Marriott Bonvoy is the world’s largest hotel loyalty program, and lots of people have elite status with the company. I’ll often have newly minted Platinum members and above ask me what they can realistically expect in terms of upgrades. Do suite upgrades happen, how are they assigned, and are you supposed to ask about them at check-in? I figure this is a topic worth covering here, and I certainly welcome the takes of others.
In this post:
Marriott Bonvoy’s elite suite upgrade policy
While Marriott Bonvoy has five elite tiers, status really starts to get valuable with the Platinum tier and above. For what it’s worth, Platinum status requires 50 elite nights per year, Titanium status requires 75 elite nights per year, and Ambassador status requires 100 elite nights and $23,000 of qualifying spending per year.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that Marriott offers Platinum status with its most premium credit card. Those with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) receive Platinum status for as long as they have the card.
On paper, the three elite tiers more or less have the same upgrade benefit. Here’s how Marriott Bonvoy describes the Platinum and above upgrade benefit:
Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade, subject to availability upon arrival, for the entire length of stay. Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors.
It’s worth noting that Marriott updated its terms & conditions in May 2025, and previously, the terms were more generous, and stated the following:
Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade to the best available room, subject to availability upon arrival, for the entire length of stay. Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors.
Let me emphasize a few of the important terms of the current upgrade policy:
- Platinum members and above receive a complimentary upgrade, subject to availability upon arrival, for the entire length of the stay
- Complimentary upgrades could include suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, or rooms on executive floors
- While the old terms promised the best available upgrade, the current terms simply promise an upgrade, and it doesn’t have to be the best one that’s available
- Enhanced room upgrades are subject to availability and are identified by each participating property
- The complimentary enhanced room upgrade for Platinum members and above is available at all participating brands, except at StudioRes, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, The Phoenician Residences Scottsdale, and Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Note that this complimentary upgrade benefit is separate from the Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs) that can be selected as part of the Choice Benefits program. These allow you to lock in upgrades starting three to five days before a stay.
How Marriott hotels approach elite upgrades
I don’t envy the situation that individual Marriott hotels are in when it comes to offering room upgrades. The challenge is that Marriott has seen a massive inflation in elite members, and many properties have a disproportionate number of elite members competing for a limited number of suite upgrades.
In many ways, there are parallels between airlines and hotels when it comes to elite status. In the US, many airlines also offer unlimited complimentary first class upgrades. The issue is that airlines sell a vast majority of first class seats, so you have a large number of people competing for a limited number of upgrades.
I think the major difference between airlines and hotels is that the former are incredibly transparent about upgrades — on the day of departure, airline apps will show you how many first class seats are remaining, along with the upgrade priority list. The issue with hotels is that there’s a lot less transparency.
Elite members will check-in at hotels and see a bunch of upgraded rooms (including standard suites) available for sale, only to be told that they’re not available. It’s understandable to be skeptical of whether hotels are doing their best to deliver on the promised benefits.
The way I view it, Marriott properties generally fall into one of three categories when it comes to upgrades:
- On one end of spectrum, some Marriott properties genuinely do their best with proactively upgrading elite members; that’s not to say that everyone will get upgraded, but they try do to their best to act within the spirit of the program, and fill all possible rooms that could be used for upgrades
- On the other end of the spectrum, some Marriott properties almost seem to have a disdain for elite members and will do everything in their power to avoid providing upgrades; they want to be part of Marriott for the distribution power, but they don’t actually want to provide the perks that make people loyal to the brand
- Many properties are somewhere in the middle; they’ll sort of try to upgrade members, but perhaps not to the best possible rooms, or sometimes only if people ask
As you’d expect, your experience will also differ greatly based on where in the world you are. Generally speaking, the United States is where you’ll find the most elite members, and the hotels that care the least. That’s not a great combo. Meanwhile the further from the United States you get, and the more off the beaten track you go, the better the odds of a hotel trying a bit harder.
I think it’s worth emphasizing that there are some hotels that try really hard, but where a vast majority of elite guests may still be disappointed by their upgrades. It’s not unheard of to have well over 100 Platinum members staying at a hotel at once, and there’s only so much the property can do.
How Marriott elites should approach suite upgrades
What’s the right approach for Marriott Bonvoy elite members to take when it comes to upgrades? Should you just expect that you’ll automatically be upgraded to the best possible room, should you reach out to a hotel in advance, should you ask about an upgrade at check-in, or what?
I don’t think there’s a right or wrong approach, but let me share my view on things, and what I consider when booking, prior to my stay, and at check-in. And I of course welcome OMAAT readers to share how they approach things.
First of all, when booking a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, there are several things I’ll consider. I’ll generally look at the room types, to see how many potential standard suites there are. You can often search online to see the ratio of guest rooms to suites, so obviously properties with more suites give you better odds of an upgrade.
I’ll also look at reviews of the property, plus threads about a hotel on FlyerTalk, to get a general sense of how the hotel does with elite recognition. Some hotels are known for being generous with elite members, while others aren’t, and I’ll generally try to avoid the latter.
Prior to checking into a hotel, I check the Marriott app to see what kind of a room I’ve been blocked into. Hotels will often block elite members into certain rooms either the night before arrival, or sometimes even earlier than that (Marriott even has a new AI tool that helps front desk agents assign rooms). That room assignment isn’t “final” and is always subject to change, but it’s good to get a general sense of what you might be able to expect. Hotels that block elite members in upgraded rooms in advance are also generally trying harder.
I should note that some people will message the hotel through the Marriott Bonvoy app before arriving to ask about the possibility of an upgrade. I’ve seen plenty of people report success with this, but it’s not something I personally typically do. Hotels are under no obligation to provide upgrades in advance, as the benefit is that you’re upgraded to the best available room at check-in.
Then typically shortly before checking into a hotel, I’ll go to Marriott’s app and see what kind of premium rooms are still for sale, and how many of them are for sale. That helps with getting a sense of what an upgrade may include.
When checking in, ideally the front desk agent will thank you for your elite status, and/or mention if you’ve been upgraded:
- If there’s no mention of an upgrade, I’ll typically ask “do you have any [elite tier] upgrades available, by chance?”
- If they indicate that they’ve already upgraded me, but it’s not a great upgrade, I’ll sometimes say “do you maybe have any suite upgrades available, because I see there are still quite a few suites available for sale for the duration of my stay?”
Nowadays I don’t typically “argue” beyond that, and won’t escalate further. That’s because I recognize that even if they do have suites available for sale, it’s possible that other elite members have been blocked into them. After all, there’s still a pecking order for upgrades among elite members. Furthermore, with how Marriott has updated its terms, the company doesn’t actually promise suite upgrades subject to availability anymore.
In the United States, I generally don’t expect much in the way of upgrades. Meanwhile outside of the United States I often have decent luck, or at least find that hotels are trying their best to honor upgrades as much as possible.
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above are entitled to an upgrade at check-in, and that could include a suite. However, the benefit isn’t technically as generous as it used to be — Marriott used to promise the best available room, including suites, but now it just promises some sort of an upgrade. In practice, the current policy is probably a better way of managing expectations.
The challenge is that not all hotels act within the spirit of the program. Furthermore, even the hotels that do act within the spirit of the program struggle, given the number of people with elite status.
To Marriott Platinum members and above, what approach do you take toward upgrades?
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.
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.
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
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...
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.
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.
TL;DR - The answer is "no"
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...
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.“
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.
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 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.
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.
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?
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...
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.
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 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.
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.
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...)