DONE with SPG/Marriott
#61
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Hyatt may not have as many hotel properties as around the U.S, but at least they know how to value their points so they aren't next to worthless, ahem... Marriott and Hilton.
#62
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA Plat/2MM, DL Silver, UA Silver (via Marr), Marr LTT, HH Gold (via cc), Hyatt Disc
Posts: 1,036
The crazy thing is: I empathize with the OP. He's done something that is almost impossible to actually do, and I could easily see a non-FTer (read: someone who isn't a total nerd about these programs) doing and not being aware of it until too late. I can also see where Marriott/Starwood might be willing to grant an exception to someone who really has fully barely short of Platinum in both programs.
Different tone, less entitlement, less informing us how sophisticated he is...he might actually get some helpful advice here. Hotel programs have been generous to me over the years, occasionally extending Plat/Diamond when I didn't fully earn it. Asking how to proceed in this situation isn't unreasonable, but "reasonable" discussion left the station 1 sentence into the OP.
Makes me wonder if the request to Marriott and Starwood wasn't a snotty entitled demand/threat, and that's why it got shot down.
Different tone, less entitlement, less informing us how sophisticated he is...he might actually get some helpful advice here. Hotel programs have been generous to me over the years, occasionally extending Plat/Diamond when I didn't fully earn it. Asking how to proceed in this situation isn't unreasonable, but "reasonable" discussion left the station 1 sentence into the OP.
Makes me wonder if the request to Marriott and Starwood wasn't a snotty entitled demand/threat, and that's why it got shot down.
#63
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,501
Uh. Hyatt is a perfectly fine program and hotel chain. Just because they don't have as many properties as Marriott, doesn't mean they aren't as good. I would actually argue Hyatt's are much better in terms of quality, that is until Marriott officially acquires both Starwood and Ritz.
Hyatt may not have as many hotel properties as around the U.S, but at least they know how to value their points so they aren't next to worthless, ahem... Marriott and Hilton.
Hyatt may not have as many hotel properties as around the U.S, but at least they know how to value their points so they aren't next to worthless, ahem... Marriott and Hilton.
Marriott has done a much better job IMHO than Hilton has in terms of not allowing their points to become worthless. The value of a single MR point has stayed relatively stable for quite some time. The two biggest "devaluations" in the past decade (IMHO) were things outside Marriott's control - changes that AA and WN made. Other than that, there's just the gradual category creep that you have to deal with in all hotel programs, but they've also made it a bit more lucrative for elite earning and a bit easier to redeem most non-MVCI awards.
Hilton, on the other hand, seems to rewrite the whole structure of their program every 15 minutes. I'm Diamond there, earned 62 points per dollar on my most recent stay, and have no real idea what that will be worth six months from now. I'm still playing their game because I redeem at resorts once in a while, but the elite experience at HH is kind of lacking. That program is starting to feel pretty IHG-ish at this point.
#64
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MSP (Mahtomedi, MN, USA) - Delta hub captive, Marriott Gold, US Mint Silver, CVS Red
Programs: "We've been starving, and sitting on a ham sandwich the whole time."
Posts: 1,482
I have been a Platinum member with SPG for three years. I stayed over 100 nights this last year between Starwood and Marriott. I was just demoted to Gold in both programs because I barely missed the threshold in each program. They conducted exactly zero due diligence to see I had stayed over 100 nights between the two and are unwilling to "make an exception". They even had the balls to offer me a "Platinum Challenge". Has anyone else had this experience? I called Hyatt today and they will honor my Platinum status Day 1. I am switching programs this week and closing my Marriott CC account. I am absolutely appalled and certainly hope you all realize what you're dealing with here. Only a matter of time before they treat you all the same way.
Why would you close your Marriott CC account? It is one of the few cards available which offers PRIMARY rental car coverage. Whatever you feel about their hotels and their program, this is a valuable tool to have in your travel kit.
For some reason, the card does not show up on the following list, but I include it for the sake of completeness. It offers a decent explanation of what the difference is between primary and secondary coverage, and what you get and do not get when using a card that does have the primary coverage benefit.
