NEW-STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST-Questions/Answers

[bravestwj]

or, will I need to at all.

I am SPG Gold this year. According to the SPG site it seems that this alone might get me a club level room (or at least club access). If not, I have enough points to upgrade our entire stay.

Does anyone here know if I have to wait until a certain point before the stay or can this be requested now.

When we called SPG yesterday, they said that the Dolphin wasn't eligilbe for a complimentary Gold upgrade (or that they couldn't do it at the 800 #) because the Dolphin is a resort and controls their room inventory themselves. I guess we should probably just call the Dolphin reservations folks on Monday, but thought I'd check with the very knowledgeable folks here on the DIS Boards too.

TIA.

Tim

 

[prncess674]

Being an SPG Gold member does not guarantee you a Club Level Upgrade.

Benefits can be read about here.

Free gold upgrades are only available at check in and you only get a preferred room which may be a view or something like that.

Gold Preferred Guest®

Stay just 10 times (or 25 nights) a year, and earn Gold status. Receive all the benefits of a Preferred Guest® with the following enhancements:

More Starpoints: Earn 3 Starpoints(SM) for every eligible U.S. dollar spent -- a 50% bonus over Preferred Guests, more than any other program -- so you earn free nights faster.
Automatic Room Upgrades: As an elite member, you don't need to redeem Starpoints for a room upgrade --- you'll automatically be given a Preferred Room at check-in when available.
Faster Airline Awards: Enjoy a lower minimum transfer threshold when converting Starpoints to frequent flyer miles -- exchange just 1,500 Starpoints versus 2,500 for Preferred Guests.
Little Extras: Take advantage of a morning newspaper, 4 p.m. late checkout, check-cashing privileges up to $300, and access to the Gold Preferred Guest special customer service telephone number for reservations and information.

 

[bravestwj]

Thanks.

I had read that on the site, but wasn't clear on what a "preferred" room meant.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by bravestwj
Thanks.

I had read that on the site, but wasn't clear on what a "preferred" room meant.

preferred does not always equal club room. It could but I would not count on it as a gold. There are plenty of platinums out their that would be ahead of you and lots of people redeem points or pay for club rooms at WDW. You would be lucky to get a view upgrade at WDW, just using gold status.

 

[lonegungirl]

Thanks for the good advice on the missing sign-up bonus! I'll try calling during business hours, when there might be more experienced people manning the AMEX phones.

Keeping fingers crossed...

 

[marymrg]

Lonegungirl: It took 12 weeks for me to get the bonus credited. The only way this happened was when I faxed the offer to AMEX. After many calls, I was finally given a case number and a fax number to send it to. It was resolved within a week of doing so. Persistence pays off. Good luck!

 

[Kapp]

I had to call Starwood and AMEX a number of times until AMEX finally credited my account with the bonus points. It took 3 months. In fact, because it took so long they awarded me an additional 1,000 for my trouble. Keep calling and good luck!

Kapp

 

[lvm99]

I have been upgraded to tower suite at Sheraton World because of platinum status. Does anyone know anything about this resort? I am using spg points for the entire stay. Plan to go to Discovery Cove and Disney

 

[disfanRN]

Today I rec'd a letter from Marylouise Fitzgibbon, director of rooms at Swan and Dolphin. She stated in her letter that CL costs 1500/pts per night, and referred me to an "Instant Awards Order Form" that shows for a ctg 4 hotel upgrade to "specialty" room is 1,000pts/night, while upgrade to "specialty select" is 1500 pts/night. Neither room is defined.

Called Starwoods tonite and spoke with customer service rep, who told me specialty room is Club level and Specialty select is deluxe balcony room with a view of the resort. So, again, contradiction occurs.
I will call Ms Fitzgibbons tomorrow for further clarification ( I hope)
they all seem a bit confused.

