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Marriott, SPG, and Ritz-Carlton’s rewards programs will merge into one program (but still with three different names) in August. With regards to elite benefits, they’re mostly getting better for Marriott elites, but they’re getting a bit worse for SPG elites. Meanwhile, elites will continue to get no meaningful recognition at Ritz properties (boo). For details about the upcoming program merger, please see our guide: Marriott SPG Ritz Transition Guide.
The following chart shows how your current elite status will change in August. It’s important to note that current status matches between SPG and Marriott will not help. In other words, if you earned SPG Gold status through stays, a credit card, whatever, you can currently match that to Marriott Gold, but you’re August status will still be Gold Elite unless you also earned Marriott Gold directly.
The sweet spot elite status in the new program is Platinum Elite. This will get you the vast majority of the best benefits: 4pm late checkout, 50% point bonus, welcome gift, free breakfast at most properties, and lounge access. And, when you earn 50 elite nights you also get a choice benefit such as 5 suite night awards.
Of course, you might not have the opportunity to actually stay 50 nights at Marriott & SPG properties. But all hope is not lost. There are quite a few shortcuts to status that you can pursue instead…
Two Distinct Shortcut Paths: Elite Nights vs. Other Shortcuts
There are two types of shortcuts to elite status. One type of shortcut offers a way to get elite nights more quickly or easily. Elite night shortcuts are stackable. That is, you can mix and match these shortcuts in order to earn whatever level of status you want. The other shortcuts are not stackable. Each offers a way to get to a specific level of status, but if you want to go for a higher level of status, these generally won’t help.
Elite Night Shortcuts
The following shortcuts are stackable. You can earn elite nights from one or more of these options in order to add them up to the 50 nights you need.
The credit card options are stackable in 2018 only:
- Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card: 15 elite nights. If you have this card, then you either already received 15 elite nights or you’ll get 15 elite nights added to your account upon your card anniversary. If you received an offer to upgrade to the new Marriott Rewards Premier Plus, make sure not to upgrade until after the 15 elite nights post.
- Marriott Rewards Premier Business Card: 15 elite nights. Sign up for this card to get 15 elite nights. If you already have this card, then you either already received 15 elite nights or you’ll get 15 elite nights added to your account upon your card anniversary.
- Big spend on above cards earns elite nights: 1 elite night per $3K spend.
- SPG personal card: 5 elite nights. SPG and Marriott elite nights will combine in August.
- SPG business card: 5 elite nights. SPG and Marriott elite nights will combine in August.
- Host Marriott meeting: 10 elite nights per meeting. Make sure the elite night benefit is listed in your meeting contract.
- SPG: Earn elite night credit for up to 3 rooms at once (until August)
- Book award nights. Marriott hotels are available for as little as 7,500 points per night (6,000 points per night when point saver awards are available). SPG free nights are available for as little as 2,000 Starpoints per night (6,000 Marriott points) on weekends, or 3,000 Starpoints per night (9,000 Marriott points) on weekdays.
- Book 5th night free awards (even if staying 4 nights). Both programs offer 5th night free awards, but until August SPG offers them only for categories 3 and higher. Best deal for mattress running: Book a Marriott category 1 hotel for 5 nights. For 30,000 points, you’ll get 5 elite nights. Note that you do have to check into the hotel to get credit.
Once you earn 50 elite nights this year, your status will be good for the rest of this year, all of the next, and through February of the year after that.
Other Shortcuts
The following shortcuts will get you to a specific elite level, but you can’t stack them with elite nights to get higher status.
- Chase Ritz-Carlton Card (sign up before August): As long as you sign up before August, you’ll get Marriott Gold status which will convert to Platinum Elite status. If you sign up August or later, you’ll only get Gold Elite in the new program (unless you spend $75K). For complete details see: Consider getting the Ritz-Carlton card right now.
- Marriott Status Challenge. UPDATE: A few readers have posted that this is no longer available. YMMV.
If you enroll before August:
- 6 paid stays will give you old Gold / new Platinum Elite
- 9 paid stays will give you old Platinum / new Platinum Elite Premier
(Note that you must have Marriott Gold status to enroll in the 9 stay Platinum challenge)
- SPG 25 stays by December 31 2018 (SPG cards add 2 stays each). Stays must be with Starwood properties.
