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MGM Resorts announced a few weeks ago that its M Life loyalty program is undergoing several changes. The program will feature a new name (“MGM Rewards”), new perks (waived resort fees!) for some members, and updated earning structures.
I had several questions about the updated program — and an MGM Resorts executive answered them.
What’s the “New” MGM Rewards Program?
Before we get to my questions and MGM’s answers, here’s a graphic highlighting each elite status tier’s benefits.
Not familiar with MGM’s loyalty program tiers? Sapphire is the status you’ll get simply for walking up to an MGM property’s players club desk and signing up. It’s a jazzier way of saying “general member.”
From there, it goes up to Pearl, then Gold, then Platinum, and Noir. (I’m at the Gold level, thanks to my status match with World of Hyatt.)
I think Noir is the “if-you-don’t-know-how-much-gambling-is-required-to-earn-it-then-you-probably-can’t-afford-it” tier. 🙂 (I liken it to “Excelsior Plus,” for my fellow Modern Family fans.)
A number of MGM Rewards’ features jumped out at me — and presented several questions. Anil Mansukhani, MGM Resorts’ Vice President of Loyalty Marketing, was kind enough to answer them via email. Eye of the Flyer’s readers and I tend to be on the same wavelength, so I hope this helps you, too!
Q: Resorts fees being waived is a great perk for Gold (and higher) and members! Will that feature work for members who book through Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts and Chase’s Luxury Hotels & Resorts programs? What about other online travel agencies?
A: No. Rooms must be booked directly through an MGM Resorts channel to qualify for the waived resort fee.
Q: Can members earn points at any dining establishment on MGM properties? Or only MGM-owned restaurants?
A: MGM Rewards Points can be earned and redeemed at over 400 food and beverage outlets across MGM Resorts properties (including leased venues) as long as those venues have room charging capabilities.
Q: The celebration dinner is valid only for members who earn status through spending, correct? Not through status matches (i.e., World of Hyatt)?
Correct. While tier match members from our partners receive many of the same benefits (such as waived resort fees for direct bookings), there are several benefits reserved for members who have earned their Tier directly through MGM Rewards including the Tier Achievement Celebration Dinner and the Tier Achievement Air Travel Credit.
Q: Will shopping discounts at MGM-owned retailers remain? (I appreciate the gift shop and souvenir shop discounts with my Gold membership) For example, Pearl members receive 5% discounts at participating shops on MGM properties, Pearl and Gold enjoy 10%, Platinum and Noir get 15%.
A: There is no change to the shopping discounts at MGM-owned retailers.
Q: What effect (if any) will this have on the MyVegas games/program?
There is no change to the MyVegas games/promotion.
Q: Pearl (and higher) members will receive complimentary tickets to “select exclusive MGM Rewards concerts in Las Vegas.” What kinds of concerts can we expect? Is there a limit as to how often the benefit may be used (i.e., two tickets each month, etc.)? Where will the concerts be held?
We look forward to sharing additional details around this benefit upon the program’s launch on Feb. 1.
My Thoughts
A few quick thoughts here. (And thanks to Mr. Mansukhani for his time and insight!)
I understand MGM Resorts wants people to book reservations directly through the company. But I was sort of disappointed to hear that Gold tier members and higher who use Amex’s FHR and Chase’s LHR won’t be able to take advantage of the waived resorts fee benefit. Ah, well.
Caesars Rewards gives annual Celebration Dinners to Diamond tier members — no matter how those status holders achieve Diamond (i.e., status match, gambling, etc.). I find it interesting that MGM Rewards does not award status matched Gold (and higher) members with a Celebration Dinner. To be honest, MGM’s approach shows special loyalty reciprocity to people who truly spend a bunch of money with MGM Resorts. It reminds me how Delta gave upgrade priority to Medallions who actually earned their status for 2022 — as opposed to just having it rolled over from last year. I wonder if Caesars will eventually follow suit? As someone who is a Diamond member at Caesars (yes, through a status match) I hope not. Your $100 allowance toward a Celebration Dinner is very easy to spend. And if you pick up the tab for several guests with you, Caesars just made a bunch more money from you that otherwise might’ve been spent elsewhere. Trust me.
I’ve become a big fan of the MyVegas games. I enjoyed two comp nights at Bellagio and a few free drinks during a recent Vegas trip — all thanks to MyVegas. I plan on soon running a few posts about MyVegas; if you visit Vegas at once every year or so, it’s worth playing MyVegas on Facebook or downloading the Bingo game (which is addicting, be forewarned!). You can earn a lot of free meals and drinks for a minimal amount of work. I’m glad that MGM Rewards doesn’t appear to devalue the program.
