CJKatl

Let me start by pointing out, again, that I agree SPG LTP >750 should be LTPP in the new program, but...

Here is where the MR LTPs are not getting through to the SPG LTP >750. While I totally understand your concerns, what we keep trying to get across is that most of us have lived through being P, PP and LTP with the Marriott program and we know that despite having different names the levels are really indistinguishable, so in practice you will likely have nothing to worry about by not being LTPP. What we know is that PP has always been a meaningless title.

A few years back when I was PP the web page had a link where you could click to read the additional PP benefits. The page was empty except for the title "Platinum Premier Benefits." There is a thread where we joked about it at the time. We have no reason to think anything has changed. PP is a basically an empty title that allowed Marriott from having to combine the existing LTG and LTP MR members.

SHLTP

Thanks for that. If that is the case, then I am fine w the situation. I don't mind Marriott rewarding their loyal customers with extra bonus points or 48 hour guarantee.

What I wish Marriott would do... come out and say for upgrades etc that all plats are undistinguishable. That is was SPG did. A plat was a plat for upgrades on arrival regardless if earning by stays or nights. I never noticed a difference in terms of upgrades between plat 50, 75 and ambassador.

GoPhils

I think it's reasonable to expect that PP will be different post-8/1, now that the requirements and benefits are actually published (although IMO it isn't really a significant improvement on "regular" Platinum).

MSPeconomist

C17PSGR

For Marriott, there is a different code for PP than Plat. I suspect they'll keep those codes. At properties where the GM has trained the FD folks to understand and recognize the codes, they thank me for being a PP and proactively upgrade me to suites. At properties where they don't recognize the code and thank me for being a plat, they don't upgrade me without asking. Unless Marriott is changing its reservation system, we'll be P6, X4, and perhaps M0.

In the SPG world, what does the FD agent see that distinguishes between plat 50, plat 75, and ambassador?

CJKatl

My UG rate is actually pretty good. It might have actually gotten better when I went back to being P after several years at PP but I figure that is because I stay in Asian and strange US properties as opposed to big city Marriotts. I worried what would happen when I was busted back down to P and there is absolutely no difference other than a FD clerk no longer thanking me for being PP which rarely happened anyway.

fdem

kaizen7

Have you ever steal a towel or robe before? and have note in your account : beware ... towel thief!
The hotel I stay mostly is Luxury Collections and St Regises (couple of other brands as well like Sofitels). While the staff are polite and great ... I never have any GM introduce himself to me
The room I book is mixed .... I book suites in some of the stays ... and base room for the rest

I guess it maybe depends if you stand out among the local crowds or not

kaizen7

While it would be welcomed by plenty of people (myself included) but then it not a very good idea to implement.
It will reduce the incentive for people to reach 75 as the extra benefit is not significant.

But then again the wording on the program website is the same for all Plt tiers ..... Enhanced upgrades based on availability including select suites
So member can take it as all three tiers will have same treatment

I mention before in one of the thread (forgot which one as there are plenty of them) if marriot want to differentiate the upgrade treatment, they might use different wording

say :
PLT : Complimentary upgrades based on availability including select suites
PLT P 75 : Enhanced upgrades based on availability including select suites
PLT P 100 : Priority upgrades based on availability including select suites

With all these wording, members could see clearly that plt 100 will have better priority than 75 and so on

GoPhils

UA-NYC

How many times have you used it? SPG had a 72 hour one and I didn't use it once in 800+ nights. It's not like you can use these "guarantees" to get yourself a room at the Super Bowl, Final Four, etc.

GoPhils

flyerbaby19

I've never ever once used the room guarantee at either SPG or Marriott and been highest tier at both. The closest i came was when I arrived at my normal hotel and when i went to check in they looke at me wondering why I was there. Oops, i forgot to make a reservation, and they were sold out. They didn't use the 48/72 guarantee since it was literally the same day. But since I stayed there about 4 nights/wk for 3 weeks/month, they gave me a room and bumped someone (unless there was a no-show). But that was just because I pretty much lived there. I mean, my suitcase was already there behind the front desk, so they just had to move it to my room (when I checked out for the weekend, I left a suitcase there every week and it would be ready in my room on my next reservation).

CJKatl

On average a couple times a year when a last minute trip puts me in a sold out city, including once in NYC where I wound up paying over $900 for a night in the East Side Marriott and once in Miami Beach in March where hotel manager called me and voluntarily lowered the rate to what everyone else was paying. Believe it or not I had to once use it in Pittsburgh at the downtown Ren, too. The website used to clearly, in red, show that it was a "Platinum Only" offer. The site no longer shows this.

EuropeanPete

I've tried to use the Platinum guarantee with SPG 7-8 times, but each time it results in a ridiculously high rate at 3-4 times the usual room rate. I simply book with another hotel. I'm often willing to pay a 10-20% premium to get into a Starriott property, but not 200%. I've yet to come across a good use of the benefit. SPG50 on the other hand I've used about 15-20 times - much more useful.