Confused on Loews status

[dsmom]

Just got off the phone with Loews first. We were told we are still blue even though we are on our 3rd visit- 12th night. (they were all qualifying stays) I was told you now lose all points each year and have to have 10 visits PER YEAR to maintain platnium status. Does this sound right to you? I called back and talked to someone else and they said the same thing- that you lose all points at the end of a calendar year and have to start over each year now.

 

[tlinus]

that sounds weird to me......I would think that if you were blue, then maybe - but platinum is platinum. We stayed at the HRH for 6 nights in April (not too sure that the 4 in October counted as we had a Universal Vacations package) and we just got our Gold card

 

[calgarygary]

Almost all hotel loyalty programs have the same type of stipulation in their rules. You achieve a status, if you do not maintain that status then it can be taken away. However, many chains, Loews included, are very slow and inconsistent in applying the rule.

 

[rie'smom]

I was told that you never go back to blue when I booked our rooms. We're gold and the reservations agent said that we had to stay x number of days to achieve platinium but that we were staying gold until then.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

These rules are nothing new. If they start applying them, that would be new. It's exactly as Gary said. These are the written rules.
http://www.loews-first.com/loewsfirst_terms.asp


1. Loews Hotels ("Loews") may change the LoewsFirst Program (the "Program") rules, regulations, benefits or processes, and special offers at any time without notice. Specifically, Loews may change or terminate partner affiliations, requirements and rules for earning LoewsFirst benefits, quantity of each benefit provided per stay and per year, continued availability and benefits types.

12. LoewsFirst Gold membership requires three (3) qualifying stays or six (6) cumulative nights (associated with a qualifying stay or stays), in a single Loews Hotel or any combination of Loews Hotels, in a calendar year. LoewsFirst Platinum membership requires ten (10) qualifying stays or fifteen (15) nights (associated with a qualifying stay) in a single Loews Hotel or any combination of Loews Hotels, in a calendar year. A calendar year is defined as January 1 through December 31. Retaining membership in LoewsFirst Gold or LoewsFirst Platinum requires meeting the respective criteria for LoewsFirst Gold or LoewsFirst Platinum each calendar year. LoewsFirst members who were LoewsFirst Gold or LoewsFirst Platinum members prior to June 1, 2003 will retain that status through December 31, 2004, unless a higher status is achieved based on the above stated criteria during the calendar year 2003 or the calendar year 2004. LoewsFirst Blue members and new members will become LoewsFirst Gold or LoewsFirst Platinum members when they meet the above stated criteria. Once a Member attains a tier level, this level will remain in effect through the end of the subsequent calendar year. Post-enrollment stays recorded beginning January 1, 2004 are eligible toward tier-level qualification for the calendar year 2005. Thereafter, Members must requalify each year for the following year's membership.

13. In the event you do not remain an Active Member (as defined above) your membership may be cancelled at the sole discretion of Loews.

I have not read a single post over the years where anyone stated their Loews status had been reduced or cancelled. I wouldnt worry about it at all.

I have seen numerous posts where a person has called for clarification to the 'rules' and have been given conflicting info.

 

[dsmom]

But shouldn't I be gold now since we have three stays and 12 days? The woman I talked to said my visit in Dec. has been cancelled out since it was last year. This year we had one stay in MAy-June for four nights(a qual. stay) and we are going this Friday for three nights - also a qual. stay - and the woman told me even after this visit we would still be blue status.

 

[tlinus]

But shouldn't I be gold now since we have three stays and 12 days? The woman I talked to said my visit in Dec. has been cancelled out since it was last year. This year we had one stay in MAy-June for four nights(a qual. stay) and we are going this Friday for three nights - also a qual. stay - and the woman told me even after this visit we would still be blue status.

I would say that the Dec one is a wash and that after this stay you will move up to Gold. That is just from reading the rules^^^^up there.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

But shouldn't I be gold now since we have three stays and 12 days? The woman I talked to said my visit in Dec. has been cancelled out since it was last year. This year we had one stay in MAy-June for four nights(a qual. stay) and we are going this Friday for three nights - also a qual. stay - and the woman told me even after this visit we would still be blue status.

The good news is the woman is wrong and that confirms the conflicting info offered when you call. More good news is after this trip you will get your Gold card in the mail and it wont be thanks to the woman that gave you bad info!

Are you calling 1-800-563-9712 ? Call and see if Elijah is still working there. He can straighten out ANYTHING. You may want to have the written rules handy when you call so you can read them to the rep. Honestly though, just give it a chance after your trip next week they will have it in their system and the card will be sent out IF your stays were qualifying. The bad news, sometimes they aren't swift about getting the cards in the mail but the status does change.