- SPG Lux Card (spend $75K). The new SPG Luxury card that will premier in August will allow earning Platinum Elite status with $75K spend.
- United Gold elite or higher: Enroll in RewardsPlus before August (but status will only last through Jan 2019). See: United Premier Elites: Sign up for RewardsPlus before August.
- Timeshare Ownership: Both Marriott and Starwood have affiliated timeshare ownership programs, and each offers elite status under certain conditions. In the new program, if your timeshare promises Platinum status, you’ll get Platinum Elite status. For those given Marriott Gold status, you might match up to Platinum Elite in August, but in future years I believe you’ll go back to Gold.
My Take
The easiest option for most is to simply sign up for the Ritz card before August. Done. In my case, I have all four credit cards that offer stackable elite nights in 2018. That means that I’m starting with 40 elite nights and so it will be really easy to reach 50. In fact, I’m interested in going for Platinum Premier Elite 75 night status (see why in this post). The Ritz card won’t help with that unless I get it and spend $75K really fast. I don’t plan to do so. Instead, I’ll earn the extra 25 elite nights through actual stays and maybe a meeting or two.
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If my old Marriott card that has anniversary date in 12/2018, how soon will I get the elite night credit to my Marriott reward account? will it post in 12/2018 or next year in 2019? I got this card in 12/2017 and hasn’t received any elite night credit yet. I need 15 elite night credits to get to platinum for 2018. thanks
It should post in December 2018
So if I get a new Amex Platinum card, I should get the Marriott Gold Elite Status. Do I then need to get 50 nights or 25 nights to get Platinum Elite?
50 nights. Having status from a credit card doesn’t change how many nights you need for the next level
Unless we’re talking about a Ritz Calton card (after meeting their spend requirement of $75,000). In which case, you would need 35 nights (15 nights from using the card) to keep Platinum Elite. I am in same category, looking to get 35 stays. Is this correct?
Yes most Marriott, SPG, and Ritz cards give you 15 nights towards status (but as of 2019 they don’t add up if you have more than one). So, yes, you need 35 more nights to get Platinum status
If i book a meeting room will it count 10 elliete nights every time or once?
So if i need 50 … so 5 meetings?
Under the new post-merger rules it appears that you’ll only get 10 elite nights one time. I’m not sure if it is once per year or once ever.
Hi Greg,
Wish I had read your article when written. I’ll follow more closely from here on.
I have 13 nights with Starwood through their credit cards, AMEX business and person, and stays with another 9 nights between now and the end of October. I believe Marriott is restricting a maximum of 15 EQN after Jan 1, 2019 regardless as to however many Marriott credit cards you may possess. If I apply now for both Marriot Premier Plus and Marriott Business Premier, will I receive 30 EQN for this year? Thanks.
Mike
I might be wrong about this, but I don’t think either card (since they switched to the “Plus” versions) offers 15 elite nights this year. In both cases I think that benefit starts in 2019.
Greg: Per my conv with a customer service rep at SPG, your item above that says “SPG 25 stays by December 31 2018 (SPG cards add 2 stays each). Stays must be with Starwood properties” is not available anymore.
I’m likely going to be short this year by 10 or 15 nights. Any recommendations? Don’t mind signing up for a card.
Unfortunately, you can’t believe everything (anything?) phone reps say. Here is the info from the Marriott merger FAQ: “However, throughout 2018 we will continue to honor Elite achievement via stays at SPG hotels that occur in 2018.”
Found here: https://members.marriott.com/faq/#how-will-my-stays-with-rewards-and-spg-be-counted-toward-my-elite-status-starting-in-august
Hello, i have one question that you might know.
If i managed to get Platinum Elite in 2018, is it possible to maintain this status in following years? If so, how?
Thanks in advance
You need 50 nights per year to maintain status. This post lays out some shortcuts for getting to 50 nights.
Starting next year, you’ll only get 15 nights of elite credit from one credit card (they won’t stack), so you’ll need 35 nights + the 15 credits from one credit card.
I need some advice. I have the Marriott Platinum status after the merge. For 2018, I have the Marriott Rewards Premier card and my 15 elite credit nights have been posted months ago. I only have 36 nights from stay and cc spending so far. I expect to have several more nights accrue for the next few months, but possibly running short of the 50 to stay as Platinum in 2019. wondering if I upgrade to the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus card now, will I get an additional 15 nights for this year? Also, if I stay with the Premier (not upgrading to Premier Plus), will the card continue to get one Elite night credit per $3K spend in 2019? Thanks in advance for your help!
