As well there should be!

As the president of my company once put it to me "(Miles and points) is the LEAST we can do for you guys when we ask to be away from your homes and families on the company's behalf on a repeated basis".

At the time ('90s), my brother in law was an engineer working for AC Spark Plugs (General Motors), which made him return all his points and miles to the company.

These are the stories that make me appreciate some of the über-strict FF policies on mileage transfers and redemptions that make award tickets extremely difficult to obtain on business routes and at the last minute. :)

As far as elite elitism goes, yes, it's alive and well; you're kidding yourself if you deny it. I do get a bit of a rush as I pass the hordes in the airport during elite boarding, and it felt great when my FB Silver status got me the last available seat on the last flight of the day during irrops, in first class, nonetheless, sparing me the fate of the 30 other travelers on the standby list who had to figure out a place to stay in ATL for the night. The way I see it, getting elite status is a bit like winning a strategy game -- segments here, nights there, moving things and timing things just right. The earning has to do with the traveling, not paying, reflected in the fact that you don't earn airline miles upon booking a ticket or a hotel but instead upon flying a flight or spending the night. It's rude to flaunt anything, elite status included, but it's understandable to feel a bit proud for achieving it and upset when you feel like you've lost some of what you've earned.

With that being said, what's the point of this thread? Oh right, lounge access with Marriott Silver. jerseygirl's suggestion was great. Nothing's guaranteed, but see what her suggestion gets you. If it doesn't work, ask at check-in how much an upgrade would cost; they might be willing to make a deal.

Quote:
Originally Posted by newbiztraveler
I know for a fact that there are Marriotts that grant lounge access to silvers by their own policy, not on an exception basis. Golds are just guaranteed to have access at all hotels.

I see there is no response.

On the topic of Silver being underappreciated, I'd say the amusingly named Rollover Nights probably benefit Silvers more than anyone else. If you make 10 but never make 50 (probably a good chunk of us), every couple of years you can get Gold (and lounge access!). For me (with 90% of my travel being personal), it's finally an answer to the question of why I should stay with Marriott more than 10 nights a year.

EDIT: PMed response to poster.

Beermonger, I am going to stir the pot a little here.

As a silver elite, you do get a few perks that a general member doesn't get -- Bonus points, weekend discount, gift shop discount and priority late checkout to name a few. Just like the first level of an airline program, you get a little bit.

Then when you stay a bunch, you get a few more perks, Hotels it is the lounge access, Airlines it is typically double your mileage. Like with Airplanes, sometimes you get op uped on a flight. Sometimes you get it at the hotel, but is it really fair to those people that stay in the hotels frequently to give you the same perks -- regardless of who pays.

Yes, I do get the perks, and yes my company pays for 90% of my stays -- I pay for some of them as well. At the same time, I often fly on a Sunday and have to stay in the hotel Sunday night. Again, yes I chose that job, and it does stink to be away from the family,

As to the conceriege lounge access, (the main perk we are talking about), Ok, it is nice to save $10 on breakfast (that would have been expensed anyway, and perhaps having a snack is nice after work or dessert and a bottle of water (another savings of $10), But I often miss those because of a flight or working late. Net sum, life isn't fair, but be happy when you do get the occassional access

Not trying to get into the argument, but my father gets Gold on his own dime, but usually stays in Marriotts on weekends, which means he seldom gets to use the Concierge Lounge.

50 NIGHTS and no use of the CL? He ought to change programs -- at least to one where the stay requirements for elite are easier.

Hilton/SPG = approx. 26 stays and you are top tier in their program.

no, UNCOMMON use of the CL. He *did* spend a week in a FS Marriott in December, so he and his traveling companions had lounge access there. My parents and I spent a week in a Renaissance in April (on points) where there was no lounge but we got free (huge) breakfast. And sometimes he books multiple rooms and he also has the credit card. So what...30 nights a year?

Technically 35 nights plus the 15 from the credit card. Depends on his travel patterns, where he likes to stay, what are the alternatives, etc.

