Effective February 1, 2022 the former MGM MLife program has changed its name to MGM Rewards as previously announced and new benefits are already displayed.
Member accounts have not been updated yet with the new expiry date and it’s expected that this will take at least another week or so, to be completed around February 10th.
After many years of running under the MLife flag MGM has decided to find a new name for their program, most likely for purposes of better brand recognition and clear identification of it being a rewards program which was never clear with MLife.
You can access MGM Resorts here and John wrote about the refresh earlier last month:
MGM Resorts Loyalty Refresh: Welcome MGM Rewards! (Bye Bye M life)
While the new MGM Rewards program has drawn some criticism I find that it’s a vast improvement over what it was before, even for tier members as low as Gold and especially for Platinum & NOIR tiers.
When I log into my account today, the new design and benefits are already visible:
The new card has a slightly different design:
Whats most important than the design aspects are the actual benefits for members that kick in effective February 1:
That resort fees are now waived for Gold, Platinum and Noir members is huge. These scam fees have now reached priced of almost $50 including tax. Them being eliminated makes staying in Las Vegas an excellent opportunity to earn Hyatt status as well. Under the rules of MGM Rewards, members have to book direct with MGM in order to be eligible for the waiver.
That’s not to say there won’t be exceptions to that rule like for booking FHR reservations and the like but I guess we have to go through a few months and see what the experience is going to be.
For a long time Caesars had the edge with Resort fees being waived for Diamond, Diamond+ and Seven Stars. MGM has finally caught on and stopped the practice of charging even their highest tiers a resort fee. That never made any sense.
The credits and complimentary cruises are for “qualifying members” only so that means members who achieved their tier level through play, not status matches. At least for the cruises, MGM apparently now provides a list to their partners Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and you can’t book your free cruise if you ain’t on the list. But over the years I learned that RCCL/CCL are such an operational mess you can try a few times (especially during busy times) and find someone who will do it anyway as long as you’re an active Noir member.
Conclusion
MGM Resort and World of Hyatt have teamed up many years ago and negotiated reciprocal benefits that should not be affected by this MGM’s program refresh. At the same time, the status match from Hyatt to MGM should now be sufficient to get at least the resort fee waived.
I’m looking forward to see this new program in action and experience some of the benefits. Previously the official benefits of MLife were pretty much a joke and except for the airport limousine transfers for NOIR didn’t result in much. Hopefully the new structure has a bit more bite especially when it comes to upgrades.
Here is the small print on tier benefits:
1 Offers will vary in terms of frequency, ticket types, number of tickets, location, dates, etc. based on member’s Tier status and spend/gaming activity. Availability of tickets may be limited by capacity or otherwise and are subject to availability. Redemption instructions will be included in offer communication.
2 Applicable daily resort fees will be waived on up to two room reservations per trip when an eligible member books direct, under their name, with MGM Resorts International and his/her eligible MGM Rewards account number is attached to such reservations. To redeem, the eligible member may be required to visit the Front Desk during their stay to confirm eligibility and request waiver of the daily resort fee (e.g., if member advances to eligible Tier level during stay). Not applicable to reservations associated with convention, trade show and/or group sales unless billed to the qualifying member.
3 One (1) Tier Achievement Celebration Dining Experience benefit valid for qualifying member is offered during the current Tier Status Earning Year to each qualifying Gold, qualifying Platinum or qualifying NOIR member who has earned the minimum Tier Credits associated with reaching the applicable Tier Level (and, for NOIR Tier Level, invited to such level during such Tier Status Earning Period) based on spend during such period. Members who receive their Tier Level status through a third-party or other partnership tier match program are not eligible for the benefit. Dining Experience benefit is not awarded based on a member’s Tier Level status as of the beginning of the Tier Status Earning Year. A qualifying member who reaches multiple eligible Tier Levels during a Tier Status Earning Year as described above will receive one such benefit (awarded as a dining credit) for each such level reached. Amount of dining credit for reaching specific Tier Levels is as follows: up to $100 dining credit for reaching Gold, up to $200 dining credit for reaching Platinum, and up to $500 for reaching (and invited to) NOIR. Dining experience must be booked by qualifying member through designated MGM staff (who will apply applicable dining credit to member’s MGM Rewards account). Dining experience must be completed within twelve (12) months after qualifying for the benefit. Valid only at participating MGM-owned dining outlets. The dining credit cannot be used for gratuities, is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. To redeem your dining credit, you must present your MGM Rewards card at time of payment. Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer. Member will not receive the cash value or be compensated in any manner for any unused dining credit (if any) which will be forfeited if not used during the applicable dining experience. MGM reserves the right to modify the amount of the dining credit offered and/or otherwise modify and/or limit quantity/type of items offered (e.g., alcoholic beverages) all of which may vary based on Tier Level reached and other factors.
