Time to start planning a divorce with Starwood (Starriott).
Apr 11, 2018, 8:41 am
#16
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Charleston, SC
Programs: SPG/Marriot Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 412
I'm waiting to see what the details are before making a decision. My SPG card annual fee is due in May, and I am on the fence as well about whether to keep the card or just cut it and move on. It will all depend on how much the program is devalued. I'm a mere gold member, but if I lose free breakfasts/lounge access, I'll be upset. The rumor that they'll immediately cut airline transfers also bothers me, but I don't necessarily use starpoints for flights.
Apr 11, 2018, 11:16 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
I join SPG since 2013 and aside for the first year that I'm just a Pt50 I've been a Pt75 every year (Pt100 in one of the year as well). I'll have the 500 nights needed for LT Pt by this year end but short of years as Pt...
Since SPG being acquired I've start transfer some of my stay to Accor and get Gold there already... Granted Accor doesn't have a LT status but if the merged program does not suit my travel needs I'm more than prepared to switch program...
Since SPG being acquired I've start transfer some of my stay to Accor and get Gold there already... Granted Accor doesn't have a LT status but if the merged program does not suit my travel needs I'm more than prepared to switch program...
Apr 11, 2018, 11:45 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Silver (OW Sapphire), A3 Gold (*G), Bonvoy LTTE, HHonors Diamond, LeClubAccor Silver, UA Silver
Posts: 1,778
Good luck getting any meaningful benefit out of LCAH Gold, other than a voucher for a cheap beer and late checkout. Even Platinum has very few tangible benefits... Even a much watered down Starriott Plat status would still be vastly superior to the top tier at LCAH.
Apr 11, 2018, 2:19 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
I have to respectfully disagree. As LCAH Gold I've received a presidential suite, which I cannot say I've ever received as SPG Plat.
Apr 11, 2018, 3:11 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Apr 11, 2018, 6:37 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta but Washington DC will always be home.
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Hyatt Explorist,, Delta Plat,
Posts: 2,074
I'm SPG LTG and have the nights but not the years for LTP. I'm only going to be Plat-25 this year as my work switched to HH so all my SPG stays are leisure. I'm going to wait to see what the actual announcement says. If it indeed means no guaranteed lounge access, no suites (run about 90% this year at legacy SPG properties and 82% -yep keep a spreadsheet- lifetime), and a 2pm checkout rather than the 4pm I'm used to, I won't try to stay Plat in the future or aim for LTP.
BUT, I also won't be matching with another group. It seems every loyalty program is in a race to the bottom - unless you are an extremely high $$$ client. And, of course, that's their choice. But, I for one, will just start doing with hotels what I do for airlines: Fly whoever I have to for work, and pay whatever I need to for flying where I want to go, when I want to go, in the class I want to be in.
I also can't credibly threaten to leave SPG/Marriott entirely. I love, LOVE, so many of the Design Hotels and Legacy SPG Luxury Collection hotels and some of the higher-end Westins/LeMeridiens (sorry, not St. Regis...can't stand the overly stuffy Victorian-era atmosphere) that I'll still stay at them in their respective cities. I just won't go out of my way anymore to stay at SPG/Marriott.
BUT, I also won't be matching with another group. It seems every loyalty program is in a race to the bottom - unless you are an extremely high $$$ client. And, of course, that's their choice. But, I for one, will just start doing with hotels what I do for airlines: Fly whoever I have to for work, and pay whatever I need to for flying where I want to go, when I want to go, in the class I want to be in.
I also can't credibly threaten to leave SPG/Marriott entirely. I love, LOVE, so many of the Design Hotels and Legacy SPG Luxury Collection hotels and some of the higher-end Westins/LeMeridiens (sorry, not St. Regis...can't stand the overly stuffy Victorian-era atmosphere) that I'll still stay at them in their respective cities. I just won't go out of my way anymore to stay at SPG/Marriott.
Apr 11, 2018, 7:10 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,008
No, I don't change programs based on blog rumors. Especially after having been Hilton and Hyatt top tier and seeing what they have/don't have to offer.
Apr 11, 2018, 9:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SG
Programs: Marriott Plat Amb, oneworld Ruby
Posts: 132
I'm staying put for now. Or more precisely, I'm going to keep frequenting my go-to Starwood hotels where they know me and treat me well. It's hard to put a value on that and even harder to build up that same rapport elsewhere, although I attribute that to the hospitality and culture of the local team rather than Starwood on a macro level.
That said, now is the time to agitate and let Sorenson and his team know that us "rabid" SPG fans will not tolerate a devaluation of our benefits. Divorcing after a devaluation sends a much stronger signal than divorcing now.
That said, now is the time to agitate and let Sorenson and his team know that us "rabid" SPG fans will not tolerate a devaluation of our benefits. Divorcing after a devaluation sends a much stronger signal than divorcing now.
Apr 11, 2018, 9:16 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Apr 11, 2018, 10:15 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
I am just a lousy SPG LTG which I know is really worth nothing to any hotel chain so I am not expecting much. My best hope/wish is that I will end up with some type of complimentary breakfast AND 4pm late check out - but I know this is hoping for alot given that SPG LTG is really worthless.
Apr 12, 2018, 4:01 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Singapore
Programs: DL Million Miler, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Singapore Airlines Gold and a bunch of others
Posts: 127
Pardon me if this seems too early for this sort of thread to start,But is anybody else actively thinking about shifting loyalty to other programs with the upcoming merger of programs? especially those that offer status matches and would reward Plat Lite type elites with better rewards/recognition?I am a plat lite, but have been working hard toward my LT Plat status. To date, I have 8 years as plat and 873 nights. Most of the nights have been on my own dime (Holidays, visiting friends/family) as my work does not involve much travel.If the rumored details of the new program turns out to be true (or even remotely true), the status I will get as LT Plat will not mean very much value. No Lounge, No Suites, "Maybe" Breakfast at "Some" properties and "Earlier" late checkout than what I have become used to.If you too are in a similar boat as I am, what programs would you look to consider? I am not keen on the LT Plat status with Starriott anymore if the value proposition is going to be so weak, even though I have spent so long working towards it. I would much rather go for a program that would continue to reward my loyalty at the level of spend that I am putting in: Around 40 nights per year, across circa 30 stays, mostly at high-end properties (I hardly ever do 4Pts/Alofts unless I must and I have never stayed at an Element).Time to start doing a bit of research I guess? But would be interested to know if anyone else is thinking similar things...
Apr 12, 2018, 4:46 am
#27
Used to be 'flymanbeast'
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Delta silver/marriot platinum
Posts: 2,795
I am already planning my divorce. I have Hilton diamond anyway so no biggie and worst I can go with cheaper non chain hotels.
Apr 12, 2018, 7:51 am
#29
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
I think it is too early to plan a Strexit. There is a new rumor thread on the Marriott Board about most benefits gone below Plat75, with LT Plat being Plat50 benefits, but until I see an announcement (and in implementation) I am not taking the time to make any plans.
Apr 12, 2018, 10:58 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Agreed, it's all rumor until after Monday.