Update Jan 2023: Ambassador status now requires you to spend $23,000 at Marriott hotels. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express now gives complimentary Platinum status and 25 elite night credits instead of 15. Review of the updated Bonvoy Brilliant: th-cam.com/video/iHzSGqZnsT8/w-d-xo.html
Brilliant card is worth it! I highly value the free breakfast, lounge access, room upgrades, and late checkout that comes with the complimentary Platinum. I’m working on Titanium this year since I’m still traveling for business until December. Great video, by the way!!
Good stuff Arden, thanks! Lots more easy than trying to figure it out online. I especially like you showing the difference between you and your dads (1 category higher) status, especially the upgrade pics - good job.
I am a lifetime Titanium Elite member for Marriott. I can say that I am disappointed at the least. It might be a US thing where you mention traveling overseas, I do not do that. I seldom get upgraded to a suite, a pool view, or river view, or city view is a normal upgrade, but its the same room type with just a different room location. Often my upgrade is "not on the freeway" side of the hotel, unless they are fairly full, then I get whatever room they give me. A arrival gift is typically nothing more than a bottle of water. If the hotel has breakfast in a restaurant, sometimes I get a breakfast voucher, but that is hit or miss also. The annual "suite" upgrades are a joke. I have never been given a room different than what I would have received without the voucher, I just use the voucher to get the guarantee?... Recently I requested a suite upgrade, they didn't have it, and I didn't get my vouchers back. When I questioned someone at Marriott about getting them back, they said they were returned to my account which is untrue as I have the info and they removed the rewards from my account and I did not get them back. This has happened more than once. Not to mention other issues at hotels where being a lifetime titanium elite member means nothing...
I've also had some frustrating experiences with Marriott in the US but generally been treated well in Asia. Thus far, my Suite night upgrades fail about 1/3 of the time in the US but never in Asia. I've also had quite a few issues with breakfast/food credits in the US which almost never happens to me in Asia. It seems like your experience in the US may be worse than mine so I can totally understand why you'd be disappointed at Marriott. If you still travel frequently, I find that Hyatt generally has better lounges and treatment for elite members compared to Marriott in the US.
After earning Marriott Titanium status, you can link your United Airlines account which will be upgraded to have United Silver status. When you fly United Airlines, you'll get Economy Plus at check-in if you booked regular economy, one free checked bag, and group 2 boarding.
There is another Marriott status called Cobalt…..but that status is hard to get because Marriott Leadership has to invite someone to get that particular status.
Yup. It supposedly includes added experiences and lounge access at Ritz Carlton hotels. Based on what I can see from online forums, it seems even more difficult to get than invite-only elite status in other travel loyalty programs such as United Global Services.
Hi there! Could I ask one thing about elite night?? I have a marriott bonvoy amex from japan. My account will be earn 15 elite night. And I want to make one more card from Korea. (Marriott shinhan card) then could I take more 15 elite nights??😮
While I do not know anyone with this combination of cards, my understanding is that in most cases, the maximum is 15 elite nights from credit cards per Marriott Bonvoy account even if the cards come from multiple countries. Only certain cards from the United States and United Arab Emirates allow people to exceed this.
Congratulations on reaching Ambassador! There's a website where you can login to your accounts and they'll get linked together. fly-united.marriott.com/en_US/
I have platinum status from having Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card. I will reach 50 elite nights (25 elite nights from having Brilliant card) in August which will qualify as a platinum member. If I cancel the Brilliant card in Nov-Dec, will I still maintain the Platinum status next year (2024)? Or lose the platinum status right away? I just opened the Chase Bonvoy boundless.
If you cancel your Bonvoy Brilliant, your platinum status should last through February 2025. After February 2025, you would be downgraded to Gold unless you meet the requirements for platinum status in 2024.
Anyone had to deal with the reservation guarantee benefit? As a platinum member it says I should receive $100 + 90k points and my local stay paid for. I talked to hotel manager and she said yes that’s correct and someone from corporate would contact me and it’s been 2 weeks with no response.
I've never needed to use this but if it's been 2 weeks, you may want to call Marriott customer service to make sure someone is handling your case. This must be frustrating and I hope they resolve this for you soon.
@@ardens-travel-guide definitely frustrating. Still hasn’t been resolved and customer service just told me all they can do is reopen the case and it’s the properties responsibility to handle everything. While the property manager is telling me they’re waiting on Marriott. Highly disappointed it’s this difficult.
Suite night awards were renamed to nightly upgrade awards. They are certificates that allow you to request an upgrade to a significantly better room and get confirmation of the upgrade 3 days before check in.
It depends on how you got Gold status. Most likely you will have to either get 25 nights next year or keep open a credit card that gives Gold status as a benefit.
Most likely, you qualified for Gold in 2022 which lasts through February 2024. Then in 2023, if you only met the requirements for Silver but not Gold, you would have been downgraded at the beginning of March 2024.
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Update Jan 2023:
Ambassador status now requires you to spend $23,000 at Marriott hotels.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express now gives complimentary Platinum status and 25 elite night credits instead of 15.
Review of the updated Bonvoy Brilliant: th-cam.com/video/iHzSGqZnsT8/w-d-xo.html
Brilliant card is worth it! I highly value the free breakfast, lounge access, room upgrades, and late checkout that comes with the complimentary Platinum. I’m working on Titanium this year since I’m still traveling for business until December. Great video, by the way!!
Thanks! It's definitely nice when your work travel can help you get to the next level of Elite status.
I wish the Brilliant also gave AMEX centurion lounge. Only reason I wouldn’t get it
Good stuff Arden, thanks! Lots more easy than trying to figure it out online. I especially like you showing the difference between you and your dads (1 category higher) status, especially the upgrade pics - good job.
