And so, for no particular reason, a thread arises from the dead.

Welcome to Flyertalk.

Thanks for flying by. Nice first post. :td:

whats funny is that I think this is the perfect thread to raise from the dead

1. what the program used to be
2. what it is now

1. used to be great
2. now its the worst of the major chains

deleted

Objective evidence?

I'm continuing to earn bags'o'points and finding almost unlimited availability wherever and whenever I want to go. The rest of the stuff (lounge access in FS hotels which I never frequent, for example) is of no concern to me.

While I would like to see the awards program maintained at what it was forever, I'd also like my body to be that of a 25-year old forever, too. Ain't gonna happen.

So, for you, the program has deteriorated; for me it's still highly useful.

For me it still beats the heck out of anything else I've found^

I too have bags o points and a big bag at that; yet using them is another issue. I don't have a desire to use the points at a FI in Fargo in February. If I did, then this would be the program for me; the lounges, those are quite important to me (and apparantly a lot of others if you read the lounge threads).

Starwood and Hyatt are providing better benefits (for me) and are receiving the bulk of my business. It all is a direct result of (my perception of course) the destruction of the program.. Even those boatloads (ok bags o) points are tougher to get with the premium pound issue (stopping the program); the higher rates needed to use them etc... so you may be getting those bags o points but they are costing more to get them and its costing more to use them as a rule.. but those are my perceptions of course

for objective evidence I'll start here

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyalt...ogram-changes/

http://www.morethanpoints.com/2008/1...ull-a-fast-one

Don't get me wrong, Horse-man. The fact is we have radically different workstyles and desires.

I pay for nights exclusively on a price/program basis. Thus, 99% of my paid stays in Marriott are in Fairfield Inns. It has to be that way - I'm picking up the tab and it all comes out of my bottom line.

All I want in a hotel is a place to sleep that's warm, safe, and relatively comfortable. I couldn't care less about the other stuff (I'm always alone), especially if I have to pay for it.

I'm on the road 50+ weeks/year - the hotel is just a device to house/clean my body at night. In fact, until I actually used some points on my first overseas trip a few years ago, I had no idea these programs even existed. If that were still true, I'd be staying in EconoLodges or under a bridge. To me, the hotel is just an expense item that has to justify it self.

With the tricks I've learned here, I've been able to turn the MR program into a number of really nice vacations (where I do care about the hotel) for my family and there's more to come.

I have no interest in staying at nice Marriotts is stateside locations - for me, it's all about Europe. And over there, with the dollar/euro/pound rates, the rate I'm earning points, and general sneakiness on my part, I've done quite well.

The increase to 50% bonus for plats, the extra points in lieu of arrival gifts (how much water can you drink?) and the fact that the Megabonuses seem to be 50K now instead of 35K, all are just adding to my general satisfaction with what Marriot Rewards can provide me.

My experience only goes back to about 2003, so I don't know anything about the 'good old days' and, even if I did, what difference would it make? Today is today; then was then. I'll take what they have to offer and make the most out of it.

Oh, and I'm also banging away at Hilton and Choice, too. They all have their advantages to me and so I work their programs as I'm able.

In actuality, Marriott (or Hilton or Hyatt or whatever) doesn't have to offer me anything beyond the safe, clean, comfortable. If they didn't, and nobody else did, I'd be back to the Motel de Crappo or negotiating a rate with the dumpster operator.

But they do, and I work very hard at getting whatever I can out of them.

I thought it was interesting to see it bumped, if for no other reason than, "hey, I wrote that": I am the original poster.

I'm pretty ambivalent about the program now, so it's illuminating to see how pleased I once was, especially since most of the things I gave kudos for are still the same today.

So, why my change of heart? I'm not sure, really. I do know my business travel has been way down lately, and due to tightening client budgets and lack of negotiated rates, most of my MR stays in the last 2 years have been Residence or Courtyard, so the lounge benefit has been of little benefit. I'm really more in point-burning mode than point earning mode, so the bonuses don't help. And I'm still not sold on the "almost no blackout date" policy.

Maybe I've just become jaded...