My Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite membership card arrived in the mail rather unexpectedly today.
Given most airline and hotel loyalty programs now encourage you to use a virtual membership card through their smartphone app, I found it quite quaint to actually receive a physical card.
In this post:
Does Marriott Still Send Out Physical Membership Cards?
Yes, Marriott still sends out physical membership cards. I received my Platinum Elite card in February 2020 after qualifying via the Marriott Platinum Elite Challenge in December 2019, and did not have to request it.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Physical Card
The Platinum Elite physical card is sent in a trifold mailer and is made of a good quality plastic.
The back of the membership card has the elite reservations lines for the US and Canada, Mexico and UK, though I prefer to use Twitter for customer service.
The membership pack also contains a welcome blurb detailing key benefits like guaranteed 4PM checkout and an Enhanced Room Upgrade where available.
Along with an elite benefit comparison table, which can also be found on the Marriott website.
Do I Need A Physical Card?
Not really. As long as your hotel reservation has your Marriott Bonvoy membership number, the front desk staff will be able to see your elite status.
Summary
Before smartphones became ubiquitous, a frequent flyer would have a dedicated travel wallet with membership cards from each airline and hotel loyalty program. With most airlines and hotels moving to virtual membership cards, it was a pleasant surprise to receive a physical membership card from Marriott in this day and age.
