Hotel Check In

[JOhnH]

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a strategy to get upgraded hotel rooms (at Marriott).

We usually fly early thus when we go on vacation we often get there rather early. I have a Marriott Platinum Card that offers pretty nice free room upgrades IF AVAILABLE.
I sometimes book a less expensive room and often get upgraded, but not consistently. So for the past few years I have been booking the more expensive rooms and thus am ineligible for any upgrades.

When I do the on-line check-in it asks me for an expected arrival time. I usually ask for around 1pm. That way we get to have lunch prior to checking into the room. But I was wondering if we were to ask for later check-in time would we be more likely to get an upgrade, or would all the upgrades be given out by then.

Back in college, I used to have a friend that worked the desk at Day's Inn. He often had good advice on making reservations but this never came up.

 

[eman1200]

 

[Hang 4]

In general later than 1 would be better. A lot depends on the property and even the day of the week. Monday thru Wednesday nights are the hardest. That's when Consultants and Salespeople travel and they usually have more status than a platinum charge card would get. You want to be late enough that the room has been cleaned and cleared to be released, but not so late that all the others of equal status have grabbed it. Having said that, if there's lots of people with more status, it doesn't matter.

I was the highest status you could be in Marriott and Starwood (which have now combined) and I did not get upgraded every time. I would not count on it as a strategy to work regularly.

 

[AV8R_87]

Get to Titanium Elite and they'll upgrade you pretty much all the time.

 

[Hang 4]

Get to Titanium Elite and they'll upgrade you pretty much all the time.

I'm lifetime Titanium, and I don't get upgraded all the time. I did get upgraded to the presidential suite at the Nob Hill Ritz Carlton once. That day I got in at midnight and had to leave at 6:00 am .

 

[Bob Noel]

you need to be a Platinium Elite Superior Diamond Member

(just kidding)

 

[JOhnH]

That's when Consultants and Salespeople travel and they usually have more status than a platinum charge card would get.

I said it poorly. I have a Lifetime Marriott Platinum Elite status. Not a Platinum charge card.
I don't believe you can still get a Titanium Elite lifetime status. If I recall, that ended when they merged with Starwood.

But you are probably right about needing to check in later than 1pm so that more rooms will be clean and ready. At 1pm you have a smaller choice of rooms that have been cleaned.

 

[mandm]

Marriott rarely upgrades. I’ve had better luck with Hyatt.

 

[Hang 4]

Got the clarification and you're right, Titanium Elite is no longer attainable. I made the window right at the merger. It so depends on the property. A big tower with a ton of floors gives a better chance than the 6 story, next to the highway Marriott. A less busy night, short stay, a one night stay is WAY more likely to get upgraded than a multi-day stay. Platinum at least gets you concierge lounge/breakfast access which for me was most of the benefit.

 

[pfarber]

Titanium is not a rare element. Its the 9th most common thing on the planet.

Marketing dept earned their bonus when they stared calling everything 'Titanium'

When you are an Astatine card holder NOW you are in the uber 'leet

 

[FORANE]

Titanium is not a rare element. Its the 9th most common thing on the planet.

Marketing dept earned their bonus when they stared calling everything 'Titanium'

When you are an Astatine card holder NOW you are in the uber 'leet

Is Asatine more rare than unobtanum?

 

[schmookeeg]

Genuinely curious -- upgrade to what? a bigger room? that you're just gonna sleep in?

Airline upgrades I understand, because coach class is now offensive to the Marquis de Sade, but Marriott's basic rooms are functional and nice when I stay there.

I do like the early/late checkout perks.

 

[jbarrass]

FWIW, I've noticed it's a lot easier to get upgraded for a 1 or 2 night stay than a longer one. Also getting there when the day crew is on duty (before 4) helps. Day crew usually has more authority.

 

[bflynn]

Genuinely curious -- upgrade to what? a bigger room? that you're just gonna sleep in?

Airline upgrades I understand, because coach class is now offensive to the Marquis de Sade, but Marriott's basic rooms are functional and nice when I stay there.

I do like the early/late checkout perks.

