Well, it’s been a few weeks since the SPG Marriott systems merger and in my eyes things went great. Sure I’ve read about various glitches and issues that have come up, but from my point of view it’s been fine. However, there is one tiny thing that keeps bugging me and I wish I had considered it sooner.
When SPG officially joined Marriott all SPG members were given new SPG account numbers. These new SPG account numbers replaced old SPG account numbers so that the new numbers would fit in Marriott’s systems. Then, about a month ago Marriott and SPG gave members to officially combine loyalty accounts. All accounts will eventually be combined, but Marriott/SPG let members do this manually ahead of time.
The process was painless and within a few days all of my activity properly posted to my new SPG account. When I combined accounts I opted to use my New SPG number instead of my old Marriott account number. I did this simply because the SPG number is easier to remember. However, that has created a very small, but annoying issue.
My Marriott Number Is Saved Everywhere!
Over the years I’ve created so many accounts with different websites it’s hard to keep track of them all. Each time I set up a travel profile on a website I include my Marriott Rewards number. I did this so the next time I booked a hotel my reward number would automatically populate and I could use my benefits.
I added my Marriott Rewards numbers to my Amex account, Citi account, Chase account, Hotels.com, Expedia, and most importantly, my corporate travel profile. Adding my Marriott Rewards number to all of these different places saved me time and headaches over the years. So much so that I forgot what life was like before doing that; until now.
Now, every time I book a Marriott stay I have to double-check to make sure that my New SPG account number is included in the reservation. If not, I make sure to go back and add the account to my travel profile. Obviously this isn’t a huge issue, but it’s something I wish I would have considered before deciding to get rid of my Marriott Rewards account number.
My Old SPG Account Number Is Worthless
This problem popped up on the reserve side of things as well. Again, for years I’ve been adding my old SPG account number to all of these different travel profiles. Then, when I got my new SPG account number that old number became worthless.
None of this would have been an issue had I kept my Marriott number though. If I had kept my Marriott number that account number would have been applied to all Marriott/SPG bookings. Now however, I again have to make sure that my new SPG account number is added to everything to make sure that I receive elite benefits during my stay, but also the points/nights of each stay as well.
Another thing to consider is that I need to make sure that any cross-program benefits are also updated so that I continue to receive any crossover benefits that I was getting prior to combing accounts.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, this is a very minor issue. That being said, it’s an issue I wish I would have considered before making the decision. Choosing my New SPG account number seemed harmless at the time. I figured it was a rare opportunity to select an easier number to remember so I took it. Little did I know that such a minor decision would have such a large implication.
Overall, I’m happy with my decision to keep my new SPG account number. The number is easy to remember and it takes just a few seconds to add it to all of my travel profiles. Even so, if you are considering combining your accounts, make sure to take a second to think about what you are doing and if it’s the right decision for you.
Finally, keep in mind, Marriott will eventually do this for you (if you haven’t already) so you’ll want to double-check your travel profiles and Marriott accounts anyway to make sure you’re still getting the nights/benefits that you deserve.
