This works when it works but if it doesn't post automatically you can't retroactively get 2 nights credit, in my experience it's pretty random, consider yourself lucky when it does work.

I've only had plat for a year (after being Gold) and have seen only 1 benefit - a very nice Welcome gift at the CY in Tokyo on an award stay. Value approximately 1500 Yen (though much appreciated!). Not even worth a $69 meeting, let alone a $350 stay. I haven't had any upgrades, and no lounges (at least no OPEN lounges). It has been a low travel year, but I still thought that *someone* would recognize me differently from Gold, when I got a few upgrades at least.

Given the crappy Canadian credit card deal, I am going to cancel my Marriott Visa card and move my stays to Hilton (which, to be fair, has no Canadian card at all) to maintain my Diamond status.

Dr. PITUK

Sounds like you're not staying at the right Marriott hotels. The full Marriott and JW Marriotts typically "recognize" platinum members the best.

+1 It's the FS hotels that make plat worth it IMO. Most CY's don't even have a suite to upgrade too.

Actually this is not true. Most CYs do have suites. And I tend to get an upgrade to one if they are available.

Note that it isn't automatic as suite upgrades aren't guaranteed as a Gold/Plat elite benefit. But when I ask nicely at check-in, I've received the suite upgrade much more often than not.

We found out recently that CY's do have suites and in many cases they are nicer than those at full service Marriotts. Certainly took us by surprise.

I am new with Marriott. Do they provide free breakfast like Hilton or Starwood for platinum member? Do they have a lounge for Platinum member? Also, being a Marriott platinum, does these benefits also work for Ritz Carlton?

thanks,

http://www.marriott.com/marriott-rew...ts/platinum.mi

Marriott Platinum status is reciprocal with Ritz Carlton Platinum status, however the benefits vary greatly across brands (from Marriott to RC and also within the Marriott family of brands).

Lounge access and breakfast are dependent on the brand; also resorts typically exclude breakfast for Platinum members. No free breakfast at RC, whether hotel or resort. You also will not get Club Lounge access at RC as a Platinum member.

On August 18, Marriott will combine Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) into one loyalty program. The combined program will not have a name until 2019, so you'll continue to see references to today's program names until then. However, they'll share the same structure for earning, redemption, and benefits.

My friendly advice would be to wait a few days (probably until August 19) and then read up about Platinum Elite benefits on the official Marriott website. Marriott has traditionally done a good job describing Elite benefits. The current content will be obsolete in a few days, so I wouldn't bother with it now.

Marriott officially has 30 brands, including the brands from its acquisition of Starwood in 2016, such as Westin and St. Regis. One of Marriott's luxury brands, Bulgari, does not participate at all in the loyalty program. Otherwise, benefits vary by brand. Some benefits also vary by geography or property type (hotel vs resort).

The short answer about Platinum breakfast is "it depends." With a few exceptions, brands will provide breakfast in some way (or at least daily credit toward the cost of breakfast).