If he does not like to pop around and likes to stay put then probably Marriott is best for him. However, if he can make 1 night stays, well then, I would consider the others.

Also, if he charges a lot on a credit card, he might wish to check out the HHonors Surpass Card. Charge $40,000 on it in a calendar year and you get HHonors Diamond status without setting foot in a Hilton family property, if you so wish. Also, Hiltons guarantee free breakfast, even on weekends, if you are a Gold or above member, as that is the significant Hilton perk.

Sorry, I was assuming 30 *stays* vs. 35 *nights.*

His stay is a mix of single nights and longer periods. He likes to attach other people to his rooms. I assume he's been a member of MR for at least 10 years. He did just blow > 300,000 points at once, so he gets a lot of use out of the credit card.

And I have to ask - why would one want Diamond status without setting foot on a Hilton property?!

If that were the case -- worst case example --then the person would have almost enough points from that spend -- assuming the minimum of 3 points to the $ -- to obtain 4 free nights at most of their hotel properties. Of course, that person would likely spend some time at Hiltons, as well.

yeah, seriously, I'd hope that someone with eight billion Hilton points would also stay at the hotel occasionally.

Here's what my father's Marriott status got last night: concierge level, riverview room at the Cambridge (Boston) Marriott, which made the fireworks amazing.

When I travel for pleasure, I usually stay at SPG or IC group. They offer many perks for people who travel less than what it takes to earn perks at Marriott's. I usually get at least gold paying out of pocket for a few short, sometimes weekend only trips a year.

However, For Marriott, there are a lot of people, my self included, who spend 100% of their time away from home and its nice to have these few little extras. I usually travel to heavy business locations, so no upgrades or anything are available. But the Lounge, arrival gift, etc, make it a little easier to be away from home 4-5 days a week working 12+ hour days.

My employer may be paying, but I still go to a lot of Marriott's for personal trips and pay out of pocket. I also feel I earn these perks as I am staying at Marriotts 200+ nights a year. It may not be ideal, but its hard to find any non travel jobs in my trade, especially given the economy. Do you suggest I complain to my employer? And have them to complain to Marriott, if the concierge lounge runs out of food? Since they are paying? Even though, I pay, and in some cases am reimbursed, and in others, a rate is built into what I am paid that is usually lass than I am actually paying? Or would it annoy you if I went up and asked them to refill the eggs myself?

Not my case, Plat 10 of the last 12 years. 8 of those years were on my dime. Those who pay on their own dime also look at the situation completely different than those who earn status on stays paid predominantly by their employer. As I have discussed elsewhere in detail, they are more apt to use points at a rate of 1¢ or even less per point, or using points for merchandise purchases which is considered by most a bad rate of return. Many having more points than they can use on hotel stays each year. They don't have to weigh the cost of paid stays vs maximizing the return on using points for stays, In many cases their 2-3 weeks of vacation each year is probably paid by points. I think that is great for them. The paradigm for using points is quite different for those who pay vs those whose company pays. I use points for the most expensive stays each year, and only if rates are high enough to warrant (1.5¢-3¢/point) and I wince at anything below 2¢/point. During economic down turns like now, I tend to pay for all my stays and save points for when the economy rebounds, using points a few years back for $600/night stays in London, $1000/nights stays in Paris and Moscow, $500+/night stays at Vail, etc. Prices have dropped substantially, so with the exception of a Euro Hopper I ordered prior to the redemption increases on Jan 15, I am paying cash. I am paying for 1 extra night in London at the RCC for £142/night. It kind of hurts to use points when rates are so low, but the certs expire in Dec.

Actually they do, but the level you are staying earns you Silver. The one year I was Silver, when I asked, they always provided me lounge access. Now I was Gold and Plat the years before so that may have some bearing on their willingness to provide lounge access. This also was post 9/11 and it doesn't mean they will now, and each hotel varies, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Stay more and it will earn you Gold or Plat. Get a MR Premier Visa to add 15 nights to that total each year. Each hotel chain has elite structures for you to pick and choose the hotel brand's program that best meets your needs.