A Number or a Person?

Do you travel? Do you travel frequently? Do you belong to any of the "frequency-based" programs at airlines/hotels/car rental places?

I'm getting ready to do a fair amount of travel - so I finally signed up for the Marriott Rewards program (I've already got the airline programs in place)

After signing up, one of the options on the account page allowed you to add existing reservations. Which would have been nice, since I just stayed 3 nights at Marriott hotels in California and Texas. All they required was a confirmation number... so I entered the ones from two weeks ago, but nothing. I guess they must be "new" reservations - that have not occured yet. What a pain.

First, I understand that they don't people going back a year or two, pulling in all their old reservations, but this was less than a month ago. Actually, I don't understand - I've been a loyal Marriott customer for years, not that I've travelled a ton, but when I do, my first choice has always been a Marriott.

Second, this shows that I'm not a person, I'm just a number.

I'm not doing this because I expect to be doing a lot of personal travel, I'm doing this because I expect to be travelling a lot and I want seat upgrades, nicer rooms, nicer ammenities, etc., while I'm on the road - cause I really don't like to be away from home, so I want to be as comfortable as possible during the trip.

The bottom line is this: I can show that I was a guest, who cares whether or not I had a "number" when I stayed? And why do you need to sign up for these things at all? I'm a person - and they should have their back-end systems be able to determine who I am and the frequency of patronage. I shouldn't have to tell them that I want a king-size bed, smoking room. They should know that by now, right?

Comments

[Jim Seybert (on FoolsBox)]

Jon - how did this turn out? I'll bet if you'd sent them a personal letter with dates and numbers they would have made an exception. I know the HHonors program at Hilton would, because they did it for me years ago. These folks want satisifed customers who will sneeze their good feelings to others.

[Jon Strande]

It didn't. :-) I never did pursue it though - perhaps you're right, I should send them a note, who knows what result might come out of it!! Thank you for the suggestion!! I'll post an update if it works!

Thank you!