Marriott Plat Status for Matched UA Elites staring Aug 18,2018 until Jan 2019, after?
Jun 30, 2018, 12:11 pm
#76
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Jun 30, 2018, 1:48 pm
#77
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
We don't know this. It is all speculation. While I tend to agree with you and do believe this is how they will match people (as I have said it would be crazy to give UA elites Platinum while they don't even do that for credit card people unless they spend $$$), this is speculation. Marriott has NOT said either way yet.
Jun 30, 2018, 1:50 pm
#78
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
And SPG Gold never had lounge access to begin with. They were 'granted' it due to the merger becoming closer. It was never a benefit they were entitled to in the first place, so...Marriott is merely pushing them back 'where they were originally'. It is not a devaluation or 'taking away' of benefits whatsoever.
Jun 30, 2018, 2:08 pm
#79
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
The first rule of the GS forum...
It is a devaluation.
It is true that before the merger, I did not have access to lounges by reason of my 1K status. Since the merger, I have stayed at several Marriotts and enjoyed lounge access by reason of my 1K status. I will apparently soon no longer have access to the lounges by reason of my 1K status.
You can argue whether the reasons why are reasonable/appropriate/whatever, but it is absolutely a removal of a benefit, which I found valuable. In each of those several cases, I likely would not have stayed at the Marriott in question, absent lounge access, because there were equally convenient options that I would have preferred but for the lounge access.
And SPG Gold never had lounge access to begin with. They were 'granted' it due to the merger becoming closer. It was never a benefit they were entitled to in the first place, so...Marriott is merely pushing them back 'where they were originally'. It is not a devaluation or 'taking away' of benefits whatsoever.
It is true that before the merger, I did not have access to lounges by reason of my 1K status. Since the merger, I have stayed at several Marriotts and enjoyed lounge access by reason of my 1K status. I will apparently soon no longer have access to the lounges by reason of my 1K status.
You can argue whether the reasons why are reasonable/appropriate/whatever, but it is absolutely a removal of a benefit, which I found valuable. In each of those several cases, I likely would not have stayed at the Marriott in question, absent lounge access, because there were equally convenient options that I would have preferred but for the lounge access.
Jun 30, 2018, 2:08 pm
#80
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,768
Jun 30, 2018, 3:40 pm
#81
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,155
Good but you left out the most important part.
Statuses after January 2019:
SPG Gold -> New MR Gold: No lounge access
MR Gold through UA status match -> New MR Gold: No Lounge access (massive downgrade).
MR Gold through 50 EQN -> New MR Plat: Breakfast (and supposedly lounge access)
Statuses after January 2019:
SPG Gold -> New MR Gold: No lounge access
MR Gold through UA status match -> New MR Gold: No Lounge access (massive downgrade).
MR Gold through 50 EQN -> New MR Plat: Breakfast (and supposedly lounge access)
as to Jan 1 2019, I haven’t seen anything definitive. I would think any MR Plat earned in 2018 (whether converted from MR Gold on aug 1 or earned the old fashioned way) would stay Plat for 2019. We shall see.
Last edited by uastarflyer; Jun 30, 2018 at 3:46 pm
Jun 30, 2018, 3:49 pm
#82
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Jul 1, 2018, 4:44 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,715
Considering these 3 factors, I would almost always go with Marriott or Hyatt under the pre-2017 programs. Going forward, Marriott is looking less attractive, both due to perk reduction and devaluation for top properties (e.g. London).
It is a devaluation.
It is true that before the merger, I did not have access to lounges by reason of my 1K status. Since the merger, I have stayed at several Marriotts and enjoyed lounge access by reason of my 1K status. I will apparently soon no longer have access to the lounges by reason of my 1K status.
You can argue whether the reasons why are reasonable/appropriate/whatever, but it is absolutely a removal of a benefit, which I found valuable. In each of those several cases, I likely would not have stayed at the Marriott in question, absent lounge access, because there were equally convenient options that I would have preferred but for the lounge access.
It is true that before the merger, I did not have access to lounges by reason of my 1K status. Since the merger, I have stayed at several Marriotts and enjoyed lounge access by reason of my 1K status. I will apparently soon no longer have access to the lounges by reason of my 1K status.
You can argue whether the reasons why are reasonable/appropriate/whatever, but it is absolutely a removal of a benefit, which I found valuable. In each of those several cases, I likely would not have stayed at the Marriott in question, absent lounge access, because there were equally convenient options that I would have preferred but for the lounge access.
Jul 1, 2018, 8:57 pm
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,355
I don’t claim to have any inside insight into what decision will be made for 2019, but I will say this: Marriott intentionally selected a matching reward level that they thought would maximize their revenue — they wanted it to be attractive enough to UA elites that they’d pick up incremental stays that they wouldn’t otherwise have gotten, but without diminishing the experience enough for their frequent guests as to lose a lot of business that way.
People who are focusing on the name of the level are missing the point. Marriott will absolutely grant UA Gold members Platinum status in their program if they think it makes sense, just like Hertz grants UA Platinum / 1K / GS members President’s Circle status. Marriott is well aware that the new Platinum level is approximately equivalent to the old Gold level. The only reason that they’re moving things around is to try to reduce backlash from SPG Gold members; they didn’t like the idea of telling them, “sorry, your 25 nights per year is now only worth Silver.”
I don’t see any reason to move pre-booked Marriott stays to other properties. I’d wait and see what your status is in August first.
Jul 2, 2018, 12:01 am
#85
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,518
I don’t claim to have any inside insight into what decision will be made for 2019, but I will say this: Marriott intentionally selected a matching reward level that they thought would maximize their revenue — they wanted it to be attractive enough to UA elites that they’d pick up incremental stays that they wouldn’t otherwise have gotten, but without diminishing the experience enough for their frequent guests as to lose a lot of business that way.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:18 am
#86
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
But for the nights that I stay in a hotel, I do value getting some benefits.......
Jul 2, 2018, 8:51 am
#87
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ANP
Programs: UA 1k, Marriott Plat, HH gold, Avis/Hertz Pres
Posts: 1,408
I was nothing but a hilton baby, I now have switched to MR. If we lose the lounge access, then MR goes back to HH on my trips to PVG and LHR later this year. I unfort. dont stay 50+ nights a year at one chain, so this was a big plus.
Jul 2, 2018, 9:19 am
#88
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Hertz granted this UA Platinum 5* status, not PC. It was the same when I was 1K, and I assume that when I hit 1K again later this year nothing will change. I suspect that PC is reserved to UA GS members only.
Jul 2, 2018, 9:22 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Jul 2, 2018, 12:25 pm
#90
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I have stayed in Hiltons both in PVG (in the city) and LHR (in the city and at the airport) and I have always been treated very well as a Gold. I have never tried MR at those destinations as the Hiltons outside the US seem to like me. I think it is in the US that MR would have provided me some advantages above those provided by Hilton.
