Marriott Rewards and SPG Program Changes Announced 4/16/18 [Threads merged.]

[bazzap]

I am Lifetime gold that could have made lifetime platinum by year end 2019. I will become platinum elite in the new program that in many ways is very similar to the platinum elite of the old program so this seems fair to me. I am curious. If one is a lifetime platinum today it goes to lifetime platinum premier in 19. What I can't seem to find is the path from lifetime platinum to lifetime platinum premier after 2019. Are the only lifetime platinum premier members the ones grandfathered in?

It would seem so that this is the only qualifying route available.

 

[gaspasser]

I am Lifetime gold that could have made lifetime platinum by year end 2019. I will become platinum elite in the new program that in many ways is very similar to the platinum elite of the old program so this seems fair to me. I am curious. If one is a lifetime platinum today it goes to lifetime platinum premier in 19. What I can't seem to find is the path from lifetime platinum to lifetime platinum premier after 2019. Are the only lifetime platinum premier members the ones grandfathered in?

Correct. As of now, that is the only way to qualify for lifetime PP.

 

[Pocky87]

Still no news from MVC on how the merger will impact select level and above... Just hope they will make everyone at least a plat and for presidential level and above to have Plat Premier!

 

[dioxide45]

Still no news from MVC on how the merger will impact select level and above... Just hope they will make everyone at least a plat and for presidential level and above to have Plat Premier!

We now know why they haven't said anything. They were too busy negotiating the deal to merge with ILG...

 

[Wei339]

One of the benefits that I have always enjoyed with the Marriott Rewards Program was the ability to book using points at any time even in high demand periods. In other words, I just booked at my own convenience. On several occasions, I have paid for the reservation when the rate was low rather than use points. With the changes to the points, there will be 3 criteria for points use: low demand, regular and high demand. I guess that my travel will need to adjusted to match their new criteria.

 

[NiteMaire]

The Points Guy posted an article reference additional ways to achieve LPP. In short SPG and MR members who have 750+ nights and have been Platinum for 10 years will also achieve LPP. You do not need need 2 million points.

The title mentions only SPG, but it applies to MR members as well.

Details at https://thepointsguy.com/news/spg-lifetime-platinum-can-earn-lifetime-platinum-premier/

From the link:
Full details on this change are available on the program’s FAQ page, but there are two key subgroups of travelers who stand to benefit from this update:

• Current SPG Lifetime Platinum members: One of the most vocal groups since the new program’s announcement was long-time SPG Platinum members. They felt like second-class citizens by being matched solely to Lifetime Platinum, while current Marriott Lifetime Platinums would enjoy Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite. With this announcement, a current SPG Lifetime Platinum member with 750 or more nights will now be Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite.
• Marriott members with 750+ lifetime nights but less than 2 million points: The other big group to benefit is those Marriott members who were close to Lifetime Platinum in the Marriott Rewards program. Under the current criteria, you qualify for Marriott Lifetime Platinum with 750 nights and 2 million points. With this change, the program is essentially softening that by replacing one of the criteria: instead of 2 million points, you need 10 or more years of Platinum status. If you’ve been Platinum for years and have completed 750 nights but wouldn’t have reached the 2 million point threshold, you’re now eligible for Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite.

It’s important to note that this new qualification method is still based on activity with a single program, though it is available through the end of 2018. As a result, if you’re closing in on one or both of these criteria (750 nights and 10 years of Platinum status) in either Marriott or SPG, it behooves you to go out of your way to reach them by the end of the year and lock up Lifetime Platinum Premier status before the door slams shut.

 

[VacationForever]

Thanks for the post. But it muddles the current / legacy Marriott Rewards criteria. In the initial FAQ release, it said that if member achieves 750 nights and 2 Million points by end of 2018, member will get lifetime Platinum Premier status. However this FAQ now indicates that the criteria for achieving Lifetime Platinum Premier status in 2018 is through 750 nights and 10 years of Platinum. So if member achieves 750 nights and 2 Million points by end of 2018 but does not have 10 years of Platinum, does the member not receive Lifetime PP?

 

[NiteMaire]

Thanks for the post. But it muddles the current / legacy Marriott Rewards criteria. In the initial FAQ release, it said that if member achieves 750 nights and 2 Million points by end of 2018, member will get lifetime Platinum Premier status. However this FAQ now indicates that the criteria for achieving Lifetime Platinum Premier status in 2018 is through 750 nights and 10 years of Platinum. So if member achieves 750 nights and 2 Million points by end of 2018 but does not have 10 years of Platinum, does the member not receive Lifetime PP?

I remember reading that those who were LP before August would be grandfathered. Speaking of muddled: while I read you had until the end of the year to achieve LP under the current rules, I don't recall seeing the "grandfathering" extended to the end of the year...I'm open to being wrong. Based on the uncertainty, I upped my ability to get points so I could be LP before Aug (I'm at 772 nights and 1,980,050 points at the moment). I'll hit 2,000,000 points next month so I anticipate being grandfathered into LPP when August (or the new year) arrives.

