Getting Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Status is a major achievement for any frequent traveler, providing lifelong perks and benefits without needing to re-qualify each year. It's a testament to years of loyalty and countless nights spent at Marriott properties. Let's dive into how it works and what you need to do to secure this coveted status for yourself.
Step 1: Get to Know the Requirements
First things first, let's understand what you're working toward. There are three tiers of Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Status you can currently earn: Lifetime Silver Elite, Lifetime Gold Elite, and Lifetime Platinum Elite. You can't earn Lifetime Titanium or Lifetime Ambassador status anymore, with the exception of those who were grandfathered in during the merger with Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) in 2018. The requirements for each tier are a combination of two things: total lifetime nights and years of elite status.
Lifetime Silver Elite: You need a total of 250 lifetime nights and 5 years of Silver Elite status or higher.
Lifetime Gold Elite: You need a total of 400 lifetime nights and 7 years of Gold Elite status or higher.
Lifetime Platinum Elite: You need a total of 600 lifetime nights and 10 years of Platinum Elite status or higher.
Important Note: The "years of elite status" requirement is not a consecutive number of years. You just need to have held that status level (or a higher one) for that many years in total. So, if you earned Platinum in 2020 and 2022, that counts as two years toward your Lifetime Platinum goal.
Step 2: Start Accumulating Lifetime Nights
This is the core of the process. Every qualifying night you stay at a Marriott Bonvoy property counts toward your lifetime total. But a "night" isn't just a paid stay. Here’s how you can rack them up:
Sub-heading: Stays and Awards
Paid Stays: The most obvious way to earn nights is by booking a paid stay directly with Marriott.
Award Stays: Nights booked with Marriott Bonvoy points also count toward your lifetime night total.
Promotions: Marriott occasionally offers promotions that provide bonus elite night credits. Keep an eye out for these to accelerate your progress.
Hosting Events: If you host an eligible event at a Marriott property, you can earn up to one elite night credit for every 20 rooms booked, up to a maximum of 20 nights per event.
Sub-heading: Using Credit Cards
One of the easiest ways to earn elite nights is by holding a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card. Many of these cards offer a significant number of elite night credits annually, which count toward your lifetime total.
Some cards give you 15 elite night credits each year just for being a cardholder.
Certain premium cards may provide even more, like 25 elite night credits annually.
You can often hold both a personal and a business Marriott Bonvoy credit card to stack these credits. For example, holding one of each could give you a total of 30-40 elite night credits a year without ever setting foot in a hotel. This can be a huge boost to your lifetime night count.
Step 3: Track Your Progress
It's a long journey, so it's essential to keep tabs on your progress. Marriott makes this easy to do on their website or in the mobile app.
Sub-heading: How to Check Your Lifetime Status
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Navigate to your account overview page.
Look for a section that shows your current year's elite nights.
There should be a link or a button that says "See lifetime status progress" or something similar. Click on it.
This page will display your total lifetime nights and your total years of elite status for each tier. It will show you exactly where you stand and what you need to achieve the next lifetime level.
Step 4: Understand the Benefits and Perks ✨
Once you achieve lifetime status, you get to enjoy the benefits of that tier forever. This means no more worrying about re-qualifying each year. You will always have at least that level of status.
Lifetime Silver Elite benefits: You'll get a 10% bonus on points earned from stays and priority late checkout (when available).
Lifetime Gold Elite benefits: This tier offers a 25% bonus on points, a welcome gift of points, and 2 p.m. late checkout (when available). You'll also get enhanced room upgrades, although they won't include suites.
Lifetime Platinum Elite benefits: This is where the perks really shine. You get a 50% bonus on points, lounge access with complimentary breakfast at most brands, a choice of a welcome gift upon arrival (including points, breakfast, or an amenity), and a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout (except at resort and convention hotels). You'll also be eligible for room upgrades, including suites, based on availability.
Note: Lifetime members who don't meet the annual elite night requirements for a given year will not receive the Annual Choice Benefits that come with reaching 50 or 75 elite nights in that year. You must still earn the nights to get those specific rewards, like Suite Night Awards.
FAQs
How to earn Marriott Bonvoy lifetime status?
You must meet a specific number of total lifetime nights and years of elite status for one of the three achievable tiers: Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
How to track my progress toward Marriott lifetime status?
You can easily track your progress by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website or mobile app and looking for the "See lifetime status progress" section in your account overview.
How to get lifetime elite nights?
You can get elite nights from paid stays, award stays, co-branded credit cards, certain promotions, and by hosting eligible events at Marriott properties.
How to earn Lifetime Titanium Elite status?
It's no longer possible to earn Lifetime Titanium Elite status. This was an exclusive tier grandfathered in for members who met the requirements during the 2018 merger of Marriott and SPG.
How to get more years of elite status?
You earn one year of elite status credit for every calendar year you achieve a specific status level or higher. You don't need to earn them consecutively.
How to get Lifetime Platinum Elite status?
To get this, you need 600 total lifetime nights and 10 years of Platinum Elite status or higher. This is the highest lifetime status you can currently earn.
How to speed up the process of earning lifetime status?
The quickest way to add to your elite night count is by using co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, which provide a set number of elite nights each year, and by taking advantage of any elite night promotions.
How to know if my points will expire with lifetime status?
One of the key benefits of any Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Status is that your points will never expire. This is a major perk for members who don't stay often but have a large point balance.
How to get a welcome gift as a Lifetime Platinum member?
As a Lifetime Platinum Elite member, you are entitled to a welcome gift upon arrival at most participating brands. This can include points, a breakfast offering, or a local amenity, and you get to choose your preference.
How to get a Suite Night Award as a Lifetime Platinum member?
Suite Night Awards are part of the Annual Choice Benefits. To receive these, you must still earn 50 elite nights in a single calendar year, even if you have Lifetime Platinum status.
