A tourist in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, found himself at the center of fierce online ridicule after posting a complaint about his hotel’s late checkout policy during one of the most serious cartel violence outbreaks the country has seen in years. While American authorities were urging citizens to shelter in place following the death of a notorious cartel leader, this traveler was busy writing a grievance on Reddit about the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. The city was in a state of near-total lockdown at the time, with burning vehicles blocking roads and the local airport shut down entirely. His post has since been deleted, but not before the internet had already made up its mind about him.
The traveler opened his Reddit post by establishing his credentials in the loyalty program: “I am a Platinum Elite member, with more than a thousand lifetime stays at Marriott hotels.” He then acknowledged the extraordinary situation unfolding around him before pivoting back to his personal grievance. “Puerto Vallarta is burning because the cartel is setting cars and buses on fire throughout the city. The airport, Uber, and taxi services are not operating,” he wrote, describing a city under siege. Despite this, his primary concern remained a checkout extension past 2 p.m., which hotel staff declined, offering him access to a shared guest lounge instead.
He had requested a 4 p.m. late checkout, which he claimed was a benefit he was entitled to based on availability. His frustration culminated in a scathing review: “The worst Bonvoy property I have ever experienced. I don’t think anyone will be checking in today anyway, so I don’t see why our stay couldn’t be extended at least until 4 p.m.” He also mentioned that his plans to travel to the nearby town of Bucerias that afternoon looked increasingly unlikely, which, given the cartel blockades across 20 Mexican states at the time, was something of an understatement.
A screenshot of the post spread rapidly on X, formerly known as Twitter, where users wasted no time tearing into the traveler. “I’m imagining him yelling ‘I’m a Platinum Elite member!’ as the cartel shoots up the hotel lobby,” wrote one commenter. Another kept it simpler: “All I read from this is ‘I’m entitled to it.’” A third offered a broader observation that resonated with many: “This is a reminder that when a real crisis hits, nothing matters, including money, and especially not status points.” One user even managed to mock the loyalty program itself by adding, “Platinum Elite status won’t save you from immediate danger. Titanium might though.”
The violence that paralyzed Puerto Vallarta was triggered by the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known in Spanish as the CJNG. He was killed in an armed confrontation with Mexican military forces on Sunday. His death set off a wave of retaliatory violence across the country, with cartel members using burning vehicles to block roads in as many as 20 states. In Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, residents barricaded themselves in their homes, and schools in multiple states were canceled on Monday as a precaution.
The U.S. State Department responded by issuing a shelter-in-place warning for Americans in the region, citing “security operations, road blockades, and criminal activity.” The advisory covered several of Mexico’s most visited tourist destinations, including Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. Travelers stranded in these areas described the situation as war breaking out in the streets. Some hotel guests were reportedly told to leave their rooms and find their own food outside the property.
The CJNG is considered one of the most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organizations in Mexico, known primarily for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States. The group has also become notorious for carrying out brazen attacks against government institutions and security forces. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel emerged as a dominant force in Mexican organized crime in the early 2010s, rapidly expanding its territory and influence through extreme violence and military-grade weaponry. El Mencho himself had been one of the most wanted men in the world, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture. Hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy use tiered membership levels, with Platinum Elite being one of the upper tiers, typically granted to guests who stay 50 or more qualifying nights per year and earning perks like late checkouts, room upgrades, and lounge access, all subject to availability.
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