Marriott Charges Users to Redeem Points at Westin LAX

Point Redemption Fees at Westin LAX

Recently, I came across news that Westin LAX is imposing a $20 fee on customers who wish to use points to book a room. Honestly, this feels quite unfair and somewhat ironic, especially since Marriott allows its hotels to set such fees while chains like Hilton and Hyatt do not.

In the past, resorts typically charged these fees, but they were usually limited to resort areas. They would add a fee for amenities that were supposed to be included in the room rate. Gradually, city hotels realized they could do the same. They often offer things you don't really need, like discounts on bike rentals that you have to leave the hotel to use.

For instance, if you're staying at Westin LAX to prepare for a 6 AM flight, would you even have time for a yoga class or to rent a bike? Definitely not! This truly disappoints me about both Westin LAX and Marriott for not respecting Bonvoy members.

Severe Turbulence on a Flight

Last Monday, a China Southern flight from Beijing to Shenzhen encountered severe turbulence. One passenger shared that they experienced a three-second free fall right after their meal, causing everything to fly around the cabin.

This passenger described how the turbulence lasted throughout the flight, and right after eating, they found themselves in a weightless state for three seconds. The trays went flying, leaving them terrified until the plane landed safely.

Other Flight Incidents

Another United Airlines flight experienced a drop of 4,000 feet, which caused a menu to get stuck on the cabin ceiling. There was also a similar incident on a flight from London to Singapore, where a passenger tragically lost their life due to turbulence.

Rewards Points and Promotions

Programs like SoFi are offering free credit monitoring with a $15 incentive for new users through Rakuten. Additionally, if you are a new member referred by a current member, you can earn $50 when you spend $50 across various brands.

You can also choose to receive Amex or Bilt reward points instead of cash. This is great because Bilt rewards points and cash immediately based on your spending.

Community Connection

It seems like everyone shares the same frustration about this issue. Personally, I have never heard a single “thank you” from a United employee. Is this something that needs to be improved to enhance customer experience?