CPRich

So "fair" has moved from "make them the same" to "make them what I can meet"?

You're concerned about a flood of Lifetime members, but the threshold for Lifetime status should be lower so there are more. To be fair.

CPRich

Define "very generous". Why should it be different for SPG than announced for MR. 750 nights, 2M points equivalent?

I believe the reference was to a 750 night Lifetime status not existing in SPG. MR PP has never had anything to do with achieving lifetime status in the MR program

But, but, a lowest-level CSR on a chat told me differently, so.....

X-ON

If I can extend my suggestion to a solution I mentioned earlier in this thread:
Consider the following:
LT account SPG/MR with 750+ LT nights => LTPP
LT account SPG/MR with 500< LT nights <750 => LTP
LT account SPG/MR with 250<LT nights<500 => LTG
This is very simple but the drawback is that it might mint too many LTPP (and maybe LTP), however it has the advantage that nobody could by any stretch of the imagination (either MR or SPG) claim that I was treated unfairly,

I think the discussion that LT nights in SPG and MR are apples and oranges are in theory correct, however each side have their axe to grind MR can claim that SPG get multiple elite nights credits on multiple room stays and got awards counted as qualifying earlier. We on the SPG side have the roll over, bonus nights issues.
For all practical purposes I think we must equate MR LT nights with SPG LT nights, even though the scientist in me don't like it, its what we call a business solution .

One question that is still lingering in my mind is how many accounts in SPG have 750+ LT nights?

RogerD408

...so we have one vote yes, one vote no. CSRs are NOT a good source for data, unfortunately may be our only source at times. I'm betting on changes coming out as soon as MPG staff patches up their wounds.

uppereastsider

Do we have confirmation that we can still earn lifetime status under the old rules until December 31st 2018? It's how I interpret it on the website... but.... Can a lurker confirm?

I'm 20 nights away from lifetime gold and I want to make sure I don't need to get 20 in before August 1st. I know, I know, Gold isn't that great, but if I ever take a job that doesn't travel the way I do now, I want to be able to walk away with at least some type of lifetime status

Starwood Lurker

Confirmed both here and here.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC

[email protected]

sfosyd

This whole issue is just so silly. The only differences between LTP and LTPP is the 25% more points given and the 48 hour guaranteee, both of which are not that big a deal. Maybe there is a higher upgrade priority maybe not. My guess is the upgrade will go to the member who has more of a relationship with the individual hotel or who is on a higher rate. I also don’t think the platinum benefits will get diluted as this is the highest lifetime status in the new program and more difficult to get than legacy Marriott or SPG. To me, there is hardly an issue here and Marriott needs to do the right thing which is give all members, SPG and Marriott, who stayed at SPG hotels a path to LTPP by the end of the year even if that path is onerous: 750 nights and 2 million points. This would remedy the oversight unless they are intentionally tryin to give SPG members the shaft, which I find hard to believe because they acquired SPG in large part due to the members.

Giving all lifetime SPG Platinums LTPP is also an acceptable solution which indicates that Marriott and SPG really were separate programs and are coming together in August. Let’s face it, maintaining 10 years of Platinum, even with the lower requirements, is a lot harder than getting to 2 million points especially with the credit cards.

Another solution I’d be OK with, but would set off a firestorm on the Marriott side, is just saying everyone is LTP.

sfosyd

Thank you William. Great news.

I was told by a Marriott Rep yesterday that I only had until August to get to LTP on the Marriott side. I can’t make this so I just gave up and let the chips fall where they may, I’m also lifetime SPG Platinum with 939 nights and 13 years as well as lifetime Marriott gold with 1.8 million points and 670 nights.

Unless an announcement is made soon, I willl have to cancel all my upcoming SPG travel and move to the Marriott side which means I can get the grandfather into LTPP. It’s probably worth it since it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I have the travel anyway though I much prefer the SPG properties.

We love the lurkers, thanks again.

Starwood Lurker

My apologies, but I have no idea what my Marriott Rewards colleagues might be referencing. However, I am referencing this web page, where it very plainly says:

"IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR LIFETIME MEMBERS

Starting in August, you’ll be able to qualify instantly for one of our three Lifetime tiers:
Lifetime Silver Elite, Lifetime Gold Elite and Lifetime Platinum Elite.

You can qualify for Lifetime status based on your combined Rewards and SPG nights and Elite years. If you achieved Elite status in both SPG and Rewards in one year, you’ll receive credit for two Elite years. You can also qualify via the existing criteria through December 31, 2018. When your current Elite status is higher than your Lifetime status, you’ll receive the higher-status benefits for that year.

And if you’ve previously achieved Lifetime Elite status in Rewards or SPG, you will have that Lifetime Elite status in the new program."

I sincerely hope this helps.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC

[email protected]

sfosyd

I think the word “grandfather” is confusing us all. There is no path to lifetime premier platinum in the new program and the only way to get it is to qualify for lifetime Platinum on the Marriott side, right? This would mean staying exclusively in Marriott properties until the requirement is met, right?

nli007

You don't get SNAs just for having lifetime status. You MUST still re-qualify each year to receive them. So only advantage is 48 hour guarantee and more bonus pts.

Starwood Lurker

Let's be clear that the only question I am answering at this time is this one: "Do we have confirmation that we can still earn lifetime status under the old rules until December 31st 2018?"

Anything else is on hold at the moment.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC

[email protected]

sfosyd

Understood and appreciate you jumping in. Thank you.

damon88

Does it say something about my Pollyanna personality (who here is old enough for that reference? that I am taking comfort in "on hold" ?


I will soon embark on a long planned vacation and am looking forward to enjoying my Starwood benefits instead of obsessing about them.

Cheers

mooper

You can game either program, was my point, but very few do it to an extreme extent. The most objective measure is nights. If they change anything, giving SPG LTPs with 750+ nights the same treatment as MR LTPs with 750+ nights is the single easiest way to do it.

Love it even more... agreed!