NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[NancyIL]

Originally posted by bard721
I have been reading this thread and the Swan/Dolphin thread for about a year and have learned so much. I and DH are going to WDW to celebrate our 20th anniversary in June 2003. My first question for everyone is about booking a room at the teacher's rate and then using starwood points to upgrade to the club level. Do they "encumber" your points? If I make the ressie now and need to cancel it later, will my points be unencumbered or will I lose them?

Starwood points will be redeposited back into your account if you cancel your reservation. But from what I have read here, Starwood will probably not upgrade you to club level using points until 5 days before you check-in.

 

[bard721]

If you are staying in a club level room and/or have club level privledges does this impact the daily resort fee? It seems that some of the perks of club level might duplicate things in the daily resort fee like coffee in the club lounge or maybe newspapers in the club lounge as well.

 

[Muffy]

I am wondering if you can upgrade to club level with points at checkin? I now have 70,000 points and will get 5 nights at S/D and 2 airline tix. Our vacation is in Jan and I am sure we will have enough points by then.

 

[Goog]

Any new point-grabbing opportunities?

 

[hookedup]

I was wondering about something I read on the application page of the Starwood Amex appl. site - it said that you can earn upto 6000 points your first year of Card membership. Does this mean there is a cap to how many Starwood points you can earn per year on the Amex? If so is this just for the first year?

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Originally posted by MOM POPPINS
Zurgswife
WOW! How did you get such a great rate? I have received a Starwood resort in Frisco for 45$ a night, but did not get the extra bonus points because I did not book on-line at the Starwood site, I got the rooms through Priceline. I did receive points for the cost of my stay and incidentals though. I also received a 500 point amenity for each room for being Platinum starwood. ....

Hmmm...my Amex card says PLATINUM on it...is that the same thing? I stay at starwood properties ALL THE TIME via priceline, would LOVE it if I could get 500 points per stay!!!

 

[BedKnobbery2]

oops...double post, sorry!

 

[pbhunt]

The cap is only for the bonus points earned on hotel stays, 500 for each of 10 stays. It has nothing to do with your regular purchases.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Good morning all you guys who know so much! I have a point question I can not find the answer too, and I don't really know who to e-mail at SPG. Any help would be great. My DH and I just returned from Mexico where we stayed at the Barcelo Maya (very nice by the way), anyway Barcelo is listed as owners of some Sheraton hotels here in the states. If they are a partner of Sheraton then can I earn points for my stay in Maya? That would be a nice and unexpected bonus. Does anyone know? Or who should I ask at SPG? Thanks!

 

[dreamflight99]

Helloooooo All!! I mostly "lurk" around here...as all of you are so proficient and adept at answering these queries! I'll take a "jab" at the last one.

Disneycrazymom...Hello! Log onto SPG (www.starwoodpreferredguest.com) and sign on. Contact CUSTOMER SERVICE, where they may request a Faxed copy of your folio as proof and reference to award you the proper points. I have done this myself, and incurred no trouble with obtaining points! Good luck...please tell us how this goes!

TTFN ALL....Happy Thursday!

 

[disnurse]

has anyone gotten 500 points credited for free nights. i got 500 points for the last two free fridays i used. I did book them on line. Talk about a perk!!!

 

[NancyIL]

Yes - I also got 500 points for booking my Free Friday hotel online.

 

[zurgswife]

Can you book on line and then make changes to your reservation by calling the hotel????

 

[pbhunt]

Yes, when you book online you will receive a Starwood confirmation number. Then, when you call the hotel, they will give you a Local booking number and any further changes can be made directly with the hotel

 

[hookedup]

Hello!
Can somebody please explain to me what "Free Fridays" are?

 

[pbhunt]

It's a promotion that Starwood runs occaisionally, after a certain # of nights/stays you get a free Friday stay at the property of your choice, additional nights will net you a free Saturday stay. i don't recall the numbers required, though.

 

[NancyIL]

The Free Fridays promotion has ended.

 

[pbhunt]

hookedup asked for an explanation of the promotion. I think DF mentioned something about it possibly returning in the Fall. Do you remember the specifics required, Nancy?

 

[disnurse]

The free fridays also included free saturdays too. I stayed 8 nights and got 2 free fridays and would need 10 nights to get 2 free saturdays. I had to register for this promotion online but this was done post stay and I was credited for the nights instantly. Had choice of any available starwoods hotel in the world.

 

[disneywith6kids]

I can't believe this thread was buried. It should be right at the top since it has so much valuable information-maybe we should send it over to the budget board.

Anyway, I really need ssome help here before I lose my mind. I signed up for the ATT online billing in June or so I was told. I never received my bonus 2000 points and now ATT is telling me it is because the promo didn't start until July 1. Now, I know I'm not seeing things but I learned about the promo from this web site somwhere and I went right to the ATT web sight and signed up.

If anyone can remeber signing up around June also can you let me know so I can assure myself that I'm not seeing things--thanks