Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is happening now! Follow us as Greg, Nick, and Stephen compete to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines before November 23rd. Who will complete the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
While its unclear who proposed, you’ve probably heard by now that United Airlines and Marriott got married, and their new union is named RewardsPlus. Plenty of other bloggers have already shared the details. Here are a few such posts:
- United and Marriott Offer New Reciprocal Benefits – RewardsPlus Gives United Gold Elites Marriott Gold!
- United Announces RewardsPlus
- United and Marriott Team Up to Launch RewardsPlus Partnership
Two benefits of the new relationship stand out to me:
- United elite members (Premier Gold or higher) receive complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status. Register here.
- Marriott Platinum elite members receive complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status. Register here.
The interesting thing about these benefits is that they are really only useful under certain circumstances…
When free Marriott Gold status is useful
For this benefit to be useful, you’d have to meet the following conditions:
- You have United Gold status or higher (or will get there before United and Marriott divorce)
- You do not have Marriott or Ritz Carlton Gold status or higher
- You will stay at Marriott or Ritz Carlton properties and benefit from the perks (e.g. free internet, free breakfast at most properties, etc.), or use the status to status match to another chain.
I don’t meet either of the first two above conditions. I currently have no status with United, but I do have Platinum status with Marriott.
When free United Silver status is useful
For this benefit to be useful, you’d have to meet the following conditions:
- You have Marriott Platinum or Platinum Premier elite status
- You do not have status with United
- You can make use of United Silver status perks
Bingo! I fit all three! I fly out of the Detroit airport which is a Delta hub with relatively few Star Alliance flights. As a result, it doesn’t make sense for me to spend much time or money pursuing United elite status. On the other hand, I have oodles of United miles, so I do occasionally fly United. In those circumstances, Silver status will be a boon. I’ll be able to take advantage of the following benefits:
- Reduced change fees
- Reduced close-in award ticketing fees
- For coach awards:
- Access to Economy Plus seating at check-in
- Complementary Premier upgrades (probably won’t happen, but you never know)
- Premier Access lines at the airport
- Free checked bag
I can’t say that I’ll use any of these benefits often, but I’m very glad to have them for free!
One little hitch
My only problem right now is that United knows me as “Gregory” whereas Marriott thinks of me more as “Greg”. Until I can get the two to agree on a single name for me, they’ll refuse to offer me their promised wedding gift. I’ve sent a copy of my passport to Marriott to try to clear things up. Now, I wait.
How about you?
Are any of the new benefits meaningful to you?
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
while I’d get gold with marriott due to UA Gold status, I hardly stay at marriott as it doesn’t give me much bang for the buck. My UR points are more valuable with united or hyatt not marriott.
If the marriott card offer 5 points per $ like club carlson then I’d consider this program. I like their promotions so I’d stay at cheap marriotts to rack up promotion nights when a better option with hyatt or club carlson or priority club wasn’t available.
I’m a Marriott plat. It was under 24 hours for silver. I have booked last minute awards on united so I will benefit from reduced fees. Nice to have some of the silver bennies, but the explorer card already Gabe me some of those.
No upgrades on award flights unless you’re also carrying one of the CCs.
[…] (Hat Tip to Frequent Miler for the idea.) […]
Thank you FM for the blog & thank you Marriott/UA for the free United Silver status due to my Marriott Platinum status … very painless!
Wish it was a United/Hyatt partnership, but I can make due with Marriott Gold. Have a feeling we will be hearing of an AA/Hilton relationship soon enough due to the shared Citi relationship.
Thanks for will waiting for tomorrow’s post.
BTW, both I & my wife recently did AOR and applied through your links.
I have Marriott Platinum Premier. I dont fly much, but when I do, I will fly United now because of my lowly Silver status. I already had a chance to upgrade my window/middle seats to complimentary economy plus aisle. Its a win for me. I will ask if there are any upgrades day of at checkin for hopefully business class LOL
Sign up for the Platinum challenge, then status match with United. Unfortunately that is a trick I couldn’t pull off, as Marriott would only give me the gold challenge.
Pretty pleased to have already gotten the free United Silver status as a result of Marriott Platinum status. Showed up faster than I expected. Hope yours comes through sooner rather than later!
Maybe u can go to megaDo 5, get marriot statis, and then get united silver.
Read that status matches are not eligible to receive these benefits, maybe after you successfully complete one or the other (?). I guess maybe stay tuned….
I am pissed off when my hard-earned Marriott Gold gives me nothing.
Just for FYI….It took less than 24hrs after I registered for UA Silver for it to show on my account. A+
Should I match status to Marriott? and request a United silver