NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[Shelly]

I can help you here as I just did this. I received my Am ex starwood in the mail day before yesterday, I called and activated, then proceeded to call starwood. I told the woman that answered that I saw online that I could get a complimentary upgrade to gold with my am ex.
She said you have am ex platinum, I said yes. She said do you have the code for the upgrade. I said no I didn't see anything but to call them. She said ok, you are now gold. I checked online and I am now gold. Just call again and get someone else.

 

[Jen80370]

Figaro...if at first you don't succeed...call back and try again. It took Nancy three tries before she got it.

As for Club/Concierge level....750 points a night.

 

[Dead End Kid]

First, thanks to all of you for posting such terrific Starwood info. We joined last year when we made our first trip to the Swan and now have a nice balance. However, I would very much like to upgrade to Club Level for our July 21 trip. I understand it is 750 points per night. I am 1,000 points shy of what I need!

I was thinking I could make up that difference with the Starwood AMX card, but since we are leaving in July, I don't have much time. My questions:

1) If you apply on-line, how long does it take for you to get your card? A week? 2 weeks? Several weeks?

2) Will I receive 1 Starwood point for EVERY charge I put on this card, no exception (I understand you will not get points for balance transfers and probably not for cash advances, which is fine). But will all other charges qualify?

3) How quickly are the points added to my Starwood account? At the end of each billing cycle? Or the end of each quarter?

4) We have been talking about getting a new computer system for several months, so I know once I get the card I can quickly purchase what I need and that will give me the points I am lacking. But I am unsure if I have enough time. What do you think?

5) I made my Swan reservations thru DreamsUnlimited and got the great gov rate. If I'm lucky enough to get the points I need, can I call the Swan directly (I believe 5 days before we arrive) and arrange for the upgrade?

Thanks again for all of your help. You might already know this, but I did find some new (at least to me) info about the Starwood program last night. I spent most of yesterday on the SPG site trying to figure out ways to earn points. I saw they had "transfer partners" and lots of info about turning Starwood points into airline miles. It also said that you could turn other programs into Starwood points.

Since I have plenty of Delta Skymiles and Continental One Pass miles I thought I had easily solved my point problem. It took me several tries, but I finally got a Starwood rep on the phone. Only to learn that the airline miles only work one way! You can turn Starwood into miles, but not miles into Starwood. Very disappointing!

 

[NancyIL]

Dead End Kid - I'd say it takes about 2 weeks to get your Starwood AMEX card once you apply, and the points for EVERY dollar charged are credited within a day or two of the end of the billing cycle. Have you considered the Inside Flyer magazine promo that gives you 2,500 Starwood points for a mere $59.95? http://www.insideflyer.com/starwood/productnav.cgi?ID=POjpq38AAAEAAAnYZJE&FILE=infoifa.htm

 

[Jen80370]

Quick thinking Nancy...I was about to suggest the same thing. You can even get the magazine for two years if you needed more points. There is no limit to how many you can buy.

 

[KelliR]

FYI..I am leaving Thursday for Las Vegas, staying for 5 nights on SPG points. Starwood has an agreement with Caesar's...and I don't think it is widely known, so I thought I would pass it on/remind everyone about it. It is 7,000 points per night and when I made the reservation, if you booked 4 nights, you received the 5th night free! I think it's a great deal.

I'm learning lots from this new thread!

 

[NancyIL]

Sounds wonderful, Kelli! Have a terrific 5 nights!

The 5th night free award is really great. The fine print states that all the points must be earned within the Starwood program for that reward, and also for the 5,000 bonus airline miles when transferring 20,000 Starwood points.

 

[The Pluto People]

Nancy: Can you tell me what it means (regarding the 5th night free program) to "earn" points within the Starwood program? Can you use points earned with the Starwood AmEx towards this program? And now the BIG question... is the 5th night free program available at the Dolphin?

 

[Jen80370]

Nancy, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that means that you cannot use points transferred in from other programs. I do believe that Starwood AMEX points are just fine.

 

[NancyIL]

Starwood points earned with the Starwood AMEX card definitely count. I should've been more specific - I believe that points transferred from outside programs such as AMEX Membership Rewards and ClickRewards don't count towards the 5th night free.

Yes - the Swan/Dolphin are available for 5 nights for 40,000 Starwood points!

