News and notes from around the interweb:
- At this Marriott property, no coffee, juice or water is included in the elite breakfast The elite breakfast is ‘continental’.
The latest reminder of how bad things are at Marriott these days is the Grand Galvez, Autograph Collection in Galveston, Texas.
This is a franchised hotel owned and operated by Seawall Hospitality LLC, which also owns and operates The Saint Key West, Autograph Collection in Key West, Florida. This owner previously owned The Saint Hotel, Autograph Collection in New Orleans, Louisiana.
At Grand Galvez, Bonvoy platinum and higher elites do not get free coffee, juice or water with breakfast. Ironically, they provide free coffee in the lobby just outside the restaurant during breakfast service. They limit your breakfast options to muffins and pastries (the “continental breakfast”), pancakes, and an “all-American” that includes eggs. If you try ordering the avocado toast, which doesn’t include eggs, they’ll charge you $20.
- Qantas double points or status credits for travel between 19 March 2025 and 24 February 2026 when you book by March 18. You only get one or the other and you must choose.
- You can now redeem Bilt points for Lyft rides at a poor value of 0.7 cents per point. Select Bilt as your Lyft earning partner, that’s the most lucrative choice followed by Alaska Airlines (remember, Bilt points even transfer to Alaska if you wish). And use it as part of your Lyft quadruple dip. But don’t redeem Bilt points for Lyft rides.
- Illegal Immigrant On American Airlines Flight to Washington DC Attacks Flight Attendant And Says He Wants to Talk to President Trump Yeah, that was gonna happen.
- TSA agents at Newark Airport find live turtle hidden in man’s pants (HT: Jonathan W)
- US Bank Smartly Checking Monthly Fee Increasing from $6.95 to $12 & Credit Card Waiver Eliminated (Effective May 19)
- Air Canada disables inflight maps on 737 MAXs after the map provider changed Israel to read “Palestinian Territories.” They refuse to say whether it’s Thales or a third party map provider that is responsible for ‘from the river to the sea.’
Air Canada has been made aware of a display issue with the interactive map on the IFE systems of its B737 aircraft. The issue has affected other carriers using the same system and we are working with the third-party provider on a remedy.
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 10, 2025
Why would you ever pay $12 per month for checking? What a rip off.
I am so disappointed with Southwest Airlines and their rebranding, I don’t know their thinking behind giving up all that they stood for. They say it was because it was what the customers wanted…really??
They had such a great thing going that took years to achieve, they WERE profitable for many years doing what they were doing!! Herb Kelleher would roll over in his grave if he knew what they were doing now, everything he achieved to make them unique is gone. They are simply another airline now, I have an idea that not one person on their board of directors is over 45 and remembers where they came from and who they were. It is all about corporate greed.
I think this would be a grand opportunity for the US to privatize AMTRAK and invest in good rail infrastructure and service. I just got off of the VIA Rail Canadian and what pleasure and joy to see train service at its best, sure it’s slower pace, but it is an example of good customer service, an absolute dying business form here in the US transportation industries….and yes, Amtrak bags are FREE!
Marriott will do nothing about a hotel refusing to provide coffee or juice to elites with their breakfast benefit. This has happened at more than a handful of properties. It will continue to happen until Marriott defines what constitutes breakfast. Hyatt and IHG have a specific definition. Marriott doesn’t.
Asterius Rulamka, who was born in Tanzania, also attacked several passengers before he was subdued.
On getting Bonvoy’d: Their cuts to elite breakfast benefits are sounding like an ULCC. ‘You get a just one thimble of water for this 8 hour flight, and you’ll like it!!’
