Best way to get 20K Reward points for Lifetime status?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
Best way to get 20K Reward points for Lifetime status?
I am about 20K point shy of Lifetime Platinum at Marriott. I had the Chase Marriott Visa card but they just cancelled that for Canada. That has been replaced with an offer for the SPG Amex which offers a bonus of 25K SPG (or equivalent of 75K Rewards).
Two questions:
1. Does the 75K count earned "reward" points or only SPG... i.e. does it help me get towards my Lifetime Platinum status. From what i can tell it does not. Does anyone know for sure?
2. Assume the SPG Amex does NOT count towards Rewards points, ...I dont stay at hotels for business much anymore so the Chase Visa was my primary mechanism for earning points that counted towards lifetime status. What are your suggestions on the best way to get about 20K reward points in the next few months that would qualify towards lifetime status? I know you can buy them.. would cost me about $250 US (which might worth it) but trying to figure out another way. I am in Canada so I cannot get any of the US credit cards. I am trying to get to lifetime platinum before they announce any changes to both programs.
Two questions:
1. Does the 75K count earned "reward" points or only SPG... i.e. does it help me get towards my Lifetime Platinum status. From what i can tell it does not. Does anyone know for sure?
2. Assume the SPG Amex does NOT count towards Rewards points, ...I dont stay at hotels for business much anymore so the Chase Visa was my primary mechanism for earning points that counted towards lifetime status. What are your suggestions on the best way to get about 20K reward points in the next few months that would qualify towards lifetime status? I know you can buy them.. would cost me about $250 US (which might worth it) but trying to figure out another way. I am in Canada so I cannot get any of the US credit cards. I am trying to get to lifetime platinum before they announce any changes to both programs.

#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington D.C.
Programs: UA Gold MM , AS MVPG , MR LTT, Hilton Dia
Posts: 476
All points, except SPG transferred points, count for lifetime status. The CC bonus should be the easiest way for you to reach your goal.

#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.021MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CWC Au-197; CCC Elite*; WoH Dis
Posts: 50,042
Welcome to FT, Pratima Ramkhelawan!
Earning though hotels, rental cars, referrals, and the shopping portals are the most likely sources.
Please re-read the OP. The CC bonus does not apply, as those points are SPG points.
Earning though hotels, rental cars, referrals, and the shopping portals are the most likely sources.
Please re-read the OP. The CC bonus does not apply, as those points are SPG points.

#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BNA/SAN
Programs: DL DM, DL 1.3 MM , Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Total Rewards Diamond
Posts: 747
I am about 20K point shy of Lifetime Platinum at Marriott. I had the Chase Marriott Visa card but they just cancelled that for Canada. That has been replaced with an offer for the SPG Amex which offers a bonus of 25K SPG (or equivalent of 75K Rewards).
Two questions:
1. Does the 75K count earned "reward" points or only SPG... i.e. does it help me get towards my Lifetime Platinum status. From what i can tell it does not. Does anyone know for sure?
2. Assume the SPG Amex does NOT count towards Rewards points, ...I dont stay at hotels for business much anymore so the Chase Visa was my primary mechanism for earning points that counted towards lifetime status. What are your suggestions on the best way to get about 20K reward points in the next few months that would qualify towards lifetime status? I know you can buy them.. would cost me about $250 US (which might worth it) but trying to figure out another way. I am in Canada so I cannot get any of the US credit cards. I am trying to get to lifetime platinum before they announce any changes to both programs.
Two questions:
1. Does the 75K count earned "reward" points or only SPG... i.e. does it help me get towards my Lifetime Platinum status. From what i can tell it does not. Does anyone know for sure?
2. Assume the SPG Amex does NOT count towards Rewards points, ...I dont stay at hotels for business much anymore so the Chase Visa was my primary mechanism for earning points that counted towards lifetime status. What are your suggestions on the best way to get about 20K reward points in the next few months that would qualify towards lifetime status? I know you can buy them.. would cost me about $250 US (which might worth it) but trying to figure out another way. I am in Canada so I cannot get any of the US credit cards. I am trying to get to lifetime platinum before they announce any changes to both programs.

#5
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 212
Have Chase ultimate reward points or airline frequent miles like United? Can transfer those to Marriott points.

#6
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 556
The cheapest option would be just buying the points outright for $250USD, unless he knows somebody willing to gift him 20K points. Transferred points do count in your total, but not in the transferer's total (oops, as Seabilly said). Hotel stays are going to run much more than $250USD - if you don't need the status right away, perhaps wait towards the end of the year to see if they have any good stay bonuses that you could take advantage of. The 2K after your 1st stay won't help much in this case!

#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA 1MM/*A Gold, WN A+ CP, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 5,808
Check your assumptions, Pratima.
1) There's no committed date for when Marriott Rewards terms will change.
2) There's no promise that Marriott Rewards terms will change materially. (Remember, Marriott is the acquiring company, so the resulting combined program is more like to resemble the current MR than the current SPG.)
3) There's no promise that the qualification requirements for lifetime status will change even if other parts of the MR program are changed materially.
4) Finally, if you don't stay at Marriott hotels often enough anymore to see an obvious path toward earning 20k points from stays, how important is it for you to raise your LT status from gold to platinum, really?
1) There's no committed date for when Marriott Rewards terms will change.
2) There's no promise that Marriott Rewards terms will change materially. (Remember, Marriott is the acquiring company, so the resulting combined program is more like to resemble the current MR than the current SPG.)
3) There's no promise that the qualification requirements for lifetime status will change even if other parts of the MR program are changed materially.
4) Finally, if you don't stay at Marriott hotels often enough anymore to see an obvious path toward earning 20k points from stays, how important is it for you to raise your LT status from gold to platinum, really?

