Marriott Now Shows Your Place in Line for Hotel Upgrades

Marriott Bonvoy is rolling out a new feature that shows you exactly where you stand in the upgrade queue at a hotel before you arrive. The app will display your position in line for complimentary, status-based upgrades, as well as your odds of actually getting one.

This is the kind of feature that frequent flyers have come to expect from airlines, where upgrade lists are transparent and you can see where you rank among other elite passengers. Marriott is now bringing that same clarity to hotel upgrades, at least in beta testing right now.

How It Works

When you check the app before your arrival, you’ll be able to see your upgrade position relative to other eligible members arriving the same night. The feature will also show your realistic odds of receiving a complimentary upgrade based on room availability and how many people are ahead of you in the queue.

The feature applies to complimentary upgrades tied to your elite status, so it reflects the perks you’ve already earned through your Bonvoy tier. It doesn’t apply to Nightly Upgrade Awards, which are a separate benefit that members can use to bid for or guarantee specific room upgrades.

What This Means for You

If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy elite member, this gives you better planning information. Instead of showing up to check-in hoping for an upgrade, you’ll know your actual chances before you leave home. If you’re way down the list at a fully booked property, you won’t wonder whether to ask about a paid upgrade.

On the flip side, some observers have noted that transparency about upgrade scarcity could also create an opportunity for Marriott to upsell paid upgrades to members who see their odds are low. The feature essentially quantifies something that used to be more opaque, which cuts both ways.

For now, this is a beta test, as first reported by The Points Guy Articles. It’s unclear how widely it will roll out or when members across all elite tiers will have access. The feature isn’t available to everyone yet, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see it in your app immediately.

The Bigger Picture

Marriott has been gradually modernizing its app and member experience over the past couple of years. This upgrade queue feature fits that pattern. It’s also a signal that hotel loyalty programs are continuing to borrow from the airline playbook, which makes sense—most of Marriott’s most loyal members also fly constantly and expect similar transparency in their rewards programs.

If you’re curious whether you have access to the beta, check your Marriott Bonvoy app before your next stay. The upgrade queue feature should appear when you look up a reservation. If you don’t see it, you’re likely not in the test group yet.