3-year Plat here, and soon Diamond from the extra travels booked for later this year. But I will not be swayed by ALL from here on.
1. I have stayed at 8 different Accor properties on 11 occassions over the last 12 months for my holidays - 90% in premium properties like Pullman and Sofitel. Various locations like Fiji, Sydney, Paris, Madrid, etc etc. Average 4 nights in upper mid or low top room categories per stay.
2. I have gotten early check-in: never (with early arrival rate of 80%)
3. I have gotten late check-out: once, by an extra hour only
4. Plat/Diamond check-in desk: the signs were there at most hotels, but usually noone in attendance and if you try to wait, the staff just redirects you to the ordinary queue with an apology (and sometimes with a look of "why are you lining up where there is no staff" - in the process making me feel like a demanding idiot rather than an elite level loyal customer); with the exception being the two Sofitels in Sydney.
5. Room upgrades: got one-category room upgrades twice (both times in Sydney); otherwise been told it's a "higher floor" in the same category
6. Their phone service line, in Australia at least, is very understaffed - I tried all 3 numbers, 1300, 03 and the Accor Plus 1300, all three numbers eventually divert you to the same queue - 1hr wait on a Wednesday 10AM listening to hold music before being answered
7. Services: Sofitel in Sydney was very good; Sofitel Fiji was good; otherwise, any mid-tier offerings like Novotel or Mercure just treat you like a normal guest, with no acknowledgement of status reflected in the attitude or phrasing of service delivery whatsoever (but the free wine/cake is usually present in the room).
8. But some good also: premium club lounges, where available, were usually pretty good
By comparison, my friend's experience as a Plat at Marriot has been much better - frequent 4PM check-outs, occassional multi-category room upgrades. So I have already decided to switch my allegiance next year to see if the grass is indeed greener over there.
It feels like Accor has been funneled a lot of business from Amex Plat and pretty much tanked its own brand as a result of elite membership dilution.