pinniped

I rarely ask hotels for late checkouts so I can't compare how they all react to it. Once in a while a Starwood FDC will point it out to me that I'm welcome to stay until 4PM (without my asking), and I do appreciate that...even though I don't usually need it. I also like how Marriott's check-in process allows you to set your check-out time in the app. If you like late checkouts but hate feeling like you have to grovel for them at the front desk, this is a substantial improvement.

rdlmitedu

I'm curious how a "super-premium" Amex SPG/MR card could work, other than conferring status. If I could pay $650/yr (vs. $550/yr + $95/yr) for Amex Platinum SPG which got Amex Platinum benefits plus let me earn SPG points at the SPG card rate, I might do it, particularly if it did something like $200-300/yr in hotel reimbursements, $200-300/yr in travel reimbursements (or, say, multiple free nights on top of SPG points). I don't have amex personal platinum but do have business platinum (for centurion lounge and some other stuff; net of fees it comes out at $20/visit or less, which is worth it, and amextravel is sometimes useful).

I'd obviously be willing to pay $200-300/yr more than the $95 card if it got me value -- either >10k points/yr extra, or a free night or two in cat 1-6, or something. I'm generally split between SPG Amex and Chase Sapphire Reserve when buying stuff, unless it's a specific vendor where their own card is better (Amazon, UA, VX, etc.). I doubt they'd do anything crazy like "uncapped extra extra point per dollar spent" because then I'd be getting >3% back.

Absolute

So for us current Marriott Chase customers, we're still fine?

Seattlenerd

As I read it, we're still fine (but only in the U.S.). For now.

Once the new cards are announced, I would not be surprised if the benefits tied to the current Marriott Rewards VISA cards for personal and business use (of which I have one each) may not change a bit to align with the overall new Marriott/Starwood credit card portfolio.

yeunganson

If the new program is no longer Marriott, then I imagine the rights go to Scotiabank and Chase Canada can't issue new merged SPG/Marriott points.

It won't make any sense if Scotiabank pays for the full Chase Canada credit card portfolio but didn't buy the Canadian card-issuing rights for Amazon and Marriott. So I expect if the merged program has a completely different name and different points program, then all the current Marriott Chase Canada card members will get their card discontinued. Then Scotiabank will issue merged SPG/Marriott program cards in the Canadian market.