Have a fun vacation next week!

 

[damo]

I wish that you could check those things on your account details. It is impossible to know if any stays have been missed if you can't check on it.

 

[Meagansmom]

Can I ask a stupid question? I did not know this in the past - if we use our ex: AAA card for a discount - we do not receive any of the Loews benefits except they let us use the exercise room. Is this right with everyone else? I hear conflicting reports sometimes.

I guess I am thinking - I do not cookies and milk for the difference of the discount.

 

[calgarygary]

Can I ask a stupid question? I did not know this in the past - if we use our ex: AAA card for a discount - we do not receive any of the Loews benefits except they let us use the exercise room. Is this right with everyone else? I hear conflicting reports sometimes.

I guess I am thinking - I do not cookies and milk for the difference of the discount.

AAA is a qualifying rate under the LF program - you should receive all benefits. We are platinum, using a AAA rate and have our suite upgrade confirmed for our upcoming stay.

 

[damo]

AAA is a qualifying rate under the LF program - you should receive all benefits. We are platinum, using a AAA rate and have our suite upgrade confirmed for our upcoming stay.

Yes, AAA should give you all of your benefits and count towards your qualifying stays.

 

[macraven]

i had to call loews 2 years ago over a problem of my status.
i was kept at gold for 5 years......

when i last called, i was told loews can only go back 24 months and credit your account if miscalculations occur.

you, dsmom, shoulld qualify for last december. it will count in your move up for 07.

it took me a long time to get my account squared away and just received my platinum card last october, a week after i returned from UO stay.

i know it is frustrating but hang in there, it will work out for you.

 

[bubba's mom]

i think in the LF "fine print", it DOES say "yearly"...so, you would have to meet those requirements yearly. I really don't care much, only this year cuz i need that precious "gold" for next year for the free upgrade..... all cuz DM coming along So, if they DO enforce it, I will have the gold. One nite in Feb this year and FIVE next week! = 6 nites = gold!

otoh: I hope they don't enforce it....i'm jonsin' for that precious plat!!!!

 

[dsmom]

Thanks for all the great advice! I put in a call to Elijah this morning and left a message - I will let you know what he says. Thanks again.

 

[keishashadow]

These rules are nothing new. If they start applying them, that would be new. It's exactly as Gary said. These are the written rules.



I have not read a single post over the years where anyone stated their Loews status had been reduced or cancelled. I wouldnt worry about it at all.

I have seen numerous posts where a person has called for clarification to the 'rules' and have been given conflicting info.

Well, when i called on the weekend, wondering why we didn't have credit on file for last visit; was told that you MUST use the card every year or you drop back to basic Blue status.

Combined w/our upcoming trip, I had hoped we'd have enough w/a short stay in Dec. this year to bump up in status; told NO; we'd still be Blue...guess we'll just use our DVC points instead. This was the carrot to convince DH to "pay" for a room more often; guess we def. won't buy APs & visit less often.

Only reason I did find out was somehow we wound up w 2 cards in my name & 1 in DHs (which is why i was calling them in the 1st place to make sure the trip next week went on the right card; didn't matter anyway - all have ZERO activity. ).

Would like to be able to email someone to express dissatisfaction; anyone know who I should address this issue to?

On another note, wonder if they'd consider DVC as a frequent hotel program as mentioned in other thread?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Keisha are you saying you were previously gold or platinum and they dropped your status to blue?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Thanks for all the great advice! I put in a call to Elijah this morning and left a message - I will let you know what he says. Thanks again.

I'm glad he is still there! Hope all goes well, let us know!

 

[keishashadow]

Keisha are you saying you were previously gold or platinum and they dropped your status to blue?

no, just blue (evidently, now back to square one) - was trying to obtain the next level this year...it's not going to happen for me; still the blue status is a nice touch IMO.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

no, just blue (evidently, now back to square one) - was trying to obtain the next level this year...it's not going to happen for me; still the blue status is a nice touch IMO.

OK so walk me through this like I'm 2 cause I'm missing something. What are your dates from your recent stays?

Blue is square one so I cant figure out how you lost anything? If you have 6 nights OR three separate stays starting from Jan. 07 and ending by Dec, 31,07 you will become Gold.

Also if you can verify that you did this LAST calendar year you can prove you should have become Gold. In the beginning when I was Blue and felt I should have become Gold and they didn't change it I had to fax some receipts and suddenly all was fixed. I have learned over the years that Elijah is the Loews first king and can sort out anything.

Email - info@loewsfirstcs.com
Phone - 1-800-563-9712
Write - Loews Hotels
667 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021