Hopefully someone else has more/better info on the end of year specifics.

 

[Xpat]

Thanks for the post. But it muddles the current / legacy Marriott Rewards criteria. In the initial FAQ release, it said that if member achieves 750 nights and 2 Million points by end of 2018, member will get lifetime Platinum Premier status. However this FAQ now indicates that the criteria for achieving Lifetime Platinum Premier status in 2018 is through 750 nights and 10 years of Platinum. So if member achieves 750 nights and 2 Million points by end of 2018 but does not have 10 years of Platinum, does the member not receive Lifetime PP?

My understanding of the new FAQ is that the two options exist in parallel, so no changes to the legacy criteria:
Option 1 - Under legacy requirement: 750 nights and 2m points in MRW by end of 2018. The FAQ states "If Lifetime status is achieved by legacy requirements, between August and December 31, 2018 you will receive notice of your updated Lifetime Elite status in January 2019."
Option 2 - Under new program requirement: 750 nights and 10 years Platinum status (in MRW and/or SPG) by end of 2018. The FAQ states "Members can earn Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite in 2018 if they achieve 750 Lifetime nights and 10 years at Platinum Elite status. This requirement is only for 2018 and will not be continued in future years. Members will receive notice of this Lifetime achievement in January 2019."

 

[VacationForever]

This is the verbiage about grandfathering of lifetime status.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO LIFETIME STATUS?
In August, we’ll have three Lifetime Elite tiers, each with its own nights and Elite tenure thresholds. Once you achieve a Lifetime Elite tier, you’ll never go below it, and your points will never expire. If you have previously achieved Lifetime Elite status in Rewards or SPG, we will honor that Lifetime Elite status in the new program (see below). In addition, when you combine Rewards and SPG accounts we will combine your lifetime activity across both toward Lifetime Elite status in the new combined program. Members will have until year-end 2018 to complete stays in order to achieve the Lifetime Elite status thresholds to be grandfathered in at the previous thresholds for Rewards or SPG.

Existing Lifetime Elite members will receive the following status in August:

SPG:

• Lifetime Gold members receive Lifetime Gold Elite status
• Lifetime Platinum members receive Lifetime Platinum Elite status.

MARRIOTT REWARDS/THE RITZ-CARLTON REWARDS:

• Lifetime Silver Elite members receive Lifetime Silver Elite status.
• Lifetime Gold Elite members receive Lifetime Platinum Elite status.
• Lifetime Platinum Elite members are grandfathered into Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite status.

 

[VacationForever]

My understanding of the new FAQ is that the two options exist in parallel, so no changes to the legacy criteria:
Option 1 - Under legacy requirement: 750 nights and 2m points in MRW by end of 2018. The FAQ states "If Lifetime status is achieved by legacy requirements, between August and December 31, 2018 you will receive notice of your updated Lifetime Elite status in January 2019."
Option 2 - Under new program requirement: 750 nights and 10 years Platinum status (in MRW and/or SPG) by end of 2018. The FAQ states "Members can earn Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite in 2018 if they achieve 750 Lifetime nights and 10 years at Platinum Elite status. This requirement is only for 2018 and will not be continued in future years. Members will receive notice of this Lifetime achievement in January 2019."

I am hoping that they don't conveniently forget that there are 2 paths to grandfathering lifetime statuses.

 

[SMB1]

So this post prompted me to login to Marriott Rewards and check my lifetime status and how far I am from lifetime platinum. I'm not sure why. I know I'm not close, but it did. Anyway I reached MR lifetime gold a few months ago. I have nearly the points for LP but only a little over 500 nights.

Anyway since reaching LG, when I go to account overview and click on "nights" It took me to a small box which looked like this.

Tonight for the longest time it kept coming up like this... no lifetime status.

Now when I read many of these threads and the gloom and doom predictions, I am one of those who has been happy or at least satisfied with most of the changes throughout my ownership, and am cautiously optimistic that Marriott will continue to treat its customers well. Then, of course, when there are changes occurring with the programs and now I can't find the screen that shows my lifetime status, I get paranoid that the information will get lost and somehow I will not be given the lifetime platinum status.

I finally figured out that when searching from my account information from the top right of the page where I login, then click overview it gives me the second image that doesn't say a lifetime status, but if I search from the menu icon in the top left of the page and click Marriott Rewards then click overview it brings me to the first smaller image that says lifetime gold. I'm guessing that the menu link brings me to an older version of the overview and the link under my account info brings me to a newer version. Still makes me a little nervous. I hope the newer link gets updated to include the correct status.

 

[pacman777]

Thanks for sharing this great news! I'm at 783 nights with SPG and completed my 9th year as platinum status in 2017. So all I got to do is hit platinum status by end of this year and I'll get top tier lifetime status!? This Marriott hotel acquisition is actually not as bad as I originally thought. Hopefully the timeshare side of ILG merger is good for all of us as well.

