NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[KelliR]

happytrails2u...I just called SPG to be sure I gave you the correct answer. Caesar's will only accept the 7,000 points per night, the "Cash & Points" promotion will not work at Caesar's. That is probably because Caesar's is not really a Starwood hotel...Starwood and Caesar's just work together with a reciprocal type agreement.

 

[happytrails2u]

Thank you, KelliR - - I appreciate that. I had a suspician...although I was hoping, since they accepted Starwood Points for stays, that they might also accept this reward. Apparently this promo is very limited even within the Starwood Family. Have a great trip!

drsung, I happened to do a search on the SPG website to see if Starwood had properties in Nevada. When the search came up empty, I was prompted to call Starwood directly. I was a bit surprised to learn that Nevada does not. Perhaps it's a "gamimg" issue or sorts? Anybody know why? Anyway, during my conversation, the representative advised that Starwood has an agreement with Caesar's. If I understand correctly, you can still earn Starwood Points for your stay here.

 

[Figaro]

Thanks for the help, everyone! My spouse called again tonight and was persistent with the Starwood Customer Service representative. The representative kept insisting that our Starwood Preferred Platinum American Express card did NOT qualify us to be upgraded to preferred gold status. But he said he would upgrade our status anyway because we were so adamant.

I have to admit that the entire process was pretty exhausting. We somehow or other have been on the mailing list for every single postcard promotion that WDW has for their resorts and I was seriously considering switching from the Swan to a Disney resort tonight.

Tomorrow we will give the Swan a call and see if any of the concierge rooms are handicap accessible.

Thanks again for the encouragement, as I don't think we would have kept trying (and succeeded) without you guys!

 

[Jen80370]

Great work Figaro. The hard work will be worth it when the upgrades start coming in. Great job!

 

[Peter Pirate]

Good job Figaro...But I'm having a hrd time finding where it says that Starwood Platinum AMEX cardholder ARE entitled to be upgraded to gold Starwood status. Please, anyone, direct me to this information...

 

[NancyIL]

When we first got the Sheraton Starpoints credit card 2 years ago (before it was called the Starwood Preferred Guest card) - cardmembers were automatically made gold SPG members for the first year of card membership. With the Platinum Starwood card came "Preferred Plus" status - whatever that means.

I can't point to any place that says that you are "entitled" to gold status as a Starwood AMEX cardholder. Apparently they were upgrading cardholders to gold status without the hassle just a month or so ago - because they upgraded my DH when I asked. Since Figaro's DH had quite a time getting them to give him the upgrade to gold, it sounds like you could be in for a fight, though I hope that's NOT the case.

If you have elite status in another hotel chain's frequent guest program, send proof to Starwood and they will give you a complimentary upgrade to a comparable Starwood level. Again - I haven't seen this written on their site, but it has been noted here by "word of mouth."

 

[Shelly]

Peter pirate there is a link on one of these many threads that was poted.
It is many pages back somewhere maybe do a search.

 

[zurgswife]

Does anybody know how far in advance that the discounts apply to rooms???....I went to the site to look into booking for March 2003.. the AAA discount wasn't available....then I went on to check all the other available discounts listed none of them seemed to be avail. I'm wondering if maybe they aren't in the site yet is this possible....Also, my mom is a teacher and may join us as usual.....I didn't see any discounts for teachers listed at all...may they not be available in 2003...

Thanks for any help...

 

[Figaro]

I think what made the whole upgrade thing so confusing is that my spouse was told that ANY other platinum American Express card EXCEPT the Starwood Platinum American Express Card would qualify us for an immediate upgrade to gold status.

If we'd known that, we wouldn't have applied for the Starwood Platinum American Express as I routinely toss out mail from other Platinum American Express cards and (since we just bought a new car I know this) our credit rating is perfect we would have had NO problem qualifying for any credit cared we apply for(smile).

Thanks again for all of the help!

 

[Jen80370]

Figaro...keep fighting the good fight. Call back and tell the operator that you have spoken to multiple cardholders, and you were assured of this upgrade, and that it is why you applied. If that doesn't work, keep working your way up the food chain. It took Nancy three calls, but she got it. Good luck!

 

[NancyIL]

Actually - I called Starwood about a reservation using points, and while I had them on the phone, I asked about upgrading my DH to gold because of the Starwood AMEX card. They did it without any arguments. Before that good experience, it took three e-mails from me practically begging them for a complimentary upgrade to gold - based on almost staying enough nights in 2001 for an automatic upgrade.

 

[LBYC-19]

This is a Starwood question, but not Disney, so I'm not totally off topic, but please help guide me in where to look (I've exhausted means of web searches, etc.)

