Has anyone ever requested room upgrades upon arriving?

[tgreen22]

If so what happened and what was done.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I have many times and have had pretty good luck after we became Loew's 1st Gold. We are Platinum now and I expect an upgrade and usually get one in advance.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Motherfletcher,
Do you use the AAA rate to book your hotel? Our Loews 1st membership is useless, because we always use the FLO rate. Just wondering, if you use a AAA rate rather than the FLO rate.

 

[Motherfletcher]

We either book with FLO or APH. I received a Gold card before the Blue. There were a couple of stays where the Loew's amenities were not offered but they have given them the last 5 stays. With Platinum I can even get the 2 o'clock checkout. I get the paper and gym access.

 

[yourgoingagain?]

MotherFletcher, what upgrade are you given? I thought as a Platinum member you automatically were given a Portofino suite (at PBH) at time of reservation if you book with a qualifying rate (AAA). We did get a villa suite once but were just upgraded without asking for it.

Are saying you book using the FLO or AP and still get the suite? Were FLO (Tampa) and AP so I want to make sure were not missing something.

 

[Motherfletcher]

As a Plat you get an upgrade in advance when you make a reservation. While I call to make a reservation they tell me that I'm Plat and always tell me to mention that when making a reservation. They seem genuinely interested in getting you the best room available for your stay. This has worked at Don Cesar and South Beach Loew's. At Universal Resorts I use APH or FLO and generally do not get an upgrade in advance because I make the reservation online. At RPR the standard upgrade is to a King or Executive Suite and we have been given that upgrade both at check in and in advance by request directly to the hotel. We have stayed in rooms on both sides of every Tower and almost every floor at RPR and they recognize us now. At HRH last visit they were turning people away because they were full but we got upgraded to pool view at check in. At PBH we got upgraded to the Villa Suite because of my special advanced request and the club access was additional frosting on the cake.
For a while Loew's stopped giving the perks to unqualified rate stays. So I didn't get the cookies? The difference between APH and AAA was enough to buy dinner let alone cookies. And by perks all they withheld was the welcome amenities. I still had gym access and received late check out.
Loew's First has been a good program for us. We even received a "Stay Again On Us" or something like it promo where if you stayed twice within a certain time they gave you a free night to be added to your next stay. All stays were APH rates and for the free night we did PBH Club which in reality cost us $129 per night.
While the upgrades using APH or FLO are not automatic the resorts want to reward loyal customers. And as I have told hotel management I think that introducing a virgin to the Loew's Universal Resort should have more value than just me staying there several times a year. In the last month I've taken two different couples to our rooms at the resorts and both said that they would like to return.
While I expect an upgrade I certainly don't demand one. I have, however, asked to speak to the manager if the request is denied.
.

 

[Luv2Travel]

Motherfletcher - how did you contact the hotel directly in advance? Did you email or make a call? In either case, who did you direct your request to? I'm a platinum card holder but always book at an APH rate. I have always received (sp?) my welcome amenities, usually get upgraded to a pool view at RPR, but have never been upgraded for free at the HRH (haven't stayed at HRH since making platinum though). We're taking another family of 6 (therefore 3 rooms booked) for Memorial Day weekend and have standard rooms booked at HRH with APH rate. Who would you recommend I contact to request an upgrade? I've always gotten a crummy view at the HRH and would love an upgrade to impress this other family so they might join us again.

 

[Motherfletcher]

HRH is a little tougher than the other 2. RyGuy might be able to help you with a name or email address.

 

[Luv2Travel]

HRH is a little tougher than the other 2.

I'm glad to know it's not just me. Thanks for the info.

 

[RyGuy]

LUV2Travel,

Just PM me if you need any upgrade info or contacts at HRH.

 

[DisneyWisher]

When we went last month I had done all the reading about upgrades, then my parents decided to go with us so I didn't bother. I figured there was no way they would upgrade 2 rooms and I didn't want to be on a seperate floor from my parents (lol I sound like a little kid). We always use the FLO rate and that is worth it wilthout upgrading us. But the surprise to me was that we got the welcome amenities. It was the first time and this was our 4th stay at Universal resorts. I figured it was because both rooms were in my name. My parents didn't receive one for their room. We kept the water and gave them the fruit basket (you know how moms love getting free things). My dd22 and her husband are there now but she forgot to sign up for Loews First. This is her first stay. Can she sign up when she gets home and have this qualify? Just curious.


Shirley

 

[RUDisney]

We used our Loews card for the first time in March at PBH. We requested an upgraded room at check in, around 11:30 p.m. We also were discussing how we'd surprised our DS by picking him up at school earlier that day for a surprise birthday trip. He didn't know until we got to the hotel exactly where we were going. They offered us either a bay view standard room or a deluxe with a view of the quiet pool. We took the deluxe for a little extra space.