Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite

[jme]

after a recent stay at Hilton Head, I finally attained Marriott's Lifetime Platinum Elite Status. I know, big whoop.

We had close to 3 million points (2 million required), but just upped our "nights stayed" to 755 (750 required), so, over the hump.

We did that with almost zero business stays (I'm not "required" to travel in my profession) so they were 99% vacation stays or other type pleasure trips---extended family visits, college football games, weekends wherever, etc., etc).

Just wondering, are there any more Lifetime Platinum Elites out there in TUG land, and if so, what have you noticed, if anything, in reception at stays? I'm sure they're not offering anything more than regular Platinum Elites in the way of perks, but just curious what the experience has been. To my knowledge, there are no perks other than always being a Lifetime PE.

 

[dioxide45]

I am not Lifetime Platinum, but my understanding is that you are recognized as Platinum status. Lifetime status really doesn't mean anything except that you don't have to continue to renew each year on elite night credits. As far as perks, you would have the same perks as a regular non lifetime Platinum member.

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening....

will let you know in 10 nights!!!!:whoopie::whoopie::whoopie:

 

[sjsharkie]

Just wondering, are there any more Lifetime Platinum Elites out there in TUG land, and if so, what have you noticed, if anything, in reception at stays? I'm sure they're not offering anything more than regular Platinum Elites in the way of perks, but just curious what the experience has been. To my knowledge, there are no perks other than always being a Lifetime PE.

No difference other than a different MR card -- the lifetime card does not have a valid thru date as do the regular MR Plat cards.

-ryan

 

[FractionalTraveler]

after a recent stay at Hilton Head, I finally attained Marriott's Lifetime Platinum Elite Status. I know, big whoop.

We had close to 3 million points (2 million required), but just upped our "nights stayed" to 755 (750 required), so, over the hump.

We did that with almost zero business stays (I'm not "required" to travel in my profession) so they were 99% vacation stays or other type pleasure trips---extended family visits, college football games, weekends wherever, etc., etc).

Just wondering, are there any more Lifetime Platinum Elites out there in TUG land, and if so, what have you noticed, if anything, in reception at stays? I'm sure they're not offering anything more than regular Platinum Elites in the way of perks, but just curious what the experience has been. To my knowledge, there are no perks other than always being a Lifetime PE.

Welcome to the lifetime of the "Program" club. As others have stated already, no differences other than the membership card. Lifetime Status is not even displayed on your own account information.

Been LPLT since status level inception, that was well over 3000 paid nights ago.

IMHO, the best benefit (real achievement) to MR LPLT is that you can go over to Hilton, Starwood, and Fairmont and achieve the same level in their respective programs without having to worry about Marriott anymore.

FT

 

[golf4hrs]

This may or may not be a true benefit but it works. My wife (who is not platinum) uses my status and shows my LPT card on her individual business stays at Marriott. I ordered a duplicate card just for this purpose. She usually gets an upgraded room and receives the platinum arrival gift, no questions asked.

If you ever check-in at Marriott Ko'Olina, please remember all the different platinum gift choices. Here is my previous post on this subject and their dollar value. I would be interested in what other MVCI resorts in Hawaii do at check-in.

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1487125&postcount=7

 

[Big Matt]

Bingo.

I will be lifetime platinum next year without a lot of effort and then it's time to move on. I love my Marriott brand, but not too much to switch.

 

[frank808]

Hate to tell you but a few months ago MKO changed the gifts. It is now only 500 MR points or an unlimited drink cup for 2013.

They used to have a $25 credit to longboards also. That was the best in my mind after I got 4 unlimited drink cups. Now I have a bunch of drink cups that will expire in 11 days. Hope they keep the drink cup option open next year.

