2009 Program Changes -- the good, the bad and the ugly
#541
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Marriott's program sucks even more when you read about the SPG category changes and elimination of most peak season awards. More hotels were downgraded than upgraded.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...es-2009-a.html
http://www.spgpromos.com/categorychanges/index.cfm?
This data was compiled by soitgoes.
How our resident Marriott "loyalist" are spinning this?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...es-2009-a.html
http://www.spgpromos.com/categorychanges/index.cfm?
Upgrades (82)
1->2: 9
2->3: 27
2->4: 1
3->4: 22
4->6: 1
4->5: 14
5->6: 6
6->7: 2
Downgrades (156)
2->1: 11
3->2: 37
4->3: 46
4->2: 4
5->4: 41
6->5: 11
6->4: 1
7->6: 5
Overall
Category 1: +2
Category 2: +11
Category 3: +14
Category 4: 0
Category 5: -22
Category 6: -2
Category 7: -3
1->2: 9
2->3: 27
2->4: 1
3->4: 22
4->6: 1
4->5: 14
5->6: 6
6->7: 2
Downgrades (156)
2->1: 11
3->2: 37
4->3: 46
4->2: 4
5->4: 41
6->5: 11
6->4: 1
7->6: 5
Overall
Category 1: +2
Category 2: +11
Category 3: +14
Category 4: 0
Category 5: -22
Category 6: -2
Category 7: -3
How our resident Marriott "loyalist" are spinning this?
#542
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Oh ye of little faith. All you need do is check out Marriott's http://www.marriott.com/marriott.mi?...tRoomAvailable page.
I think it is painfully obvious what has happened. Now that Marriott has no blackout dates, 5th night free awards, and a 20% increase in bonus points for Plats, SPG got really scared that everyone was going to jump ship and head to Marriott. This is nothing more than SPG's attempt to try and match all the great changes Marriott has made to their program.
I think it is painfully obvious what has happened. Now that Marriott has no blackout dates, 5th night free awards, and a 20% increase in bonus points for Plats, SPG got really scared that everyone was going to jump ship and head to Marriott. This is nothing more than SPG's attempt to try and match all the great changes Marriott has made to their program.
#543
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
No different from SPG. This is inevitable when you have devaluations, and devaluations are inevitable as programs print more points (and room rates rise, recession notwithstanding). Whenever I have attended a timeshare presentation I always ask the salesperson if they will guarantee the point values for hotels or agree to increase my points to match any devaluation. You know the answer.
I think it is painfully obvious what has happened. Now that Marriott has no blackout dates, 5th night free awards, and a 20% increase in bonus points for Plats, SPG got really scared that everyone was going to jump ship and head to Marriott. This is nothing more than SPG's attempt to try and match all the great changes Marriott has made to their program.
Umm not quite. Normally SPG raises its rates - this has happened pretty much every year for the last few years. But given the recession and precipitous fall in occupancy, SPG probably decided it was a good year to throw members a bone. Smart move! (Not to worry, devaluation will be back as soon as the economy recovers).
I think it is painfully obvious what has happened. Now that Marriott has no blackout dates, 5th night free awards, and a 20% increase in bonus points for Plats, SPG got really scared that everyone was going to jump ship and head to Marriott. This is nothing more than SPG's attempt to try and match all the great changes Marriott has made to their program.
#544
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Note that while my previous comment was more tongue-in-cheek than not, the principle is that SPG's approach to category levels may give them a bit of a natural advantage over Marriott. SPG's category levels are dropping as the rates drop. Marriott's might actually go up given that members may have more than normal award stays this year, thus driving UP their Cat. levels.
#545
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 120
I would equate Starwood eliminating the Peak Season to Ritz Carlton offering pointsavers. Granted this is only for the first quarter, but I would expect to see deals for top tier hotels during the current business cycle.
http://www.marriott.com/rewards/ritz...PointSavers.mi
http://www.marriott.com/rewards/ritz...PointSavers.mi
#546
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Silver, MR Plat Prem & LT Plat, Hyatt Plat,SPG Plat, Hertz PC, National EE, UA 1K
Posts: 3,407
I can tell you that SPG has changed my mind. I am earning my 50K megabonus, then bamm-o...back to SPG. I will take EVERY stay that is not "incentivized" to SPG for 2009. See where it goes from there.
The ONLY plus that is keeping me at MR at all is free breakfast. I spend 3+wks/yr with the family on vacation. This adds up to ~$1100/yr (21 days X 3 People X ~$18/each -I DID keep track of it 2 years ago)!!! If (when?) SPG offers this...MR will get nothing.
The ONLY plus that is keeping me at MR at all is free breakfast. I spend 3+wks/yr with the family on vacation. This adds up to ~$1100/yr (21 days X 3 People X ~$18/each -I DID keep track of it 2 years ago)!!! If (when?) SPG offers this...MR will get nothing.
#547
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: IAH
Programs: La Ministreuse de Surréalisme, CO Plat, MR Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 11,358
I've been very happy with SPG and I'll make Plat with them again this year; I'm splitting my time between SPG and MR. SPG is my place of choice in Asia, but I'm so close to lifetime plat with MR, I can't stop yet
#548
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium (former PP), Hilton Silver, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,906
I got a 150,000 point certificate that I must earn by the end of October for an award reservation. After my award stays this fall, I will be chasing for lifetime gold and platinum (I'm almost halfway for lifetime platinum). 2014 is the first year I can get either one.
After that, I'll probably scale back Marriott stays and spend more time with Hyatt.
After that, I'll probably scale back Marriott stays and spend more time with Hyatt.
#549
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: MR Gold, DCL Silver, RSSC Silver
Posts: 775
I reserved a reward stay before the devaluation and ordered the cert. about a week ago. When I checked my on-line account at that time, everything was in order. It said that the e-cert was sent to the hotel and all the other standard language.
Today, I check my account and it says: "The certificates attached to this reservation may not match the number of days, room type, or other features of your stay." Below, it lists the post-devaluation # of points needed to stay.
This ought to be interesting.
Today, I check my account and it says: "The certificates attached to this reservation may not match the number of days, room type, or other features of your stay." Below, it lists the post-devaluation # of points needed to stay.
This ought to be interesting.
#550
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MSY
Programs: Bonvoy (Titanium) . Delta (Platinum)
Posts: 531
I reserved a reward stay before the devaluation and ordered the cert. about a week ago. When I checked my on-line account at that time, everything was in order. It said that the e-cert was sent to the hotel and all the other standard language. Today, I check my account and it says: "The certificates attached to this reservation may not match the number of days, room type, or other features of your stay." Below, it lists the post-devaluation # of points needed to stay.
This ought to be interesting.
This ought to be interesting.
In my case, this happened when I asked the property to block two reservations , (one on a cert using points, and another using a promotional cert) so as to be assigned the same room for the duration of the stay. When they did this (and upgraded me in the process), this message appeared. I just called though and , despite the same e-mail, guest services shows the e-certificate as having been already "delivered". (The property also confirmed to me that everything was in order before they combined the certs.) So ,yeah, its a bit unnerving, but I can see why it might have happened.