skimple

Thanks for this. I was unaware. Wish I would have known about this a week ago. I just got back from a Marriott stay with no status.

gobluetwo

It wouldn't have helped you a week ago, as it just went into effect today with the official close of the merger.

Kacee

Wow instant match to SPG Gold via the link. Benefits seem a bit meagre, but free status is free status.

It would have, because UA to Marriot status match has been available since 2013.

mahasamatman

Now they're the same, but it used to depend. You can get MR Platinum through credit card spend.

But we don't know skimple's status in either SPG or UA, so it may or may not have helped.

gobluetwo

Given the immediately preceding posts, I assumed he was talking about the Marriott SPG match which is available only as of today. I guess he could have been referring to the UA Marriott match.

JBord

Yeah, this was pretty shocking to me as I had never looked at SPG benefits before.

This actually changes my strategy for 2017. I'm typically 40-60 nights at a Marriott, with a bunch of other hotels in the 1-5 night range. That usually works out to around 35 "stays" at a Marriott, though they're not counted there. I've never made Platinum because most of my work travel is one night or same day.

I can't see any down side in doing my first 25 stays at Starwoods next year, then matching over to Marriott Platinum.

Kacee

Perhaps . . . I assumed since we're in the UA forum there was UA status but that's also just an assumption.

emcampbe

Agreed here - I thought benefits would have been roughly equal. But seems you need SPG plat for free breakfast (and I don't see anywhere on SPG about lounge access, but a huge minus in my book, assuming there is none). I know breakfast on its own isn't worth a ton, but it's often the difference between me choosing a Marriott over somewhere else. Honestly, I typically travel weekends with the family, and often, we like going out to one of the local brunch spots anyway. However, traveling with a toddler these days, it helps immensely as she gets up early and needs to eat by 8 or so, so often we'll go down and grab "pre-breakfast". Also in that respect, helps to know they usually have the boxes of Cheerios that we can take with us (whether we're technically supposed to or not is a different question, I suppose) - so we have a snack for her for later in the day as needed.

TravelinSperry

SPG Plat gets you lounge access in properties that have a lounge. There is a wiki here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...b-lounges.html

Re breakfast there is a wiki here showing what each property serves: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...t-benefit.html

jchacko2

Hi - Just wondering, does it actually take 7-10 days for silver status to reflect on united?

I just registered, i have an YYZ>ORD>NRT fight on October 5th.... so this would definitely come in handy.

Kacee

Yeah SPG Gold is like Hyatt Plat . . . no lounge access, no breakfast benefit. Only takes 10 stays vs. 50 nights for Marriott gold, which explains the meagre benes.

But at only 25 stays for SPG Plat I'm seriously considering switching bulk of my stays from Hyatt to SPG next year, as that would get me Plat with both SPG and Marriott.

JVPhoto

And the "upgrades" on SPG Gold are things like a corner room. The biggest benefit for me is that I've never had a problem getting a 3-4pm checkout where I've had to pull teeth to get 2pm as M Gold. Also ok busy days the elite check in line is nice.

Meanwhile I'm at the Courtyard Marriott Tokyo Station right now and got free breakfast every morning. I thought that was only at "real" Marriotts.

swag

I did in in early August (see posts 778,779) and had my Silver status showing the next day.

JBord

It always seems like all rules are off at Marriotts outside the US. There are even a couple Courtyards that have concierge lounges I believe. Here's hoping Starwood is like that too, because I think my plan will be to get Plat with SPG and match so I move up one level at Marriott with a fraction of the stays/nights.

emcampbe

Courtyard in North America (or at least US) definitely doesn't get free breakfast, but at least some (not sure about all) CYs in Asia seem to. Stayed at the Courtyard Chennai a couple of years ago and they treated me like a celeb...constantly made sure everything was ok, possibly the best room upgrade I've gotten since RewardsPlus started (a lot of my 'upgrades' this year have been to he concierge floor on a weekend, when the lounge is closed anyway, including my favorite, an upgrade to the 'concierge' floor at Toronto Bloor Yorkville where I was not actually given a concierge flor, but one floor below that seemed like a mile walk from the elevator to the room), and free breakfast as well. CYs in Asia also seem to be a lot nicer then the US. I do tend to avoid CYs in the US, but not in Asia.