I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

Got checked in at the Sheraton San Diego Marina... girl at the desk told me no club access for business cards. Might just stop by in the morning and ask again.

I really don't get this. It is an advertised benefit of the card yet reading online, seems more often than not, people have to really fight for it. I'd ask to speak to a manager.

 

[Lain]

Got checked in at the Sheraton San Diego Marina... girl at the desk told me no club access for business cards. Might just stop by in the morning and ask again.

Did you book through a SPG channel, or through UR? If you booked directly, they should honor the benefit if you show them your card. If you booked through a third party, then it’s ymmv. I’d take this up with the manager and show them the Amex SPG Biz website if you have to (technically it’s a benefit when you’re traveling for “business”).

Remember @Judique had this happen to her daughter last week?:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/page-1034#post-59002589

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/page-1035#post-59003330

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/page-1041#post-59007179

 

[amalone1013]

@Lain yup, booked through SPG. @Judique s story was the first thing I thought of. It's just annoyimg... the main reason for picking this Sheraton over any other hotel was the lounge for breakfast and earning extra SPG points, since it was similarly priced to other places for a one night stay.

@wendow exactly! And from my understanding, it's not really new, so its weird for employees not to know.

 

[Lain]

@Lain yup, booked through SPG. @Judique s story was the first thing I thought of. It's just annoyimg... the main reason for picking this Sheraton over any other hotel was the lounge for breakfast and earning extra SPG points, since it was similarly priced to other places for a one night stay.

Ask to speak to a manager. Make sure he/she knows you have the Amex SPG Business card and club lounge access is an included benefit. When I asked my receptionist at the Sheraton Anaheim about the perk, she made sure to ask if I had the business card since the personal card doesn’t have the club lounge benefit. She took a look at my card and recoded our keycards and gave me a lounge pass, no problem.

And didn’t @Albort stay at the Sheraton San Diego recently? I remember him posting his experience in the lounge.

ETA: this is even upsetting me. I can only imagine how you feel. If I were there, I’d seriously go back down while the front desk agent is still on duty, say you checked your SPG business card’s benefits and it specifically includes Sheraton club lounge access, and ask to speak to her manager so she’s educated on this perk.

 

[Albort]

Ask to speak to a manager. Make sure he/she knows you have the Amex SPG Business card and club lounge access is an included benefit. When I asked my receptionist at the Sheraton Anaheim about the perk, she made sure to ask if I had the business card since the personal card doesn’t have the club lounge benefit. She took a look at my card and recoded our keycards and gave me a lounge pass, no problem.

And didn’t @Albort stay at the Sheraton San Diego recently? I remember him posting his experience in the lounge.

ETA: this is even upsetting me. I can only imagine how you feel. If I were there, I’d seriously go back down while the front desk agent is still on duty, say you checked your SPG business card’s benefits and it specifically includes Sheraton club lounge access, and ask to speak to her manager so she’s educated on this perk.

@amalone1013
Lain is right, when i was denied, i asked to speak with a manager. I had insisted.
if u dont feel like speaking with the front desk, tweet at @SPGassist.
alternatively, they should have txt you with a place where you can ask questions. This was one of the service i really liked. you can txt them there. If you need the phone number, ill go look on my phone.

 

[Albort]

@SouthFayetteFan hmm, your right about the sign up bonus coming into factor for the SPG personal and the new premium Stariott card. i didnt consider this. I dont know where that post went. Ima ask him again and see what he thinks again...

 

[wendow]

@amalone1013 I'd have to deal with it tonight too. That is just my 'bit type A' personality though.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

@SouthFayetteFan hmm, your right about the sign up bonus coming into factor for the SPG personal and the new premium Stariott card. i didnt consider this. I dont know where that post went. Ima ask him again and see what he thinks again...

Definitely report back - I'm certainly open to hearing different viewpoints on why you'd keep a card open.

 

[Judique]

@SouthFayetteFan hmm, your right about the sign up bonus coming into factor for the SPG personal and the new premium Stariott card. i didnt consider this. I dont know where that post went. Ima ask him again and see what he thinks again...

I'm watching the comments on the existing SPG personal closely. I've been inclined to keep my card, especially since it's my third oldest card, from 2001.

But the idea that the fee may jump is not one that I had given any thought to.

 

[amalone1013]

@amalone1013
Lain is right, when i was denied, i asked to speak with a manager. I had insisted.
if u dont feel like speaking with the front desk, tweet at @SPGassist.
alternatively, they should have txt you with a place where you can ask questions. This was one of the service i really liked. you can txt them there. If you need the phone number, ill go look on my phone.

I really liked the texting option at the Dolphin the last time we were there. I don't see anything for that in the room here. I might tweet them, there was a long line to check in just now as we went by

 

[Judique]

I really liked the texting option at the Dolphin the last time we were there. I don't see anything for that in the room here. I might tweet them, there was a long line to check in just now as we went by

My daughter tweeted and got a response from SPG very quickly.

