NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[disnurse]

We are gold and i'm planning on emailing the dolphin to ask for upgrade to CL and see what happens. Will use points to go to CL if we must but hoping to get it anyway.

 

[mom23guys2]

Some poeple have been looking for this thread on other boards so decided to bump.

 

[dreamflight99]

2 million dollar ERROR by Starwood? It was on their website for the NEW Bora Bora Bungalows which normally rent for $850 per eve. They omitted a zero, and the rooms were renting (posting) for $85 per eve!!! 136 folks booked two months or more (possibly going to sell these vacations!), and booked 2,631 bungalows...which---if honored, would cost the company more than 2 million. Argh! I guess they are NOT honoring these, but are offering reduced (40%) rates of $531 per eve, and also refunds of airfare (for those whom booked non-refundable air fare). Did any of you reserve a bungalow? Just a very interesting story about Starwood. These things happen, and just last year Starwood erroneously posted a zero dollar per eve cost for the "W" in Times Square! They honored these...which truly cost $20 in taxes per guest. Too funny....LOL.

 

[disneywith6kids]

Did anyone notice that the amount of stays required to become platinum have gone up????

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

"I just got caught up in all this Dolphin/Starwood business about 6 weeks ago. Got my SPG membership, then my SPG AMEX, made ressies (standard rm) at Dolphin, got my SPG Gold membership upgrade. "

Someone please explain this to me? I have read all the threads about SPG/Dolphin/Swan and even the website to get the membership... but this comment stumps me. I thought to get SPG gold or platinum you had to have a certain amount of stays/nights racked up first?
Anyone? How did she do it in 6wks?!?

 

[pewing]

If you have a platinum SPG American Express Card...they will upgrade you to Gold automatically. I had to call and ask for the upgrade, but it only took a minute.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Oh, well I guess I won't ask what a platinum SPG American Express card is- because since I don't know it's obvious I don't have one! HAHAHA

 

[pewing]

Didn't mean to talk in 'code'. The SPG stands for Starwood Preferred Guest. You can sign up at www.starwood.com to become a SPG member...and start saving up points. You can also apply for a Starwood AMEX. Any clearer?

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Not really- but that's okay. LOL
I know what SPG is... I said I read all these threads and even the website (starwood etc) about it... I just didn't get how they did it in 6wks to gold membership and then I do know what an AE is but didn't know such a thing existed as a platinum SPG American Express. Learn something new everyday!

(oh wait.. is AMEX the abbreviation for American Express? Okay, I get it now. LOL)

 

[Mouseteacher]

Receiving the Starwood American Express Card as opposed to any other Amex card is what can give you the gold level of membership without any points already accrued. As pewing said you just need to call and ask for the gold membership.

However, I have read that other types of Amex card could work too.

Good luck if you decide to try. It worked for me and we were given a complimentary upgrade to Club Level for the two room at the Dolphin I reserved on the teacher's rate. That was with no points accrued at that time.

 

[disfanRN]

I cannot thank you all enough!! I have been to the World every year for the past two, but this upcoming trip I feel truly informed, thanks to you all. Due to the info I got on this site, we are staying at the Dolphin in oct/03 at the RN rate, I've gotten the SPG card and the AMEX cc, and yesterday went GOLD thanks to the advice I found here! A few remaining questions though, I really want club level privelidges, so do I arrange this ahead of time with points ( I will have enough by then), or hope to get upgraded at checkin because of the gold status. If I use my points, will there be any updrade at check in? Also, what is the difference, if any, between club level and conceirge??
I booked thru DreamRes, do I request an updrade thru them, or with the hotel directly, and how far in advance? Thanks again, you guys are the greatest!!! PS- how do i get the countdown?

 

[kathmzh]

Ozziewags, how did you get the fees for the rollaway and the resort fee waived when you stayed at the Swan? would love to hear any tips/advice you have! Thanks!

 

[ozziewags]

I asked to have both fees waived, but I am platinum. Not sure that makes a difference, but I would sure try if I were you. All the privs of the resort fee are included in CL.

 

[disnurse]

ozziewags did you ask for theses perks prior to your arrival or at checkin or did you just email a request?

 

[ozziewags]

I called 5 days prior to arrival and made any requests I had and asked questions. I also asked upon arrival, with no problems. I did not email at all. I also got a very nice person, Barb, who handles all questions, requests of platinum members. Not sure if that helped, but she was great. She even made sure our room was ready early, as we arrived at noon and went right up.( I asked if that would be possible and she made it happen!) I was sooo glad, as we wanted to decorate tree and room before we went to our ps at LeCellier before The CP at Epcot.

 

[mattkatie7]

I have a plat Lowes card ,what do I need to do to have starwood match it? I currently am starwood gold.

 

[ozziewags]

Call Starwood and ask them if they will match it. Then you get their fax number and fax them a copy of your plat. card and they will send you a SPG plat. card. Be sure to ask to whom you put ATTN: on the fax. Know who you talk to. If they aren't informed, hang up and call again. Ask for Elwood, he seems to know everything at Starwood!

 

[livsea2]

Has anyone else noticed that SPG has doubled the points necessary to upgrade to club level. Wheeew steep increase! I guess they realized it was too good of a deal.

 

[ozziewags]

No, I didn't notice. Wonder why they did that.

 

[pbhunt]

They have also made it more expensive to transfer points to United. The bankruptcy, I guess. Insted of the usual 1:1 rate, it's now 2 starwood points to equal 1 united mile. So, when I transfered 2500 Starwood points, I received 1250 United Miles, bummer. We are saving for 2 tickets to Florida in 2004.