Titanium Elite

[JT]

Am I automatically upgraded now if available? I do have 6 suite awards. Do I need to use these now?

Thanks, wifey gone on trip for a couple days. Want to make sure she gets a bigger room.
JT

 

[MOXJO7282]

They make it seem that way with the suite nights but I don't know what those do for us because I had 10 offered recently and it didn't do anything for me so definitely not automatic in any sense.

 

[Old Hickory]

Am I automatically upgraded now if available? I do have 6 suite awards. Do I need to use these now?

Thanks, wifey gone on trip for a couple days. Want to make sure she gets a bigger room.
JT

It's not automatic. You have to request the SNA when booking and it should be done a minimum of 6 days before arrival (I think they award at 5 days before arrival).

 

[rthib]

Am I automatically upgraded now if available? I do have 6 suite awards. Do I need to use these now?

Thanks, wifey gone on trip for a couple days. Want to make sure she gets a bigger room.
JT

I think some of the answers are combining your two questions.
In theory you should be automatically upgraded. In practice, there are a lot more Titaniums than you would think so chances are not good if you are somewhere popular. I did get upgraded to a two bedroom suite on a stay at a Category 1 Townplace Suites but other than that usually just view or slightly larger room.

If it is someplace that matters and you want to make sure, than use your awards.

 

[JT]

Thank you. My wife staying at a residence inn mid week. I will take her chances and hope to be upgraded and not burn a SNA.

JT

 

[GetawaysRus]

Check what types of rooms are available at the Residence Inn she'll be staying at. When I have stayed at a Residence Inn in the past, they haven't had suites.

SNAs are for suite upgrades. Personally, if the Residence Inn doesn't have suites available, I wouldn't apply them at that hotel.

Remember that SNAs do expire, likely at the end of the year. They're a nice benefit (and I've had decent success with them at international locations), so you'd hate to let them go unused.

 

[VacationForever]

Thank you. My wife staying at a residence inn mid week. I will take her chances and hope to be upgraded and not burn a SNA.

JT

I don't believe you can even apply a SNA to a Residence Inn or a Courtyard.

 

[bazzap]

I don't believe you can even apply a SNA to a Residence Inn or a Courtyard.

“Not all Participating Properties participate in Suite Night Awards. Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at the following brands: The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, EDITION, Protea Hotels, Aloft, Element, Design HotelsTM, all-Suite Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, ExecuStay, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club properties and Vistana properties. In addition, Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at select Participating Properties. Contact a Customer Engagement Center for individual Participating Property Suite Night Award participation.”

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

I don't believe you can even apply a SNA to a Residence Inn or a Courtyard.

I think it actually depends on a particular Residence Inn or Courtyard.

I have applied some SNA awards to an upcoming reservation at a specific Residence Inn. They gave me the chance at three offerings: (1) Studio Corner Unit with I assume more windows, (2) One Bedroom Unit , (3) Two Bedroom Unit.

So they do exist. If I don't get upgraded then all I get is an ordinary standard studio sized unit.

Here's hoping that I get either the one bedroom or two bedroom sized unit instead.





.

 

[VacationForever]

I think it actually depends on a particular Residence Inn or Courtyard.

I have applied some SNA awards to an upcoming reservation at a specific Residence Inn. They gave me the chance at three offerings: (1) Studio Corner Unit with I assume more windows, (2) One Bedroom Unit , (3) Two Bedroom Unit.

So they do exist. If I don't get upgraded then all I get is an ordinary standard studio sized unit.

Here's hoping that I get either the one bedroom or two bedroom sized unit instead.





.

Recently I booked using points for a room at a Residence Inn. For the same amount of points, it offered both 1BR and 2BR/2BA options. I picked the 2BR/2BA. I made 2 reservations at this hotel. The first one I could simply apply points to it while the second one was for 5 nights and I had to ask guest services to apply my (partial) hotel certificate. The agent was surprised that it did not require more points. He put me on hold and called the hotel directly and was told that the 2BR/2BA required standard redemption value before he attached my certificate.

 

[Old Hickory]

I think it actually depends on a particular Residence Inn or Courtyard.

I have applied some SNA awards to an upcoming reservation at a specific Residence Inn. They gave me the chance at three offerings: (1) Studio Corner Unit with I assume more windows, (2) One Bedroom Unit , (3) Two Bedroom Unit.

So they do exist. If I don't get upgraded then all I get is an ordinary standard studio sized unit.

Here's hoping that I get either the one bedroom or two bedroom sized unit instead.

Let's say that you arrive with a hope to get (what you think) is an upgrade. But it doesn't happen. Can you then request to use the SNA if that improves your chances of getting that upgrade?

My question is this: can you ask the SNA be applied on check-in or has that opportunity passed?

 

[jme]

Let's say that you arrive with a hope to get (what you think) is an upgrade. But it doesn't happen. Can you then request to use the SNA if that improves your chances of getting that upgrade?
My question is this: can you ask the SNA be applied on check-in or has that opportunity passed?

Don't know the answer, but if you have one in your account, and the upgraded room IS available, why would, or should, they deny it?
(In reality, they should have already applied it if an SNA had been requested, and also when your status is such that you get one anyway, aside from any SNA.)
My feeling is that it is something you SHOULD get, no question.

I'll seek the answer myself in case that happens at check-in, since I get 10 SNAs annually.

 

[JT]

This is what I told my wife. She will ask for the upgrade. If they deny then ask if she can use a SNA. I will check to see that day if a 1bd suite or 2bd available.