#8
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: 3,124
I was thinking it, but glad to see someone else say it. There is a VERY obvious path to earning 20k points, which is to stay at a Marriott hotel and spend a little bit of money.

#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.021MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CWC Au-197; CCC Elite*; WoH Dis
Posts: 50,042
1) There's no committed date for when Marriott Rewards terms will change.
2) There's no promise that Marriott Rewards terms will change materially. (Remember, Marriott is the acquiring company, so the resulting combined program is more like to resemble the current MR than the current SPG.)
3) There's no promise that the qualification requirements for lifetime status will change even if other parts of the MR program are changed materially.
2) There's no promise that Marriott Rewards terms will change materially. (Remember, Marriott is the acquiring company, so the resulting combined program is more like to resemble the current MR than the current SPG.)
3) There's no promise that the qualification requirements for lifetime status will change even if other parts of the MR program are changed materially.
10-15 points per dollar isn't all that efficient.

#10
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 212
He's Canadian and can't get US CCs, so the Ultimate Rewards points are going to be a no go. United could work, but as far as I remember, you have to be silver elite or higher to do that, (as well as having the points!!) so that's probably out for OP also.
The cheapest option would be just buying the points outright for $250USD, unless he knows somebody willing to gift him 20K points. Transferred points do count in your total, but not in the transferer's total (oops, as Seabilly said). Hotel stays are going to run much more than $250USD - if you don't need the status right away, perhaps wait towards the end of the year to see if they have any good stay bonuses that you could take advantage of. The 2K after your 1st stay won't help much in this case!
The cheapest option would be just buying the points outright for $250USD, unless he knows somebody willing to gift him 20K points. Transferred points do count in your total, but not in the transferer's total (oops, as Seabilly said). Hotel stays are going to run much more than $250USD - if you don't need the status right away, perhaps wait towards the end of the year to see if they have any good stay bonuses that you could take advantage of. The 2K after your 1st stay won't help much in this case!

#11
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA 1MM/*A Gold, WN A+ CP, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 5,808
Efficiency's not relevant. The point was, anyone active enough with MR to legitimately care about the difference between LTG and LTP should be able to earn 20k points no sweat between now and EOY. In just the past four weeks, for example, I have earned more than double that from stays and stay-related bonuses.

#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.021MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CWC Au-197; CCC Elite*; WoH Dis
Posts: 50,042

#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum (former PP), Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,876
The OP is experiencing some anxiety over the possibility that Marriott may change the rewards program. Right now, there isn’t much difference between gold and platinum at Marriott. That may change, but I doubt it will. Even if it does change, it won’t happen until next year at the earliest.
The OP should wait until near the end of the year to buy points. He may have some travel in the next few months, and it would reduce the number of points needed for purchase. Marriott will not make any large changes to their program without giving some advance notice.
The OP should wait until near the end of the year to buy points. He may have some travel in the next few months, and it would reduce the number of points needed for purchase. Marriott will not make any large changes to their program without giving some advance notice.

#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
It's easy to say things like "Marriott will not make any large changes ... without giving some notice" or point out that things probably won't change that much when you are not the one close to LTP who would suffer the negative impact should things change significantly. The OP would rather have one in hand than two in the bush which is understandable. And even if his stays right now might not trigger the needs points, obviously he has had many stays in the past and is likely savvy enough to understand why he would want lifetime status for the future, so nobody should question that. Heck, if for a measly 20k MR points I could have the guaranteed reservation, the extra points and the welcome gift for the next twenty years I'd go for it too.

#15
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum (former PP), Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,876
I suggested he wait until closer to the end of the year simply because he won’t need to buy as many points if he ends up taking a trip. From a logistical perspective, a mid year revamp of the awards program is highly unlikely. The greatest risk is if Marriott introduces another published elite level above platinum and restricts complimentary club lounge access to platinum and higher level members. That change would affect a lot of people, and I cannot see them making a mid year surprise announcement like that. It is more disruptive than raising the number of points needed for a free night.
They are going to merge the programs at some point after this year. Why would they change the existing program when it most likely won’t be around next year? They would have to retrain reservation and customer service employees twice. I don’t see them doing that.
OP has lifetime gold, and it would cost him $1600 to earn 20k points at most Marriott properties ($3200 at Residence Inn) plus any taxes and fees. I’m excluding any points earned from systemwide promotions, property specific promotions, rates that offer extra points (any rate that allows extra points at less than 1.25 cents cost including taxes would be worth it), check in bonus points from drawings or other promotional giveaways, and any points for customer service issues.
The only reasons I would buy the points now is if he is planning to stay at a Starwood property so he can get lifetime platinum and match it to SPG platinum or if he is planning to fly on United Airlines so he can get United Silver if he doesn’t have any status on United. In both of those cases, he would gain something of value by having platinum status right now as an infrequent traveler.
They are going to merge the programs at some point after this year. Why would they change the existing program when it most likely won’t be around next year? They would have to retrain reservation and customer service employees twice. I don’t see them doing that.
OP has lifetime gold, and it would cost him $1600 to earn 20k points at most Marriott properties ($3200 at Residence Inn) plus any taxes and fees. I’m excluding any points earned from systemwide promotions, property specific promotions, rates that offer extra points (any rate that allows extra points at less than 1.25 cents cost including taxes would be worth it), check in bonus points from drawings or other promotional giveaways, and any points for customer service issues.
The only reasons I would buy the points now is if he is planning to stay at a Starwood property so he can get lifetime platinum and match it to SPG platinum or if he is planning to fly on United Airlines so he can get United Silver if he doesn’t have any status on United. In both of those cases, he would gain something of value by having platinum status right now as an infrequent traveler.