 

[Kapp]

as I have never used SPG points for an upgrade (but am planning to for our Nov. trip) but can you not book the upgrade through the Starwood number and not mess with the Dolphin? I have heard and read about the Dolphin wanting to use more points for upgrades than are quoted by Starwood. I have been planning to call Starwood (5 days out) and "purchase" the upgrade instead of doing it through the Dolphin. Will this work?

As usual, any and all advice GREATLY appreciated!

KAPP

 

[ww52]

Kapp -
It's my understanding that the ONLY way to do it is through Starwood, not Swan or Dolphin.

 

[Muffy]

disfanRN, I hope you get to the bottom of this problem! I think you will find out they over charged you by taking 1500 points for CL. I think it is 1000 points. What alot of confusion! I'm sure they will make it right with you. Keep on them!

Kapp, you can upgrade with Starwood at 5 days before arrival or at the S/D during checkin. Let us know what they charge you for the upgrade as far as points go!

Muffy

 

[disfanRN]

Kapp- we tried to upgrade prior to going, 2 days before and was told the hotel was full and CL was not available. Otherwise I would have!!

I left a message for the director of rooms at Swan/Dolphin, she has not returned my call yet.
I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mouseteacher]

When does "view details" show on the spg Check Your Reservation site? When I click on this it shows that I have 1 room reserved and the dates but when I click on view details, it says sorry, detail can't be shown. Last summer, whenever I clicked on this I saw a description of my room. This is where I saw I had been upgraded to CL about a week before I arrived.

Does anyone know if they ever show the detail of your room?

 

[lonegungirl]

Follow-up to the Starwood bonus points saga: I called Monday and talked to another representative who said that I was entitled to the points and that they would post in a week or so. Today I just checked, and all bonus points were posted! Yay!

Now if I can just get the park hoppers ordered, we'll be sort-of set...

Many thanks for all the input!

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

When does "view details" show on the spg Check Your Reservation site? When I click on this it shows that I have 1 room reserved and the dates but when I click on view details, it says sorry, detail can't be shown. Last summer, whenever I clicked on this I saw a description of my room. This is where I saw I had been upgraded to CL about a week before I arrived.

Does anyone know if they ever show the detail of your room?

I had to call Starwood Direct and give them the confirmation number that I received from the Swan to get the SPG confirmation number. The one you enter on the site from Swan/Dolphin is "their" number and not SPG.

Hope that helps.

Debbie

 

[Mouseteacher]

Thanks, EpcotKilterFan. I have an spg confirmation # since I originally booked through them first using the cash and points promotion. I later called the Swan and received a confirmation # from them, also, when I called to check on my reservation with them.

 

[Part of Your World]

Have tried several times to reserve the Swan on spg.com using the MC 6 for 4 promo. Each time the WDW Swan is one of four choices, and the 6 for 4 promo is beneath the hotel name. When I input my preferences (none), the error message comes up telling me that X62STAR "We are sorry, but that promotion code does not offer a special rate". After trying several random dates, each for 6 nights, I got the same "Sorry" message. I called spg, and got Sonya in the Ireland call center who assured me that it was a glitch, and that she would send a message directly to the guy in charge of it with my email so he could get in touch when corrected. Needless to say, I have not been contacted, and I still cannot get the promo. Has anyone had any success at the Swan?

Frustration reigns on this one!

 

[Muffy]

Do you mean starwood amexp? Are you talking about mastercard when you refer to MC in your post?

 

[Debbie7452]

Mouseteacher...were you gettting a description before when you checked? I ask this because I have found out this is usually a good sign that someone has "touched" your reservation at the Hotel (meaning upgrade prearranged). This causes the details to dissappear sometimes.

This happened to me at the Westin in SA and even a new confirmation number showed up (along with the old one also!). Since I was concerned I might have had 2 reservations I had to call the hotel and they told me we had gotten the suite upgrade. I had been obsessivly checking the reservation and prior to its dissappearance it had shown me the standard room description. When the details went "poof!" I got very excited. Of course that SPG web site is so finicky that there are no guarantees!!

If you just can't stand not knowing (like me) than I would call.