Several hotel loyalty programs offer lifetime status for those who have been exceptionally loyal over the years — in separate posts I’ve written about the programs offered by Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt.
In this post I wanted to take a closer look at how you can earn lifetime status in the Marriott Bonvoy program. The good news is that this is probably the easiest lifetime hotel status you can earn.
In this post:
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy lifetime status
Marriott Bonvoy has a pretty robust lifetime status program, in the sense that you can earn either lifetime Silver, Gold, or Platinum status.
Below I’ll talk about the qualification requirements for each status, which is based on a combination of a certain number of elite nights plus a certain number of years of elite status.
Lifetime Marriott Silver status
In order to receive lifetime Marriott Silver status you need to earn both of the following:
- 250 lifetime elite nights
- Five years of elite status
Marriott Silver status ordinarily requires earning at least 10 elite nights per year. Marriott Silver status offers basic perks like 10% bonus points and priority late check-out.
Lifetime Marriott Gold status
In order to receive lifetime Marriott Gold status you need to earn both of the following:
- 400 lifetime elite nights
- Seven years of elite status (minimum Gold status)
Marriott Gold status ordinarily requires earning at least 25 elite nights per year. Marriott Gold status offers perks like 25% bonus points, enhanced room upgrades, priority late check-out, a welcome gift of points, premium Wi-Fi, and more.
Lifetime Marriott Platinum status
In order to receive lifetime Marriott Platinum status you need to earn both of the following:
- 600 lifetime elite nights
- 10 years of elite status (minimum Platinum status)
Marriott Platinum status ordinarily requires earning at least 50 elite nights per year. Marriott Platinum status is where perks really start to get valuable, as it offers benefits like 50% bonus points, suite upgrades, 4PM late check-out, complimentary breakfast and/or lounge access at most brands, and more.
Marriott Bonvoy lifetime status FAQs
Perhaps it’s best to explain some of the other nuances of lifetime Marriott status in the form of some frequently asked questions.
Is there a way to earn lifetime Marriott Titanium status?
Unfortunately not anymore. When Marriott and Starwood introduced a unified loyalty program in 2018, the company offered lifetime Titanium status to those with 750 elite nights plus 10 years of Platinum status between the Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest programs.
This was offered as a one-time courtesy, but unfortunately isn’t offered on an ongoing basis. On top of that, just to be thorough, I’ll mention that there’s no way to earn lifetime Ambassador status.
Do you earn Choice Benefits with lifetime Marriott Platinum status?
Marriott has the Choice Benefits program, whereby you can select certain perks when passing 50 and 75 elite nights each year (these perks include suite night awards). Note that lifetime members don’t get to select these unless they would otherwise earn 50 or 75 elite nights in a year.
Do you get elite nights that correspond to your lifetime status?
I hinted at this above, but I get this question often, so I think it’s worth addressing. If you have lifetime Platinum status, for example, does that mean you get 50 elite nights posted to your account annually, and only need 25 more elite nights to earn Titanium status?
Nope, unfortunately not. Lifetime status gives you a certain status tier, but you get no elite qualifying nights to go along with that. So if you want to earn a higher status tier, you’ll have to qualify by whatever the criteria is for that.
How can you see your progress toward lifetime Marriott status?
It’s very easy to track your progress toward lifetime Marriott status. Both Marriott’s website and mobile app show you your elite nights and number of years of elite status once you log into your Bonvoy account.
Do Marriott credit card nights count toward lifetime status?
Marriott’s co-branded credit cards can indeed help you toward earning lifetime Marriott status:
- You can earn up to 40 elite nights per year with Marriott credit cards, and those count toward the lifetime status nights requirement; for example, I have the combination of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review) and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review), and together they earn me 40 elite nights per year (15 from the Bonvoy Business card and 25 from the Bonvoy Brilliant card)
- If you earn status with Marriott entirely or partially through a credit card, that would still count toward the requirement for number of years needed for status; for example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers Platinum status for as long as you’re a cardmember, so each year you have the card would count as a further year toward lifetime Platinum
How soon does Marriott lifetime status post?
When you pass the threshold to earn lifetime elite status, how long does it take for your lifetime status to post to your account? It’s usually pretty quick, but it depends on your qualification method:
- If you were waiting to earn enough elite nights for lifetime status, you can expect lifetime status to post within days of the elite nights posting to your account
- If you were waiting to earn enough years of elite status for lifetime status, you can expect that your account will update in January to reflect the additional year of elite status
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy has the most achievable lifetime status of any major hotel loyalty program. Not only can you earn three different tiers of lifetime status, but elite nights and status earned through credit cards also count toward this requirement.
Most loyal Marriott guests should have no trouble achieving lifetime elite status over time with a bit of effort, especially when using Marriott’s co-branded credit cards. Lifetime status with Marriott is much easier to earn than with Hilton or Hyatt, for example.
