As a plat, I do almost all my booking through my travel agent. A few times, I've been upgraded to a more deluxe room upon check-in.

The other night, I had to actually call the Plat reservations line to make a booking...and she said "I've got you confirmed there, and I've requested your upgrade".

Is this a standard practice that I need to get into? I didn't even realize you could "request" an upgrade, I just thought the hotel would upgrade a Plat on occasion based on space and how their mood was on a given day.

Any insight is appreciated...thanks!

no, it's not required given your status

But it never hurts requesting in advance - especially for your special occasions.

Doesn't hurt during bookings, and actually it's kinda nice. Probably SOP because of your high rate your kindness to a call centre agent having a bad day.

Benefit of this is that you don't look like a sleaze asking for an upgrade for the heck of it upon check-in.

Tell us the outcome! Then we can overanalyze that for many years to come.

I usually make my reservations on the Marriott website, and in the "comments" box will put "Request Platinum {or Gold, depending on my status} upgrade, if available, please."

I don't know whether it makes a difference, but I do get upgraded a lot.

One other thing I do is, when staying at a hotel where I'm not familiar with the numbering system, or when I am familiar with the system and recognize that the room they have marked for me is not an upgrade, is to inquire, "Do you know whether my Gold/Platinum upgrade came through?" Sometimes they'll say, "I'm sorry, but the hotel is pretty full tonight" but other times thay'll say, "Wait a minute, let me check" and come back with a new room number.

When I am traveling on business, I usually don't care too much about the room. If I am going on vacation with my family and we are going to a hotel (especially resorts) where I haven't stayed before, I will call the hotel and ask for the bellstand. I will then ask them what the best rooms are in the hotel and what are the worst. I will then add a request for the best room # (Platinum Elite requests room 3614 if available) to the comments section of my reservation. When checking in I'll ask what room they are putting me in. If its not the room I requested, I will ask if it is available. Sometimes it works and I'll score a nicer room. ^ I have never had a Marriott put me in one of the room #s that the bellman said is one of the worst, but its good to know that information before checking in.

RIP...