Has anyone ever visited a Starwood resort that was on a beach, but also with nightly activities that teens would like? I've tried Carribean, U.S. Virgin Islands, have ruled out Puerto Rico and Mexico..Hawaii too far away...help please, does Starwood have such a directory on line? The way their web site is set up, you have to key in your location, but I don't have a location yet, I NEED ONE!! As you guys know, I'm a little challenged in the computer literacy department.

Nancy, what if you make a purchase or a reservation with SGP Amex, then have to cancel? Do they credit your account initially, then cancel the points after? No, I'm not looking for a new way to get points...Jen, don't even THINK about it, lol.
-----------
Joanne
p.s. since I'm not the first to ask about other starwood resorts, do we have to keep this thread Disney related?

 

[NancyIL]

zurgswife - I doubt that the teacher discount will disappear in 2003. Glo's FAQ shows the dates the discounts are in effect through January 2003, so I'm sure more dates will be added soon!

Joanne - sorry, I can't help you with the resort location. It sounds like it will be a wonderful vacation - wherever it is! Are you sure Puerto Rico is out? I've heard the Westin Rio Mar is lovely!

I've had lots of returns on credit cards that give points, miles, or rebates. For instance - if you paid a one-night deposit of $160 for the Dolphin, then cancelled your reservation, your account would show the credit of $160. If it was before the end of the billing cycle, you'd never get the points to begin with. If your credit was given months after paying the deposit, the $160 credit would be applied to whatever charges you made during that billing cycle, and your SPG points would be equal to the balance due. It's unlikely the points would be deducted from your account unless your credit card had been inactive for several months and you were due a credit.

 

[LBYC-19]

I've got to book (frequent flyer) flights now for next April, but just can't decide....would rather do Disney again, but the family wants to go to a beach area Puerto Rico is beautiful, but so impoverished, I'd feel too guilty staying at the resort! There is so much for the teens to do at Disney, but only daytime activities at other resort locations..it's hard to get both.

I've got to give all of you so much credit for keeping up with this point thing, it's exhausting sometimes, but of course it pays off in the end with a vacation I know we'd otherwise never be able to take. Unfortunately, the family pays the price with poor DH doing all this business travel.
---------------
Joanne

 

[kaitlynangel]

Puerto Rico is impoverished?
I better let my family there know that they are living improverished. Puerto Rico just like anywhere else has very expensive places you and I will never see and very bad places and everything in between (although I never saw any bad parts of Bermuda but thats a different story). So please don't generalize Puerto Rico as being improverished, as it is a part of our United States and has a different culture than here and what you might think of Puerto Rico you might be confusing with our parts of the Carribean. Puerto Rico has free public college and almost everyone attends, it has a rich heritage and is a proud part of our counrty. Puerto Rico is beautiful and it has some very wealthy parts and my family lives in a upper middle class area and I would hate for you to miss out a wonderful vacation because of your misconceptions.

 

[LBYC-19]

xx

 

[ILUVWDWTOO]

I had a complaint about the noise coming from the cooling system in our suite at the Austin Sheraton during April and left the information on the customer survey. Just received a letter from the GM regarding their plans to correct the situation and they deposited 6,000 points to my account.

Debbie

 

[Swan]

I have a trip planned for ten days in June and was thinking of upgrading to balcony room for a few days. I do not have enough point for most of the days, but a few days will make me happy. I am using the Nurses discount and was wondering whom I should call to upgrade: Starwood or the Swan? Will they let me upgrade for only a few days? Is it better to do it at the beginning or the end of the trip?

 

[Jen80370]

Swan I have found it easier to upgrade through the hotel itself. If you made the reservation through the hotel itself, you would have to anyway. Good luck...as for beginning or end...I'd go beginning...they may end up extending you. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[Dead End Kid]

I have a few questions concerening Starwood Gold Status.

I read the info on the spg.com site, and noticed at gold status you can earn 3 points for every $1 spent. Does that include items charged on the Starwood AMX?

There have been several posts about upgrading to gold status if you are a platinum AMX card holder. Hopefully, I will be receiving my Starwood AMX card shortly. It appears that some people have been easily upgraded after making a call to Starwood customer service, while others have needed to make numerous calls.

I figure it is certainly worth a few phone calls to for the change to gold once I get my card. But I would like to know where or what is the source of the information that entitles you to this upgrade? Was this on the AMX site? On the Starwood site? In printed literature from AMX? Printed literature from Starwood? Or was this something that someone on these boards discovered on their own?

I feel I have a better chance of getting this great perk easily if I sound knowledgable when I make my call.

Thanks!

Dead End Kid