NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[disneyNJ]

Caren,

I too was very worried about getting club level. We went last year, in mid July and again in Feb (just before President's week). There wasn't any problem both times, so I'm sure you won't have any difficulty.

If they can't put you on the 11th or 12th floor, you can always ask for "club access" from any of the rooms. They put a CL on your room key to let the lounge know you are "legal." When you visit the lounge, you are asked to sign in and give your room number, so it isn't necessary to be on the Club floors to enjoy the lounge. In fact, those folks that love the balconies must do that, since there are no club level rooms with balconies.

If you really want club level, I would suggest calling Starwood 5 days before. This will assure the upgrade. Some folks have been successful waiting until check-in - and then getting the upgrade for free! While that sounds great to me, I'd rather not risk getting shut out, since it is so important to us. Plus we are only Gold Club members - I believe the only guests who are guaranteed Club Level are at the platinum status.

Good Luck!

DisneyNJ

 

[JandD Mom]

Hi everyone,

I just made a reservation for the Swan for 2 nights using my SPG points. When I made the original res for the free room, the agent really could not tell me what type of room the points would buy me if I decided to upgrade. So I called back ...

When I called back I spoke to a nice lady who indicated I could upgrade now if I wanted to. So for 1000 points per night we have been upgraded to club level for November. I specifically asked if I had to wait until right before I arrived for the upgrade and I was told no.

I am now hoping that we spend enough to add the room for 1 more night between now and then. Though I am not so sure the spending will be such a good thing.

Best wishes to all!

 

[LiLPrincess]

I am planning a trip for June 2004. I would like to get the Starwood AmExp then apply for a SPG card.

I have lots of questions!

1. Should I have all cards in hand before I make my reservation?

2. I think I read on the AmExp website that there are certain benefits you receive the first year of membership. Should I wait to apply for the card when I get within that 12 month window of our trip?

3. I'm thinking of pre-paying the room on the AmExp so I will have those points posted to the account before I arrive. Has anyone tried this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Caren90]

disneyNJ,
I will call ahead and not wait until I check in. I don't want to risk not getting it and hey that what my points are for. Thanks for the reassurance.

Caren

 

[Mouseteacher]

Caren ~ Have you sent an e mail request via the swandolphin website for the CL upgrade? I would do that now. Send a very polite and humble ) ) request - give your reservation # and your spg status and #. I did this about a month before our arrival. I received a polite e mail back from Melissa saying that they received my request but I would have to wait for check-in. About a week before arrival, I was checking my reservation on the spg site and WOW there appeared a change in our room description from standard room limited view to Club Level Access Room, etc. This was COMPLIMENTARY upgrade - no points were needed.

Give it a try.

 

[Caren90]

Great suggestion Mouseteacher I am heading over to the SPG site right now. I am putting myself in humble mode.
Thanks, Caren

 

[Mouseteacher]

Caren _ e mail your request through www.swandolphin.com not spg. There is place on the site where it says e mail requests.

 

[mom23guys2]

Well we're just back from the Dolphin and upgraded upon check-in with points. They charged us 1200 per night. I did ask them to check but even after checking they stated it was 1200. I do have a question. My points were posted for the stay but the points I "paid" for CL haven't been deducted. I'm hoping that's to make up for the horrible room but somehow I doubt it. How long does it take for the deduction to be made?

 

[Beader7]

I have checked out points frequently since we have been home, 10 days now and they have not charged our account as of yet. I wonder if they even will charge us?? And actually, we were on the 10th floor. (the 12th was closed). So we were really not on the "CL" floor, so I wonder how many points they will take, if they take. All in all, I was just HAPPY to have had the points so we could get the CL privlidges. They were so worth it. It will be a long-time memory, the freindliness of Mama T and the GREAT treats!!!!! Yum!

Sandy

 

[disnurse]

mom23... how long were you back before your points showed up. My last points are for the month posted 4/17. We checked in 13-20th and those stays are not showing yet. Also did you get 3 points/1$. My CL deductions are not showing yet either.

 

[mom23guys2]

Disnurse,
I checked out Saturday 4/26 and my triple points were posted today. My Amex points will not be posted until my next billing cycle ends. The CL payment points were not deducted yet though. We used quite a few points since I paid for my upgrade and 3 days upgrade for a friend that was with us. It's nice to see so many points on my account but I know it wont last.

 

[maggiew]

I have a couple of questions. Some background: I got the $81 Hotwire deal for 6 nights in June. I originally had the $129 teacher rate, but couldn't pass the hotwire deal up. I signed up for the Starwood Preferred Guest card and am a Preferred Member (basic). I talked with someone at SPG about getting them to match my Marriott Silver Elite Status with SPG Gold status. The lady told me to fax a copy of my Marriott Silver card and my latest statement. So I did, but now they say they will only match Marriott PLATINUM with SPG PLatinum. Anyway, here is my question:

Since I have the hotwire rate, I am not really counting on any complimentary upgrade to club or view with my SPG card. (Although would gladly accept any surprises ) I am really ok with a standard parking lot view - we are just happy to be at the Dolphin and at a great rate. But, should I bother applying for the Am EX card to get the gold status? I won't be getting bonus points for the stay because of hotwire and the chances of the gold card getting an upgrade is slim. What should I do? I just applied for the Disney card and don't know if I want to apply for another one.

