NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[pewing]

Okay...I just applied for the Starwood AMEX online and was approved. I am torn about this. We just flew a family of four to WDW this month on award tickets...so I love my SkyMiles AMEX Does just having the AMEX do anything for me? There has been mention here of automatic Gold status... Do I need to use it between when I get it and my upcoming trip in April to insure benefit?

 

[MichiganMommy]

Thanks Troyfus for explaining!

 

[pewing]

I had to call Starwood, but they upgraded on the phone. I'm so thankful for the information on these boards

 

[mom23guys2]

Boy do I have a few questions. I am a SPG but only have about 2000 points. I have reservation in April at Dolphin using the teacher rate. I also have reservations for my sons using that rate for an additional room but for fewer nights(different res numbers since I made them at different times.
1. Will the two rooms count separately for different stay and both earn points since I'm paying for both?
2.Can I transfer AMEX rewards point to Starwood to upgrade to Club since I'm using the discounted stardard rate to start? I understand that you may have a complimentary upgrade at chech-in but what if I want to guarantee the upgrade?
3. How many points will it take per night?(750?)
4. Can I upgrade to a Junior Suite and how many points for that to be guaranteed?
5. If I apply for the Starwood Amex, Will any of these point totals needed change?
6. Did the added 500 points given for online booking offer expire?

 

[mom23guys2]

Sorry, one more question. Is this a good time to get a SPG Amex card or are the incentives better at other times?
Do you automatically get upgraded to Gold Status. or was this an earlier promotion?
Sorry to be such a pest.

 

[pewing]

mom23guys2 :

I had to call to get upgraded.

 

[disneywith6kids]

beware---I just stayed at the Dolphin and they charged me 1250pts per night for CL -I tried everything possible to argue the point and they wouldn't give it to me for 750 pts.

 

[Shelly]

Did you call SPG directly. I would try that and explain. They may adjust your points for you.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Dear Mrs. Smith:

Thank you for your e-mail reply. We are happy to be of further assistance.

At the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, a room with a club lounge access is 750 additional Starpoints and a room with a balcony is an additional 1,250 Starpoints. Please note that this hotel does not offer a room type that includes a balcony and club floor access.

We appreciate your patronage of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Best regards,

Christy Fienes
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

www.starwood.com

TRACKING NUMBER: A00000972549-00002743897

-----Original Message-----


From: klsmith5252@msn.com
Sent: 22 Apr 02 18:55:50
To: starwood.preferred.guest@starwoodhotels.com
Cc:
Subject: Re: Re: Question

"Upgrade to balcony room and Club Acess? How many points?"

I did not see my question answered below. I see the 750 for one upgrade
and 1250 for the other upgrade so how many points is it for what I
would like to do?


"Upgrade to balcony room and Club Acess? How many points?"

Upon booking a standard room, I realize I wait until 5 days before to
apply the points but I do not know how many points I need???


Thanks again, Robin and Kirk Smith

 

[disneywith6kids]

yes I called and am waiting a return call

 

[UponAStar]

Mom Poppins - I PM'd you for a copy of that e-mail. We were charged 1250 points a couple of weeks ago. (eventually waived, long story - next post) Thanks!!!!!

 

[UponAStar]

Just wanted to thank all of you who submit such supportive and informative posts. We just got back from the Dolphin last week where for an average of $96 a night we had a Corner King with two balconies, free Club Level access, the resort fee waived and a bonus of 2,500 Starpoints. How did we do it?

We used the AP rate of $187.50 for the first two nights and the $60 cash & points for the next five. Initially we used points for the first two nights of Club Level access at 1250 a night, that's all we had enough points for.

Well the first night we were there the fire alarm went off at 2:00 in the morning and the intercom announcement said to vacate the building. Off we go into the chilly Floriday night with all thoughts of an early morning start a distant memory. It seems that some drunkard tried to set off the the sprinkler system with a lighter in the hallway and when that was unsuccessful he used the fire hose to spray water under people's doors. They eventually caught him. We spoke to the Manager the next morning who comped us the Club Level access for the entire week and waived the resort fee for our troubles.

Later in the week we took advantage of Sheraton's "Great Stay or We Pay" Service Promise to complain (nicely, of course) about the missing bath soap, two nights of missing turndown service, one very late mousekeeping and cigarette butts on the balcony of our non-smoking room.
http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=hot&script=410&layout=6&item_id=331739
Bingo, 2,500 Starpoints credited to our account! (BTW, we had been tipping $4/day for Mousekeeping, guess it wasn't enough!) LOL

 

[Shelly]

I'm wondering, did you upgrade using points at check-in.
Maybe we should upgrade thru spg 5days in advance, to aboid the mischarge of points.
Or do we have to use are points thru swan/dolphin?

 

[Shelly]

I'm wondering, did you upgrade using points at check-in.
Maybe we should upgrade thru spg 5days in advance, to aboid the mischarge of points.
Or do we have to use are points thru swan/dolphin?

 

[UponAStar]

Shelly-
The first two nights we used the AP rate ($187.50) for a King w/Balcony and I called a couple of days before to request the corner King w/dual balconies, no points were needed for the room upgrade but I guess it wasn't really that much of an upgrade. At that point they couldn't let us stay in the same room for the remainder of our stay (different reservation) using Cash & Points as all the corner Kings were reserved or so I was told. It wasn't until check-in that they were able to somehow allow us to stay in the same room. Again no points were used.

However, when we requested Club Level access at check in (hoping to get comped) they said it would be 1250 per night.

 

[dreamflight99]

Did you receive my email? Please, let me know. Thanks...DF99.

 

[disnurse]

was wondering about waitng till check in or upgrading 5 days in advance. We are gold status booked in standard room. Is CL a double upgrade because of balcony or view you get plus CL. Will they all be filled if we wait untill check-in or would it be a big hassel at check-in hoping to get great room and club level.

 

[Mouseteacher]

disnurse~ e mail a request for a comp upgrade directly to the swan/dolphin about 5 days before you check in. You will probably receive an e mail from them saying that upgrades will be granted upon check in and with availability. Then, continue to check the spg site - your reservation - hopefully within a few days you will see an upgrade!
We were gold status (I also called the Dolphin direct to check and make sure our Gold spg # was attached to our reservations) with no points last August / booked a standard room with teacher rate - e mailed requesting a comp upgrade and noting our gold status. Received that standard e mail response from the Dolphin --- lo and behold within a few days I was checking our reservation on the spg site and we were upgraded to CL (both rooms which I reserved for DB and family with teacher rate). We had standard rooms on the 12th floor which is Club Level. We kept the standard room just being very excited about receiving the complimentary CL. Needless to say, what a great surprise to an already magical trip thanks to all the advice I received from the DIS Boards! Hope the magic works for you too!

 

[pewing]

Originally posted by Mouseteacher
disnurse~ e mail a request for a comp upgrade directly to the swan/dolphin about 5 days before you check in. You will probably receive an e mail from them saying that upgrades will be granted upon check in and with availability. Then, continue to check the spg site - your reservation - hopefully within a few days you will see an upgrade!

Mouseteacher:
Do you have that email address?

 

[Mouseteacher]

pewing ~ go to www.swandolphin.com and you will find a place to e mail them on their site.