 

[rthib]

Let's say that you arrive with a hope to get (what you think) is an upgrade. But it doesn't happen. Can you then request to use the SNA if that improves your chances of getting that upgrade?

My question is this: can you ask the SNA be applied on check-in or has that opportunity passed?

There would be no need to use SNA. The SNA is to guarantee the upgrade before arrival. If one still exists, then T&C says you get it as an Platinum or higher elite.

 

[jtp1947]

You cannot request the SNA while checking in at the hotel, it must be done prior to check in when making the reservation or on the App. The hotel can see the request but the SNA process is automatic above the property.

 

[GetawaysRus]

Sometimes you have to, uh, complain loudly (otherwise known as bitch).

We used an SNA at an international JW Marriott. I got the email 5 days before that the suite upgrade was approved. At check in, the front desk agent offered a whopping upgrade from a standard room to a "deluxe" standard room. I objected, saying that we had been approved for a suite upgrade. After a few minutes, she finally spoke to a supervisor. We were then placed in a junior suite.

 

[4Sunsets]

When you use your SNA, the process asks you to specify the type of room you want to upgrade too. So if you said, okay I'll take a deluxe as an upgrade it's what you get.

With Marriott, if you want a nice room, pay for the nice room, then ask for an upgrade to an even nice room using SNA. Otherwise you will be greatly disappointed.

 

[GetawaysRus]

When you use your SNA, the process asks you to specify the type of room you want to upgrade too.

In my experience, sometimes. This hasn't always been the case.

We have an SNA pending for a domestic (USA) Marriott. I do remember selecting the room types that would be acceptable to us.

But we've placed SNAs for a few international properties and I don't recall getting that screen.

 

[ann824]

I don't believe you can even apply a SNA to a Residence Inn or a Courtyard.

I have a reservation at a residence inn in Nashville and it does give me the option to use an upgrade.

 

[Jon Maiman]

I have a reservation at a residence inn in Nashville and it does give me the option to use an upgrade.

I also have a reservation for the Residence Inn in Bethany Beach. I have a SNA request in to get upgraded from a City View Studio to an Oceanfront Studio. It will be nice if we get the better view, if not we're still okay with the City View.

What is considered an upgrade varies a lot by property. I have seen everything from corner rooms to true suites as options. What is a reasonable use of SNA is a matter of personal preference. Being a classic Marriott guy versus Starwood, this is my first year trying to use SNA's. We will see how it goes....

--Jon

 

[jme]

I also have a reservation for the Residence Inn in Bethany Beach. I have a SNA request in to get upgraded from a City View Studio to an Oceanfront Studio. It will be nice if we get the better view, if not we're still okay with the City View.

What is considered an upgrade varies a lot by property. I have seen everything from corner rooms to true suites as options. What is a reasonable use of SNA is a matter of personal preference. Being a classic Marriott guy versus Starwood, this is my first year trying to use SNA's. We will see how it goes....

--Jon

Exactly, and well said.
I've found it necessary to call the front desk of any hotel at which I'm considering using an SNA.
They, and they only, know the details of each of their rooms.
That's because, as you say, the rooms can vary significantly from hotel to hotel, even within the same brands
like Residence Inns and Courtyards.

And it seems the newer-construction hotels within the same brand have the widest variance.
Some have nice upgrades, and some may only have the next highest level as "a room closer to an elevator" (lol).
If some have little variance to speak of (no larger sizes, no suites, etc), even the VIEWS can make a difference.
I'm using a few SNAs in Boston this year, and having stayed there before,
I know the view types can range from "nice" to "very nice", and the very nice can certainly make a stay more enjoyable.
Getting an upgrade to a SUITE anywhere would always be the goal, but they are not always available, but still, calling is the thing!

 

[Big Matt]

What I don't like is that some properties have suites, but don't make them available for the SNA. I'm finding SNA to be worth very little. The normal old Titanium upgrades were working just fine to me and still have been good even with the SNAs,

 

[4Sunsets]

In my experience, sometimes. This hasn't always been the case.

We have an SNA pending for a domestic (USA) Marriott. I do remember selecting the room types that would be acceptable to us.

But we've placed SNAs for a few international properties and I don't recall getting that screen.

So far, we've got the screen every time, as long as the hotel HAS SUITES. If the hotel doesn't have suites, you are wasting your time and SNA.

 

[4Sunsets]

What I don't like is that some properties have suites, but don't make them available for the SNA. I'm finding SNA to be worth very little. The normal old Titanium upgrades were working just fine to me and still have been good even with the SNAs,

Don't make them available... or worse, they cancel your reservation entirely if they accidentally assign you a pricey suite... Happened to us

YES, the old system was much better. We've been lifetime platinum a long time. Everything got diluted during the merger and when they essentially made golds and silvers also platinum. Now after the merge as Titanium, we're seeing less and less benefit to our loyalty. After 25, well actually 29 years, we are actually looking at moving on from Marriott completely.

 

[AlmostRetired]

I stayed at the Key West Marriott Beachside. I put in for a SNA. The only option to pick for the SNA was a 2 bedroom. It was my wife and I so I emailed asking can we upgrade to a 1 bedroom. The SNA is only for a 2br at this hotel. The SNA was put back in my account. I was given a 3 br, 3 bathroom, dinning room table for 8, kitchen and washer/dryer. It was a waste so I called and asked if we can exchange for a 1 bedroom. I was told my only options were my original reservation or the 3 bedroom. I thought it was a waste but decided it wasn't once I found out they put chocolate in each bedroom.