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I have an opportunity to do some cheap mattress runs (need to decide by tomorrow!). Will cost me £350 to get Titanium this year. With the double nights + 1,000pts, will roughly get 25% back in points so net cost is £260.
Also will choose the 5 nights at 50 and 40k cert at 75 if I do go down this route. Does mean I effectively trade 5SNA for 40k cert (difference in value maybe £100). Further knocks down net cost is £160.
In terms of nights I value, probably 15-20 until end 2025 (expiry of Titanium). So it’s around £10/night to be titanium over platinum.
Upside is potentially better upgrades and higher earning rate. Potential for soft landing to Platinum in 2026 but likely maintain Plat anyway.
I’m talking myself into this but am I just unnecessarily burning cash away? Is titanium worth it?
The 40k free night is worth having (£200 at Rob’s 0.5p/point valuation). Is Star Alliance silver worth anything to you? The extra bonus points on stays are worth having. You might get slightly better upgrades being Titanium, but that’s more affected by where you are (ie not in the USA!) than your tier I think.
The soft landing would make it worthwhile if you wouldn’t organically renew Platinum if it could be relied on – but they’ve announced it after the end of the year, so it isn’t much use.
Yes absolutely it increases your chances of good upgrades at hotels. If you normally stay 30+ nights a year and at premium/luxury hotels then it would be worth every penny.
However, why would you choose 40k FNA over the 5 NUA’s??
Probably closer to 15 nights of higher end hotels where it counts. Historically been getting decent upgrades and the 40k cert is a bit more cash in hand feeling.
Still on the fence on this…
If you are that close- it is definitely worth it. If you value an upgrade, it will get you a few worth more than that, especially, as Matt says, if you travel to places other than the US.
As TGLoyalty implies though, I think the NUA are worth more than the FNA, if you can use them!
The NUA are of very variable value, depending on how much you stay, which type of hotel you stay in, and which country/continent you stay in. That value can range from £0 – people unable to use them (mostly Americans I suspect) through to £many, if you place a high value on a (chance of a) suite. The FNA on the other hand has a value definitely >0, and possibly >£200 if used well.
We don’t book suites normally, and while it’s nice to have one we’re not that bothered. That is especially the case because we’re normally upgraded to a decent size room anyway (again, not in the USA).
So there might be a cash in hand feeling if you find an appropriate property for exactly 40k or up to 55k and the cash rate was more than £200 to make that worth using and you would actually stay at rather than forcing a stay there because you have a voucher?
Personally I’ve had no problem using NUAs at most U.K. properties and they are far more valuable in locking in a suite upgrade when travelling.
Already used 3 this year for an amazing WoW suite which was selling at multiples of the nightly rate I paid … if I could have a afforded it I absolutely would have paid that price too as was worth every penny so each one was definitely worth more than £200 even to me as I could easily have paid £200-300 a night more a night to stay there in a higher category room to try and secure a more suitable room but didn’t have to to.
Completely agree with Matt and TGLoyalty – it depends on your travel plans. I’ve also had some fantastic upgrades with NUAs in Europe, for what that is worth.
Thanks I’ve gone for it. Will have another think about the 50/75 choice when it comes. Oddly, the thing that finally tipped the scales for me was assigning a bit of value to these nights counting towards lifetime (got years but short nights).
Thanks I’ve gone for it. Will have another think about the 50/75 choice when it comes. Oddly, the thing that finally tipped the scales for me was assigning a bit of value to these nights counting towards lifetime (got years but short nights).
Oh yeah, if you are close to lifetime and have the years to make use of it, go for it! Fingers crossed it never gets enhanced away!
Personally, I used to get better upgrades as a Platinum than Titanium. There is very little difference apart from extra 25% points and another go at choice benefit. Since Marriott has been running double elite night credits there are millions of elites, the guranteed late checkout is not guaranteed anymore (many hotels are classing them selves as resorts!) unless you make a huge fuss at check-in (it’s becoming a regular occurence for me), upgrades are almost non-existant in post-covid world or they are very low upgrades such as better view but same category. Hotels have now learned the game and re-categorised rooms to the point that there are four or five categories before you even get to suites. This is especially true for bigger hotels. It seems you can only get a decent upgrade at airport hotels.
I’m coming more and more to @JDB line of thought. For me a combination of hotel loyatly and independent hotels worked really well in the past, but not anymore. The only status worth having is with Hyatt and even without you can pretty much guarantee many benefits (lounge access with breakfast, upgrade) with a flexible rate plus points. Also hotel breakfasts, especially at Marriott hotels have become a sad affair at peak times (and that inlcudes Asian ones!). When 70-80% of guests are staying are elites, then hotels have to cut corners.
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