Elite Status- Is it worth it?
 

I suppose I should be reading my member benefits more often but I've recently been SHOCKED by the changes in the Marriott Rewards elite programs that I've experienced. I used to be Platinum and am now Gold so I'm familiar with the benefits at both levels. When did suites stop being included in upgrades? And when did Gold lose the reservation guarantee? And didn't they guarantee you your preferred room type at one point?

As I see it, the only benefits to Elite status now are access to Concierge Lounge and earning a bonus over regular points earned. What do you think? Is Elite Status at Marriott worth it now? Has the program lost its value?

Gold still gets the guaranteed room type. For me Gold is worth it, mainly because of the guaranteed room type and the concierge lounge access. I usually get my preference for room location honored as well. In the last few years, I have been upgraded to a suite twice. The first time was at a CY when the Internet was down in my room and the suite was the only nonsmoking room left with working Internet. The suite at the CY was great! The other time was at a full service MR I had stayed at many times for a project. In the later case, I appreciated the gesture but the desk in the conventional rooms actually worked better for me. Since most of my stays are short, suites usually aren’t a big deal for me. For the occasional longer stay 5+ nights, a suite would be nice. If I am going to have a really long stay, I could bite the bullet and book an RI even though it is only 5points/dollar.


-Jon

P.S. The Suite upgrade benefit has been gone for at least a year. If you do a search you will find zillions of threads on the subject.

Uh...let's see:

Suites went away within the last year I think. Caused a bit of a stir. Yet many report more success in getting suite upgrades than before. It's still up to the individual property, it's just not guaranteed anymore.

I believe that you are still guaranteed a room type (as far as smoking preference and bed) if it says so on your reservation.

Not sure about the loss of the Gold reservation guarantee.

That's all I have for now.

I looked in to the guaranteed room type thing because I was very surprised to be stuck in a room with two double beds at a hotel I stay at almost every week. It is as BigLar says- you're guaranteed the room type if it says so on the reservation. If you try to reserve it an it is n/a or you arrive and want something other than what's on your reservation you're out of luck, gold doesn't necessarily get you any priority and you're stuck with what you get.

I guess access t the concierge lounge really has to be wieghed with the difference between what you pay for a normal room and what you would pay for a concierge room at the prevailing rate.

The lounges are nioce don't get me wrong but the quality varies. To me the main benefit is the "free" breakfast. Still if you stay at the mid-price brands you get a free breakfast anyway.

So hypothetically if your paying $129 a night and the concierge room is $169 a night is it worth:

a) the $40 difference for a $10 breakfast

or

b) spending 50 nights a year in a hotel

Personally the only thing I see as an advantage are the points and breadth of redemption possiblities.

Y'know, I have to kinda agree with traveller23 and nnightmar ... sort of.

I spend the bulk of my time in a Fairfield Inn, and they take good care of me, but they probably would anyhow since I'm there quite a bit.

For me, the benefits of being a top-level elite should kick in with something extra when it's time to redeem an award. Getting 75 nights a year is hard enough for most folks, but once you get there and you'd like to spend your hard-earned points on a really nice stay, well, you get in line with everyone else. Some guy who just made a ton of points by some credit card deal or other, and has not spent more than one or two nights ever in a Marriott property winds up getting the last award available, say, at the Rome Flora or the Paris Champs Elysee. Meanwhile, you, whose back has the Marriott imprint on it from sleeping on their matresses so much, are just SOL.

Granted, at the full-service properties, I guess they do give you a bit of extra attention, and you do get the lounge access, and in general Marriott is a well-run chain.

It's just that, for me, the "cookies" are redeeming the points for awards, and I feel there ought to be some sort or priority given to Platinums. They certainly do at Hilton.

</rant>

Unfotunately, your use of the chains above is all wrong, for you use the example of someone getting a ton of points simply by using their Marriott Visa being able to be placed on the same footing as you -- someone who loyally sleeps in a Fairfield Inn bed -- and you want some recognition that Hilton gives to its top tier elites.

Those examples you have used are opposite the point you are trying to make.

