So this?

https://loyaltylobby.com/2017/07/05/...-july-14-2017/

Yes I'm sure that has massively inflated the elite ranks, a targeted offer to a specific segment of consumer in one region of the world.

What do you mean? I got Starwood gold via AMEX Platinum linked that status to Marriott as well, immediately signed up for Marriott Platinum challenge with nine stays, and am now platinum in both programs.

So marriott plat for $800 after a few meets doesnt bother you? Its been prominently featuted on this forum for years...

And i guarantee that almost all spg elites would much rather see spg as a standlalone program

but it is what it is and we all have to adjust..

The latest SPG challenge, which gives you SPG platinum status after 18 nights, specifically excludes a SPG gold from eligibility. I can't speak for Marriott's match or challenge offer.

No. Starwood is Marriott, but SPG remains distinct from Marriott Rewards.

because there are only a few dozen Chinese travelers !

(I liked your deleted post more)

What are you talking about? The status challenge specifically includes SPG Golds, but excludes people who have held Plat status since 2013.

My apologizes. I misread this.

"Specifically, SPG members who earned Gold or Platinum status in or after 2013 are not eligible for the Gold Status Challenge, and SPG members who earned Platinum in or after 2013 are not eligible for the Platinum Status Challenge."

https://www.spgpromos.com/statuschallenge/terms

There seems to be a misunderstanding. I meant you have SPG Gold status through a CC, then match this to MR Gold. Then proceed and do the MR plat challenge which is only 9 stays. Become MR and SPG plat.

On the airline front, I've heard gate agents with American complain about the inundation of US Airways elites to American. I'm only 27 and the agent says "So many Executive Platinums. And they keep getting younger and younger." She wasn't hitting on me. She was saying it with attitude!

The OP cites a mechanism where, within other T&C contraints, one can get SPG Plat status with just 18 nights. What's the evidence - flooding is his language - that many people are doing this, in the context of total SPG Plats, total Marriott Plats, or Marriott's 1.1 million rooms?

Eligibility: Status Challenges are not available to members who have earned SPG elite-level status within the five years prior to the current year. Specifically, SPG members who earned Gold or Platinum status in or after 2013 are not eligible for the Gold Status Challenge, and SPG members who earned Platinum in or after 2013 are not eligible for the Platinum Status Challenge. Members who have successfully completed any prior SPG status challenges may not register for this Status Challenge. Members may register and attempt to participate in the Status Challenge again if they fail to complete the Status Challenge. If a member completes the Gold Status Challenge and is successful, he or she is able to come back to register for the Platinum Status Challenge. Members may not, however, repeat a Status Challenge that they have already successfully completed. SPG members who reach SPG Gold or Platinum status by linking their SPG and Marriott Rewards® accounts will not be eligible for the Status Challenge offer.

I think its actually Marriott flooding itself with plats. The SPG challenge is 18 nights in 90 days. Hardly that many people can do this! I have tried both programs and like the SPG program much more. Better earning rates, better upgrades to suite level.

I flew out of LGA to IAH regularly (IAH being a UA hub) and the upgrade list would usually exceed 60 people. Did a ORD -> EWR (hub-to-hub) flight and there were more than 100.

I flew American a couple times to/from DFW and the number of exec plats was just staggering. My E500 upgrades were worthless.

Ah, I miss the days on pmUS when they were still on SHARES and it was super easy to game the upgrade system with the check-in trick... I went from getting upgraded domestically maybe 5-10% of the time to 80%+ as a US DM Gold elite...

...for a promo that hasn't run in a year, and has no impact on Platinum, which is the point of this thread.

Excellent continued obfuscation though...

Everyone knows Marriott has been flooded with elites through a variety of channels, including SPG but also United. As others have said, lounges are overcrowded these days.

I stayed at the Renaissance in downtown Toledo on a random Saturday night and there three pages of elites, including five platinums, on the clipboard in the lounge. At the J.W. Marriott Essex House, a manager told me that on average there are 80 guests with gold or platinum status every night.