Marriott Rewards & United Airlines have been sending out emails this week to RewardsPlus members that got Marriott Gold status based on their United one.
I already reported back in July (read more here) that these Gold members would temporarily their status elevated to Platinum through January 2019 (Marriott pre program merger Gold maps to Platinum). Next year, the highest Marriott status that United elite members can get is the new Gold (lower than the old one).
You can access Marriott’s page for RewardsPlus here.
READ MORE: Marriott Rewards Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
Note that this elevated status only applies to members who linked their accounts and got Marriott Gold status before August 18 per my earlier piece on this subject.
The old Marriott Rewards Gold status came with breakfast and/or lounge access. The new one does not. The temporarily Platinum one comes with these two plus space available upgrades to suites that were previously excluded. The Platinum status now applies for stays at legacy Starwood brands too.
Conclusion
United Airlines elites that have Marriott Rewards Gold status through RewardsPlus are getting temporarily upgrade to Platinum status through the end of January 2019 but downgrade after that.
Marriott Rewards Platinum Premier members get United Silver status from this partnership that comes with some benefits.
Getting Marriott Rewards Platinum status in the future for having United Airlines Premier status would have been overkill.
What about people who gained Gold status with SPG using an Amex spend above $25,000 in 2017, or 30,000 in 2018…..and merged accounts prior to 18 September? For example, 4 pm late check-out was a Gold benefit at SPG, but a Platinum benefit at Marriott. Why are Gold Amex person’s not receiving Platinum until 1 January 2019, as United cc holders also did not attain Gold status through “stays”. I am referring to Marriott”s stand that only person’s who obtained SPG gold through stays would be upgraded to Platinum for this limited time. Why are Amex cardholders and qualifiers being singled out?
Cause they want you to get their SPG Luxury card silly.
ah….ok, makes sense………for them, not for me. They first sent me an e-mail saying my Gold status was being upgraded to Platinum, then they did this on 18 August. The next day, they converted it back to Gold. The people at customer service are tired of these calls, they just say “ok, you are right, you can have 4 p.m. checkout at Starwood Properties………..and Marriott will not interfere”. This has to be joke. As to breakfast, they say the same thing………”you can have the Platinum benefit, just tell the hotel that you want it”. The people are not properly trained at customer service and apparently go from one bad call to another. In any case, they accomplished just what they didn’t want. I don’t need Starwood. I have approx. 1 million Marriott points, will use them…..then discontinue (if possible) staying at any of the Marriott/Starwood properties. Hilton is looking better now. Thanks for your answer Phill Sims.
SPG new “luxury” card doesn’t grant you a 4 pm late check out. It gives you a pale MR Gold and barely a 2 pm check out *AND* “upon availability” only
You are correct and they still want your money in AF. Cheers!