 

[NiteMaire]

So this post prompted me to login to Marriott Rewards and check my lifetime status and how far I am from lifetime platinum. I'm not sure why. I know I'm not close, but it did. Anyway I reached MR lifetime gold a few months ago. I have nearly the points for LP but only a little over 500 nights.

Anyway since reaching LG, when I go to account overview and click on "nights" It took me to a small box which looked like this.
View attachment 6444

It intrigues me that I've seen the nights/points ratio on both sides of the spectrum. Some have well over 1000 nights and are not close to 2M points while others have more than 2M points but are not close to 750 nights.
In Aug 2016 I had 628 nights, but only 1,054,971 points. Shortly thereafter, I put a full court press on points. It took more than 10 years for my first million; it'll be about 2 years for my 2nd.

 

[NiteMaire]

Thanks for sharing this great news! I'm at 783 nights with SPG and completed my 9th year as platinum status in 2017. So all I got to do is hit platinum status by end of this year and I'll get top tier lifetime status!?

That's how I read it. Are you going to be able to get Platinum (and therefore LPP) this year?

 

[VacationForever]

I have 2 million points and half a million plus of that came from Marriott timeshare conversion. Unfornately I only have 462 nights now, but have a plan in place to get to 505 nights. 5 nights will come towards the end of the year, so we want an additional 5 to be safe. If we did nothing different, we would have reached 500 but we are now trying to put more spending on the Marriott Visa to get us a few additional nights. I just hate using that card because it is not an efficient point generator. Worst case we will do a mattress run. The gap to 750 is too wide to bridge so we won't even try.

 

[pacman777]

I'm pretty sure I'll get it via work travel. In the off chance I don't then I'll just pay or use points to book enough stays to hit Platinum... easy! I'm glad Marriott is giving us until the end of 2018. Only if United would have made it this easy to hit their top tier lifetime Global Services level...

 

[frank808]

It intrigues me that I've seen the nights/points ratio on both sides of the spectrum. Some have well over 1000 nights and are not close to 2M points while others have more than 2M points but are not close to 750 nights.
In Aug 2016 I had 628 nights, but only 1,054,971 points. Shortly thereafter, I put a full court press on points. It took more than 10 years for my first million; it'll be about 2 years for my 2nd.

I have no where enough points. But enough nights.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[bazzap]

I am hoping that they don't conveniently forget that there are 2 paths to grandfathering lifetime statuses.

Marriott have documented multiple times over the last month that the original path of being Lifetime Platinum would ensure grandfathering in to Lifetime Platinum Premier.
So I can’t believe they would backtrack on that now to demand 10 year Platinum Lifetime status as well for those who would otherwise have qualified.
There was also an interesting on line chat reply to a Marriott Rewards Insider on 18th April 2018, confirming that the cut off date for qualification is end December 2018 not August 2018.
“I apologize that took so long. I have confirmed with a supervisor that you have the rest of 2018 to meet the original Lifetime Platinum requirements to be grandfathered into the Lifetime Platinum Premier status.”

 

[dvc_john]

I guess I don't know exactly where I stand.
I'm LT (old) silver with 1234 nights and 10K points short of (old) gold. I'll have 1.6 million points by year end, so I would make (old) LT gold, or (new) LT platinum.
But I may (actually probably) have 10 years (old) platinum (especially if you count 2018). But I'm not 100% sure of # years of (old) Platinum. There is no way I could get 400K points by year end, but it would be interesting if I could be grandfathered in to (new) LT Platinum Premier based on years.

 

[glarscast]

Hello TUGgers -

I have Select Owner status with Marriott Vacation Club, which gives me Gold Status membership in Marriott Rewards. Will my new status with the new MR/SPG system in August be Gold or Platinum? I'm not sure.

 

[kds4]

No one knows for sure. We'll have to wait for communication from MVCI. It will be based on whatever MVCI and Marriott Hotels agree on. You may see a change in your MR account before we actually get any clarifying info from MVCI. If the deadline passes with no changes in your MR account either your level is not going to change from where it has been or MVCI and Marriott Hotels are still negotiating.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I apologize that this is slightly off topic and although I have read quite a bit of what’s written hear it’s possible this question is already answered...

What MR rewards level will MVC owners have in the new program?

Even just a point in the right direction to search this is appreciated.

 

[JIMinNC]

I apologize that this is slightly off topic and although I have read quite a bit of what’s written hear it’s possible this question is already answered...

What MR rewards level will MVC owners have in the new program?

Even just a point in the right direction to search this is appreciated.

MVC has not announced that yet.

 

[kds4]

MVC has not announced that yet.

If there will be any 'leveling up' in MR status as an MVC owner, you may see the change in your account before there is any official word from MVCI. I would wait and see.