IrishStephen

SHLTP

I would go for it depending upon your remaining expected life expectancy and continued annual travel habits .

​​I hit LTP in my 30s, and expect to travel at a consistent 100-150 nights a year for the next 20-30 years (I pay out of pocket 90% of time) w most being in Asia where benefits stellar .

If you have similar travel habits go for it.

If you are in 60s and/ or a co pays for you now but maybe not in future it is not worth it esp if mostly US stays where I find benefits meager .

IrishStephen

I am in my early 40's and all of my SPG stays have been paid out of pocket mainly in higher end properties so I have spent a few bucks/quid/euro etc. As I am based in Europe I have not had the luxury of a credit card giving me any elite nights so at 670 nights and about 12/13 years Lifetime Platinum this is of great interest to me. From what I gather you just book a meeting room and have a meeting at a Marriott hotel and you get 10 nights deposited into your MR account. Then come August both will be merged and if I have 750 between the MR account and my SPG account I am golden? Am I correct here? If so then it seems like a WIN WIN and I will be doing it.... Can anyone clarify and again everyone thank you for all your help and this thread.

tangfish

Some rewards actuary at SPG is patting themself on the back right about now.

avacadohead

I made it Plat lifetime! And I want to thank everyone here who helped with their advice because it would never had happened without the guidance and opinions on this thread!

I bow to these contributors for your input...Phltraveler, YVR76, CP Rich, MSP Economist, RogerD408, Travelosopher, SPGPlat21, UA-NYC, Rafka, Jfromthe bay.

I'd quote your key phrases of golden wisdom and stick them in this post, but I don't know how without including complete posts which would make a hugely long reply. So here's a generic THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! Especially Phltraveler.

Hope you see this!

I did a combination of meetings and nights to make 607 nights between both programs. Went 500 over budget, but I'm hoping its worth it. It took a little doing too. A couple personal visits to hotels to arrange meetings and ensure the posting tool thing would be used. It was a great idea and saved big time bucks in the long run.

Now my question is, should I combine my accounts now or wait until the 18th when is supposed to be done automatically? Does it matter? I now have 143 nights with Marriot and 464 nights with SPG. Any input is greatly appreciated!

hhoope01

There is a difference between "linking" your SPG and Marriott accounts (which you can do today) and with "merging" your accounts (which you can NOT do until August 18th or later.)

Linking your 2 accounts won't change anything except allow you to transfer points between your accounts. On Aug. 18th, supposedly, Marriott will convert SPG accounts into Marriott accounts. Basically, they will change the SPG account # to a new Marriott # and multiple the point balance by 3. You will then essentially have 2 "Marriott" accounts on August 18th of which you can merge them together. Your "final" Marriott account number will depend on which of the 2 accounts you initiated the merge from.

Now should you merge them as soon as possible or wait? That depends. It seems there is a possibility (i.e. conflicting information) that some folks trying to achieve certain LT statuses might not be able to achieve them under the old requirements once the accounts are merged.

avacadohead

Now should you merge them as soon as possible or wait? That depends. It seems there is a possibility (i.e. conflicting information) that some folks trying to achieve certain LT statuses might not be able to achieve them under the old requirements once the accounts are merged.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your reply hhoope01!

I just edited your quote to the specific part that terrifies me. What exactly do you mean? "Might not be able to achieve them under old requirements once the accounts are merged..." And why would that affect the merging of the accounts now? Or more specifically, after my investment of time and $$, will I still achieve LTP with a combination of my meeting rooms with Marriot and my nights with SPG?

Are you saying that you might not be able to make LTP with 500 nights by the end of 2018 if those 500 nights are accumulated after August 18th? And the same for the Marriot requirements without the help of SPG?

Thanks for pointing out the difference between merging and linking. I've already linked my accounts, so my question would focus on the 'merging'.

phltraveler

So legacy MR requirements were
Lifetime Silver (new gold): 250 nights + 1.2 million MR points
Lifetime Gold (new plat): 500 nights + 1.6 million MR points
Lifetime Plat (new plat premier): 750 nights + 2 million MR points

Legacy SPG rules are:
Lifetime gold (new Gold): 250 nights + 5 years at Gold
Lifetime Plat (new plat): 500 nights + 10 years at Plat
Lifetime Plat75 (new plat premier): It did not exist before the merger, but SPG elites who earn 750 nights on the SPG account + 10 years (or more) at old SPG plat (50 nights) will be grandfathered into LTPP in the new program if they hit these milestones before the end of 2018.

Now, the new merged program is:
Lifetime Silver: 250 nights + 5 years at Silver or higher
Lifetime Gold: 400 nights + 7 years at Gold or higher
Lifetime Platinum: 600 nights + 10 years at Plat or higher
Lifetime Platinum Premier: Impossible to earn in 2019 and beyond, grandfathered only tier for MR / SPG elites that hit the criteria specified in their respective programs.

What isn't clear is if combined activity can be used to satisfy the old tiers. For example (hypothetical), if I had lifetime plat in SPG with 650 nights + 10 years at plat, and then I had 150 nights in Marriott Rewards - when the accounts merge, can I use the old SPG lifetime criteria of 750 nights + 10 years as plat combined with my MR nights (150 in MR + 650 in SPG = 800?) or are my nights only counted for the old criteria in the old non-merged account?

Since you'll be merging SPG + MR to reach the new criteria, and your combined account will meet the 600 nights + 10 years elite status defined in the new program, you should have no issues at all and be fine getting Lifetime Plat (50 night level) in the new program.

RogerD408

The current theory is that if one wants to earn status based upon legacy program rules you do not want to merge your two accounts now. This was first floated by the Lurkers but nothing has been published. Now unless your merged status will be greater than what you have now, I'd suggest leaving your accounts separate until more data is known.

Starwood Lurker

Personally, despite the fact that no one can merge their accounts until after August 18th, I think someone may have taken something we posted the wrong way, so if you can show me the source of this "floating", I would be appreciative.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Marriott International

[email protected]

hhoope01

First, I've been a Marriott LT Plat for quite a long time (decade or more). So I admit I haven't been keeping as close a tab on all the "details" as others might be doing.

With that said, my guess is that it probably won't change anything. But it might not hurt to wait a day or two after the "merge" first occurs. You can then see if there is any weeping and gnashing of teeth or whether there are lots of Chicken Little comments.

avacadohead

Thanks again Phltraveler. It appears I should be okay. Hope everyone else who's worked hard at this will be secured as well.

avacadohead

Thanks Hhoope01.

Guess this cant happen until August 18th anyway.

avacadohead

Thanks RogerD408.

My merged accounts would bring LTP, I hope. But Starwood Lurker is saying it isn't possible to merge accounts anyway until the 18th. Soooooo that's that.

avacadohead

Thanks Starwood Lurker, Sir.

Since I don't know what , exactly, these 'floating rumors' are (only that they sound scary) I can't be of help.

But thanks for your response which means, no merging until August 18th.

I'm really going to miss SPG, the OLD SPG, by the way.