 

[golf4hrs]

I recently checked-in at Marriott Ko'Olina on 11/28 and they were out of stock of unlimited mugs for several weeks, according to the front desk manager.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Congratulations on lifetime platinum Marty I personally thinks its a big deal. I don't know about others but I get upgrades 99% of the time and like the bonus points so I love being platinum and look forward to becoming lifetime in 2 years or so as I now have 598 after accumulating 87 this year.

 

[frank808]

I recently checked-in at Marriott Ko'Olina on 11/28 and they were out of stock of unlimited mugs for several weeks, according to the front desk manager.

I am here right now. They are giving away the 2014 cups for Platinum gifts about 2 weeks ago. If you are still here let's get together for a drink. I am in Kona tower right now.

 

[BocaBoy]

I achieved lifetime platinum earlier this year. I have over 8 million lifetime MR points but only recently reached 750 nights. Before they went back to counting timeshare stays a few years ago, I was Silver and had been as high as Gold only once despite having over 5 million lifetime points.

You will note that I said "went back" to counting timeshare stays because they actually did count them for at least a couple of years way back in the day. Then they counted only your own owner stays, not II trades or getaways. It went away at some point with no notification that I ever was aware of.

To me, one of the nice perks of Platinum status with Marriott (not limited to lifetime plats) is the reciprocal arrangement that now gives us Silver elite status with United. Elites on United are eligible for free upgrades on award tickets if they have the United Explorer Visa card. I don't know of any other airline that gives upgrades like this on coach award tickets.

 

[JimC]

Reached lifetime platinum status earlier this year. I have noticed for past couple of years that they see our points balance and nights, because I get very nice comments when I check in. Even with the changes I do not personally like, I enjoy staying at Marriott properties. It is nice to know you will be well taken care of while on the road. And they consistently deliver on that expectation.

 

[MOXJO7282]

If domestic Marriotts treated plat members the way int'l locations do then everyone would be trying to get lifetime plat because then its truly a tremendous value.

When I was in Shanghai JW Marriott I received an amazing top floor corner unit overlooking that amazing city and they had awesome food in the concierge for breakfast and dinner, and free wine and beer in the evening which I took advantage several nights. After working 12 hour days it was a very nice way to end the night without having to go out to eat and have a few beers.

 

[mav]

I am not a LIFETIME Marriott rewards member, but I always get the most amazing upgrades at both Marriott AND Hilton in Europe and the Middle East, rather then the USA. Go figure. And GREAT FOOD!

 

[MALC9990]

We should be aware that in Asia all the top end hotels extend these benefits to their valued guests. It is a feature of the business model. Obviously there is a different busines model in the USA.

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning....

Currently at 747..only 3 nights away!!!!:whoopie:

will keep you posted...

 

[dvc_john]

I guess I'm the exception.
I have more than enough nights (830), but nowhere near enough points.

 

[Big Matt]

I get most of my points via the Chase Marriott Visa. I get a free night each year which pays for the annual fee. If you spend a lot of money on any credit card you can accumulate rewards/awards/miles very quickly.

I guess I'm the exception.
I have more than enough nights (830), but nowhere near enough points.

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Marriott Rewards like many similar membership programs today are no longer considered "Loyalty Programs". They have unfortunately been morphed into Groupon like discount programs.

There is no loyalty to a program when it doesn't require you to use any of its products/services to attain rewards and discounts.

Loyalty comes from delivering a consistent quality product/vacation experience that motivates consumers to become repeat and happy customers. The product/service creates the loyalty.

These programs although very popular and successful because of their intended broad appeal, tend to have an unintended consequence in alienating some of its most loyal Elite Level customers.

I can draw on a recent experience as an analogy in alienation. I booked a business class ticket to London using my AA frequent flyer miles. Took me a lot of "In the seat" flying (about 6 month's worth) and Executive Platinum status to score that ticket and route in the busy summer travel season.

To make my point, the guy sitting next to me, He scored the seat by simply using a MasterCard enrollment bonus plus a few months of spends.

