Earlier today we posted some rumors about the SPG/Marriott integration. Flyertalk user OU812 just posted the following:
- Names of status levels above Platinum have not been confirmed. MR wants to differentiate status levels above platinum to ensure proper recognition and avoid confusion among front line staff. Working names are Platinum 50, Platinum 75 and Platinum 100
- Instant recognition of status at all levels upon check-in, with arrival points, free HSI, food & beverage vouchers, and choice of other benefits depending on status level
- Spend requirement for all levels above silver. If spending level not reached, but nights are, status is at appropriate level based on spend.
- Gold and platinum 50 upgrades limited to preferred level, concierge floor, higher floors, corner rooms, or view rooms at resorts. (No suites!)
- Guaranteed suite awards (4) per year for platinum 75 and above
- Guaranteed lounge access only for levels platinum 75 and above
- Free breakfast at resorts for platinum 75 and above
- Guaranteed late check-out, 2:00pm for Gold, 3:00pm for Platinum 50, 4:00pm for Platinum 75, Plat 100; resort and conference hotels subject to availability.
- Platinum guarantees: 48 room guarantee remains, others guarantees are gone (platinum arrival gift, bed type, room type, lounge access, ultimate reservation guarantee)
- Lifetime status changes coming. If status level not obtained, lifetime status identified in system. New Lifetime Level above Platinum will be added in 2019! Benefits reduced to upgrade to preferred floor for LTG; upgrade, late check-out for LTP
- Big changes coming to awards! Dynamic award pricing, points required for award night based on hotel room rates at time of booking. No black-out dates, no categories!
Apparently some of the above may end up on the cutting room floor due to IT issues and the deadline. I think the above is surely way to negative to be accurate. I personally don’t have an issue with dynamic award pricing, as long as it’s clear how much points are worth (e.g the Southwest model). What I don’t want to see is dynamic award pricing that is really just hotels still in categories but it gives Marriott the ability to devalue the program without notice (e.g Hilton/Delta model). If the above changes are true, expect significant kick back from both Marriott & SPG loyalty members. Personally I’m filing the above under highly speculative for now, but thought others would appreciate reading it regardless.
Can’t wait to see which competitor takes advantage of this opportunity
Question for the group: Based on what you see, would anyone buy a few points (i believe purchased points apply to Lifetime Status) to get to Lifetime Platinum before the changes? I will be about 20 – 30K point short of Lifetime Platinum in August. I would be hoping to be “grandfathered” into the Platinum-75 level in the rumored structure.
Sounds like “Social Marketing” in some form. They leak rumors that include worse changes than reality to measure social media response. In 2018, this feedback is more important than traditional surveys. I agree with DoC, some of the bullet points will be true and some won’t. I’ll add that they are likely not sharing something really nice that will make many happy. Call it the secret frosting bullet point. Overal, it will be a devaluation of points for many/most.
It’s possible, if that was what they were doing I wouldn’t leak them in this way though. It’s actually kind of hilariously obvious when they leak stuff on purpose.
DoC, I realize this is all speculative at this point. I have no immediate travel plans but I would like to play it safe just in case…if it were you, would you transfer from Marriot to SPG and keep them as SPG points? Or would you transfer from SPG to MR and buy a travel package?
I’d just keep them as is for now.
Hey MARRIOTT: IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG THEN UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT GOOD>>>>VERY BAD.
Hey READERS: Best to move to Alliant Cash Back Visa for 3% first year and 2 1/2% after. Also, Chase Sapphire Reserve is good as well as points are worth 1.5 cents for travel.
haha. welcome to the game. i suggest u read up more. FYI.
I’m at 31k Starpoints and with several stays over the next couple months it will push me above 40k. I was hoping to get to 40k so I could do the airline transfer if things looked bad.
With all the negative changes to many loyalty programs it’s no wonder many now forget all about hotels and just rent private places around the world, and yet they can use other type points to do it free.
Just let us know when we should transfer our spg points to airlines, got a few airlines redemption in mind.
I don’t know if this is old news, but I just applied for the Amex Plat personal (via Cardmatch) and was instantly approved. However when I went to the benefits section of my account to enroll in SPG gold, it said “Status currently unavailable.” I’m not sure if this is connected to the changes that are coming up.
This seems like it’s not legal right? They’re still advertising SPG gold as a perk for the personal Plat right?
I was still able to link my new card to SPG, maybe wait until you receive the card and activate it.
How can we have our voices heard? I feel we, the customers, only get to complain after the changes in which cases is too late. How can we file complaints and have our voices heard? I use twitter a lot to tag these brands/airlines because I fly and stay with them a lot. I feel we are loyal, at least I am, and these brands keep screwing us over. If Hilton makes a change, then Marriott makes a worst change, then now Hilton has to make it even worse.
Let’s all unite for real.
They really don’t care about churners and gamers. Call CS and complain. See where that gets you. They care about revenue nights and business travelers. Social media tagging isn’t going to do squat. Good luck.
I’m not a churner and gamer. I legit stay with them a lot. Now as platinum you don’t get a suite upgrade? That is ridiculous.
If you are indeed a legit Plat (currently) that stays with them that much, then you will become a Plat 75 under the plan shown above. There is no mention that Plat 75 won’t get suite upgrades.
I understand the sentiment but honestly, people say this every time the airlines or hotels cut things, and nothing ever happens. The vast majority of the public doesn’t stay all that often at hotels compared to many of us. We’re a tiny bit of the consumer base.
Couple that with the fact that as airlines and hotels keep merging, their power grows and they have more leeway to do what they want – blowback or not. Marriott reacted quickly to something like the recent row with China because it’s a big, public potential issue (in China at least). Whereas complaints by a small group of frequent travelers doesn’t have the potential to be a big, public debacle for them. John Q. Public doesn’t care that that some business traveler loses a free breakfast or has to stay X more nights now to get some “elite status”.
Yeah but if you apply that to your life then you don’t get anything accomplished. If we all start complaining and raises our voices they will adjust these changes. Look at Southwest, Alaska, etc… they did adjust changes they had made because of customer complaining.
Actually, if you do less protesting and complaining, you’ll find you have *more* time to get things accomplished.