@Duane — 100%. It’s just greed. This isn’t a ‘re-brand’–what Elliott Management is doing to Southwest, a once-great company, is nothing short of purposeful sabotage. So, please do appropriately blame the hedge fund and the management of the airline–and mourn for us consumers (the passengers, credit card members, etc.) and the workers (pilots, flight attendants, gate agents, ground staff, call center folks, etc.), all of whom are getting screwed, just so that a few narcissistic oligarchs can become even more obscenely wealthy by exploiting the vulnerable. Yet some here will shill for these horrible plans and outcomes–that’s unbelievable. None of us here are billionaires, or ever going to become one, unless there is hyperinflation. So, when are the rest of us going to wake up, stop carrying water for these a-holes, and demand better. Enough is enough. Oh, and I like Amtrak, too. Woop woop.
Gary, that’s an excellent Key & Peele reference. There’s also one where the ‘Continental Breakfast guy goes on an airplane’ which is fitting for VFTW. He gets an upgrade to ‘Economy Plus’ and thoroughly enjoys himself: ‘Don’t mind if I do… for the discerning passengers… of course, he knows the captain; he IS the captain …shiatsu massage’ *rosebud* (if you know, you know).
I found a cure for the absurd way Marriott treats elites, it’s called Hilton.
@Raif — Bah! You got me. Good.
If your name was ‘Matt’ and this was about the airlines, you’d have said: “consider Delta.”
@FNT Diamond Delta Oh that’s interesting TIL
@1990 @Gary Ha-haa! Great throwbacks!
@Raif Yes the benefits far surpass what Marriott can aspire to offer (I’ll see myself out)
Thanks for highlighting another Marriott failure. Gave up on Bonvoy a few years ago. Terrible hotel program.
SWA wasn’t even mentioned in this article, why are you moaning about this again?
And saying something is due to “corporate greed” is juvenile. All people, even entitled leftists, or especially entitled leftists, seek to meet their own needs over others. It’s human nature. You might as well complain about cows mooing. But when you get your own airline you can decide the policies.
“Is that a turtle in your pants or are you just happy to see me?” Some jokes just write themselves.
Marriott continues to impress with how bad a chain they’re willing to become in the name of short term gain.
I’m still getting value out of Bonvoy, though I’ve slipped back to my Lifetime Platinum status backstop this year. The breakfast situation is always confusing for a new-to-me full-service hotel, particularly in US. Some are great (Marriott Canary Wharf, Courtyard Seoul Namdaemun, Marriott MSP), some are so-so (Kyo-Ya properties in HNL), some are Concierge Lounge variable. You just never know for sure until checkout. If they have a lounge, that is the most predictable – but some with lounge still serve breakfast in their restaurant. The foreign hotel breakfast buffets can be incredible.
US Bank sure loves their fees. I consider it absolutely to be “double dipping” when you have an account that is already paying 0 interest AND tacks fees on. When my previous bank decided to switch me to some account with fees, I closed the account and moved it. They were quite surprised about it too, like “Well, we have this other account type with no fees.” “That’s nice, I was on one with no fees and you unilaterally switched to fees on it, so CYA.”
Why is it that everyone has to pick on the biggest? Most of the hotels are franchised, therefore leaving operating decisions up to the owners. Marriott only has recommendations unless it is required for brand standards. So really it’s not Marriott making these decisions, it’s the hotel owners and management companies. They are the ones footing the bill to feed the guests daily, not Marriott
Sad southwest is gonna cheat people with bag fees.
If you’re still staying at a Marriott domestically, you’re part of the problem. Overseas, Marriott is still good for the most part. Here? Absolutely not. I gave Marriott the benefit of the doubt for several years post-COVID. Not anymore. Hilton, Hyatt, or even IHG now.
The Mormon Church essentially owns Marriott and is sitting on a HOARD of at least 250 BILLION Dollars and YOU pay for it.
I have been Boycotting Marriott ever since they rolled out Bonvoy and am THROUGH!
Marriott publishes what appear to me to be unfiltered reviews on their booking portal. So I just avoid the Marriott properties that play games in favor of the ones who do not. Problem solved.
The worse they’ll treat you, the more you’ll keep coming back…
@Christopher Raehl: You can only publish a review on Marriott’s website if you get a survey after your stay. So, no, the reviews aren’t necessarily accurate reflections of a property.