Now I know there is a cult of people who all they do is use credit card initiation bonuses as a revolving door to getting free products/services and then dumping the cards for others who offer better signup bonuses. Some have even written books and sell them on-line on how to use these methods to get free stuff. The internet is littered with such self ordained Gurus of travel.

The age of loyalty appears to be dead to these folks!

That's why when we speak of the Value of MR Points or Elite Status in the program the concept of loyalty has been lost.

I guess that's why when I turned LPLT, I somehow expected something more than what I was already accustomed to receiving. Maybe that was my mistake, but the loyalty piece has been lost somewhere in the journey to LPLT over the years.

The quality of the product remains an attraction but not the same as before.

FT

 

[mav]

We should be aware that in Asia all the top end hotels extend these benefits to their valued guests. It is a feature of the business model. Obviously there is a different busines model in the USA.

I mean I am not a LIFETIME Platinum or Gold. I was just Gold until I hit Platinum about 2 months ago. I have many more nights to hit LIFETIME status. BUT with just reg. Gold at BOTH Hilton AND Marriott I am given VERY nice upgrades in Europe and the Middle East. In the Middle east both Hilton and Marriott are EXTREMELY fine indeed And when they send a welcome gift it is REALLY NICE!!

 

[Big Matt]

FT, to your point, I think that all of the hotels and airlines started what amounts to a bidding war for loyalty. It ends up watering down the effort required to get that status from what used to be a very small number of customers who reach the highest elite status.

At the end of the day I do stick with Marriott because of the brand. I travel about 20-30 days a year for work and probably stay in a Marriott property about 80% of the time. I like what Marriott gives their customers and what I receive for hitting the number of nights required each year. My timeshares give me another 21-28 nights a year and the card gives me the rest.

 

[MichaelColey]

For me, anyway, the watered down programs still get my loyalty.

I am lifetime Platinum with AA and I seldom fly any other carrier because I get free bags, upgrades and other perks.

I am Executive with national and seldom rent elsewhere because I get free rentals (which are great for one way rentals!) and upgrades (pay for mid size, pick any car off the Executive Aisle).

I am Platinum with Marriott and Diamond with Hilton. Get free breakfasts, occasional upgrades, and good treatment so I seldom book elsewhere.

 

[4Reliefnow]

New Loyalty Program - Blood Loyalty

I found a new Marriott Loyalty Program this year - Blood! Our daughter is in the hotel and restaurant major in school and started an internship at the local Marriott Hotel. For all of you who love your MOD discount codes, you might understand how addicting the associate and parents discount rates are.

Daughter is planning weekend escapes to the Ritz Carlton in Toronto or the J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids just for the exhilaration of the 60% to 80% discounts. We are now "Super Loyal" to Marriott and looking for my first Platinum Elite card to arrive next week.

You me I get an all you can drink cup next month when I check in to my-vacation club?

 

[LilMsFoodie]

My late husband was awarded lifetime platinum status in January 2004. He was one of the very first Marriott "Marquis" members. He was ill at the time and the only time I remember him being able to use it was in September 2004. We had an emergency evacuation for hurricane Ivan and were given a very nice suite at the JW in Orlando. My husband died in our room the morning after we arrived.

I won't go into details, but the hotel manager transferred that lifetime platinum to me shortly after. I didn't use it much as my travels weren't always to a place where the Marriott would be my first choice. I did use reward points once for a weekend at the Marco Island Marriott (not Crystal Shores) and was given the Presidential suite on the top floor. That was the only time that happened, but I felt I got prime locations any time I stayed. Two years ago I got a gold rewards card and last year I was downgraded to silver or whatever it's called. Could care less as we prefer small independent hotels now...I am fond of Klimpton and some international small affiliated hotels. It was very nice while it lasted. Much better wine bottle gift and usually a note and fruit basket from the manager and once the sommelier at the Doral restaurant brought an amazing bottle to my table, complements of the manager.

I'm curious what kind of perks will continue to be offered.