Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Benefits Guide (Breakfast, Upgrades) [2023]

With all of the different levels of the Marriott rewards program it’s easy to get confused about what benefits each status tier offers.

In this article, I’m going to focus on the benefits offered by Marriott Platinum status and walk you through each of these.

I’ll cover things like breakfast, upgrades, and all of the other key perks you might be able to take it advantage of.

What is Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status?

Marriott Platinum status is an upper mid-tier status within the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program. It is one step above Bonvoy Gold and one step below Bonvoy Titanium.

Because Marriott has five different elite levels and many other programs only have three, this puts Platinum status in a bit of a unique tier allowing loyalists to receive upper tier perks without having to obtain the highest level of elite status.

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How to earn Marriott Platinum status

To earn Marriott Platinum status, you’ll need to earn 50 nights between January 1 and December 31 of any given year.

You will then have Marriott Platinum status for the duration of the year that you earned it in, the entire next year, and through the month of February following that year.

For example, if you earn Platinum status in August 2024, it will be valid until February 28, 2026.

Here’s a look at the different elite levels for Marriott and their requirements:

• Silver: 10 to 24 nights
• Gold: 25 to 49 nights 
• Platinum: 50 to 74 nights 
• Titanium: 75 to 99 nights
• Ambassador: 100 nights +  $23,000 U.S. dollars in qualified annual spend

As shown below, you can use two Marriott credit cards to start you off with 30 Elite Night Credits.

That means that you could earn Platinum status with only 20 nights! More on that below.

Elite status comparisons

Here’s how Marriott Platinum status compares to other statuses with Hyatt and Hilton.

You’ll notice how Platinum falls right in between the middle and top level of these programs based on the number of nights.

World of Hyatt

• Discoverist
  • 10 qualifying nights
  • 25,000 Base Points
  • or holding 3 qualifying meetings/events per year.
• Explorist
  • 30 qualifying nights
  • 50,000 Base Points
  • or holding 10 qualifying meetings/events per year.
• Globalist
  • 60 qualifying nights
  • 100,000 Base Points
  • or holding 20 qualifying meetings/events per year.

Hilton Honors

• Silver
  • 4 stays in a calendar year or
  • 10 nights in a calendar year
• Gold
  • 20 stays in a calendar year, or
  • 40 nights in a calendar year, or
  • 75,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year
• Diamond
  • 30 stays in a calendar year, or
  • 60 nights in a calendar year, or
  • 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year

Marriott Platinum status via credit cards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is one of my favorite hotel credit cards and offers automatic Marriott Platinum status.

Here’s a look at the other features:

• $300 in dining statement credits ($25 a month)
• $100 luxury credit
• Bonus earning:
  • 6x at Marriott properties
  • 3x at restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
  • 2x on all other purchases
• Each calendar year you can receive credit for 25 nights towards the next level of Elite status.
• 1 Free Night Award every year after renewal month (redemption level at or under 85,000 points)
• Priority Pass Select membership
• Receive a statement credit every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre-Check ($85) with your Card.
• Select an Earned Choice Award benefit after spending $60,000
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $650

This makes the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant similar to the Hilton Aspire because you can automatically earn a high level of status. That’s exciting for people who want to earn Marriott Platinum status but it also means diluting Platinum status, which is a drawback for people who earn the status the old-fashioned way through stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card offers automatic Silver status but you can earn Marriott Gold status by spending $35,000 in a year. 

That’s a lot in spend per year for a status that doesn’t even offer breakfast so I would rather put $35K to use in another way.

You’ll also be given 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, which can help you reach status much quicker.

Currently, you can combine elite credits from a Marriott personal card with the 15 Elite Night Credits from a business Marriott card allowing you to start off with 30 Elite Night Credits.

It’s a super fast track to Platinum status since you’re only 20 nights away.

Another great benefit of this card is that you get an annual free night for properties that cost up to 35,000 points per night.

Status challenge

You can always inquire with Marriott customer service either via email or by phone to see if you’re eligible for a status challenge to Platinum.

If you’re eligible, you’ll probably have to hit something like 16 nights in a designated time period (e.g., 3 months) to achieve Platinum status but the challenge terms could vary.

Keep in mind that you usually can only enroll in these challenges once every three years.

What are the Marriott Platinum status benefits?

• 50% Bonus on points
• Complimentary room upgrade
• Welcome gift
• Guaranteed Lounge Access
• 4pm late check-out
• Annual Choice Benefit
• Guaranteed Room Type

50% Bonus on Marriott Rewards Points

• Platinum members are credited with a 50% bonus on base points earned during stays.

At most Marriott properties you’ll earn 10 Marriott points per dollar spent, so with this bonus you’ll be able to earn 15 points per dollar spent. 

At a value of .8 cents per point, Platinum status earns 12% back. 

Properties where earnings are only 5 points per dollar include: Protea Hotels, Element, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Those reduced rates are a bummer for those who take advantage of extended-stay properties.

Complimentary room upgrade

Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade to the best available room subject to availability which could include the following:

Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors.

• At The Ritz-Carlton, suites are only included for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Members and rooms with direct Club access are excluded.
• The Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Platinum Elite Members and above is available at all Participating Brands except at Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Aloft, Element and participating Vistana properties.

As a Titanium Elite member over the past few years, I’ve been pretty disappointed with my upgrades. I’ve been given mostly corner rooms and deluxe rooms for pretty much every upgrade, as suites appear to be difficult to obtain.

So I don’t think I would expect a lot of suite upgrades as a Platinum Elite member.

