Loews is enhancing their Loews First program

[goofy!]

Got this e-mail today....

Can't wait to see what the enhancements are! I just hope they don't take our suites away.

That’s why we’re enhancing our LoewsFirst program.
To bring you benefits that make your life easier.
Look for details to follow soon.


And from the Loews First Website:

Beginning July 1, 2008, our LoewsFirst program will change. With benefits that are more flexible. More meaningful to you. More of what you want.
It's our way of saying "thank you" to our loyal guests. As a LoewsFirst member, you will be automatically enrolled in our new program at your current level.

In connection with the transition of our guest frequent stay program, the benefits available to program participants will be changing from and after July 1, 2008. Among other things, points and credits for the frequent travel programs sponsored by American Airlines, Midwest Airlines and Amtrak will no longer be awarded by Loews Hotels with respect to any hotel booking or reservation made after June 30, 2008, or with respect to any hotel stay made after September 30, 2008 even if booked or reserved prior to June 30, 2008

 

[macraven]

oh snap......there go my free miles for AA now.

 

[dsmom]

I know how you feel! We were saving Amtrak miles to take our son on a train trip up the East coast! I just hope they don't mess with the suite upgrades!

 

[goofy!]

I know how you feel! We were saving Amtrak miles to take our son on a train trip up the East coast! I just hope they don't mess with the suite upgrades!

They better not take away our Presidential Suite over Thanksgiving

 

[macraven]

i got the email also goofy.
it was in my spam box.......


guess we will have to wait to see what changes are in the forth coming email.


or i could call loews and ask this weekend......

 

[Disneyhappy]

I will reach Platinum on our July 4th week and was looking forward to those suites. I sure hope they don't mess with that perk.

I was upgraded to Concierge last weekend in Philly which was a nicce perk for Gold.

 

[damo]

Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be a change for the better?

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be a change for the better?

Oh no.. you think? I hope it is.. it's a pretty great program as is though. It might be harder to get status levels though.. I don't know. Let's wait and see.

 

[GailT]

I booked a room and tickets through Universal studios. I was told I cant add on my loews first number, I would have to call them direct. I did I have to pay the first nights stay ( I am only staying one night club level) I'd have to pay 524 up front, I cant so I had to decline thatI am slmost ready to say forget it and just stay that other night in Dissney, I know I am a spoiled brat but I wanted to strt using those points when I go away, oh well I juts think that isnt right

 

[macraven]

i am now as of this day, 8,000 points on my Loews first card to a free weekend stay at the HRH.

first i find out by snail this week that the Universal Orlando MC is going south.
my points have to be redeemed by june 29 or they will automatically be transferred to the new program.

Universal is switching to the American Express card as their official card on june 29..........they will not be attaching the extra miles points for airlines or trains anymore.

i bet Loews first program has something to do with that switch of companies.

i did make a quick call but don't know if i believe the person i talked to.

she said that loews will be reviewing all card holders to make sure they are qualifying for each level.
the rules state how many bookings/stays or number of nights you have to be at the loews hotels to qualify to stay on your color card level.

she said if you fail to meet the requirements, you get bumped down a level.

i'm at platinum level.
if i don't meet the requirements, i can get bumped down to gold level.

well, not sure if that person is right.

i'll call back tomorrow and see if i get another answer.
i didn't like the answer that person gave me.

i'm not trying to start a riot here. just saying what i was told but i don't think she knew what she was talking about.

 

[goofy!]

Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be a change for the better?

I get the same feeling. Enhancements?

 

[goofy!]

I booked a room and tickets through Universal studios. I was told I cant add on my loews first number, I would have to call them direct. I did I have to pay the first nights stay ( I am only staying one night club level) I'd have to pay 524 up front, I cant so I had to decline thatI am slmost ready to say forget it and just stay that other night in Dissney, I know I am a spoiled brat but I wanted to strt using those points when I go away, oh well I juts think that isnt right

I am guessing you booked a package through Universal Vacations?

Loews has been pretty strict lately that only bookings through them qualify for the Loews First Perks.

Universal is considered a third party travel agency, which disqualifies it for Loews Perks.

 

[chaffordred]

Beginning July 1, 2008, our LoewsFirst program will change. With benefits that are more flexible. More meaningful to you. More of what you want.
It's our way of saying "thank you" to our loyal guests. As a LoewsFirst member, you will be automatically enrolled in our new program at your current level.

Maybe I'm being a bit too optimistic, but reading the above sounds promising. "More of what we want?" Does that mean flowers thrown at our feet every where we walk throughout Universal Orlando or a complimentary upgrade to the Graceland suite

Being serious though, I'm wondering what they can actually do at the hotels to enhance the current benefits. Let's face it, we get it pretty good already. The equivalent room rates are better than Disney and on top of that we get room upgrades. Then there is the late checkout, free welcome gifts, fitness centre access and the express check-in.

Interesting times ahead

 

[Assisi]

I have never stayed at the Orlando Loews (Philly, DC, NYC, yes, Orlando, no) but am planning to stay in Loews Orlando this year or next. I would like to see club offered as an upgrade enhancement.

 

[donaldduck352]

Got the E-Mail also.We are platinum now.Never asked for upgrades but this upcoming vaca was going to.Got me worried now

 

[ky07]

I am just blue level so I guess I not getting much to begin with so probably won't effect me too much

 

[Sleepy]

I never understood why they issued new cards with each increase in status anyway. I mean, you start out in the program and they give you a blue card. Then, you stay the qualifying number of nights and they send you a gold card. Great, however, the next year you might not make the required number of nights to stay Gold and they drop you to back to blue status, but you still have a card that is gold. Why don't they just issue everyone the same generic membership card?
I have had a Gold card for almost 10 years. Because I don't get to America often, I stay at blue status.

 

[calgarygary]

Got the E-Mail also.We are platinum now.Never asked for upgrades but this upcoming vaca was going to.Got me worried now

If you haven't already booked, chances are you will not receive a suite upgrade as Oct. is becoming a popular time. If you have booked, platinum receives their upgrade (as the program currently exists) at the time you make your reservation.

 

[ScottyGams]

i am only blue as this will be my first stay, but do you think they will implement a timed level status on the LoewsFirst?

Jetblue does the same thing with their frquent flyer program. you don't make 100 points a year, you don't get to redeem any trips! I wonder if Loews will make us use a certain amount of nights per year in order to qualify for higher levels.

 

[goofy!]

i am only blue as this will be my first stay, but do you think they will implement a timed level status on the LoewsFirst?

Jetblue does the same thing with their frquent flyer program. you don't make 100 points a year, you don't get to redeem any trips! I wonder if Loews will make us use a certain amount of nights per year in order to qualify for higher levels.

If I understand you correctly, that is already part of the program.

In order to earn or retain Gold status, you need to have 3 qualified stays or 6 qualified nights within a calendar year. A calendar year is defined as 1/1/xx - 12/31/xx.

To earn and/or retain Platinum status, you need to have 10 qualified stays or 15 qualified nights.

So, to earn or maintain your Gold status for 2009, you would need to have 3 qualified stays or 6 qualified nights during 2008. Otherwise, on 1/1/2009, you drop back to Blue status.

This is from the Loews First website:

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.