You may not just sleep in it.

When I was traveling a lot, there was an understanding across the project teams that if you got an upgraded room, you were responsible for hosting a team party. You'd provide the food and everyone would bring a bottle of something. I had the pleasure once in Dallas at the Marriott downtown, it was one of the smaller suites but still bigger than my first apartment. Got a bunch of appetizers from Eatzi and a couple of bottles of wine to kick it off. At the time, they had a Tuesday special where wine was BOGO. A good time was had by all and only a little handicap the next day.

 

[Shawn]

I am Lifetime Platinum status and I rarely get jack on upgrades anywhere. Everyone now has some form of status so the days of getting special treatment are long gone.

 

[Lindberg]

When you check in, tell them you're willing to wait for a room if you can get upgraded. They know what will be open later. Leave your bags at the bell desk.

 

[Daleandee]

Everyone now has some form of status so the days of getting special treatment are long gone.

When everyone is special ... no one is.

 

[Roller]

What credit cards do you have?

Marriott Bonvoy: Everything you need to know - The Points Guy

Learn the ins and outs of the Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program, from how to earn points and elite status to the best redemption options.

thepointsguy.com

 

[Bob Noel]

You may not just sleep in it.

When I was traveling a lot, there was an understanding across the project teams that if you got an upgraded room, you were responsible for hosting a team party. You'd provide the food and everyone would bring a bottle of something. I had the pleasure once in Dallas at the Marriott downtown, it was one of the smaller suites but still bigger than my first apartment. Got a bunch of appetizers from Eatzi and a couple of bottles of wine to kick it off. At the time, they had a Tuesday special where wine was BOGO. A good time was had by all and only a little handicap the next day.

ok, but if someone needs a bigger room, then reserve one. Don't just hope for an upgrade.

 

[JOhnH]

ok, but if someone needs a bigger room, then reserve one. Don't just hope for an upgrade.

That's easy for you to say. It almost sounds as if you are not married and stay alone in hotels. If it was just me, heck, I wouldn't stay at Marriott in the first place. I'd stay at some cheap motel.

I hope for an upgrade, but I'm not upset if I don't get one. But my wife likes a bigger, more comfortable room. But she is too practical to pay for it if she doesn't have to.

It does surprise me though when someone thinks that everyone should want the same things they do. But I do understand how someone has to always be the contrarian.

 

[flyingpreacher]

I’ve never had hotel status because in the areas of foreign countries we travel to, the “big hotel” might have 12 rooms!

I have noticed changes at the airlines though since Covid. Before/during Covid, I got upgraded more often. As Covid hysteria began to wind down and people began traveling again, it seemed like those frequent upgrades disappeared. Now, I’ve lost my Delta Platinum, so I’m pretty much guaranteed not to upgrade (although I still request it), but I’m ok with that. Many airline perks have been tangibly changed as well, but that’s probably another thread entirely.

Not sure if hotels have experienced a similar decline in upgrades post-COVID?

 

[JOhnH]

I’ve never had hotel status because in the areas of foreign countries we travel to, the “big hotel” might have 12 rooms!

I have noticed changes at the airlines though since Covid. Before/during Covid, I got upgraded more often. As Covid hysteria began to wind down and people began traveling again, it seemed like those frequent upgrades disappeared. Now, I’ve lost my Delta Platinum, so I’m pretty much guaranteed not to upgrade (although I still request it), but I’m ok with that. Many airline perks have been tangibly changed as well, but that’s probably another thread entirely.

Not sure if hotels have experienced a similar decline in upgrades post-COVID?

I don't know if it is due to Covid or not, but over the years I have seen both airlines and Hotels diminish their rewards programs. The two biggest degradation for both has been the number of miles or point required to get a free flight or a room and the frequency of seat or room upgrades.

I still have about a million Marriott points and continue to get a few more points by using my Marriott charge card, but more and more I have been using cards that pay cash. Especially one that pays 5% for fuel (including avgas). When I run out of Marriott points I'll probably stop using my Marriott Card and save the $100/year annual fee.

