This week, two important loyalty programs made updates that were not favorable for customers. Tuesday, Marriott Bonvoy They updated their terms and conditions to indicate that the members will gain points at a reduced rate and win There are no elite night credits in studs properties. So Wednesday, Southwest Rapid rewards gains of drastically reduced points For selected rates.
While thinking about these updates, I considered how my interactions with these programs would affect. I already take into account the profit rates for elite night points and credits when booking hotels, but it is a bad sign that Marriott Bonvoy now has a brand that does not grant elite bonus points or night -by -stay night credits. And although I rarely reserve flights from Southwest Airlines, I will now be less likely to do so.
There are loyalty programs to encourage commitment and spending with a program. Therefore, an easy way to protest for the negative loyalty updates of the program is with its wallet. Here are some ways to protect myself from these negative updates and how you can also.
Avoid affected hotel brands
For years, several main Hotel loyalty programs They have pointed out some brands such as profits at lower rates. But Marriott Bonvoy has, with much, the largest number of brands with lower income rates. Marriott Bonvoy is also the only important loyalty program of the hotel that does not give him an elite night loan per night that stayed in all his brands.
It will earn 10 Marriott base points per dollar spent on qualification charges in most brands. However, it will only earn 5 base points per dollar spent at nine Marriott Bonvoy Brands4 points per dollar spent on Studiors and 2.5 points per dollar spent on Marriott Executives Apartments. To add insult to the injury, you will only win An elite night loan for two nights stayed in Protea HotelsCity Express and Four Flex by Sheraton pointsAn elite night loan for three nights stayed in Marriott Executive Apartments and without elite night credit for stays of any duration in studs.
As a result, I avoid reserving rates paid in the Marriott brands that win less than 10 base points per dollar. I also avoid staying in Protea Hotels, City Express, Four Points Flex by Sheraton and Mariott Executive Apartments, and now Studiors, since the stays in these brands obtain less points and elite night loans. My husband and I strive to maintain the hotel elite status with several programs, so every night counts. In addition, out of principle, I don’t want to frequent these brands if Marriott Bonvoy will give me less profits to do so.
On a recent trip to Türkiye, the four Flex points by Sheraton Istanbul Taksim Square seemed attractive due to their location and price. But then I remembered that I would win elite night points and credits at a reduced pace, so I stayed in a holiday inn of a similar price. Even if I had wanted to stay in a Marriott Bonvoy property in Istanbul, I could have reserved the equally convenient decamating Galata, a tax portfolio hotel for a similar cost and better profits.
Similarly, although I enjoyed staying in several properties of protea hotels in South Africa when I obtained night loans and night earnings for these stays, now I avoid protea hotels. Instead, I now choose Hyatt or IHG properties in Cabo del Cabo and Johannesburg. You cannot be wrong with the great great of these cities Category 1 Hyatt Properties.
As a traveler, it is annoying that $ 1,000 in classification positions in a six night stay in a four -point flexion would give me 5,000 base points and three elite nights, while the same charges in four points would beat me 10,000 base points and six elite nights. But it would be really frustrating that this happened to a member who did not know, especially if they contain a stay to reach the following state rating threshold.
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It is worth noting that Marriott Bonvoy is far from the only loyalty program of the hotel with brands that win elite points and nights at lower rates. For example, Gane World of Hyatt Points at a lower pace when remaining in Hyatt Studios and IHG One rewards points at a lower pace when remaining in IHG Army HotelsStaybridge suites, sailing suites and residences. Meanwhile, Privileges of choice He has a brand, Woodspring Suites, which does not participate in its loyalty program at all.
Related: I love or leave it: the state plans of the elite of my airline and hotel for 2025
Redeem rewards
For Southwest Rapid Rewards And Marriott Bonvoy can avoid lower income rates caused by this week’s changes when redeeming points. Unfortunately, redeemer points will not yet give it elite night loans in Studiores Properties. But if your main concern is the reduced income rate, the redemptive points is a good solution.
I love a good Extended stay hotel with kitchenBut these properties often gain points at lower rates. Therefore, I usually exchange the points for these stays and save my cash for stays that win at a higher rate. Best of all, I often get a Fourth or Fifth Night Free When you are scheduled Points with select hotel loyalty programs.
For example, often redeem IHG One rewards points For stays in Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites, which earn at a decreased rate of 5 points per dollar instead of the 10 standard points per dollar. If you exchange the points for a stay of four nights or more, I can enjoy the IHG Fourth night reward benefitan advantage of me IHG One rewards the Premier Credit Card.
In the case of Southwest, I’ve already been redeeming points for flights when I decide that a southwest flight is my best option. After all, Southwest could decrease the redemption value of its points at any time, such as The value of the southwest points decreased In early 2024, while travel funds do not expire and must maintain their nominal value.
My husband and I typically alternate Win a companion pass from the southwest Every two years, and we generally accumulate a considerable balance of Southwest Points through welcome offers by credit card while we do. Then, we use those points to reserve as much as possible of our southwest flights. We are not planning to win a complementary pass this year, but I still have many southwest points in my account since I got a complementary pass in 2021, so I will use them as necessary to book southwest flights.
Related: How to win and use the Southwest Pass
Use a different program
Finally, it is worth considering whether the changes in the negative loyalty program are enough to change their loyalty or encourage it to use a different program. Of course, even if you decide that you have ended with Southwest Rapid Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy or another program, the change will take time as you finish traveling in existing reserves and use your remaining points. Or, you may not want to break the program completely, but continue using it when it makes sense.
For example, I am not flying its southwest this year since my husband and I do not have a companion pass. But if Southwest has an unsc. flight at a modest price on a route that I need to fly, probably redeem the southwest points To reserve the flight.
It is easy to continue using the programs you have always used. You know how they work, and you could have the elite status (or even the state for life). I will admit that the Marriott Lifetime Elite Elite Status Program It forces me to continue winning Platinum elite status. After all, I currently have the status of Lifetime Marriott Gold Elite, and, assuming that Marriott does not change his program, he will win Platinum elite status for life after obtaining the state of Elite Platinum (and elite night credits required for this state) for four more years.
But, especially with State coincidences and the ability to receive automatically or The elite status is won through selected credit cardslike him Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Marriott cardIt can be relatively painless start using a new loyalty program.
Related: How and why you should maximize your hotel stays using multiple loyalty programs
End
Loyalty should be a two -way street. So, if you are not happy with your loyalty programs, it can be time to become a free agent or more involved with another loyalty program. Yo I love certain elite status benefitsAs the late 4 PM payment guaranteed, the confirmed suite update awards and ONEWORLD ESMERALD STATESo I focus on programs that provide these benefits.
I am still giving Marriott Bonvoy some nights every year, since I am just four years after winning the elite status of Lifetime Platinum. However, I have frustrated with the many exclusions of the loyalty program and how its benefits and profit rates often vary according to the brand. In addition, now that Marriott Bonvoy has begun not to offer elite night loans or elite bonus profits in a brand, I hope they follow more brands.