Tip: It’s good to remember when you visit places like Hawaii that you won’t get your elite benefits at brands like the Marriott Vacation Clubs.

Welcome gift

As a Platinum member you will be able to choose a welcome gift upon arrival.

The type of gift that you can get will vary depending on the type of property you are staying at.

At a lot of properties you will be able to choose between 500 to 1,000 points or a food and beverage credit/free breakfast.

I generally always go with the free breakfast because that offers the best value. This is especially true if you have a long stay where you can get a good amount of value in breakfast every day.

Below, you can see a chart that breaks down the welcome gifts. It’s always a little bit confusing because they vary based on location and there are always some types of exceptions.

But it’s good to be familiar with these because some properties will not give you everything you are due. If you were not given your gift, you may be able to receive the compensation listed in the chart.

Participating Brands		Elite Welcome Gift	Guest Compensation*
JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels		United States, Canada, Europe: 1,000 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 food and beverage (“F&B”) credit per Stay Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, Middle East, and Africa: 1,000 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay RESORTS only: United States, Canada, Europe: 1,000 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1 Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, Middle East, and Africa: 1,000 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1	U.S. $100
Gaylord Hotels		1,000 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per Stay	U.S. $100
St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin, Tribute Portfolio		1,000 Points per Stay or amenity per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1 (including Resorts)	U.S. $100
The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, EDITION, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, Design Hotels™, Homes & Villas by Marriott International.		1,000 Points (per Stay)	N/A
Courtyard		United States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay for Member +1**  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: Properties without lounge – 500 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay for Member +1**  Properties with lounge – 500 Points per Stay and breakfast in lounge – if lounge is closed, breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1	U.S. $50
AC Hotels, Moxy Hotels		United States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay for Member +1**  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay	AC Hotels:      U.S. $50; Moxy Hotels:  U.S. $25
SpringHill Suites, Fairfield, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites		United States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per Stay or F&B item  Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 Points per Stay or F&B amenity	SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn:U.S. $50; Fairfield, TownePlace Suites: U.S. $25
Four Points, Aloft		500 Points per Stay or amenity or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1	Four Points:U.S. $50; Aloft: U.S. $25
Protea Hotels		500 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1	U.S. $50
Element		500 Points per Stay or amenity	U.S. $25

*Outside of the U.S. compensation will be paid in the local currency

** The U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is for the Member. An additional U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is given for one (1) guest staying in the same guestroom as the Member.

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Guaranteed Lounge Access

In addition to the free breakfast, lounge access is the other major reason to get Platinum status. (Sometimes the free breakfast will be in the lounge but other times you can get it in the restaurant.)

As a Platinum member you will get guaranteed lounge access for you and one guest staying in the same room at non-resort:

• JW Marriott
• Marriott Hotels
• Sheraton
• Delta Hotels
• Le Méridien
• Westin
• Autograph Collection and
• Renaissance Hotels.

Lounge Access is not offered at the following brands:

• The Ritz-Carlton
• St. Regis
• EDITION
• The Luxury Collection
• W Hotels
• Design Hotels
• Tribute Portfolio
• Gaylord Hotels
• Four Points
• SpringHill Suites
• Protea Hotels
• Fairfield
• AC Hotels
• Aloft
• Moxy Hotels
• Residence Inn
• TownePlace Suites
• Element
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Marriott Grand Residence Club
• and participating Vistana properties.

Generally, whenever a lounge is closed or the property does not have a lounge or an approved alternative the property will offer you daily breakfast in the restaurant or an allowance of points ranging from 750 to 1,000.

If lounge access or alternatives are not available at eligible properties, Platinum Elite Members will be compensated $100 U.S. dollars for the inconvenience.

There are a few special rules for different properties and locations and you can read more about those here.

Late checkout

With Platinum status, you can get late check out as late as 4 p.m. local time of the participating property.

I have to give it to Marriott because late check out has been one of the most dependable benefits I’ve received as a Marriott elite member.

I rarely ever request 4 PM late check out and usually go with 2 PM but the couple of times I have requested 4 PM they have honored it no problem.

This benefit is guaranteed at all participating properties, except at resort and convention hotels and Design Hotels, where it is based upon availability. 

Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties are excluded from this benefit.

Annual Choice Benefit

A Platinum Elite Member who has achieved 50 eligible Elite Night Credits annually is eligible to receive one annual choice benefit from the list of available benefits listed below:

• Five (5) Suite Night Awards
• 40% off bed
• $100 charity donation
• The gift of Silver Elite status to a friend or family member
• Five (5) Elite Night Credits

If you’re going to chase Bonvoy Titanium then you may consider selecting the 5 elite night credits, which will help you get to 75 quicker.

Otherwise, I would recommend choosing the Suite Night Awards, especially because suite upgrades seem hard to come by.

Additional perks

Complimentary enhanced Internet service

• This benefit is provided where available, regardless of booking source, at all Participating Brands worldwide except at the EDITION brand.

Keep in mind that you can get this benefit with the Marriott Boundless credit card.

5th redemption night free

• Book 5 consecutive nights and the 5th night is free (this perk is available to all Marriott status levels but is worth mentioning). 

Discount

•  Gift Shop Discount of 10% on retail merchandise.

Phone lines

• Elite Reservations Line: (800) 228-2100
• Customer Engagement Center Line: (800) 321-7396

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum FAQ

Final word

Marriott Platinum has some valuable benefits like guaranteed lounge access, breakfast, late checkout, and annual choice benefits like suite night awards that can be very valuable. With how easy it is to obtain now some of the perks like upgrades may be even more watered down than they were before, however.