for UA as well but looks like I am going down to LTP on 3/1.

I never fly UA anyway so if they send a new silver card to me I won't be upset.

There are at least two things I like better about the HHonors program:

1. It's so easy to get to Gold status (and thus to free breakfasts). Those in the US have a choice of two credit cards that give it instantly, plus there are frequently public "fast track" offers (such as stay 4 times in 90 days).

2. Those free breakfasts are across all brands, while Marriott has multiple brands where no level of elite status gets you free breakfast.

Having said that, all that means for me is:

1. I stay more at Marriott Rewards properties, because I get the same Gold status at Hilton HHonors whether I stay much or little (while at Marriott Rewards I have to earn elite status "the old-fashioned way").

2. I usually avoid certain brands at Marriott Rewards (like Courtyard), unless the price is much lower, because of the lack of breakfast, while there are no brands I have to avoid at Hilton HHonors.

I am a UA MM, so my wife gets MR Gold due to her companion status on UA. After 32 years she jokes that I will dump her status if we split up!

I am still in the points push mode w MR - sitting at 740 nights and 1.54M points. After staying at a corporate apartment the last 4.5 years I am back earning points beyond my CC.

This could get interesting with 3 or 4 in a room. Or 6 in a Presidential suite.

Yeah, the math can get nasty real quick. Offering full night credit to those members present (require member to display their membership card/cell image) should keep the fraud down. Even those merely staying are demonstrating some loyalty and just might garner more stays.

And doing something for the stay-at-home SO may lessen the stress.

Lots of issues to be worked out, but the point is to grow the business.

Would you suggest that all family members also receive status miles in FF programs whenever someone in the family travels by plane?

If so, I'd like to start to auction off the right to be part of my family. Bids start at $3000, which is cheaper than DL's offers at the end of the year to buy MQMs to get DM status.

It's a preposterous idea. The logistics alone make it impossible to implement. I am married to a lt platinum. We credit all family stays to his account and enjoy the benefits which he also gets from traveling for work. Prior to the job he currently has I traveled more than him and we credited stays to me.

Re-read the post, my suggestion was to credit nights to all members staying and the SO of the member paying (if one exists). Points would only go to the member paying (or last member paying if they all chip in), but only one. The belief that the one paying is making the decision is flawed, but they needed something to hang their hat on and works for basic rules.

Yes, as long as the member and SO travel together, the current plan is fine, but there are times they will not and especially if there is a separation, divorce, or death.

I have today been downgraded from Platinum Premier to Platinum after 10 consecutive years as PP. I am already Lifetime Platinum, but with 10,000,000 lifetime points and over 2500 lifetime nights and 100 or so nights last year, I feel seriously disappointed with Marriott.

Platinum Premier did not seem to make a great deal of difference but it was recognition of my loyalty over a period of 20 years.

Not a good outcome after all this time, and not an encouragement to others to be loyal to one programme. I have a status match with Hilton for this year which I might as well make use of.

There is no lifetime PP. It is awarded to the top 3%, however marriott calculates that, of Plats every year. That means to move up the new folks, some old folks have to move down.

Today will be my last day as a PP, as I am one of the ones moving down to make more room for those who are moving up. IME, the UG% was better for PP than LTP or P, but other than that, not so much. I don't misplace my keys, so the Tile isn't a big deal to me. In fact, I probably wouldn't use it, as I really do not have keys. Both my car and alarm work with a fob, and my door opens with my phone. The backdoor opens with a fingertip just in case my phone stops working.

I will say the tile is neat, but it is much thicker/larger than I had expected.

Having been PP before, downgraded last year to LTP again and now back to PP, I have seen no discernible treatment between Plat or PP. In fact, every hotel thanks me for being Platinum and not PP.

My way of looking at it is that I am a platinum member, but I get an extra catalog gift once a year in the mail.

Good attitude.

Cheers.

I'm happy to report that my account still says PP and I got my new UA Gold card today, good through January 31, 2017.

No signs of my new Marriott card or the PP gift yet.