phltraveler

Mobile check-in has a couple of perks. I've used it more on the Legacy Marriott side.

1) If using the same credit card as your reservation, you merely need to show ID to get your keys, no signing or swiping or PIN entry.

2) If the hotel is nice, or if you specifically use the chat function (exists in Marriott app, not about SPG), sometimes you can fish for a bigger upgrade. 95%+ of my stays I don't bother asking if an upgrade is available, but when an upgrade would be really nice (e.g. 3+ family members in the room with me) or a particular amenity (example: room with an actual freezer because I had a contusion on my tibia and gel ice packs that I could use if I had a real freezer) they'll usually oblige if at all able.

3) As a subpoint to #2 , if you do mobile check-in at least a day in advance and ask for an upgrade - if any upgraded rooms are available, you are more likely to get them. Since on the Marriott side (until the merger finishes) there are no SNAs, use of the mobile check-in on a Sunday for a stay starting on Monday effectively allows you to "get in line" sooner for the upgrade. If your location attracts a lot of business travelers with elite status, this can make it more likely that you get an upgrade before other travelers check in in-person Sunday afternoon/night.
(This is highly variable by hotel; some hotels will only process mobile check-ins on the day of, close to the listed check-in time. Others, I've had a "your room is ready, you've been upgraded" prompt the day before.)

4) Particularly if I want a very early check-in (think 10AM-12PM usually the hotel is more likely to oblige if I make the request at least a day in advance).

5) Mobile keys at participating properties theoretically make the stop to the front desk totally unnecessary if you're taking the points instead of the $10 F&B voucher on the Marriott side as an elite, although I have never gotten this function to work properly and wouldn't be comfortable only having my hotel key on my phone anyways (what if it gets lost/screen broken/dead battery?)

I usually do mobile check-in for reasons #1 and #4 and don't make any special requests (ask for an upgrade or late checkout, etc.)

Always Flyin

Then you stop at the front desk and pick up a physical key.

flyou10

phltraveler

Since I have to pass the front desk to go upstairs anyways, and to get the breakfast voucher at properties without lounges, it seems kind of pointless. The main use for a mobile key would be entry to my room if I forgot (not misplaced/lost) my key(s) in my room and left without them, but had my phone on them. As I said in my last post, I've never had the mobile key work at any property, and I've tried on more than one phone.

vanabb

250 bonus points using mobile check-in in July, at the Le Meridien in Stuttgart. But I agree it is pointless. I still have to get keys, they still ask to see the credit card and passport.

What was most annoying is that I asked for a 4pm checkout when I made the reservation, and it was confirmed on my reservation on the app, but, lo!, at 1:30pm they call the room and demand to know why I haven't checked out yet. So I have to go down to the front desk and explain. Really unnecessary; It's like they did not believe me on the phone when I said I was a plat and had specifically asked for a late checkout. Unnecessarily rude. Then my key doesn't work when I go back to the room, so I have to go down again.

Anyway. Breakfast was good. I am back there again this weekend, it was either this or the aloft.

... today the mobile check-in is not working from the app?

meagicano

I just checked into a hotel that had one of these lines, stood in it (I should have been next), and the FD ignored me and called next, looking directly at the woman who was standing in the normal line. The Platinum line doesn't mean a thing to some front desk agents.

Points Scrounger

This is why I always confirm late checkout time either at check-in or by phone from the room later in the day; that way I don't have housekeeping trying to get in at the stroke of noon (or at least only rarely).

bocastephen

If you don't take, you don't get - I just learned to be aggressive in these situations and just step forward without being called the moment the person they finish with steps away. In some cases I've had to yell out "excuse me, people waiting in the Platinum line!" rather loudly, which either fixes the problem, or they call another agent from the back to come out. If you earned the benefits, you shouldn't be shy about exercising your privileges against employees who either don't care, don't know, or automatically have a grudge.

controller1

They need to take a cue from the casinos. All agents at a customer service position in a casino or the casino's hotel take the elite guests prior to those in the regular line. Instead of saying "next" it is just as easy to say "next in the Platinum & Gold line".

fireanwater1

I have just used this for the first time. Like others on here, I wasn't quite expecting to have to effectively check in again. Luckily there was no queue so I didn't mind. I asked about the "double check in", and apparently in Germany (where I am staying) it doesn't work as the forms need to be filled in and signed, and also to show ID. Very German!

EdofFX

I am wondering what will happen to the app after they merge the program. I suspect the existing Marriott app will be the surviving one, as they will be issuing new numbers for SPG folks. Have they said anything officially on this?

Alex_I

I tried SPG mobile checkin during recent promo and got the bonus points. Other than that, I did not see any difference at hotels. At the same time I do love mobile checkin at Hilton and their Digital Key: - you don't even have to stop at the front desk because you can go straight to the room. Saves time! I only wish Hilton would also do mobile checkout.

af fp

ftrichard

I always mobile check in so the hotel knows when I'm arriving and can allocate me a suite. This seems to work. But the mobile key thing. That doesn't work.

In China you have to check in as normal anyway, in fact most countries you do, because the hotel has to take a copy of your passport.by law. The mobile key thing just doesn't work in my experience and it's a rubbish technology thing more than anything else.

GoPhils