For example, the Marriott Rewards Visa, is probably the least lucrative credit card to earn a "ton of points" that could propel its holder into a free room, when compared to the HHonors AMEX or the SPG AMEX.

You should recall that one earns only 3 points/$1 for charges at a Marriott family property and only 1 point/$1 elsewhere when using the Marriott Visa.

On the other hand, SPG has a much, much lower redemption rates and therefore, the 1 point/$1 stucture used makes this card the sin ne qua non for those who wish to earn a free vacation though use of the card, without staying at any SPG property. What is more, since SPG has blackout free awards -- regardless of your status, and no point overrides like Marriott does, a SPG elite is far more likely to face the situation you describe above as opposed to that of a Marriott elite.

So too, with the HHonors AMEX credit card, that earns 5 points/$1 at some establishments, and 3 points/$1 at non-Hilton family concerns. In either situation, one is far more likely to earn a "ton of points" from their use of the HHonors AMEX away from a Hilton family property, than one is likely to earn from use of the Marriott Visa at those same establishments.

So, your sentiments, although meritorious, are just not borne out by the facts of the situation.

If one wants to earn free nights/vacations, the last card and or lodging chain that they should choose to do this would be with the Marriott Visa card and the Marriott Lodging chain.

SPG would be the best for this type of redemption, and now that Hilton permits 4 night reward redemptions with its HHonors AMEX for Category 6 properties (approx. 29,000 points per night vs. 31,000 points per night via a GLONP-2) they would be a somewhat close second. Marriott Visa would be a distant third.

A few unrelated points....
1. First, to respond to NNightmar's post- your math makes sense but only for certain hotels. I just double checked- elite status guarantees you breakfast in the concierge lounge at Marriott, JW Marriott, or Renaissance Hotels. If breakfast isn't available, you are eligible for a free continental breakfast in the restaurant. If you're staying at a Fairfield or Residence Inn, continental breakfast comes with the room. But, if you're staying at Courtyards, like I generally do, you get nada. No breakfast. No club.

2. I think BigLar brings up a very good point, one I've never thought of before. Yes, it may be easier to earn points via credit cards in other programs but that doesn't change the fact that in Marriott's program Elite traveler's get no special consideration when trying to use their points.

3. Regarding NJUPINTHEAIR's program analysis- yes it is easier to earn points in SPG or Hilton programs but don't those program require an correspondingly higher number of points for redemption?

Which brings me back to my original question....what is the benefit of Marriott Elite status (if any)?

For me, it's more of the unpublished benefits. BOGO night coupons, Gold services Elite line and they seem to be more flexible on promotions for Elites. Netted me an additional 10K nights this Spring and more this summer.

Silver is a great deal
 

I don't know about the upper tiers, but I think Silver is a great deal. It only requires 10 nights (or its automatic with a MR visa card), it gets you a 20% points bonus (which is 2/3 of the Platinum bonus) and it is actually recognized when you check-in (unlike HHonors Silver or SPG Gold).

Additionally, from my experience, if I go to a hotel where my company has a corporate agreement, as a Silver elite I usually get some kind of upgrade (when my non-elite co-workers usually do not). Often the upgrade is just a more convenient room location (closer to the parking or the pool or with a view), but occasionally, even at a Courtyard, I get a suite. Much better treatment than I ever received as a HHonors Silver or SPG Gold.

I do think Hilton and Hyatt have better top tier treatment, but Marriott remains my alternate and I'll continue to do what I can to maintain my Silver status.

Well, it is now. I just decided today to go to Nagoya, Japan next week since I am able to get a last minute International First airline ticket award. The only problem was that there are no vacancies at the Marriott Nagoya Associa Hotel for the 3 nights I plan on being there. Platinum 48 hour guarantee got me a room.

I am in the same boat.

The Concierge Lounge is a nice feature but since most of us travel on the company dime, that is a benefit to our companies, not us.

48 hour room guarentee has come in handy a few times but in order to get these bennefits we have to give them 75 nights.
That's alotta nights.....


Signed,
not so sure.