1) No, you won’t get an additional 15 nights for the upgrade.
2) We haven’t yet heard about the elite night credit per $3K spend going away on the personal card. Since they got rid of that benefit on the business card as of August 26th, I could imagine that benefit eventually getting eliminated on the personal version as well. I don’t know whether or not it will last into 2019.
If you haven’t hosted any meetings, you could consider booking a cheap meeting for 10 nights’ credit. Also keep in mind that the 5th night is free on Cat 1 stays now (wasn’t previously the case for SPG properties), so a 5-night Cat 1 stay could be a cheapish way to pick up 5 nights of credit. Also, if you have any free night certificates, those are elite qualifying nights.
Nick, many thanks for your reply!!
Hi Nick, after reading this on Marriott.com, I wonder if the meeting/event spending needs to actualizes to minimum of 10 rooms for 1 night. Excerpt from Marriott FAQ page:
“As a Rewards member, you are qualified to earn points or miles with your signed Group Sales agreement or contract for any social event, meeting or room block that actualizes to at least 10 rooms for one night.”
..
“As a Rewards member, you will earn 10 Elite nights for each group, meeting or event in addition to the points or miles earned for any qualifying charge”.
Your thoughts?
I’m not sure. I know there’s a Flyertalk thread on this and many people have used the benefit over the years. I haven’t as I haven’t chased Marriott status.
Other way to get a quick Platinum Status is via Founderscard, It gives 3 months of Marriott Gold status instant and if you stay 6 paid nights consecutive within 3 months, your gold status gets extended until Feb 2019.
Hi Greg and hi Nick,
No Mas Coach re-advertised yesterday the meeting route with low spend (if one finds the right properties of course), but pushing to meet the “spend” or meeting dates by July 19th to be sure the nights post by Aug 1st. I read on your master thread that the 10 Elite Nights per meeting will continue after Aug 1st. Can you confirm? If so there’s no need to hurry and meet the Meetings “Spend” by July 19th correct?
Thanks!
No hurry unless you need breakfast status soon after the programs merge. Truth be told, we don’t even know the date when the programs combine. No Mas Coach cited August 1st because that’s what Marriott had been saying — but they have since become more coy in referring to when things combine “in August” — i.e. without a set date in August. View from the Wing recently reported that it’s not likely going to be August 1st.
The rush is really just for those who, for example, only have Marriott Gold (free breakfast today) because of a match from SPG. That will remain Gold (no breakfast) whenever the programs merge unless you have 50 nights. So if you’re in that boat and you have a stay planned in mid-August, you’d want to make sure to wrap up your 50 nights before then in case they merge before you check in.
Perfect thanks Nick!
Similar situation. I’ve 46 Marriott (15 from cc, 11 nights stayed, 20 Rewarding Events) plus 11 SPG (10 from cc, 1 night stayed) = 57, which gets me Platinum 50. But will this be combined in time for my fancy Marriott Resort stay August 4-14 where the hotel breakfast is amazing but expensive is anyone’s guess.
Thinking I need to do one more rewarding event to put me at 56 Marriott. Combine that with 11 SPG + 10 more nights from my trip gives me Platinum 75 until end of 2019.
Sigh
That’s a bummer. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
I wonder what will happen to folks who are mid-stay when things convert…
I’m a current SPG Plat but likely won’t requalify for 2019 considering the upcoming change to multiple room credits. SPG and MR account are already linked. If I acquire the Ritz card this month, I understand it gives me automatic MR Gold, but will my currently-matched MR Platinum somehow mess up this maneuver since my current MR status is “higher” than the comped status from the card?
That scenario is hard to predict. I could see it going either way and I think it would be hard for anyone to guarantee one way or the other.
I think since your MR GOld status would be set to expire later, maybe that expiration date would take precendence? Hard to say. I know you’d like a more conrete answer, but I think it’s going to be a leap of faith if you go the route of the Ritz card, and it’s about 50-50. Maybe even 40-60 that it won’t work.