 

[Albort]

I really liked the texting option at the Dolphin the last time we were there. I don't see anything for that in the room here. I might tweet them, there was a long line to check in just now as we went by

try txting (619)633-2910
tweeting @spgassist, they respond quickly. i did a few times. i can back up @Judique

please let me know if the coffee machine is back up in the lounge. The sausage and bacon are to die for in the AM. my mom doesnt eat meat usually in the morning but she made an exception when we went LOL. Breakfast is pretty nice!

 

[3 DD love princesses]

@amalone1013 good luck and hope they fixed it. Enjoy your breakfast

 

[hsmamato2]

Ok, it wasn't just me who thought that

anyone else think this new card is a 'test run' for the other cc companies- to wait and see who jumps on a card with no bonus? I sure won't bother. I have other things I'd rather do regular spend on...
ALso I just paid my Discover IT bill,I really like how easy it is to view and USE the cashback to pay the bill! I did that, is that the general way you all use it, to offset the bill,thus 'cashing' out?

 

[hsmamato2]

get the easy one first... yes, i do have an SPG Biz.

We know for a fact that Amex will offer the premium version of the Stariott. Therefore, there is a fair chance that Amex will convert the SPG personal to it. The guess is also that they probably wouldnt be charging people the $450 fee, but would most likely offer the benefits of it until the AF approaches again. This alone, makes me want to keep the SPG Personal in case of the higher offer.
Another thing i was also considering is that since SPG is getting closer and closer together, there is also a potential chance of SPG card to getting an anniversary night.

edit: also it makes me wonder if they are hiding the SPG personal card down so there would be less people to give the extra benefit to.

OOOOhhhhhh

 

[trenty]

anyone else think this new card is a 'test run' for the other cc companies- to wait and see who jumps on a card with no bonus? I sure won't bother. I have other things I'd rather do regular spend on...
ALso I just paid my Discover IT bill,I really like how easy it is to view and USE the cashback to pay the bill! I did that, is that the general way you all use it, to offset the bill,thus 'cashing' out?

I have the Discover It less than three months. I haven't used my cash back to pay the bill. I plan to use it to buy Disney Gift cards for my trip this summer. After that I will probably use it to get the discounted gift cards they offer - you can get more back this way - check under rewards.

 

[GZanta77]

anyone else think this new card is a 'test run' for the other cc companies- to wait and see who jumps on a card with no bonus? I sure won't bother. I have other things I'd rather do regular spend on...
ALso I just paid my Discover IT bill,I really like how easy it is to view and USE the cashback to pay the bill! I did that, is that the general way you all use it, to offset the bill,thus 'cashing' out?

I generally 'cash-out' through gift cards - you can easily get an extra 10 - 20% of value this way.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

DoC is on a roll with these new card details:
Details Regarding Chase IHG Premier & IHG Traveler Cards – Listed On Chase Website

I am much happier that I just got the $49 IHG card for DH and that I also have the card. I doubt I would use the 4th night free benefit much, so getting the same reward certificate for $40 less is a great deal. Plus getting points back from bookings makes it a keeper for us.

And if I really wanted the 4th night free, I could just get the $29 card and still come out ahead.

ETA: After reading the details more, the 4th night free seems to only apply to points bookings. So if you pay cash, you don't get the discount. Definitely decreases it's usefulness in some situations. I probably would never get the new cards, given this limited application of this benefit.

It seems that the old $49 card application link is still available through DOC, in case anyone wanted to grab it before it closes for good.

 

[miztressuz]

anyone else think this new card is a 'test run' for the other cc companies- to wait and see who jumps on a card with no bonus? I sure won't bother. I have other things I'd rather do regular spend on...
ALso I just paid my Discover IT bill,I really like how easy it is to view and USE the cashback to pay the bill! I did that, is that the general way you all use it, to offset the bill,thus 'cashing' out?

I've done that one or twice. I usually cash out for gift cards because they come with a minimum of $5 extra added. I've also cashed out for the cruise vouchers before but I see they took that option away. I've got it on my list to call the TA who did the vouchers and see what's up. The TA also had a deal for 5-10% back on your cruise fare, they'd use whichever was the better deal, so most of my non-Disney cruises were booked through them. (I've had bad experiences with TA's before, while these guys might not have the best discounts out there, I'm familiar with them and so far they haven't messed anything up)

The one time I remember cashing out with a statement credit was because of a cruise. You get your CB after the cruise is completed, but I had a similar amount of CB accrued already so I cashed out when I made final payment to discount the cruise. Then the CB earned from the cruise replenished my balance.

With the gift cards, I'm in an area where I can use Bed Bath and Beyond GC's to buy Disney GC's. You use $20 to get a $25 GC for BBB. So last year I cashed out most of my balance for BBB and turned it into Disney at a 20% discount.

 

[WVMomof3]

The Southwest referral links are back down to 40,000. Boo