Listen up Elites; Change is in the Air

Marriott Bonvoy is the new name for Marriott Rewards®, Elite program for Hotels : Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® and SPG®.
And United airlines has a new cabin.

I may be wrong. but I suspect this will be centered on Marriott hotels because I have had 2 SPG hotels move out of the program in the last month. I had booked The Sheraton Providence (PVD) airport, but it has left the group. Now yet another hotel that I stay at, is leaving. The Hotel Des Indes, a Starwood Luxury Collection property will join Leading Hotels of the World, which does not offer many benefits.

Bad news for United Elite members, no more free upgrades to premium economy seats. 

United will launch Premium Plus on 20+ Long-Haul Routes.

in March Premium Plus will be a new service on international routes as United’s new full-service premium-economy cabin. Seating will have up to 19 inches of width, 38 inches of pitch and 6 inches of recline. Flights like the 787-10 Dreamliner, will come with Saks Fifth Ave. pillows and other amenities but fewer amenities than in first class or Polaris. Details Premium Plus Launch on 20+ Long-Haul Routes
Not much to smile about, but you will be able to select Economy Plus free of charge on all connecting segments that do not have a premium-economy cabin. Sitting in the slightly larger than economy seat (economy Plus) on a flight to Newark from Houston if you are buying a ticket to Europe, is a long part of the trip to be in a seat 2 inches wider, but I suppose every inch counts. On the connecting flight, you won’t have Club lounge access on Premium Plus tickets. I know a couple of men whom, do not fit in economy, so will have to purchase the next class up.
Premium Plus fare will be O,A,R,ON,RN fares. So if you want to fly cheap you can buy a basic economy fare but will not earn miles on your flight. The next up would be regular economy then Premium Plus then Polaris. I don’t think they will have first class on flights anymore, looks like it will be the 3 cabins on international flights.
You can not use a Global Premier Upgrade (GPU) to upgrade from economy to business class on S, T, K, L, G or N fares, but you will be able to upgrade to seat in Premium Plus from the afore mentioned fares, (Except basic economy “N” fares).
If you book a Premium Plus fare, you will be prioritized above all economy passengers for waitlisted Polaris business-class upgrades. Not that there is much chance of that upgrade happening.