Hmm, thanks for the input. I’m think I’m going to reach out to SPG and see if there’s some way to unlink my accounts and thereby clear my MR status. I don’t have any MR stays in July so seems like that might be the safe option if it works.
Also for having the Amex platinum giving me Marriott gold shouldn’t that give me Marriott Platinum elite in August then instead of doing the challenge?
No, the Amex Platinum card gives you SPG Gold. You only get Marriott Gold through the status match between Marriott and SPG. And when you get status through the match, that doesn’t carry over to the new program. You would have Gold in the new program.
rats, thanks for the replies. looks like getting the ritz carlton card might be the cheapest way to go. I just hope they dont get mixed up with the match from my spg from the amex platinum unless there is a way to drop or split it apart
I have to ask the same since some are saying the Marriott Platinum challenge isn’t working. What if I did the spg platinum challenge which is still available? Would that match give me Marriott Platinum primiere elite?
The SPG Platinum challenge would give you Platinum in the new program. The reason I didn’t mention it in the article is that it isn’t much of a shortcut. IIR, you need 18 paid nights: award nights don’t count and credit card nights don’t count.
Hi Greg:
I need your advice about getting Marriott credit nights to meet required credit night before the end of this year.
You wrote that “…Note that you do have to check into the hotel to get credit…”.
Does it mean I make reservation, my friends will stay. but I will get credit nights?
Or nobody needs to show up/checkin at all and I still get credit nights for the reservation?
Thank you.
It says “you do have to check in”. In other words, “you have to check in”. I think you misread it.
I don’t have a Marriott card only SPG. Would only Business card give 15 nights in 2018, but not Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus?
Correct.
Any idea how long it is taking for Marriott/Ritz status to change to Plat after meeting the 75k spend on Ritz card? I met the spend at the end of April, my statement posted mid May, but so far my status still remains unchanged at the Gold level. Wondering if I should call in, or if it normally takes longer than the 5 weeks that it has now been since statement closed?
I believe the terms state 6-8 weeks, but I’m not sure how long it typically takes.
Greetings, I’m in need of advice. I currently have 660 MR nights and 1,470,000 points and have been a MR gold elite and higher for 7 years and have MR lifetime Silver. I have the MR chase business card and premier card already. I’m trying to come up with a way to get MR Gold or the new Plat for lifetime. I read about a loophole in transferring point to SPG – to wife account – and back again. I currently have 39 stays. Any thoughts on getting lifetime Marriott Platinum. I no longer travel for work and have 900,000 points to spend. Thank You in advance for any guidance you can provide. v/r. Matt
It looks like you have enough nights and almost enough points for lifetime Platinum Elite in the new program. You need to get to 1.6 million points this year, so you only need 130,000 more if I did the math correctly. You can do that by transferring 44K SPG points to your wife and having her move those points to her Marriott account (where they’ll become 132K points) and then call to book an award stay and say that you want to use 132K of your wife’s points towards the award (you can cancel the award later). They’ll move her 132K points to your account first and those will be lifetime qualifying.
More here: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-spg-ritz-transition-guide/#lifetime
Hi Greg, I assume getting Marriott gold in August by Ritz Carlton card is automatic and doesn’t require additional action, correct? Thanks in advance!
Are you thinking of signing up new for the Ritz card, or you already have the card? If new, sign up before August and then you’ll automatically get Marriott Gold which will become new program Platinum Elite
Do closed accounts count? I had the personal SPG but closed it to get the SPG Biz 3 months ago. My SPG account says I have 4 stays YTD & 10 nights YTD, even though I haven’t stayed at an SPG property in 2018. Will all 10 nights count for the August 1?
I also have the Marriott Personal card so that’s 15 more nights + 2 nights (even though Marriott doesn’t list the 15 nights from the CC on my account?
So worst case, I would have 5 nights from SPG, 17 nights from Marriott…best case + 5 more from SPG = 27, so I’d have to stay 23 nights before August 1?
Or just get the Ritz card & avoid that all?
Is that right? I’m nervous about Chase these days but Platinum status doesn’t seem possible for me without this Ritz card….
Thanks in advance for your help
Yes your closed account will work and yes you should get 15 nights from your card as long as you don’t upgrade it before the nights appear.
You said that your SPG account shows 4 stays and 10 nights YTD. Those won’t disappear – they count whether the credit cards are open or closed.
