NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[Jen80370]

pbhunt...what type of internet connection do you have? If it is cable or dsl and you do not have a firewall, it is quite easy for a hacker to get into your system and get any info from your hard drive. If you ordered Flyer online...a trace of it would be on your hard drive.

Amex is GREAT about chasing down cc fraud though...good luck!

DF99, have a great trip...we'll save some Tastykakes for you on the right coast!

 

[pbhunt]

Jen x3. We have DSL, personal firewall and Norton internet security. It will be resolved by the bank and the company. It was my Visa Platinum Check card that was used fraudulently. What if I hadn't found it and my checks had started bouncing? That's what really ticks me off about it

 

[Jen80370]

Yikes. Good job keeping tabs then. Do you pay any of your bills online with this card? Maybe someone there got the number? Good luck!

 

[NancyIL]

WLD - the Free Friday will be a separate reservation number than what you already have reserved. Call Starwood to see if you can use it during your stay.

 

[WiscMomof2]

Hi everyone

I don't post alot on the boards but I sure do my fair share of lurking and I just have to give a big THANKS to all of you for the great tips and advice you all provide on this thread. Thanks to the information I've gotten here I applied for the SPG American Express Card and am charging away to get those points for our October trip to the Dolphin and today I got upgraded to Gold status after following Tiffany's lead and emailing the request in. I had never thought of doing that. I don't know why I felt funny calling, but email worked great for me!! So thanks guys.... you are providing a ton of excellent information for those of us that are "not in the know" Please keep the great tips coming

 

[Jen80370]

I'm glad to hear we could help. That's the best part...not only am I getting ready for a great vacation, but others can too. I know my vacation wouldn't be half of what it is going to be were it not for the angels of these boards...

 

[Debbie7452]

Hi all,

Yesterday's mail brought my new GOLD HHonors card from Hilton good for 2 years! The benefits look good too. You always get club level if available or the "best available room". Sounds similar to Platinum Starwood. The funny thing is I still don't have my Gold Starwood card even though I requested one sent to me. I know it doesn't matter if you have the actual card but the Gold hilton card is SO pretty and shiny (silly me) I want the Gold Starwood too!

Now if I can just figure out when I can stay at a Hilton to try it out.

So, all you Gold Starwood members, check around with your other frequent guest cards. Even though, Starwood would be my first choice, it is fun to have these other gold cards.

Debbie

 

[Jen80370]

Debbie...did you call for it or email?

 

[Jen80370]

Debbie...did you call for it or email?

 

[manning]

bphunt and anyone else.

DO NOT EVER USE A CHECK CARD FOR INTERNET PURCHASES, USE A CREDIT CARD!!!!!

here is the difference. A check card is your money. A credit card is the banks money. With a credit card you are limited to a 50 dollar exposure. With a check card, everything in that account can be cleaned out and legally the issuer can say tough luck. Chances are small that they would do that, but it has happened.

Diners Club has a Montage credit card that has two account numbers, the one appearing on the plastic card and another number sent to you separately for use on the internet. if a fraud takes place, that number can be quickly cancelled and a new one issued without affecting the entire account. Visa is also implementing a system to protect against internet fraud, but am not sure what it is yet. Also understand Mastercard is getting close. I don't know if American Express has anything like Diners, But if they do I'll consider getting one.

 

[gottgotowdw]

Jersey Jen...

I also got a new gold SPG card (thanks to you guys!). I was upgraded over the phone and then within 1 day my account was gold preferred on their web site. That was about 2 weeks ago. I did receive my new shiny and very gold card in the mail today!! Yippee!!!
2 weeks and counting....I cant wait!!
Laura

 

[wld]

A big thank you to all the spg experts out there. We have about 8000 starwood points and 2 free fridays already thanks to the great info here. Saving points for the Dolphin in Dec (nurses rate yeah) And am using one free friday to stay overnight near the airport at Detroit before we leave for the WL next week. Never would have known about all this otherwise including the American Express.

Since I have to use my other free friday by end of August (if i'm reading it right) may use it for a night in Chicago at a nice Westin right on the magnificant mile.

So again, Thank you all

 

[hightown]

I have reservation through Dreams Unlimited for Dolphin Standard room, 11/9-15. Got my Gold SPG membership, the SPG Plat. Amex, have gotten some nice bonus points, etc. Proud to say in 2 months have over 6200 pts. Have 1300 more to go for upgrade for the whole stay. Thank you to all you experts!

Have decided that having a Balcony/patio room is of enough importance to me that I don't want to chance a comlimentary upgrade and will just use points to upgrade. Checking Starwoods system, two days of my trip our sold out and with only 20% of the room having balconies, am nervous.

How early can I call to upgrade the room type with my with points? Is this too early? Closer to stay? Are the points debited right away?

Who do I call?

Later on, If for some reason it looks like vacancy rate is high and I want to chance the Gold upgrade, can my points be put back?

Thanks all!

 

[Debbie7452]

Jen,

I ordered mine through the web site under "replacement card" or some such. It actually arrived yesterday so it took about 4 weeks! Maybe they are quicker over the phone? (Sadly, it is not nearly as "pretty" as the Hilton one!)

Hightown- you can upgrade when you have enough points because they are debited immediately. However, I recommend going through Dolphin reservations to do it. Starwood will tell you to wait until 5 days before but Dolphin doesn't have this policy. "Paul" is the person to ask for if you can get him.

I'm a little worried though about you having booked through Dreams Unlimited. Call and see if that will effect you obtaining upgrade through points. It may not at all! I just know they handle "wholesaler" reservations differently. Let us know on the boards if it makes a difference, I am curious.

Obsession for status has set in and I am getting the upgrade for the Hyatt card. The funny thing is that their card starts with "Gold" for everyone so they are giving me the next level which is "Platinum". I made my husband laugh by suggesting a new round of calls about getting everyone else to match my new Hyatt Platinum status! I know this is a devious mind at work, I am NOT going to actually do it.

Debbie

 

[Jen80370]

Debbie...did you email Hilton too? I have Hilton and Marriott cards...BTW Marriott would NOT upgrade...the nerve! LOL

 

[Debbie7452]

Jen,
I called and they gave me the fax number. They told me to spell out what I wanted, ie..."matching to Gold Level status" Send your Hilton info and "proof" of SPG Gold (which I got by printing out temp. replacement card off net). Send above to 1-972-371-5110 (attn. Diana Blair). Hilton automatically sent the new Gold card which was nice.

Yes, Marriott dissed me too! Boy, are they missing out. You'd better believe I will be staying at one of the upgraded card spots instead of a Marriott!! (Starwood being preferred, of course)

Debbie

 

[kaitlynangel]

I got up graded to Diamond VIP status with Hilton by emailing Diana Blair my Starwood statement, it took only 2 days and she upgraded me, she didn't accept the Starwood card photocopy I faxed to her, she wanted to see my statement only. She did upgrade me to Diamond becaue I am platinum with Starwood. Be politely insistent and they give in.

 

[Jen80370]

kaitlynangel...could you please pm me her email address? Thanks so much!

 

[disnurse]

just checked my account and i have 2 free fridays to use!!! now just need to figure where to go. Thinking of boston at westin or newly renovated sheraton and seems llike fridays all summer are available. just seems too good to be true, will i still get an upgrade or is that asking too much!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

kaitlynangel..

.could you please pm me her email address? Thanks so much!


Debbie:

Can you tell me who you contacted to upgrade your Hyatt card. I have a gold hyatt and only need 2 more stays this year to be plat. but would be nice to have it already when we go back to Hyatt resort in San Antonio! Thanks