What program to choose for 2015 status?
Nov 4, 2013 | 7:04 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM/2MM, Hilton, Wyndham and IHG DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Southwest A List
Posts: 15,563
SPG gives me a 4 p.m. checkout, and there are times I would rather have a 4 p.m. checkout over a free breakfast.
Nov 4, 2013 | 9:13 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
I appreciate the feedback. I did not consider the lifetime achievements so that is something to add to the decision. Just to be clear - I plan on keeping IHG Ambassador and not maintain IHG as my primary program, so I am looking for something new. I agree that CC is not ideal and that HY and SPG lack the property density in the area that I will be traveling to. So that leaves HH and MR. I'm a bit surprised that most of the feedback supported MR and very little to HH.
Since I have Gold with UA, I will maintain Gold Status with MR regardless, but I will need stays to maintain Gold with HH unless I get a card or something. The lifetime award could be the tipping point, but that will take me 7 - 10 years to earn and as it was pointed out, it might not be offered by that time.
I appreciate it, I'm thinking MR will be the one, but I have another month before I start booking for January. But on the other hand HH Dia looks so easy to get....
Thanks,
Mike
Since I have Gold with UA, I will maintain Gold Status with MR regardless, but I will need stays to maintain Gold with HH unless I get a card or something. The lifetime award could be the tipping point, but that will take me 7 - 10 years to earn and as it was pointed out, it might not be offered by that time.
I appreciate it, I'm thinking MR will be the one, but I have another month before I start booking for January. But on the other hand HH Dia looks so easy to get....
Thanks,
Mike
I recommend that you also get the MR Premier Visa where you get 15 nights' credit toward elite + 1 elite night/$3K spent on the card. That makes getting to Plat MUCH easier.
I find that the MR lounges are better than HH.
MR has lifetime status, which will be nice once you stop traveling.
Upgrades are a tossup domestically.
I prefer MR hotels in Europe, YMMV.
Since you mentioned that SPG and HY don't work for your travel patterns, you may want to compare MR vs HH hotels that you would use. HH may be a better choice for you in the cities that you travel to.