NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[EpcotKilterFan]

Need some help with fine print. I was just looking at the American Express Starwood Card page. I have had my card since February, but just happend to look at the site again tonight.

It says on the top of the page that you can earn UP TO 6,000 Starwood points in the first year of membership. Does this mean:

1) That I can only earn 6000 points (which I think I have surpassed -3 people have cards for the same SPG account and we use it for EVERYTHING including a WDW trip, house taxes and a new laptop)

2) That each card can only earn 6,000 points ( so in my case 18,000 points)

3) With initial offers you can get 6,000 points right away.

Anyone else have ideas as to what this means?

Thanks!!

Debbie

 

[NancyIL]

The 6,000 points are bonus points when you stay at a Starwood hotel and charge it to your Starwood AMEX during your first year of card membership. You get 1,000 bonus points with your first stay, and 500 points per stay for subsequent stays - up to a max of 6,000 points. Those are in addition to the 2 points per dollar spent at a Starwood resort, and 1 point per dollar charged to your Starwood AMEX card.

 

[ozziewags]

What a surprise.....logged onto Starwood site today and my 4000 bonus points were finally posted! I had called last Friday, just like they told me to and asked to speak to a manager and he told me that it was 'being swept by Amex' and that it would take another week. I thought I was still getting the run around. So I thought I would wait a while longer before I sent them a copy of my Amex bills with the dates. On the site it lists my points as 'cc of Amex resolution', whatever that means. Anyway, hang in there if you are still having trouble getting your points. It is much easier to say 'oh well', but if you deserve them, you should have them. I think many of us have had enough corporate boldness.
Sorry so long.

Carol

 

[ozziewags]

What a surprise.....logged onto Starwood site today and my 4000 bonus points were finally posted! I had called last Friday, just like they told me to and asked to speak to a manager and he told me that it was 'being swept by Amex' and that it would take another week. I thought I was still getting the run around. So I thought I would wait a while longer before I sent them a copy of my Amex bills with the dates. On the site it lists my points as 'cc of Amex resolution', whatever that means. Anyway, hang in there if you are still having trouble getting your points. It is much easier to say 'oh well', but if you deserve them, you should have them. I think many of us have had enough corporate boldness.
Sorry so long.

Carol

 

[ozziewags]

Sorry about the double post.

 

[Shelly]

way to go ozziewags. So many people just give up, which is why they get away with this stuff.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

Hey!

We recieved the Starwood AMEX card and registered it last night! I just checked this morning and the 4000+ were added ALREADY!!! On the card it says "Platinum Member", so does that mean we were Platinum SPG members? Those are sure GOOD AMENETIES!!

We are arriving at the Dolphin August 1st! We are going to use the AMEX card so are we going to be upgraded to a suite automatically or should we ask? What else do we get?


Mike

 

[Shelly]

Funny, they must have got so many complaints that they really did do a sweep and gave everyone points.

All AM EX cards are platinum it does not mean your starwood status is platinum.
So sorry not necessarily a suite.

 

[ozziewags]

Shelly is right. Platinum Amex cc is not the same as your Starwood status. Look on the SPG site and under your name it will say either 'preferred', 'gold', or 'platinum'. Then you can check your benefits there also.

Carol

 

[disnurse]

still no 4000 points but i just recheck and my first purchase isn't showing up until 6/24 which must be the closing date of the first billing cycle. Which starwoods number did anyone call to get results?

 

[Shelly]

I only emailed them, which I got off the starwood site.

 

[Troyfus]

I'm still waiting.
I did get a reply once from Starwood saying they would credit my account for the 4000 points, but they failed to show after five days. When I emailed Starwood back, they replied that it would be forwarded to Amex for handling and to wait for two weeks. One week has passed; still no points.
I will endeavor to persevere!!!

On another front: Is there any kind of referral program for getting points?