When did you open your Marriott personal account? You get the 15 nights at anniversary. For example, my wife got 15 nights (if I remember correctly) when she opened her account in ~Oct 2017. She therefore won’t get the 15 nights credit for 2018 until her anniversary in ~Oct. If your account isn’t showing the 15 nights, I’m betting your anniversary date hasn’t arrived yet.
So it sounds like you’ll have 27 nights between the 3 credit cards you have and two more nights in hotels. You need credit for 23 more nights. You don’t need 23 nights before August — you need 23 nights by December 31st.
August only matters for those taking a shortcut to status by finding a way to get current (old) Marriott Gold or Platinum so they can get transitioned to something “better” in the new program (I put better in quotation marks because the new Platinum is really just about equal to old Gold). One such shortcut is getting the Ritz card now because that gives you current (old) Gold which will become new Platinum.
For the record, you don’t necessarily need to stay 23 nights. You need to get credit for 23 nights. Holding a meeting at a Marriott can get you 10 nights credit. Spending $3K on your Marriott card can get you 1 night of credit. Using your annual Marriott free night cert will get you a night. Stacking just a few of those things can easily cut the number of nights you need to stay in half. And remember that SPG nights also count (and award nights can be as cheap as 2K points per night..award stays count).
The Ritz card is the path of least resistance, but this post has other options if that one doesn’t appeal to you.
Thanks for your reply. I opened my Marriott personal in 11/16, so yes, I guess my anniversary nights for this won’t happen til November, so I’m thinking the only way for me to get quick status is the Ritz card….just so worried about Chase. I really want to get it though, I think that’s an awesome shortcut.
Marriott Status Challenges are no longer available (may be until after August?)
Literally just tried this afternoon by phone twice, chat once, and email twice.
One of the CSRs said they ended the challenges on June 11.
If anyone has a specific point of contact that will work, I’m all ears.
Yep, I was told the exact same thing last night.
Challenges are currently on hold. I tried to do a platinum challenge yesterday.
Wow, great timing on my part then. Down to 14 shortcuts…
Greg- quick question. Are you saying that status from Marriott Platinum Challenge will map to Platinum Premier in the new program? Is that just during the transition or through all of 2019? What about the the SPG Challenge – will that map to Platinum 50 or Platinum Premier in the new program? Thanks!
Yes it would map to Platinum Premier for all of 2019. The SPG platinum challenge will map to new Platinum Elite (50 nights).
If you sign up for the Ritz before August, do you also have to meet/finish the min spend before August to maintain platinum?
Do we know if the challenge will still be around after August? Probably won’t know that yet I assume…
The Ritz card comes with Gold in year 1, which will convert to Platinum in August. No need to meet a spending requirement.
We don’t know on the challenge. If you sign up for it before August, stays after will count. I assume they will likely continue to offer a challenge.
Actually, maybe I take that back on singing up for a challenge before August as per the comments below this.
Thanks Nick. Sorry, I just realized my question was confusing. I think my question will be too hard to answer as well now that I think about it. I’d like to know if we need to meet/finish the minimum spend before August to get the 2 free nights or if we’re safe if we utilize the full 3 months. I’m guess it’s okay since the certificates will turn into points?
You’ll be fine with waiting the full 3 months.
We don’t yet know for sure what will happen to the certificates. We think the certificates will still be certificates, they’ll just be valid at more properties (in fact, at all properties in the Ritz/Marriott/SPG porfolio if we’re right). I’d put the chance of them becoming points at about 20% — but if they do, that’s an even better outcome since you can then enjoy greater flexibility.
See this post for more:
https://frequentmiler.com/2018/06/04/consider-getting-the-ritz-carlton-card-right-now/
Is anyone else considering this card to get United silver status for $150? Seems like a decent deal.
You would have to complete $75k spend on the Ritz card before August to get United Silver
Why? I just need Platinum elite status, which I should get just by signing up for the card. What am I missing?
When the programs merge in August, you’ll need Platinum Premier status to get United Silver: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-spg-ritz-transition-guide/#uniteddelta
Glad I asked! As usual you’re on it. Thanks, Greg!
If my “1st” anniversary for my Marriott business credit card is in Sept will I get 15 night credits to use towards the new platinum, or does it need to post before August 1st?
You’ll get the 15 nights for this year.
