The last two full service Marriott's I went to I asked about an upgrade to their best available room (as opposed to a quality room). Both times I was told that I didn't have the right RATE ?? I said that I thought Platinum members got an upgade to the best available room at no charge ( to be clear I wasn't looking for a suite - just one of the quality rooms).

I was surprised when the front desk made such a huge deal (this is a favour . .. ) about putting me on the concierge floor - even though I didn't have the right "rate".

Has anybody else come across this wrong rate thing??

I have heard of this happening before although it has never happened to me. I was brainwashed by Uncle Bill in to only using the Marriott site or calling the Plat line so I've never been told "sorry, wrong rate." This is just another problem with MR. If they don't want to sell rooms at a certain rate they shouldn't put that rate out there. Unfortunately Marriott doesn't do anything about this and they have an arrogant attitude when it comes to matters like this.

I posed this question some time ago and the response from Socrates (an unoffical Marriott participant) was that the rate did not matter for upgrades.

Now, was your "rate" a Priceline or wholesaler type arrangement? Those are handled differently. If your rate is bookable on marriott.com, and this would include corporate discounts, then you should qualify for an upgrade.

My rate was my company rate - its the same rate code I have used for 70% of my stays (use AAA on weekends and of course the OTP for the bonus bucks).

I am trying not to blow things out of proportion here - but I hope this isn't a sign of the times - i.e. Rack Rate gets you an upgrade- anything else is nothing.

You aren't blowing anything out of proportion, this is another example of rogue franshisees setting their own rules and Marriott being completely unwilling to enforce the rules.

I shared my experience with an RI upgrade attempt on an ENT rate, and it was recommended to ask the front desk at check-in to force an override of the system (some keystrokes involved). I'll use that advice the next time.

As has been repeatedly posted, including by Chris, plat/gold benefits such as upgrade/concierge lounge are program benefits to be provided by the property regardless of rate and regardless of booking site, including opaque sites. Other program benefits such as points and night credits are not necessarily provided, depending on rate or booking site. In my experieince, failure to provide required program benefits is more likely to be caused by a poorly trained or incompetent desk clerk than by a property policy, although either is possible. Regardless of the benefit or rate, if your Marriott Rewards number is not initially on the reservation, or placed on the reservation at some point after the reservation is made, you will likely not receive elite benefits.