 

[ozziewags]

The number I used to call Starwood is 1-888-625-4988. I think it is the one listed on their website, near customer service.
Good Luck.
Carol

 

[ozziewags]

Hang in there, mine took 2 weeks, at least. Also, this manager lead me to believe that mine was 'one of the accounts they were going to sweep'. So more should be showing up shortly. Be persistent.

Carol

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Thanks Nancy!!

That is what I thought.....

Debbie
Only 132 days 15 hours 44 minutes to go!

 

[lvinay]

Hi,
I have reservations at the Swan for Dec 15 - 23 with the teacher's discount.
Does anyone know if I can also use the 1500 SPG points for 1/2 off
(5 nights max I think) too? Would that make my room $65 a night or
would it replace the teacher's discount (which would be a waste of
points obviously).

Also, if I want to post to a specific thread, do I need to use Reply? I think I
already posted this question as a new general thread by accident.



Thanks, Linda

 

[NancyIL]

The 1/2 off offers are almost always half off the RACK rate. In your case - the teacher's rate is much better.

Welcome to the DIS, Linda! Yes, just click on "reply" to post on a particular thread.

 

[Debbie7452]

Hey SPG points crazy folks! I just got an email from Alicia about a new Starwood Promotion...Here it is!

This week only, you can earn double points for stays at Sheraton!
You need to book online at SPG.com, sheraton.com or starwood.com this week for stays up until September 29th. There are complete details on those web sites.

Anybody need to take a quick trip somewhere soon? I'm thinking of booking for a night in San Antonio.

 

[cathyz]

I'm sorry if this info. has already been posted...

I have both a regular AMEX card as well as the SPG AMEX card and I was upgraded to Gold Preferred SPG (guess I was lucky!) I have @50,000 membership rewards on my reg. AMEX that I was going to transfer to the SPG - which I believe would be @25,000 points. By the time of our Dec. trip, I would have (give or take) @ 30,000 pts.

OK, my ?'s are about how much I can upgrade. I want the best possible rooms; I NEED to impress DH to ensure more future stays at S/D.

I have 2 std. rooms at the Swan with a gov. discount ($129) for Dec. 1 - 7. 1 room is for my parents. The other is for me, DH & 2 DS (7 & 10).

FOr mom & dad's room, I was going to try Jen's method of using 1250 pts/night to upgrade them to resort with balcony (@8550 points) and then to sweetly ask for one of those corner kings with the 2 balconies. Now, I know hers were at the Dolpin; are there similar room at the Swan? I'm willing to change to the DOlphin, if necessary.

Now, for us - I would still have @ 20,000 points left. I would love a Jr. Suite (but, I see these are 10,000 pts. per night). After you upgrade to resort/balcony for 1250 points/night - is there another level to upgrade to? I know I can't count on being upgraded to a suite. Another option would be 2 connecting rooms ($129/night X 2 = $258 - way less than the 399 cost of a suite). But, i was told that the Jr. Suite is the only way to guarantee conncecting rooms. I wonder if this is really true?

Another question would be, if I paid the extra for a resort view room and used 1250 points/night, where would I ugrade to? Or, is that even an option?

I'm really not trying to be a cheapskate, I just want to use my points wisely and try to impress DH with the Swan or Dolphin. He loves YC (I do too!) but I think these resorts can offer many more amenities for a better price!

THank you for ANY help!!!

 

[jruj]

I just had to post to get this thread moved up. No way should this thread be buried on page 5!

Now I have a question for any recent Doulpin guest. We were recently charged 1250 points for club level upgrade. Anyone else told 750 points per night then charged 1250. When I called SPG to make the request for an upgrade I was told club was 750 points per night. Should I ask for a refund of points?

Club level was worth the 1250 points. Rolls, fruit and juices were great in the a.m. Evening offerings were just what the kids wanted, more fruit, lots of cheese and crackers and great cookies. I was worried about taking our kids into the club with all the business people, but everyone was friendly and the club staff was very helpful. Our kids really enjoyed themselves.

To all getting ready for a WDW trip you'll love the dolphin. Have a great trip!