Marriott Is Testing a Way to See Exactly Where You Rank for an Upgrade

Marriott Bonvoy is quietly testing a feature that treats hotel upgrades the way airlines treat standby lists. According to reports on the trial, eligible members who open the Marriott app shortly before arrival see a page titled “Your Complimentary Upgrade Status.” It shows an estimated number of upgrades available for their dates and bed type, along with the member’s current position in the queue. In one example circulating among travel bloggers, the screen showed zero upgrades available and the guest ranked second, a blunt way to learn your odds before you ever reach the front desk.

The page also changes when guests find out. Marriott says members will be told one day in advance whether their complimentary upgrade is confirmed. That is a notable shift for a perk that has traditionally been decided at check-in, and sometimes only after a conversation with the desk agent. Travel writers have questioned how a day-ahead confirmation squares with upgrades that are usually processed overnight or on the morning of arrival, so how firm that promise proves in practice is still an open question.

There are important limits on what the numbers mean. The count only covers rooms matching the booked dates and bed type, and Nightly Upgrade Awards, which members redeem with points, take priority over complimentary upgrades and are not reflected in the list. It is also unclear which rooms sit in the upgrade pool, and the feature does not distinguish between a higher floor and a suite. A zero on the screen therefore may not tell the whole story, and a bigger number does not guarantee anything.

For now the feature is in beta at a small group of hotels, and reports say it is expected to reach more than 250 properties in the United States and Canada by early November 2026. Marriott has not detailed a broader rollout. Elite members who book soon may spot the new page in their app, and those hoping for a better room should watch how rankings are decided, since the company has not said whether status tier, stay history or booking date drives a member’s position.

Sources: One Mile at a Time, Upgraded Points