Just a quick follow-up to my post last month about unexpectedly keeping Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status longer than expected.
I rarely stay in Marriott/Starwood properties but received Marriott Gold status as a benefit of my 1K status on United. When Marriott and Starwood combined, I was bumped up to Marriott Platinum status, which essentially represented what Gold used to be (the biggest benefit being lounge access or breakfast). Marriott confirmed this was deliberate, but on a temporary basis until early 2019.
Thinking that I would lose my elevated status when the Bonvoy program started last month, I wrote that I was surprised that I will still Planium. Numerous sources had reported that my status would drop on February 01, 2019. But it did not.
> Read More: I’m a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite With ZERO Stays In 2018 Or 2019…
March 01st came and went and I remained Platinum. March 02nd came and went and I remained Platinum. Once again, I thought that I had dodged the status downgrade. But then came March 03rd.
I’m now back to Gold…and Gold is not what it used to be.
CONCLUSION
It was nice while it lasted…not that I ever used it. I have to admit I feel some pain writing this. I failed to book any top hotels before Category 8 kicked in and I never even used the Platinum status, even once. Such a wasted opportunity…
Did your Marriott Bonvoy status drop on March 03rd?
I would love to follow you and be a Hyatt loyalist and have their top status rather than be loyal to Bonvoy. Unfortunately, Hyatt is miles away from both Marriott and Hilton in terms of footprint. I tried in the past to be loyal to Hyatt but it just does not work for me. I travel to small towns in the US where nobody ever heard of Hyatt. There is always a Aloft, Residence Inn, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn available. I travel to Europe and although there are some Hyatt properties in the capitals there are not many (if any) in other cities. Even on US big cities, the number of brands from Bonvoy and Hilton are way superior than what Hyatt offers. I just can’t tailor my business trips based on Hyatt’s footprint.
Same situation here. Stayed Platinum for a few days and now dropped to Gold.
Although I spend about 50-60 nights a year, I’m never going to do it at a single chain, due to destinations and personal choice. I have mid-tier status with most of the big chains via credit cards, so I’m mostly indifferent and choose based on location. Last year, Natriott picked up an extra 10-12 nights that they wouldn’t have revived had I not had platinum via UA. They won’t get those back. I’m sure I’m not alone.
Well, Matthew, you are not missing much. As a Lifetime Titanium I can assure you that there will be little difference for you. At least as I see it.
Globalist with Hyatt is SOOO much more rewarding for me (despite a smaller footprint) and the only one worth chasing. It’s leaps and bounds better.
I stayed in a Marriott hotel on March 3, and they thanked me for my Platinum status and gave me Platinum level perks like lounge access. This was despite being listed as Gold in the app at this point. Overall, I’m at peace with not being Platinum anymore and done with hotel status chasing.
After the merger, I retained my gold elite status. I love Marriott and I try to stay with them as much as possible.
Same thing happened to me, only I’ve entirely lost my United elite status this year, still, for whatever reason, I’m still Marriott Gold, and still Hertz President Club.
Same thing happened to me. Been a Platinum member for past couple of years, never really achieved the number of stays or days required, but mostly through the challenge. Now after enjoying the Platinum status especially the breakfast and lounge access, I’m now being demoted to Gold. Looks like good things never last. I agree, the whole merger and consolidation of Marriott and SPG should have elevated the membership instead of rendering it useless.
I went from Titanium to Platinum Premier Elite… Thought this one was gone!
I also had Platinum via UA and did stay with Marriott a few times a year because of that. Between the demotion to Gold, the merger mess and terrible service ever since, I’ll be avoiding Marriott for a few years when possible. I have status with a number of other chains, so I won’t miss them…
As a Marriott worker all i would recommend you all is to Boicot the company and stay at other brands. My salary when doing overtime roughly reaches 700 USD and on top of this having to deal with all concerned guests that the website is failing (as always since August 18th of last year) and now the fact our booking system is nothing but a kick on (you know where) is making rotation even more noticeable on the site im working on, highest paycheck raises are by much 3% yearly which is a cold water bucket compared to all the work we deal with, on top of this company promotes to people who doesn’t know about the product because they have sometype of relationship with somebody above ex. Manager, GM, Operations manager and all the people who really goes above & beyond for guests is not considered for promotions in the company.
Yes, was dropped also. I’ll move on to something better.
I had 45 paid nights in the last 6 months and was dropped too (to Gold). Will contact them to see if they can offer anything/a challenge (I already have 16 nights booked for the next month with them!).
I’m in the same boat. Called and got nowhere. I’d love to hear your results!
Just saw my status had changed as well after being platinum for a few years. Kinda irritated me. I think of all those points and they too are probably gone.
I’m still platinum with at most 30 nights last year. Strange.
I don’t know why Marriott is purposely making a secret out of the expiry date of your status. Just put an expiry date in your app. It’s simple.
Fact is that no one really knows when status expires including the Marriott hotline. And fact is that they will loose customers because of misselling, 0 integrity and false statements.
When I called early 2019 to ask about my expiry date I was confirmed to keep Platinum till Dec 2019 because of the Grandfather rule from the Merger. Clearly I wasn’t keen to book around 100 nights in 2019 just to be downgraded by surprise in the middle of achieving another status. Well this is what happened thanks hotline for your inaccurate information. After my recent downgrade I was told this was a mistake… No worries I can continue booking and will be platinum within 3-5 days. For certain haha. Never heard from them again neither in response to my multiple follow up emails nor via phone despite them promising me to get back to me within a certain period of time. Has anyone ever received an email in response? I don’t think there is any motivation for the corporate guys to satisfy customers. Ultimately it’s the Hotel owner who looses bookings. In short I should have gone to Hotels that offer better rates in the first months of 2019 rather relying on the false promise of additional perks throughout the year and thus paying a premium to there hotels. I will no longer bother with them whether they are just clueless or this whole scheme is intentional.
My Platinum Pro and United complimentary Silver due to a Marriott status challenge were supposed to vanish March 28. It’s March 26 and I still have both (Titanium Elite). Any guesses whether this is a IT screw up or a conscious decision to extend the status?
My platinum status was just dropped to gold and I am gutted. No lounge access any more, which was just about the only reason I booked Marriott in the first place. Also no communication by Marriott. I found out at the front desk, how embarrassing! The whole merger bonvoi mess has outed itself as what I always expected it would be, a massive global downgrade of status. Hilton, here I come!
I am United Global Services. I stayed at Marriott about 50 nights last year. I was downgraded from Platinum to Gold. This year I am staying at Hilton and using my Marriott points for award stays. I’m sure my lack of business with Marriott is costing them much more than it would have cost to keep me at Platinum.