Some airlines and hotels offer special “invite-only” elite levels to their most valuable and loyal customers. Members who are invited to these super elite levels typically enjoy even more privileges – maybe a dedicated phone line, or special gifts.

Marriott is one program that offers an invite-only elite level – Platinum Premier. And what do the very special few who are invited to this level receive?

Nada, nothing, zilch.

T5campbell on Milepoint says this about the difference between the published Platinum Elite level and the unpublished Platinum Premier level:

I have been Platinum Premier for 3 years now, and there is really no difference. I get an upgraded room about 35% of the time.

Other posters claim to get a gift occasionally, but that’s about it. I’m not sure what Marriott’s going for here, but I suppose the lack of benefits for this “special” level at least makes the rest of us feel less left out.

At the time of this writing the conversation has begun to veer into whether striving for the top elite levels in hotel programs is a worthwhile effort at all – an interesting topic to be sure, not just in relation to Marriott.

Have you been invited to an unpublished elite level by any of your frequent flyer programs? And, if so, was it really cool or just sort of meh?