In May, Marriott Rewards reduced their minimal elite upgrade benefit language with the condition that Golds and Platinums were entitled only to a one category room upgrade. This likely didn’t change much in practice, but it was disconcerting to see the language of their benefits being reduced at a time when other programs were becoming more generous.

Marriott has the toughest top tier to qualify for at 75 nights. Hilton recently removed the suites exclusion from Diamond upgrades, though Diamonds at Hilton aren’t entitled to suites. Starwood has long given their top tier Platinums the right to standard suites that are available at check-in, and now they’ll confirm that upgrade a few days in advance giving Platinums who earn their status by nights (rather than stays) 10 nights a year where they can express priority for their upgrades. Hyatt allows top tier Diamonds to confirm suites at booking four times a year for up to 7 nights each time.

So it was then progress when Marriott removed the suites exclusion from the upgrade benefit at the end of June.

The change didn’t promise suites, or give elites any entitlement to suites that were available on the day of arrival, just said that they weren’t supposed to be kept out of suites. Baby steps.

Now One Mile at a Time points out that Marriott has further improved the upgrade benefit in the Asia Pacific region. Here’s the Marriott announcement. In Japan and South Korea suite upgrades are at the hotel’s discretion (i.e. there’s no right to a suite, but an elite might get a suite if the hotel is generous). But in the rest of the Asia Pacific region it’s supposed to be based on availability, not the whims of the hotel (“denied for any reason for no reason” as contract language often says).

Upgrades remain ‘at hotel’s discretion’ for stays over 3 nights, so don’t expect suites on longer stays. And the terms and conditions say that a hotel may be holding back suites until later in the day, so just because it’s available when you check in doesn’t mean you’re actually entitled to it. (“Generally, based on availability at check-in; in some cases, availability is determined later in the day.”)

So lots of fine print, and only in the Asia Pacific region where hotels tended to upgrade elites to suites already, anyway. But baby steps.

Of course, Marriott still offers a breakfast benefit only during the week and not on weekends, and not at resorts. They do not guarantee late checkout (and not offered at all at resorts). There’s no complimentary fitness club benefit either.

Marriott is still legions behind Hyatt and Starwood. Like Hilton they’re doing a few things that improve benefits. In terms of elite treatment, all seem to be leaving Priority Club in the dust.