Final Approach
M Life soon becomes MGM Rewards. While “MGM Rewards” isn’t exactly the most thrilling name for a rewards program, it’s better than “M Life,” which looks and sounds odd.
I guess I’ll have to take a trip to Vegas and test out the new changes ASAP. You know, for the sake of the blog. 😉
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Chris, would love to learn more about MyVegas as soon as possible and support your blog through that if the opportunity presents itself. Thanks!
Thanks, Daniel! I’m outlining some posts now and hope to have them up in the next couple of weeks — especially with spring break around the corner. I don’t know if there any ways to support the blog through MyVegas but I appreciate the thought! Of course, we always are grateful when people use our Amazon link and credit card affiliate links. MyVegas is something people should know about. It’s so easy to earn comps and save a few bucks.
When do MyVegas Rewards get made available?
As soon as you have enough points — and inventory is available for the rewards you want.
Love the post. I am going to Vegas with MyVegas redemption. Do you think they will waive the resort fees for these comp nights as these are booked directly through Mlife? I am a Gold member.
I’ll see what I can find out!
I’m definitely interested in learning more as well. I already play the myvegas games but have never seen an option to connect my MLife card
Does MGM Rewards match Hyatt status like M Life did? My M Life status supposedly expired 12/31/21, but I think all staus has been extended to 1/31/22. When I follow the Hyatt link to match status to M Life, MGM tells me it cannot find the page. I wrote to MGM customer service, but they don’t respond.
As far as I know, it does. Try this page.
I received gold status last 8/ 17/2021
And have booked at the Bellagio for [date redacted for privacy]. Will they honor my gold status? And what about my express comps? I have $111.00 and was hoping to be able to use them.
Thanks for any information
Johanna
As far as I know, they will — as long as your status doesn’t expire before then. I think this is more about changing the name and adding some bells and whistles. I wouldn’t worry.
Yes it will still be part of the new program.
You have to rematch your Mlife to your Hyatt account every year with Hyatt, but not the reverse. Once Hyatt is connected to my Mlife every time I check its already there. I learned that I have to advise Hyatt every year from Hyatt, but I get more perks from my mlife with Hyatt than I do with mlife from my Hyatt stays, which completely changes Feb 1 anyhow. I will not be assigning my Hyatt points to mlife.
Thanks, Chris! It worked this time! Has the complimentary valet parking for MGM Gold members been eliminated? I don’t see it listed as a benefit anymore.
I don’t believe so.
Gold will still be offered complimentary valet parking.
One paragraph needs editing. You list Diamond instead of Platinum.
Ah, geez. Thanks for the heads-up.
You have to rematch your Mlife to your Hyatt account every year with Hyatt, but not the reverse. Once Hyatt is connected to my Mlife every time I check its already there. I learned that I have to advise Hyatt every year of my mlife from a Hyatt cust serv rep. I get more perks from my mlife stays with Hyatt than I do with mlife from my Hyatt stays, and which completely changes Feb 1 anyhow. I will not be assigning my Hyatt points to mlife.
Thanks for this info. I’ve been Platinum for several years, due to my frequent Vegas trips (5 to 6 per year). As of February 1st I’ll be reduced to Gold. Tier credit points used to be 25/dollar spent. That has now been reduced to 4/dollar. I doubt that I’ll ever be able to attain Platinum again & will have a difficult time attaining Gold after this year. The new system is horrible unless you are a high roller gambler. The system is also being de-valued on slot play & even table games.
Match your status ASAP to Caesars. Then match it back to Gold in 2023.
Thanks for your quick response. Unfortunately I won’t be in Vegas before I’m dropped to Gold. Right now I have over 120,000 tier credits of the required 200,000 & it’s my understanding that I will still be able to have Gold for 2022.
Just double checked —- I think you can match your MGM Gold to Caesars Diamond. Then just go back and forth when the other expires.
Caesars will only match from mgm gold if you are a brand new caesars member, but mgm still matches caesars to mgm gold even if you were already a member
Thanks again!!
My wife and I have joint mlife rewards, can we have our own mlife master card account, and earn tier point together?
If one of you is the primary cardholder and adds the other as an authorized user, I don’t see why not.
Because of Covid we were not able to make our twice yearly trip to Vegas. We attained Platinum status under MLIFE but you are now telling me we must start all over at the lowest tier under MGM Rewards. Is this correct? If it is correct this is the lowest stupid UNLOYAL thing you can do to other wise loyal MLIFE members!
What’s your current status tier?