 

[The Pluto People]

Thanks Jen and Nancy!! I'm charging like a madwoman on my Starwood AmEx!!!!

 

[Kaylasmom]

I'm hoping maybe one of you guys can help me out. My husband has his own business and uses his Visa card to make all of his business purchases. We would like to get one of the Starwood AMEX cards so we can start getting points for all of his purchases and get rid of the Visa card. So here's the problem or question...we want to have the AMEX card in his name but our Starwood Preferred Guest card is in my name. Does anyone know if we would put me on as a joint applicant for the AMEX card if we could use my Starwood number on the application or, if not, is there anyway to combine our Starwood accounts after we get the AMEX card? We don't want to lose the points we have already accumulated on my Starwood card. Thanks for your help.

 

[NancyIL]

The points earned with the Starwood AMEX card go to the primary cardholder. However, spouses can combine points for an award. My points were transferred to my DH's Starwood account and then subtracted from there for an award.

 

[Dead End Kid]

Thanks so much to everyone for letting me know more about the AMX card and so quickly. I'm off to apply for one right now. Thanks also for the tip about the Insider Flyer magazine. I had seen mention of it before, but never really looked into it. That might be a great gift for my wife's father - he loves to travel.

One last question: If I do get the points I need, what is the procedure for requesting the club level upgrade? Can I do that directly from the SPG site, or do I need to call the Swan?

My family is really looking forward to our July vacation with our favorite Mouse!

DEK

 

[kaitlynangel]

points can be combined between a husband and wife if they have different account numbers with Starwood. Me and my husband do it all the time. Also I just made a reservation at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls Canada and we have 24,000 points approx. So I was able to book 3 nights using the following points, (very confusing) 8250 points + $250 Canadian per night for the first two nights and 7000 points + $250 Canadian. This is for a Residence Suite (700 SQ ft.), This odd arrangement came by my contacting the hotel directly and negoitianting the number of points and supplementing the number of points I needed for a room type with cash. First I made a booking with Starwood directly for the first two night and yhen I only had 7000 points left but I wanted another night so I asked Starwood to negoiate directly with the hotel directly to see if they would accept only 7000 instead of the required 8250 and they did. I have now been in contact with the General Manager and he helped me accomplish what I wanted to do even through I didn't have enough points. I am looking forward to this trip. I also have Platinum level status due to a promotion that they sent me about 4 months before the end of my Gold year membership was to expire, they told me I had to stay another two nights to get Platinum membership (many nights less then their usual requirement) and I was upgraded. Now I get Club level every time I stay. The Starwood program is the best wonderful people to work with when planning a vacation.

 

[Debbie7452]

OK,OK!

You guys finally got me to call and get the card. I'm just afarid it's too late to build up points for my trip next month. Oh well...I'm going to try to transfer my AM EX Rewards points to Starwood points so I can get the club level I'm dying for. I wish I had wised up a little sooner. I'm going to save a ton off of the Membership rewards annual fee. You'd think I would have caught on a little sooner. I kind of thought my hubby would be suspicious of another one of my schemes for points,upgrades etc....But when I floated the idea, he was fine with it.

I was told the card would arrive in 5-7 business days. I was approved right over the phone. It was so easy!

Debbie7452

 

[happytrails2u]

We are also considering Caesar's for a possible free weekend destination. KelliR, did you by chance inquire about the Cash & Points Awards Nights Promo? I'm curious if this would be honored at Caesar's. The SPG website only lists seven hotels nationally that are participating in this promo. The deal is 2,800 points and $45.00 or 4,000 points and $60.00 depending on what category the resort is. I'm guessing Caesar's would be a Cat. 4 or 5???

 

[NancyIL]

Debbie - if you are going to cancel the AMEX card that's associated with the Membership Rewards account - then transferring the points to Starwood is a good idea. Just be aware that it takes 3 Membership Rewards points to equal 1 Starwood point.

 

[drsung]

What is the deal between Starwood and Ceasar's? I looked at both the SPG and the Ceasar's and couldn't find the connection. Where did you find out about the agreement?

Thanks

 

[Debbie7452]

Thanks Nancy,

Yes, I am aware of the points swap value. That's one of the reasons this new card is such a better deal for me.

I got just enough to upgrade to club level for the two nights. However, when I called to book the upgrade at the Dolphin, they told me to call Starwood directly. What do you think? I think I just got an agent having a bad day!