Goodbye, Gold guarantee 4pm late check out? Will miss you..
Apr 19, 2018, 5:46 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Before the change: "How dare you make me wait till 5pm to check in to the room I've paid for! This is an outrage!"
After the change: "How dare you take away my late checkout! This is an outrage!"
After the change: "How dare you take away my late checkout! This is an outrage!"
Apr 19, 2018, 9:14 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
Currently at resorts, if they offer late check-out for a fee, 4pm late check-out must be granted free of charge to SPG Gold or Plat.
I got 4pm once at Westin turtle Bay.
I got 4pm once at Westin turtle Bay.
Apr 19, 2018, 9:54 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SG
Programs: Marriott Plat Amb, oneworld Ruby
Posts: 132
A few times recently, I arrived at a Starwood hotel at 1 pm (informed hotel of early arrival well in advance) and was told that I had been upgraded to a suite but the Plats staying there were checking out only at 4 pm, so they would call me as soon as the suite was ready. OK fair enough, it's the other side of the coin so I worked in my temporary entry-level room, to allow the hotel some time to clean the suite out after the Plats left. No call. I call the reception at 5.30. Sorry sir, suite not ready, guests still there. Call again at 6.15? Same. Call again at 6.45? Guests finally out and we are cleaning the suite, we will call you when it's ready.
I only ended up getting my suite well after 7pm. In Asia, the problem is more acute because the service culture means that staff would never dare to evict a guest from their room or even dare to ask, especially if the guests were entitled DYKWIA Plat types.
If the only effect of this change is that management turns its attention to this issue, and actually starts to enforce the rules, then I'm all for it.
Apr 19, 2018, 10:09 pm
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
OT, but in Asia I've seen late leaving hotel guests be charged for another night or at least 50% automatically when they checked out only a few (maybe ten) minutes late.
May 9, 2018, 2:25 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: SEA, or BOS, or MUC, or other places (probably connecting). "Detroit, Michigan is in the Eastern time zone."
Programs: DL PM/1MM, AS 100K, NEXUS/GE, CLEAR, Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,201
It now seems that the SPG Gold to Starriott Gold downgrade will hit in August (Marriott has confirmed that there won't be a "taste of Platinum" through the SPG Gold -> Marriott Rewards Gold -> Starriott Platinum path) and we will be losing our late checkout guarantee even before the end of this program year. :-(
May 9, 2018, 2:35 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,485
It now seems that the SPG Gold to Starriott Gold downgrade will hit in August (Marriott has confirmed that there won't be a "taste of Platinum" through the SPG Gold -> Marriott Rewards Gold -> Starriott Platinum path) and we will be losing our late checkout guarantee even before the end of this program year. :-(
May 9, 2018, 9:56 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: TWA Platinum Ambassador, Eastern Stratosphere, NWA Gold Elite
Posts: 119
And that is the part of the transition I'm finding fairly disingenuous... they are actually changing (for the worse) a key benefit in the middle of the year, which I'd argue at least some people relied on there being for the full 2018 calendar year when they qualified for SPG Gold in 2017. For the most part, trustworthy loyalty programs have in the past announced changes to benefits in advance, but have not implemented them until the following calendar year.
Aug 21, 2018, 12:09 am
#23
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,828
I just checkin at fairfield legian and I was told they can only give me 2pm late check out. I thought this is a new benefit as platinum.
Aug 21, 2018, 7:09 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,828
Aug 21, 2018, 7:35 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
The “new”program will reflect Marriott’s size and reach, which comes from eliminating competitors who might try a bit harder to earn and keep your custom.
I guess the corporate retort is that your inflated points can now be used in many more locations that you would never consider visiting.
I guess the corporate retort is that your inflated points can now be used in many more locations that you would never consider visiting.
Aug 21, 2018, 8:04 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
Programs: Wouldn't you like to know?!
Posts: 23,822
Allegedly a lawsuit is coming about the 4PM checkout - not for the regular SPG gold but Lifetime Gold. They can change their T&C at anytime and not honor the benefits for the subsequent year, but Lifetime status, since it's advertised, is a whole new animal.
Popcorn ready.
Popcorn ready.
Aug 21, 2018, 10:32 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 87
Im LTG based in Asia and agreed with new Gold status are totally useless and sure Marriot will gift to any kind of credit card or Frequent-flyer programs members in the future. Am ready to move to Hilton or Accor when the time comes
Aug 21, 2018, 1:50 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
Allegedly a lawsuit is coming about the 4PM checkout - not for the regular SPG gold but Lifetime Gold. They can change their T&C at anytime and not honor the benefits for the subsequent year, but Lifetime status, since it's advertised, is a whole new animal.
Popcorn ready.
Popcorn ready.
Aug 21, 2018, 10:10 pm
#29
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
And even Marriott Platinum had no guaranteed late checkout prior to the Starwood acquisition. So Gold in the new program is essentially getting the same late checkout benefit that MR Platinums had not too long ago.
Aug 22, 2018, 1:33 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
The significant downgrade to "upon availability" sucks big time. Given that there are Platinum and many more levels above that, I can see how Starriott thinks Gold members are just plain old peasants.