NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[Mouseteacher]

anne ~ call spg and let them know you have the Plat. AMEX card and ask if you could be now considered a gold member. I did that last July and was upgraded to gold status with that one phone call. That in turn led to a CL comp upgrade at the Dolphin when we stayed last August. So, call spg and ask -- you could be gold.

 

[msdisney53]

I have been reading these posts since last July, when I made my reservation at the Swan with the teacher's rate( thanks to the board) I got my Amex card and I've been racking up the points ever since.I finally got the nerve up to call SPG and ask to be upgraded to Gold. "Freddy" did it in 1 minute. Thanks to everyone. Couldn't have done it without you. Here's hoping for CL.
Denise

 

[maggiew]

I faxed spg my information on my Marriott Rewards Elite status to try and get them to match. How long should I wait before calling. She said it takes 48 hours, but how long will it take to show up on the website?

Also, if you get an upgrade to Gold because of the Am Ex, does it only last one year? What happens the next year? Can you call again for the next year?

How many points do you get per stay? Do you get a certain lump sum, like 500 points per stay or is it based on the $$ spent?

I called the Dolphin today and asked what sort of upgrade you get with gold membership and she said a preferred room, which would be a balcony. If you want club you have to use points. So, I am going to rely on a upgrade to balcony and request club priviledges with points. Does this sound ok? What view should I request? I was thinking Far East Wing - EPCOT. Does that sound good? I also am going to email a nice plea for a complimentary upgrade to club about 2 weeks prior.

Maggie

 

[Lisa BC]

Hi!

There really is a wealth of information at SPG.com, it just can be a little hard to find.

I did send an e-mail to SPG customer service a while back, asking about points expiration and maintaining status. Points will not expire as long as you have at least a one night stay every 12 months (on a rolling calendar).

Here's the link to the unpleasant "fine print" for membership on the starwood website:

http://www.starwood.com/preferredguest/terms_conditions.html

about Gold status from the "fine print" link:

The qualifying period for Gold Preferred Guest membership ("Gold Membership") is from January through December of each year. Gold Membership status will commence when a member meets the qualification requirements for Gold elite membership above and will continue through the remainder of the qualifying year and the next succeeding calendar year. If, in the next succeeding full calendar year, the Gold member again meets the Gold member qualification requirements, then in such event, the Gold Preferred Member will receive an additional 12-month renewal of their membership.

You earn 2 points for every dollar you spend at an SPG resort, you earn 3 points if you are gold status.


Hope this helps!

Lisa

 

[jaygatz]

maggie,

you get 3 pts./dollar spent as a Gold SPG, plus you get 1 pt./dollar spent for using the AMEX, so you really get 4 pts./$ spent while at a Starwood property.

 

[pbhunt]

And your SPG membership altogether will expire, if you have no SPG stays within the next year. Sorry to always be the bearer of doom and gloom here, but you really need to evaluate your Starwood Hotel stays, this may be a one shot deal for you. Unless you stay in Westins, Sheratons, W and so on..throughout the year of your membership And obviously, I would really like a tag fairy at this point. Sorry, and not at all the place to post it. My BIL, age 31, killed himself this past weekend.

 

[MermaidsMom]

So sorry for your sad news pbhunt.

 

[hightown]

Wanted to say sorry to pbhunt for your loss...

Also wanted to say thank you pbhunt and others for the last posts. I rarely read this thread but happened to glance at it yesterday. Guess what? My last stay at a Starwood was 5/21/02!
I have 15,000 points I stand to loose in another month!!!! I knew I would loose my Gold status w/out the number of stays but didn't realize would loose all my points!

So this weekend, staying at the lovely Sheraton Denver Tech Center. Rate could be better but well worth the money to keep the points. I'm shooting for the Swan in 04.

Anyway, thanks again!!! (Guess I need to read this thread more!)