4 One (1) air travel credit benefit of up to $600 is offered during the current Tier Status Earning Year to each qualifying Platinum member who has earned the minimum Tier Credits associated with such Tier Level during such Tier Status Earning Year based on spend during such period. One (1) additional air travel credit benefit of up to $600 is offered during the current Tier Status Earning Year to each qualifying NOIR member who is invited to NOIR Tier Level during such Tier Status Earning Year based on spend (including earning the necessary Tier Credits) during such period. Accordingly, a qualifying member who earns the minimum Tier Credits associated with both Platinum and NOIR Tier Levels (and who is invited to NOIR) during such Tier Status Earning Year is eligible to receive two separate air travel credits of up to $600 each, totaling up to $1,200, subject to these term and conditions and the MGM Rewards Rules. Members who receive their Tier status through a third-party or other partnership tier match program are not eligible for the benefit. Air travel credit is not awarded based on a member’s Tier Level status as of the beginning of the Tier Status Earning Year. Air travel must be booked directly by qualifying member and travel must be completed within twelve (12) months after qualifying for the benefit. Travel itinerary must be in the name of such qualifying member. Air travel credit will be reimbursed based solely on the paid ticket price (including upgrades, but excluding luggage/baggage fees, pet fees, etc.) of the qualifying member’s ticket and of his/her guest(s) reflected on proof of purchase if all on the same single travel itinerary and in the name of such qualifying member. Costs, fees and expenses associated with obtaining and/or using airline points, miles, etc. to obtain air transportation are not eligible for reimbursement. Qualifying members will not receive the difference (if any) between the offered maximum air travel credit amount and the actual paid cost of the ticket(s). Qualifying member must provide designated MGM staff with a copy of receipt and other required documentation at least one week prior to scheduled hotel check-in day. Air travel credit will be awarded in the form of MGM Resorts International resort credit (or as otherwise determined in MGM’s sole discretion) that can only be used during the Las Vegas hotel stay associated with such trip. Resort credits are valid at participating MGM Resorts International destinations in Las Vegas only and can be used for hotel accommodations that are booked directly with MGM Resorts International, and select food and beverage, nightlife/entertainment, retail merchandise, and spa services. Resort credits cannot be used for gratuities and gambling. To redeem your resort credits, you must charge the expense to your room at the outlet or other participating location. Resort credit is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Member will not receive the cash value or be compensated in any manner for any unused MGM Resort credits which will be forfeited if not used on trip as set forth herein. Credits must be used prior to guest’s checking out of hotel. Subject to MGM Rewards Program Rules available at mgmrewards.com/rules.
5 One (1) cruise benefit is offered during the current Tier Status Earning Year to each qualifying Platinum or qualifying NOIR members (valid for such qualifying member plus one (1) guest and subject to availability) who has earned the minimum Tier Credits associated with Platinum Tier Level or who is invited to NOIR Tier Level during such Tier Status Earning Year based on spend during such period. Accordingly, a qualifying member who earns the minimum Tier Credits associated with both Platinum and NOIR Tier Levels (and who is invited to NOIR) during such Tier Status Earning Year is eligible to receive both a Platinum and NOIR cruise benefit. Unless otherwise indicated, cruise must be booked during the applicable Tier Status Benefit Year (2/1 – 1/31) for travel completed within three (3) months after such period. Length of cruise and cruise destination will depend upon member’s earned Tier Level status and recent MGM Resorts spend and gaming play. Members are responsible for transportation to/from cruise embarkation and final disembarkation locations. Certain restrictions, fees and limitations apply. Subject to additional terms and conditions available at mgmresorts.com/royalandcelebritycruises