How long is the ritz before Aug plat elite good for? 1 year? Then following year I’d have to spend 75k to get it again?
If you sign up for the Ritz this year before August, your Plat status will be good through Feb 2020
Got it, thanks. After that…to get the platinum elite status again I would need to spend 75K on the ritz card?
Correct.
I better pay some taxes with that card then….well, if I ever get it. 🙁
PS. I did sign up for it, after reading your article. However, I JUST passed my 5/24 anniversary! YAY!!! So I signed up for the CSR first and was approved instantly! Woot!! Waited 2 freaking years for this card…only you people know my pain. Applied for the Ritz an hour later and got the, we need to think more about this window. Just got the letter in the mail that tells me that I was denied because “you already have the maxi amt of credit we can offer you” and “your current amount of credit is enough in relation to your income”. I called the reconsideration line. The woman was extremely curt and not nice. She gave one line answers and wouldn’t elaborate when asked and kept just repeating herself. I asked if I coudl move some of the 34K credit limit they gave me on the reserve and said “no, they are not moving credit at this time”. I tried to inquire, saying that I though that was possible and she condescendinly said “things change all the time”. Then she proceeded to tell me that I was over 5/24. Which I know I am NOT. UGH. I just also realized that I thought the Ritz was not under the 5/24 rule? However, that is why she said I couldn’t have it. First, she touted the max credit, when asked to move some over, she said they don’t do that, then she said that I’m over 5/24.
I know you didn’t ask for advice, but a general tip: if someone is curt and clearly has his/her mind made up, you’re extremely unlikely to persuade them. If I can tell someone is in no mood to help, I politely thank them, hang up, and call again. The Ritz card isn’t governed by 5/24 and I’ve not heard any reports of people not being able to move credit. When you know the rep is wrong, you’re probably not going to get them admit that — so it’s time to call and speak with a different rep. I used to know a guy who would know whether or not he was going to hang up and try again on the rep’s first sentence — he’d just judge the tone of their voice and either continue the call or come up with a reason to hang up and call again.
All that said, beware that Chase has been more aggressively shutting down accounts lately. While applying for 2 accounts in one day is still theoretically possible, I personally don’t think I’d do it right now. So I wouldn’t necessarily have them on redial too many times….but it’s probably worth one more call to speak with someone else.
I totally welcome your advice. I think I read somewhere after the fact of applying about probably not a good time to apply for 2 in 1 day…but alas, I had already done it. It was your article! I need that card! Hahaha! Back to your advice, I hear what you are saying. I sometimes will call a 2nd time with retention bonuses. I’ve never really gotten denied for a card before, so this took me off guard. Would you actually say goodbye to the person or just hang up the line? I wasn’t sure if they are recording the calls and the 2nd rep might have access to my first call? How long in between do you think I should wait to call again? Yeah, she was so persistent that they don’t move credit around and that I was over 5/24. I could feel her disdain through the phone. I read all the blogs about strategy and keeping your cool, but when it’s you on the phone, and you know the person is feeding you BS, it kinda goes out the window! I couldn’t believe she wouldn’t move the credit line. Thanks again for your blog, it is one of my faves!
Chase takes good notes. No sense in giving someone in a bad mood motivation to write about the fact that you hung up on them. Politely thank them for their time, hang up, grab a glass of water, and call again. If you make two calls in one day and get nowhere, you might give it a day or two and then try one more time. If they tell you know 3 times, I think it’s unlikely you’ll get the approval — though I do know some people will try a few more times.
The key is not to take it personally. The person you’re speaking with doesn’t know YOU personally. They are looking at some data and trying to make good decisions. And everyone has bad days. If I know someone isn’t planning to give me a yes and/or doesn’t sound like they want to be helpful, I won’t beat my head against the wall when I know there is a call center full of people waiting for me to call back.