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/cards...ntal-coverage/
#65
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 3
Dang this stinks. I'd be ticked off too. I fully agree SPG should make this right. Clearly you are the type of customer this chain is looking for. A loyal customer who stays a substantial amount of nights per year. It would mean absolutely nothing to SPG to give you PLAT. And for those who say "rules are rules", try an get off your high horse. If the OP had exactly the number of stays he says he had, you can't really think he/she should not be allowed a tiny bit of leniency?
100 nights per year, even at a modest rate of $200/night is $20K in spend. OP may not have the best tact, but it sounds like he/she is the kind of customer I'd want to keep happy and in my hotels, especially as airbnb and similar hospitalities slowly chip away at the market share of these giant chains.
In a strange turn of events, I also recently lost my PLAT status (it was my fault). I politely sent them a Facebook message yesterday and this morning I woke up to a response saying they were upgrading me back to PLAT as a one time courtesy. May be worth a shot for you?
Good luck.
100 nights per year, even at a modest rate of $200/night is $20K in spend. OP may not have the best tact, but it sounds like he/she is the kind of customer I'd want to keep happy and in my hotels, especially as airbnb and similar hospitalities slowly chip away at the market share of these giant chains.
In a strange turn of events, I also recently lost my PLAT status (it was my fault). I politely sent them a Facebook message yesterday and this morning I woke up to a response saying they were upgrading me back to PLAT as a one time courtesy. May be worth a shot for you?
Good luck.
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,660
Dang this stinks. I'd be ticked off too. I fully agree SPG should make this right. Clearly you are the type of customer this chain is looking for. A loyal customer who stays a substantial amount of nights per year. It would mean absolutely nothing to SPG to give you PLAT. And for those who say "rules are rules", try an get off your high horse. If the OP had exactly the number of stays he says he had, you can't really think he/she should not be allowed a tiny bit of leniency?
I see no way to have a program like this without rules; and if one is going to have rules which have meaning, they should be followed.
#67
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YUL
Programs: ✈ AC 1MM / S100K - SPG Lifetime Platinum = BONVoY Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,496
Tanner , of course it was your fault you lost your status , who's else fault would it be? Serious question
#68
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,110
I'd say that was true of Gold Passport, but World of Hyatt is driving away top-level elites in droves.
#69
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Right now I have about 101,500 Hilton points, but if I could sell them, I would. I like more straight forward rewards programs, not because I'm stupid, but because I know they do it on purpose to make it seem like they're giving their customers more value due to the # of points needed for one room. It's all in a way to subtly lie to your customers by deflating the value of your points and making it seem like you're getting more in value than you really are.
Make the rooms starting at 8,000 points a night instead of 25,000 or whatever. Soon it'll cost you 1,000,000 points for a bottom tiered hotel free night and you'll get 10,000 points per dollar on your Hilton card when used at those properties.
#70
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,501
#71
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,110
#72
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,407
#73
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,501
Primary rental car insurance is only on the Ritz card. It's secondary on the Marriott Visa.
#74
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,265
Once again someone has started a DYKWIA thread only to disappear and leave everyone else discussing randomness.
#75
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,582
The crazy thing is: I empathize with the OP. He's done something that is almost impossible to actually do, and I could easily see a non-FTer (read: someone who isn't a total nerd about these programs) doing and not being aware of it until too late. I can also see where Marriott/Starwood might be willing to grant an exception to someone who really has fully barely short of Platinum in both programs.
Different tone, less entitlement, less informing us how sophisticated he is...he might actually get some helpful advice here. Hotel programs have been generous to me over the years, occasionally extending Plat/Diamond when I didn't fully earn it. Asking how to proceed in this situation isn't unreasonable, but "reasonable" discussion left the station 1 sentence into the OP.
Makes me wonder if the request to Marriott and Starwood wasn't a snotty entitled demand/threat, and that's why it got shot down.
Different tone, less entitlement, less informing us how sophisticated he is...he might actually get some helpful advice here. Hotel programs have been generous to me over the years, occasionally extending Plat/Diamond when I didn't fully earn it. Asking how to proceed in this situation isn't unreasonable, but "reasonable" discussion left the station 1 sentence into the OP.
Makes me wonder if the request to Marriott and Starwood wasn't a snotty entitled demand/threat, and that's why it got shot down.