I feel kind of like a hypocrite though because when I owned my business I didn't like paying those high merchant fees that pay for those perks.

 

[schmookeeg]

It does surprise me though when someone thinks that everyone should want the same things they do. But I do understand how someone has to always be the contrarian.

If that morsel was for me, I was not trying to yuck your yum, I was trying to understand it as I have never considered a larger hotel room "more luxurious". I have had clients get me 1 or 2 bedroom suites at the Hyatt and I still just slept in the bed and maybe charged my laptop at the desk before showering and leaving. It was clearly wasted on me, and I'd love to know who these pads are for

The idea of "if you have the big room you're hosting meetings for your coworkers" is straight nightmare fuel for me and I'd refuse the larger room in that scenario

 

[Zeldman]

What grinds my gears is when I arrive to check in and am told that they only hold reservations until 4pm or some other stupid earlier time, and have already charged my credit card.

 

[JOhnH]

If that morsel was for me, I was not trying to yuck your yum, I was trying to understand it as I have never considered a larger hotel room "more luxurious". I have had clients get me 1 or 2 bedroom suites at the Hyatt and I still just slept in the bed and maybe charged my laptop at the desk before showering and leaving. It was clearly wasted on me, and I'd love to know who …

If you were NOT saying that my wife and I shouldn’t like something because you don’t, then it was NOT meant for you.

 

[Lindberg]

ok, but if someone needs a bigger room, then reserve one. Don't just hope for an upgrade.

That's easy for you to say. . . .

But my wife likes a bigger, more comfortable room.

It doesn't seem like you disagree. You don't need a bigger room, you want a bigger room. And you might get one, if you're lucky.

 

[mandm]

The thing is, they sell these as perks that we rarely get to enjoy. Maybe don’t say it if it’s not a real perk? I’ve been upgraded to first class once with no status. But with status I was never upgraded.

 

[schmookeeg]

If you were NOT saying that my wife and I shouldn’t like something because you don’t, then it was NOT meant for you.

You seem grumpy. You might wanna ask about that upgrade wherever you are presently.

 

[Ventucky Red]

What grinds my gears is when I arrive to check in and am told that they only hold reservations until 4pm or some other stupid earlier time, and have already charged my credit card.

Haven't heard of this being done for a while.. what I have seen is a "need to cancel by" date and time or they charge your card for the night

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a strategy to get upgraded hotel rooms (at Marriott).

We usually fly early thus when we go on vacation we often get there rather early. I have a Marriott Platinum Card that offers pretty nice free room upgrades IF AVAILABLE.
I sometimes book a less expensive room and often get upgraded, but not consistently. So for the past few years I have been booking the more expensive rooms and thus am ineligible for any upgrades.

When I do the on-line check-in it asks me for an expected arrival time. I usually ask for around 1pm. That way we get to have lunch prior to checking into the room. But I was wondering if we were to ask for later check-in time would we be more likely to get an upgrade, or would all the upgrades be given out by then.

Back in college, I used to have a friend that worked the desk at Day's Inn. He often had good advice on making reservations but this never came up.

Book the room through their website... sometimes a bit before your arrival they'll send you an upgrade notice the is considerably cheaper that if you booked originally.

It is all dependent on how they are filled. From my experience, Marriott is the worst.... they would rater keep you in the room you booked than upgrade you for next to nothing or free. My wife is a travel agent, and even with her secret handshake uber check in wink and a smile routine seldom do they upgrade us.. Hilton on the other hand always does.

 

[Pinecone]

Get to Titanium Elite and they'll upgrade you pretty much all the time.

Nope.

I am Lifetime Titanium and don't get upgraded close to all the time. But I do get upgraded a lot.

 

[Pinecone]

Haven't heard of this being done for a while.. what I have seen is a "need to cancel by" date and time or they charge your card for the night

It used to be, with status, I could cancel up to 4PM the day of arrival with no penalty. Now, some properties you have to cancel 2 even 3 days before.

And the crazy one is if I leave early, they will charge me an extra night. So if I have to check out a day early, I pay the same as staying that night.