Also, is there a way to check a hotwire reservation at the Dolphin? It doesn't appear on my SPG site.

Maggie

 

[jaygatz]

Maggiew,

If you ever stay at any of the Starwood properties, it would behoove you to get the card. Since becoming a member last year and especially since getting the AMEX in Feb., I have noticed a "preferential" treatment when staying at a Starwood resort. In May, DW and I had the opportunity to stay at a W for the annual Barrister's Ball, and we were comped a suite for the teacher's rate (DW is a teacher). Plus, the bonus points add up rather quickly and don't have to be used at WDW--a night away from the kids is heavenly every now and then Even if you don't go for the AMEX, SPG will sometimes rate an upgrade in and of itself, so it doesn't hurt to be a member. Have fun on your trip.

To all waiting on bonus points, I have been awarded all points owed--5000 for first purchase (March), 2000 1st stay (March again), 1000 subsequent stay (April this time). I think that my last correspondence with Starwood got the lead out of AMEX's feet as I politely told Starwood that they were responsible since the offer was communicated via their website. Their response was that AMEX was responsible, but two days later AMEX sent a nice letter, and today all the points arrived. So, keep trying

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by maggiew
I have a couple of questions. Some background: I got the $81 Hotwire deal for 6 nights in June. I originally had the $129 teacher rate, but couldn't pass the hotwire deal up. I signed up for the Starwood Preferred Guest card and am a Preferred Member (basic). I talked with someone at SPG about getting them to match my Marriott Silver Elite Status with SPG Gold status. The lady told me to fax a copy of my Marriott Silver card and my latest statement. So I did, but now they say they will only match Marriott PLATINUM with SPG PLatinum. Anyway, here is my question:

Since I have the hotwire rate, I am not really counting on any complimentary upgrade to club or view with my SPG card. (Although would gladly accept any surprises ) I am really ok with a standard parking lot view - we are just happy to be at the Dolphin and at a great rate. But, should I bother applying for the Am EX card to get the gold status? I won't be getting bonus points for the stay because of hotwire and the chances of the gold card getting an upgrade is slim. What should I do? I just applied for the Disney card and don't know if I want to apply for another one.

Also, is there a way to check a hotwire reservation at the Dolphin? It doesn't appear on my SPG site.

Maggie

If you apply for the SPG AMEX card you will be given Preferred Plus status but you won't receive Gold Status. Gold status must be earned by staying just 10 times (or 25 nights) a year. SPG does not give stay credit for Hotwire rates but they will give you any elite benefits you are entitled to.

I would not apply for a card unless you plan on using it heavily. There is a fee for the AMEX SPG Card, however it is waved for the first year. I use the AMEX SPG Card as my main card but I also stay at SPG properties while on business so I earn a significant amount of SPG points from purchases and stays.

 

[Beader7]

674 - We got the AMEX in Feb. and called and were upgraded to
GOLD with no stays. I just called AMEX and said I understood with the SPG AMEX I would be upgraded and they gladly upgraded us to Gold. That was the EASY part of getting the CL at the Swan. The HARD part was getting the points posted.

Sandy

 

[Roxie A]

I got the AMEX SPG card recently and was approved for Platinum, I called Starwood and asked them if this made me eligilbe for a Gold Starwood card and they said yes and changed it right then.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Beader7
674 - We got the AMEX in Feb. and called and were upgraded to
GOLD with no stays. I just called AMEX and said I understood with the SPG AMEX I would be upgraded and they gladly upgraded us to Gold. That was the EASY part of getting the CL at the Swan. The HARD part was getting the points posted.

Sandy

Actually you would have had to have called SPG not AMEX to upgrade your SPG status. Glad you were upgraded to Gold though. If you have specific questions about the SPG program I highly recommend checking out the following forum on another BB. SPG even has an official corporate person who post in this forum answering questions for members.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forumcgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Starwood+(Sheraton,+Westin,+Four+Points,+W,+etc.)&number=74

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Roxie A
I got the AMEX SPG card recently and was approved for Platinum, I called Starwood and asked them if this made me eligilbe for a Gold Starwood card and they said yes and changed it right then.

All SPG branded AMEX cards are Platinum. I guess it is so everyone feels special.

 

[Roxie A]

Originally posted by prncess674
All SPG branded AMEX cards are Platinum. I guess it is so everyone feels special.

I couldn't care less if it Platinum as long as I got the Gold status and I really didn't need the $20,000 credit limit.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Roxie A
I couldn't care less if it Platinum as long as I got the Gold status and I really didn't need the $20,000 credit limit.

If you don't want a $20,000 limit by all means call and have them reduce it. It could hurt your chances in the future for receiving credit. I had the same thing happen to me when I applied for my card. I had them reduce my limit to what I wanted and told them to not to automatically up my credit without permission. I realized one day that I had over $125,00 in possible credit combined on a few cards. Not that I ever charged that much. I pay all my balances off every month. I called and reduced the available limit on all my cards just so that it wouldn't be held against me in the future when I made a large purchase such as a house or car.