Sharon

 

[mattkatie7]

maggiew, I was told by starwood that as long as I had AMX platium I would remain gold. I just got my new gold card and it says valid until 2/05.

 

[WDW2000]

OK - I registered for my free Starwood Preferred card which I recently received. I've booked 4 nights at the Dolphin, but have no points accumulated yet.

THEN - I was on a travel website and I saw a promotion which stated that if you become a member for $29 a year you will receive a Starwood Preferred Plus membership which entitles you to the best room available upon check in.

IS THIS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? Has anyone heard of the Starwood Prefereed PLUS Card? It seems too good to be true that for $29 you can get a free upgrade on every trip.

 

[jaygatz]

I think what you would be doing is moving to an intermediate step above (perhaps) the SPG level, but below the Gold or Corporate Preferred levels. Call Starwood and ask what the difference is. Also, I just found this--if you use AT&T Long Distance, it offers you 2000 pts. for signing up for online billing!


http://www.consumer.att.com/loyalty-programs/

 

[csmommy]

Thanks jaygatz for the info, but for me the points will take to long.

The fine print says:

Your 2,000 Starpoints should appear on your Starpoints Rewards Statement 6-8 weeks after your enrollment has been processed, which can take up to 30 days.

But it is a good deal.


DF-How cool. Has this been a dream of yours for awhile?

 

[jaygatz]

Just view the time necessary for the points to deposit as a reason to plan another trip

 

[csmommy]

Originally posted by jaygatz
Just view the time necessary for the points to deposit as a reason to plan another trip

Oh, I like how your mind works!

 

[opal]

I was sent a Preferred Plus card saying it is available to Spg cardholders of SPG Amex

It listed the following benefits:

1000 bonus points for first stay paid with SPG amex
500 bonus pts for each additional stay in 1st yr of cc membership
certificate for 50% off future stay (came with amex card)
2 Starpoints for every eligible U.S. dollar spent
automatic upgrades to a preferred room and late checkout

 

[nancyv58]

I read like 40 pages today on the Dolphin/Swan and SPG. I still have several questions. I joined SPG today and got my temporary card that I printed. Then tonight I applied for the amex card and it would not take my spg #. I then left it blank since I didn't have any points because it said I would be assigned one is that ok? I was approved YEAH!!. Now my other questions, which do you prefer Dolphin or Swan and why? What rooms should be requested? I have received a quote for 305.00 for June 1 way out of my price range but that was before I did all this joining today so do you think there is anything better for that day? I work at a high school as an aide in the special education department so would I qualify for the teacher rate? What do you need to show? I also received a quote for 99.00 for Oct. 29-Nov. 2 for a standard room. So with the SPG and the amex card what will the upgrades be and when do I ask for them. I need to make the reservation very soon before that rate is gone. Thanks for all of your help. We do have several points on our regular amex is it worth transferring any of those to the new card? Sorry for such a long post but this SPG is difficult to understand. Thanks for your help.

 

[ozziewags]

First, you would need to show a teaching certificate to get the teacher's rate. But there are other rates lower than $309.....entertainment rate is 50% off and AAA and there is a special now for $139. That $99 rate is GREAT. Make your ressie now.
The Swan is newly renovated and the Dolphin is about to follow. The D. is larger and has more rooms, and some say, is more kid-friendly. Tubbi's is located there as is the laundry and the bigger health club. The Swan is lovely and more quiet. The Swan also has queen sized heavenly beds.

If you get your AMEX card and start charging on it, points will accumulate and you can use those to upgrade if you don't get a complimentary upgrade. Some do, some don't. When you make your ressie, be sure to tell them your requests and then email/call a few days before your arrival and remind them of your requests.

Read through other S/D threads for more info than you can imagine!

 

[anne60]

If you are a state employee, then you can get the government rate.

 

[ozziewags]

Really? Have you done this at a Starwood hotel?

 

[ozziewags]

Really? Have you done this at a Starwood hotel?