It’s always frustrating to see loyalty program devaluations, especially those without notice. So here’s an interesting update, as Marriott is now committing to providing advance notice of negative changes, but only to select members.
Continue reading: Marriott Bonvoy Promises To Give Notice Of Negative Changes… If You’re In China
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
So even communist China protects its citizens from predatory corporations better than the US. What a time to be alive.
Just weeks after the Chinese Consumer protection agencies summoned IHG's Chinese operator over its membership agreements, which contain what Chinese law considers "overlord clauses" (highly unfair, one-sided terms) on these matters:
First, Forced U.S. Arbitration: If one of IHG's 15 million Chinese members has a dispute regarding a stay at a Chinese hotel, the terms force them to seek arbitration in the United States under Georgia state law.
Second, Deterring Complaints: Experts point out that this is an intentional strategy to raise the cost and complexity of defending consumer rights, effectively scaring people out of pursuing lawsuits over unfulfilled perks or canceled bookings.
Third, Unilateral Power: IHG’s agreement also claims the right to change terms at any time without explicit consent, assuming that a user "keeping their membership" means they agree.
Guess Marriott don't want to summoned again.
That’s what Xi said?
Ben, not sure who needs to hear this, but Alaska Air finally added MFA for account login, so, unless you like getting hacked and losing all your pointies, please do set that up, friends!
All of those seem like reasonable complaints against the change policy. It's a shame that it requires that level of heavy handedness aimed at a competitor for a company to change their consumer protections.
Not a fan of totalitarianism, authoritarians, or one-party rule, because it tends to mistreat people who don’t conform.
I mean, no one really gripes too harshly about Singapore (other than the caning and high-cost), and it’s a benevolent dictatorship, basically. PAP is their one-party ruler.
"You’d think that if Marriott is going to let some members know of negative changes, it would let all members know, since such information would obviously be shared online."
Let's be realistic. Marriott views engaged loyalty members as the enemy. Unless forced to Marriott is not going to do anything to benefit those people. Bonvoyed is Bonvoyed for a reason.
It all boils down to the people. In other countries people expect corporations to not shortchange them in every which way.
Here we accept it. Look back to all the posts of various airlines and hotel and card issuers downgrading their offerings. There is at the very least one post of someone saying : "It's not as bad as it could be". I guess as a society we are attuned to accepting less value for same price.
So corporations keep pushing the envelope. Its great so see that somewhere on this planet these corporations are being held accountable.
The only reason I'm loyal to Bonvoy is that it is so great in China. There are other brands there as well that are good but overall, any branded hotel I stay in China, is better than any branded hotel anywhere else I've been in the world. It also has to do with how much competition there is there. Like I was surprised how a courtyard by Marriott is nicer than a lot of the five star hotels in the US when it comes to food quality and pool quality and gym quality.