Marriott Bonvoy Elite Upgrade Policy: Should You Expect Suites?

Ben you should look into the Q3 performance of Norse Atlantic... Still losing money (more this year than last) which is ironic given their "restructuring" to focus on ACMI with Indigo, and now they are even hiring more Revenue professionals with "aviation experience" after allegedly getting rid of their commercial team of people with aviation experience last year (you can check LinkedIn for past employees of Norse...)

I have politely (but sometimes firmly) talked my way into suite upgrade after initially being told no but it can be exhausting.

e.g. I have several times asked politely if I can check with a manager as to why no suite upgrade is available when several are available for sale for my stay dates. The majority of the time the manager will immediately provide the suite upgrade but it is very "karen"-y and I don't enjoy doing it.

I am lifetime Platinum and have suffered through enough Marriott stays.

My "upgrades" have typically been limited to higher floors and supposedly better views. And I suppose they may correlate to some sort of vaunted room category. But I have always perceived that such have been granted because all of the base rooms have been previously assigned - the hotel industry's version of an operational upgrade.

My pet hate is when I have successfully applied SNAs (which is rare these days) and at check in, the hotel beamingly tells me about how they’ve given me an upgrade in a way I should be obliged to them!

Beyond that, I have never asked for an upgrade at any stage as it doesn’t feel right to me but in a recent interaction with Bonvoy customer service, where I was having an issue with two reservations, the agent proactively contacted the hotels I had reservations at and asked for upgrades on my behalf.

A suite is wholly unnecessary and a waste of space if travelling alone. Hold the suite and upgrade me to a club level room with access to the lounge is what I strongly prefer.

What lounge?

I had been Ambassador for years. It really does vary from property to property. At high-end properties, in Europe -- sometimes. In London and America -- never. In some cases, it was a matter of "you can pay for an upgrade but we're not going to give you one." It was quite sobering. Eventually, I went in another direction. Marriott is doing absolutely fine without me.

With Bonvoy, the lack of transparency over whether to use Nightly Upgrade Awards vs counting on elite status (Platinum in my case) is the biggest stumbling block. Perhaps Ben could illuminate when and where it makes sense to use NUAs, as I’m unclear as to what the real difference is.

Used a NUA at Gritti Palace this year during a one-night points stay. Definitely upgraded. Best available? Unlikely. But still a very nice suite. We were happy.

I tend to aim NUAs at longer stays. I find that on short 1 night stays, hotels are more forthcoming with multi level upgrades, but on a longer stay, less likely.

I live in Portugal, and when I go to the Algarve, I’ve stayed at the W hotel almost consistently. I have platinum status with Marriott. When they get to know you, they give you good upgrades ( 2 level suites with sun deck, ocean views, etc.). . If you go to a location with any regularity, find a hotel you really like, and go to that same hotel. They do you well if you act nice and sociable. Also, there’s no point with certain hotel brands to use your upgrade certificates because they don’t have suites, etc.. An example would be an AC hotel. Very little difference Between a standard room and “premium“ room. Recently, I asked a Westin manager what’s the best strategy between counting on the upgrade with the platinum status versus using a certificate and she said, “use the certificate if it’s a location where you would really want an upgrade.“

TL;DR - The answer is "no"

Recently I was denied a NUA at a Sheraton go a suite. The room was still available on the website. I then emailed the hotel asking for it as a Platinum Bonvoy and they gave it to me. lol. So I got the upgrade and saved the NUA.

I always ask the hotel beforehand when the check in becomes available and use the chat function and ask for an upgrade prior to arrival. I get one more often than not, if it’s available but some are definitely very stingy.

I find contacting the hotel in advance of checking in to be in poor taste. The benefit is for rooms available at check in. If you want an upgraded room in advance then pay for it. I'll check what rooms are available immediately prior to check in. I'll wait to see if they tell me I have been upgraded. If it doesn't look like I have been upgraded and the hotel is not sold out from what I can see I will politely ask if an upgrade is possible. I usually don't have to do this overseas since they often upgrade me without being asked but in the US I have had to do it and more often than not will get an upgrade that way. Really by the time you are checking in they should be giving out upgrades if they are available without being asked.

We have had lifetime platinum since the glory days of SPG. Regularly enjoyed upgrades to full and named suites with few exceptions. All round member services was on another level then also.

Since Bonvoy, I can't remember getting more than an occasional 'next room grade up' at check-in.

Not worth any effort to stay with a Marriott hotel over the competition these days, and booking through AmEx gives a better guarantee of an upgrade regardless

My wife also is lifetime platinum. I recall on one occasion we received an upgrade to the bridal suite (lots of mirrors) at a Renaissance. That was a long time ago. These days, a bottle of water seems to be about it.

On a less sarcastic note, each of the past two winters during one-week stays at two separate Central American Edition resorts, we took full advantage of complimentary full resort breakfasts. Easily a $75 per day value.

To answer the question in the headline, you should expect to stay in what you booked, and be happy when you get something nicer.

If you expect (want) to stay in a suite, pay for it. Or use NUAs to secure it.

CPH-Flyer is dead wrong (and clearly does NOT travel much). Nightly upgrade awards at Marriott are worthless. Lifetime Titanium here with almost 1,900 nights -- 1 in 100 chance of being able to use the NUAs. It's a con game. Switched over to Hyatt. Never looked back. Marriott hates their customers, and they prove it every day.

Never understood the value of the "suite" - which is usually a slightly bigger room with additional seating - in most cases not even a door separating the bedroom.

Also, can not imagine giving you that extra loveseat comes with any significant incremental cost to the hotel - at least, I would imagine, the cost for airlines to upgrade someone to F are higher - and to Ben's point airlines are a lot better about upgrades.