What do you make of Marriott Bonvoy’s lifetime status program? Are there any questions about this you have that aren’t answered above?
I am Lifetime Platinum and recall I was asked if I wanted to add my spouse as a +1. Tonight I was told that was only for a year, and you do not get an added guest on your Lifetime Platinum account, am I crazy and mis-remembering or was there not a benefit of being able to add one person to your status?
If you get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card in July of 2024, will that get you Platinum Status for 2024 and again in 2025 if you were to hold the Card for only 12 months? If so, does that meet 2 years towards Lifetime Platinum Status?
Lucky me, I have the lifetime Titanium status, award originally from Marriott in 2004...
I’m currently Titanium this year with 9 years as platinum and above. If I qualify this year I will be LTP (over 600 nights).
I’m told that if I don’t qualify as platinum (or above) for next year, then I will get platinum (one grade down from my current Titanium status) which would get me the LTP.
These years were all on my own dime and none of it was business expensed but honestly, marriott...
I’m currently Titanium this year with 9 years as platinum and above. If I qualify this year I will be LTP (over 600 nights).
I’m told that if I don’t qualify as platinum (or above) for next year, then I will get platinum (one grade down from my current Titanium status) which would get me the LTP.
These years were all on my own dime and none of it was business expensed but honestly, marriott sucks on virtually every level to the point I’m just thinking why bother (if I HAVE to requalify)
Their pricing is crap here in Bali compared to regular boutique hotels that honestly offer more consistent and better service. Many of these hotels are family owned so they actually CARE about the service they provide.
Marriott hotels in Asia generally offer good to great status recognition but the prices are through the roof compared to other places and do not justify the increased spending.
In 2019 I stayed at a 3 star fairfield here for <30usd/night, the same hotel which is rundown and dirty is now charging ~80-100+ per night.
What?
Anyone with experince being downgraded to Platinum for not qualifying ? I really doubt I want to give this company another dime
I'm happy with receiving a late checkout and complimentary breakfast (outside the US) from Lifetime Platinum. I expect nothing else. Any other benefits are an illusion. Don't believe me. Just review all of the article comments from Ambassadors and Titaniums over the years. Don't (stinkin') kid yourself.
PS - I have a two-day stay on Monday. I get an email from the property offering a PAID upgrade. So, you're saying that there IS an upgrade room available? And, you're not willing to upgrade me due to my tier status? And, you want me to PAY for it? On second thought, how about if you just cancel my reservation?
Just hit LT platinum! Feels good. Bummed I won’t get choice benefits each year but the Platinum perks are pretty nice. Frees me up now to stay at other hotels if I choose!
I am a LT Titanium.
Marriott Bonvoy Program does not:
-Code Lifetime (LT) codes for hotels. Hotels only see a designated elite level : G; P; T; A
-Have a code for LT (G/P/T) & Ambassador.
-Allow hotels to prioritize upgrades for LT elites in the same elite level. Example LT Plat vs Plat.
-Have a LT name or two infinity logo in the digital card in the app. It’s only...
I am a LT Titanium.
Marriott Bonvoy Program does not:
-Code Lifetime (LT) codes for hotels. Hotels only see a designated elite level : G; P; T; A
-Have a code for LT (G/P/T) & Ambassador.
-Allow hotels to prioritize upgrades for LT elites in the same elite level. Example LT Plat vs Plat.
-Have a LT name or two infinity logo in the digital card in the app. It’s only viewable on the account detail page.
Too many SNAs denied in 2023. Too many complimentary upgrades denied on award bookings. Too many errors in folios. F&B welcome amenity choices at $10 are worthless.
I'm also LTT. Everything you note and more (e.g., Ambassador program was ruined) are the reasons I moved to Hyatt, which is far more of a consumer centric not a customer (i.e., hotel) centric program just like SPG used to be.
Lifetime Titanium was offered as a courtesy to SPG members. The requirements for Lifetime Titanium which was just Lifetime Platinum in the old Marriott program was a published benefit.
@Jack
As a former SPG Plat, I and many others requested Marriott grandfather us to LT Titanium. The requirements for SPG lifetime (greater than Marriott) were based on paid nights. Unlike Marriott that handed out LT status that included credit card spend and award nights.
Even after LT Titanium, I had one year of earning Ambassador and decided to never aspire for that again,
Ben - reads that you are then paying $775 in annual card fees for 2 free Marriott nights & 5 Suite Night Awards with 10+ nights (with your LTP)?
@ Pam -- I'd subtract $300 from that amount. The Bonvoy Brilliant offers up to $300 in restaurant credits annually, in the form of a $25 monthly credit. I reload my Starbucks account with $25 on the first of every month with the card, and that's good as cash to me.
Ben - You owe your better coffee than Starbucks :-)