You mention grab a glass of water, but I feel a glass of bourbon also works great when trying to call reps 🙂
UPDATE!!! I went to call Chase reconsideration line again. I realized the 1st time I called Chase, not the JP Morgan line, which I should have called for this Ritz. I got a very nice man who discussed it with me. I told him I was willing to move some of my CSR liimit over and reminded him that my credit score was 826! He reviewed my income….put me on a long hold. Then came back and asked me about a previous delinquiency in my credit it is over 18 years old!!! Wow, you were right, they are thorough and take good notes. I was honest about why that had happened before in my past and explained that I learned my lesson and will never let something like that happen again. He put me on hold again for a long time. Came back, told me, that he DOES want to approve me, but I will need to go through another review. He asked how much I wanted to transfer over of the credit limit. Put me on hold again! Waited, he came back and told me that I was approved! YAY!! Call took total of 24 minutes. Now, the proud owner of the Ritz card! He never even said anything about 5/24 at all, nor did I mention it either. Thanks for your help.
Congrats!
What happens to the 2 free nights on the Chase Ritz card? Will they stay as Cat 1-4 Ritz nights or do they get converted to (60K??) points/night? Also, what bonus does one get if the signup is before August but the minimum spend is completed after August?
See this post:
https://frequentmiler.com/2018/06/04/consider-getting-the-ritz-carlton-card-right-now/
“But Marriott has asserted that free night certificates earned before the August merger will be converted into their point equivalents.”
—
So the $4K spend bonus has to post to your account before July 31.
I don’t think so. If you sign up today, it says you get 2 free night certificates valid at a Tier 1-4 Ritz if you spend $4k in the first 90 days. Whether you finish that spend on day 30 or day 88, I’d expect you to get 2 certificates.
My expectation is that you’ll get whatever Marriott converts these certs to in the new program whether you finish the spend before or after July 31st.
To me, it’s no different than when the signup bonus on an airline card drops from 50,000 miles to 30,000 miles. If you signed up during the 50K miles offer, it doesn’t matter if the offer changes before you complete the spend — you still get the offer you signed up for.
In this case, based on what Marriott has told us, we expect the certificates to maintain their value. Today, the certs can be used at properties that cost up to 60K points (Tier 4 Ritz properties are the highest where you can use the certs and those properties charge 60K per night). We expect that these 2 certificates will therefore still be valid at properties that charge up to 60K when the new program launches — and no longer be . In the new program, that’s the top tier from August until at least the end of this year. So we therefore expect that the certs will be valid anywhere. Many properties fom SPG and from Ritz Tier 5 will be dropping in cost (as they today cost more than 60K Marriott points), so this could be a fantastic deal as the certs should no longer be limited to Ritz properties.
If the signup bonus on the Ritz card changes in August, I don’t think that will change the value of the offer you signed up for. That is to say that I don’t think someone who signs up today and completes the spend on September 3rd will get something different than one who signs up today and completes the spend on July 22nd.
Thanks for a very detailed and complete explanation.
I’m actually hoping to use the certs, assuming they will convert into 120K points, on a Tier 5 property (with additional points as needed with existing Marriott point balances). The 1-4 limitation is quite annoying.
Hello Greg,
Just double check are you absolute sure the Plat status will last until Feb 2020? i sign up for the Ritz card back in 2017 and now my status after the merge show as Plat but I though it only last until Feb 2019? is there any source I can check on this? thank you!
Did you spend $10K on the card in your most recent card membership year and before August 18th? If so, you should have renewed Gold status before the merger and that means Platinum status until Feb 2020. If you didn’t spend $10K or more then I expect your status will drop to Gold on March 1 2019
A question: If enrolled in the platinum challenge before August, but complete the challenge after August, what elite status will be? Platinum or Platinum Premier?
I believe it will be Platinum Premier
Many thanks!
I have Marriott Gold via my AmEx Platinum card. Will that Gold status convert to Platinum Elite come August 1st? ( I also have 45 nights this year via both Marriott cards, both SPG cards and a few nights actually stayed).
If I understand correctly from previous readings, you will remain as Gold. Only signing up for the Ritz card will convert the Gold to Platinum status.
Amex Plat gives you SPG Gold so you would have Gold in August. But you’ll be really close to Platinum thanks to your 45 nights. You just need to scoop up 5 more nights somehow!
Just to verify, the Marriott business card still offers 15 elite night credits for this year? If so Greg, any idea if that offer will end in August?
Correct. The signup offer probably will end in late July since Marriott is coming out with a new version of the card.
For new sign ups, it states that the 15 elite nights are on card anniversary. I signed up in December and do not see any additional elite nights on my account:
“With your Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you earn 15 credits toward Elite Status annually, after your account anniversary, qualifying you for Elite Status7 (Silver Benefits) each year.”
