For elite Marriott guests, one of the most common experiences is to show up at a hotel thinking you have earned the complimentary upgrade and only to find out you don't. Marriott could be on the verge of eliminating some of the mystery. The chain is trialing a new functionality in its mobile app that reveals to its elite members the number of upgrades they have and how far they are in the queue for them.

Much like airlines have done for years, the upgrade lists look much like this, and it could give a clue to where Marriott is going with elite benefits. What we do know and what it might mean to you.

What is being tested with Marriott?

In the Marriott Bonvoy program, free room upgrades, particularly Platinum and higher, are one of the best bonuses to have. It was reported by One Mile at a Time first and will be in beta until now, so it's not available to everyone yet.

If you have this feature enabled on your account, you will be able to see the new graphic while you are checking in, in the Marriott mobile app (iOS and Android). It displays the estimated number of upgrades in line and your place in the line for getting an upgrade. The concept is similar to the one used by airlines for years for seat upgrades on a particular flight: passengers are able to check the availability of seats and their position in the queue.

There is one rule to keep in mind. As of writing this, it only affects free and paid updates based on status and not version. It does not include complimentary upgrades (Nightly Upgrade Awards), which have priority. If you have requested an upgrade through an award, then that request goes to the top of the list.

The Way of How Upgrades are Decided Today

In recent years, Marriott has been experiencing a significant rise in the number of Bonvoy elite members. That can mean that dozens of elite members, and perhaps more, will be staying at just one property any given night. If there are a lot of people wanting a better room, and not enough rooms available, a first-come, first-served system doesn't sound so good.

Rather, Marriott employs an automated system for awarding free upgrades. The system takes into account a few factors:

• The extent of the elite status
• Specific stay details
• Proprietary scoring model for each guest

That is what makes someone's experience at the same hotel so different, even if they're both guests. Stay details and the scoring model can make or break in a way that isn't apparent to the traveler. This new in-app display does not affect the way the system works, but it could provide members with a glimpse into the outcome.

What the App Won’t Tell You

The new display provides greater detail, but it doesn't tell the full story. Each hotel is incredibly flexible about what is considered an upgrade and many Marriott hotels do not offer free upgrades to suites.

This feature also lacks the information of which rooms will be available for upgrade. You could get a suite, or you could get the same suite you had booked, but be it a higher floor or you could get a corner view. It can be helpful to be number 4 in line but it doesn't mean it will be the same when you get to the front of the line.

It would be wise to remember that uncertainty. Numbers on a screen can set high expectations and a little upgrade can be disappointing if you had high hopes for a suite. Don't take the information as a promise; treat it as a helpful sign.

More information or step toward the betterment of paying for upgrades?

This is where the feature poses a larger question. It could be that Marriott just wants to provide valuable information to their top customers before and during their visits. That would be a nice change from a lot of the people who are unsure what to expect when checking in and it might make the whole thing fairer and more transparent.

The other scenario is not so rosy. For years, airlines have employed upgrade lists, and they've also made it virtually impossible to get free upgrades unless you pay more up front. Marriott may be following that path, as it is preparing to make free upgrades more difficult if you aren't paying.

The feature is in beta, so it's too early to tell what it will develop into. Nothing can be said about how it will appear in the future. But it does leave one question: will Marriott one day leverage it as a way to sell upgrades to its elite customers, like airlines do with their first class cabins? Once a hotel has a ranked list, it's a small step from a paid system to climb the ranks.

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What Can Elite Members Do Now

There are some good practices during the test:

• Update the Marriott Bonvoy app to view the feature if it's available for your account.
• Log in with the app, as this is where the new graphic is displayed.
• Don't think of an upgrade as a promise, but as an added bonus: reserve a room that you will enjoy.
• Know how to maximize your stay points to boost your Marriott Bonvoy journey, so that your stay works for you.

In addition to these measures, it is important to maintain a realistic attitude. You can get elite status, but there are reasons why it's only good based on your hotel inventory, availability and local policies. No matter how high you are, the full occupancy of a property means less space to offer away.

How does this relate to the whole situation?

The business of hotel loyalty has been evolving rapidly. The benefits that seemed exclusive to those who had arrived were spread over a much wider group of travelers as more of them became eligible. Chains are adapting as seen in this kind of feature. Transparency can be a driving force in building trust, but it can also be a new source of revenue for those who are after perks.

If you travel a lot, the best thing you can do is to monitor these changes and plan accordingly. When upgrades become more organized, you might want to compare programmes and determine your assets' worth of loyalty.

The Bottom Line

A new feature has been added to Marriott's mobile app in beta that reveals the number of upgrades a member could earn for a specific stay, as well as the person standing in line for an upgrade. However, it is not yet widely available and may have implications for the way elite members plan and enjoy their visits.

Given the number of guests who qualify for upgrades at a specific property, it's not surprising to see Marriott attempt to collect additional revenue by selling upgrades to members of its elite list, a move that has been employed by airlines for several years. In the meantime, the best thing to do is to watch it unfold, and savor any additional clarity it provides.