Earning Free Marriott Gold Status with United RewardsPlus

Over the past couple of years, a number of US airline and hotel chains have "hooked up."  Delta with Starwood and Marriott with United are the most notable.  For the United/Marriott deal, United Premier Gold (and higher) elite members are able to get free Marriott Gold by signing up here.  It normally takes 50 nights per year to qualify for Marriott Gold so this is a great benefit of flying 50,000 miles per year on United.

United Gold equals Marriott Gold

I've been lucky enough to have United Premier Gold status (or higher) for the past couple of years and have been able to take advantage of this partnership.  I received an email over the weekend from United informing me that my Marriott status would be good for another year (through the end of the status year in February of 2015).  Marriott Gold is Marriott's mid tier status and is actually fairly valauble offering the following benefits:

• Lounge Access
• Free Breakfast
• Free Internet
• Late Checkout
• 25% Points Bonus

Marriott Gold was very helpful during our honeymoon at the JW Marriott Khao Lak in Thailand.  We received a room upgrade, free breakfast, free internet, and free snacks and cocktails at an evening happy hour for elites.  Easily $50/day worth of benefits.  Same deal at the JW Marriott on Oahu where we received free internet and a discount at several restaurants on property.

View from our room at the JW Marriott on Oahu

If you currently hold United Gold or higher, it's definitely worth signing up for FREE this benefit.  The process took less than 30 seconds to enter my United MileagePlus number and email address.