I'm happy that you found the video helpful!
I am a lifetime Titanium Elite member for Marriott. I can say that I am disappointed at the least. It might be a US thing where you mention traveling overseas, I do not do that. I seldom get upgraded to a suite, a pool view, or river view, or city view is a normal upgrade, but its the same room type with just a different room location. Often my upgrade is "not on the freeway" side of the hotel, unless they are fairly full, then I get whatever room they give me. A arrival gift is typically nothing more than a bottle of water. If the hotel has breakfast in a restaurant, sometimes I get a breakfast voucher, but that is hit or miss also. The annual "suite" upgrades are a joke. I have never been given a room different than what I would have received without the voucher, I just use the voucher to get the guarantee?... Recently I requested a suite upgrade, they didn't have it, and I didn't get my vouchers back. When I questioned someone at Marriott about getting them back, they said they were returned to my account which is untrue as I have the info and they removed the rewards from my account and I did not get them back. This has happened more than once. Not to mention other issues at hotels where being a lifetime titanium elite member means nothing...
I've also had some frustrating experiences with Marriott in the US but generally been treated well in Asia. Thus far, my Suite night upgrades fail about 1/3 of the time in the US but never in Asia. I've also had quite a few issues with breakfast/food credits in the US which almost never happens to me in Asia. It seems like your experience in the US may be worse than mine so I can totally understand why you'd be disappointed at Marriott.
If you still travel frequently, I find that Hyatt generally has better lounges and treatment for elite members compared to Marriott in the US.
Yeah , as I’m doing my research I feel as if I should have just gone the Hilton route .
Have you contacted customer service about this issue ?
Hi , can you explain more about the airline perk please . How does that work with the Titanium status for Marriott?
After earning Marriott Titanium status, you can link your United Airlines account which will be upgraded to have United Silver status. When you fly United Airlines, you'll get Economy Plus at check-in if you booked regular economy, one free checked bag, and group 2 boarding.
Thanks for the info!!
You're welcome!
There is another Marriott status called Cobalt…..but that status is hard to get because Marriott Leadership has to invite someone to get that particular status.
Yup. It supposedly includes added experiences and lounge access at Ritz Carlton hotels. Based on what I can see from online forums, it seems even more difficult to get than invite-only elite status in other travel loyalty programs such as United Global Services.
You have to be a Mormon to get that
Very informative. Thank you
You're welcome!
Great video! Well explained.
I'm happy that you liked the video!
Great video!
Thanks!
What kind of lounge access? Airport lounges access or Mariott ‘ s lounges ?
Marriott Platinum and higher gives you access to lounges that are in Marriott hotels, not airport lounges.
Do you lose or get downgraded once reaching certain status after using all your points? Or do you only consume your points but maintain your status?
Redeeming points does not affect status expiration.
Hi there!
Could I ask one thing about elite night??
I have a marriott bonvoy amex from japan. My account will be earn 15 elite night. And I want to make one more card from Korea. (Marriott shinhan card)
then could I take more 15 elite nights??😮
While I do not know anyone with this combination of cards, my understanding is that in most cases, the maximum is 15 elite nights from credit cards per Marriott Bonvoy account even if the cards come from multiple countries. Only certain cards from the United States and United Arab Emirates allow people to exceed this.
I just reached Ambassador. How do I connect United with Marriott to obtain Silver?
Congratulations on reaching Ambassador!
There's a website where you can login to your accounts and they'll get linked together.
fly-united.marriott.com/en_US/
I have platinum status from having Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card. I will reach 50 elite nights (25 elite nights from having Brilliant card) in August which will qualify as a platinum member. If I cancel the Brilliant card in Nov-Dec, will I still maintain the Platinum status next year (2024)? Or lose the platinum status right away? I just opened the Chase Bonvoy boundless.
If you cancel your Bonvoy Brilliant, your platinum status should last through February 2025. After February 2025, you would be downgraded to Gold unless you meet the requirements for platinum status in 2024.
Can confirm.. I canceled my platinum card, and still have gold status.
Anyone had to deal with the reservation guarantee benefit? As a platinum member it says I should receive $100 + 90k points and my local stay paid for. I talked to hotel manager and she said yes that’s correct and someone from corporate would contact me and it’s been 2 weeks with no response.
I've never needed to use this but if it's been 2 weeks, you may want to call Marriott customer service to make sure someone is handling your case.
This must be frustrating and I hope they resolve this for you soon.
@@ardens-travel-guide definitely frustrating. Still hasn’t been resolved and customer service just told me all they can do is reopen the case and it’s the properties responsibility to handle everything. While the property manager is telling me they’re waiting on Marriott. Highly disappointed it’s this difficult.
What's a suite night
Suite night awards were renamed to nightly upgrade awards. They are certificates that allow you to request an upgrade to a significantly better room and get confirmation of the upgrade 3 days before check in.
So I just got Gold status. Do I have to do anything to maintain it?
It depends on how you got Gold status. Most likely you will have to either get 25 nights next year or keep open a credit card that gives Gold status as a benefit.
After you spend 20K they should give you the whole hotel for free
Haha. That would be funny.
And they actually increased the spend requirement for Ambassador to $23K in a year after this video came out...
انت سمج يالا
I was gold elite and now went down to silver elite. I’m not sure why this happened
Most likely, you qualified for Gold in 2022 which lasts through February 2024. Then in 2023, if you only met the requirements for Silver but not Gold, you would have been downgraded at the beginning of March 2024.
@@ardens-travel-guide aaahhh got yah. Thank you for that clarification