Your elite nights probably posted in December and so you can’t see them anymore since it’s a new elite year.
MR gave me an elite night as a birthday gift. Maybe you can watch for that 🙂
Nice! 16th shortcut: wait for birthday gift elite night then change the birthday on your profile forward a week. Repeat.
🙂
Do the 7 nights from hotel +air packages count towards elite status??
Yes-ish. When you purchase the travel package, you get miles plus a 7 night certificate. You’ll get the 7 nights towards elite status once you actually use the 7 night certificate and stay the 7 nights.
How about just not staying at these properties and getting free breakfast at Hilton as a gold in many different ways instead of sometimes in getting it at Marriott?
I’d just pay for breakfast versus any of these.
Better yet, as you know , I should skip breakfast,. So, carry on and ignore me
Will Aug 1- Dec 31st stays count toward this total?
I have 23 with Marriott (CC + 8 nights) plus 11 with SPG (CCx2 + 1 night) = 34 total. Then I have 11 more Marriott nights planned in August, which brings me to 45 if they count. It would then be worth redirecting my stays or even a mattress run at that point.
My attempts to book a meeting have so far been unsuccessful…none of the Marriott sales folks seem to know what I’m talking about.
Yes, elite nights earned through Dec 31 count
I am so confused over combining nights between SPG and Marriott yet it keeps being said that there is no status match, that we have to earn Marriott status separately. So do we have to stay/earn 50 nights at Marriott AND 50 nights at SPG? My situation is similar to Christine B’s except I planned to stay at some SPG hotels to get a total of 50 nights so I could get Platinum elite in August. What am I misunderstanding?
Your nights from both programs will be combined in August. If you do 50 nights total this year between SPG and Marriott, you’ll be Marriott Platinum.
The status match is if you just have SPG Gold status right now (which only requires 10 SPG stays), you will only have Gold in the new program.
The confusion comes because of the names. SPG Gold requires 10 stays. Platinum requires 25 stays (or more nights).
Marriott right now has Gold which requires 50 nights and Platinum which requires 75 nights.
In August, Marriott is re-naming things. 50-night status (currently called “Gold” in the Marriott program) will be called Platinum. 75-night status (currently called “Platinum”) will be called “Platinum Elite”. So today’s “Marriott Gold” members will change their name to “Marriott Platinum”. People who have earned that status from 50 nights (or from the Ritz credit card) will have get Platinum (50-night) status in the new program (keeping their benefits).
If you have SPG Gold right now (10 stays), you can match that to Marriott Gold right now. That’s a pretty good deal — since Marriott Gold normally requires 50 nights, that status has good benefits (like free breakfast/lounge access — stuff you don’t get in SPG). However, if that’s how you got your Marriott status (by matching to SPG 10-stay Gold status), you aren’t getting “Platinum” in the new program — you’re getting Gold.
However, if you reach 50 nights (combining all of your nights from both Marriott and SPG) this year, you will have Marriott Platinum (50-night) status.
Does that help?
Yes, it helps a lot! Thank you so much!
From the t&c of the Marriott Rewards Premier Business card, “You will automatically receive Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year as a cardmember,” it seems that the card is not giving 15 EQN but rather an outright silver status. If applying for the card now, can anyone confirm that the new cardholders can still receive the 15 EQN?
Yes, it has been confirmed that the card still offers 15 nights. I don’t know why they hide that fact
And it seems that they don’t publish the benefit of each 3k of spending earns 1 EQN anymore either.
It’s still there, though
Hi Greg,
I’m still confused. In your credit card listing, it says “Noteworthy perks: 15 night credit towards elite status every year upon account anniversary”
Do you get 15 night credit when you get the card, or next year at account anniversary?
I would get the card now if I would get 15 night credit for this year. Otherwise, I already have the starwood card.
Yes, you get 15 nights upon signup too. Sorry about the poor wording.
So the Marriott Status Challenge requires 6 paid stays to get Gold. That really means paid stays, right? Award/points stays don’t count?
Yes, you have to book cash stays (not points) with Marriott
I have a Category 1 Marriott five minutes from my house. It offers $45 plus 3K points stays. Would these count?
No, I don’t think so, but you can ask Marriott Rewards if/when you sign up for the challenge