Starwood Points, Upgrades, s/d

[Mouseteacher]

I agree, TJ, staying at the Swan or Dolphin at a great rate is terrific and enough for me- a comp upgrade is the added magic.

Btw, I humbly / politely asked the CM upon checking in if it was possible to receive a comp upgrade to a balcony room --- the Jr. Suite was a complete surprise! I was speechless when the CM said, "Would a jr. suite with balcony be okay?" My reaction:

 

[tjmw2727]

Ok MT - send me some pixie dust ok?

TJ

 

[KIS]

Dear Mouseteacher,

Could you please respond to my related question posted a couple of days ago on this thread?

Thank you.

KIS

 

[TedO]

Mouseteacher,
That's great news! I wouldn't expect a junior suite but a room with a balcony or at least a nice view would be great. Did you email Swan/Dolphin in advance or just asked at check-in?
Thanks,
Ted

 

[Mouseteacher]

Originally posted by TedO
Mouseteacher,
That's great news! I wouldn't expect a junior suite but a room with a balcony or at least a nice view would be great. Did you email Swan/Dolphin in advance or just asked at check-in?
Thanks,
Ted

I did my usual routine of e mailing in advance. However, when we were checking in the CM was saying you have a standard King room... I held my breath (since I had never done this before - asking upon check in) and jumped in and asked for the comp upgrade --- we really wanted a balcony room. The CM smiled and said let me check - she was working the computer for what seemed hours and then looked up and said the words I previously posted - JR. SUITE!!! Our room was in the east wing - 6th floor. It was at the end of the hall - it had 3 windows in addition to the balcony doors. Our view was almost panoramic - the Dolphin, the boat dock, the lake, the BC/YC and Boardwalk to our extreme right, the quiet pool, etc.

 

[Mainebound]

Originally posted by tjmw2727
Wow, good information, I was thinking I would get a corner room with no windows on cash and points LOL.

I am spg gold and booked three nights cash & points in Feb followed by three nights at the AP rate. I have never faxed in advance, requested via website or asked at checkin for anything but always got at least a balcony room. A few times we got a wonderful view of Epcot. For me just a good rate at a nice hotel is worth the price. Any upgrade I get will be truly appreciated for the gift it is.

For those wondering I just booked the C&P for $60 and 4000 on November 25th for February.

HTH

TJ

I thought S/d were not participating this time around on cash + points (info from Starwood rep on flyertalk.com and SPG website). Maybe they changed their mind? If so, that's good news!

 

[JudyS]

I haven't signed up for Starwood Preferred Guest yet, but I will be staying at the Dolphin from December 19th to the 21st and would *love* an upgraded room!

I'm an American Express Gold member, and DH has an American Express Rebate credit card. I know that my AMEX Gold card can get Membership Rewards, although there is an extra fee for this and I'm not currently signed up. Anyway, I'm wondering if there's a way to get a Starwood Gold card using my AMEX account. Any suggestions on my best bet?

I just stayed at the Swan last summer, too. I wish I had known about Starwood Preferred Guest! I need to check these boards more often!

 

[Samsma]

If you keep using your SPG AmEx, do your points expire after a year? I sure hope not, but I need to know soon. Is it lack of activity that causes expiration, or actual time length for their use?

 

[faithfull]

Has anyone ever held a corporate preferred rating? How does that compare with gold? I have obained this rating thru my husband's affiliation with the American Institute Of Certified Accountants. Literally when I log into the Westin site it shows his id as not preferred but as corporate preferred. I was wondering if anyone had any light on whether this was worse than gold and if I should still sign up for the charge card. The card states that he would receive complimentary upgrades where available but if this is lower than gold and everyone visiting has a gold I do not imagine there would be any upgrades available. Is anyone familiar with this distinction? Advise and input appreciated. I can get the card if I need to but hate to add another charge card to the wallet.

 

[DisneyFanatik]

Now to add another question to this thread.....does anyone know what being a AAA member does to your SPG membership. I read somewhere that if you tell Starwood that you are a AAA member you are entitled to an automatic upgrade. I called and gave them my AAA membership - the cm told me that she noted it and that was it. Even though I am not "Gold" am I still entitled to the same upgrade? Also, does the Dolphin know your "status" when you check in or do you have to tell them? Thanks!

 

[KIS]

Dear Disney Fanatik:

I checked this one out because I read the same statement on the boards. If you are an AMEX/SPG member, then the AAA does not add more. I did inquire about AAA with just SPG but I forgot what the customer service person at SPG said exactly. I think it was about comparable toe the AMEX deals with SPG.

KIS

 

[leopardspot]

My trip to the SWAN starts this Sunday. When should I e-mail them for a request for a COMP UPGRADE and mention that I am a GOLD member?

How have you worded it? Can I flat out ask for a KING STUDIO? How lucky have you been with upgrades?

 

[paras4ri]

Originally posted by DisneyFanatik
Now to add another question to this thread.....does anyone know what being a AAA member does to your SPG membership. I read somewhere that if you tell Starwood that you are a AAA member you are entitled to an automatic upgrade. I called and gave them my AAA membership - the cm told me that she noted it and that was it. Even though I am not "Gold" am I still entitled to the same upgrade? Also, does the Dolphin know your "status" when you check in or do you have to tell them? Thanks!

I just phoned the number on the spg website for AAA discounts to ask about noting it on my membership and I was upgraded to Gold. She said a new card would be in the mail, and then when I checked my reservation for the Dolphin on the SPG site my membership number now begins with a "G"

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by paras4ri
I just phoned the number on the spg website for AAA discounts to ask about noting it on my membership and I was upgraded to Gold. She said a new card would be in the mail, and then when I checked my reservation for the Dolphin on the SPG site my membership number now begins with a "G"

Thanks for the info Gail, can you be a tad more specific? I have been SPG for 3+years due to lots of starwood stays (business and personal) unfortunately a WONDERFUL stay in Lanai, HI was not posted property and I lost my gold!

After months of e-mails, calls and general aggravation despite the $$ I spent (and continue to spend) I can't seem to get them to re-instate my gold. Long story short if just by having AAA will give me back my gold I will do it...

I have some points and a great rate for my Feb stay, but I want my gold back.. wah wah

Where on the website does it mention AAA benefits or do you feel comfy posting the information??


TIA
TJ

edited for spelling, as usual

 

[paras4ri]

It's right on the SPG website, on the page for AAA members here.

In case the link doesn't work, this is what it says:
Already a Starwood Preferred Guest?
Call 1-866-782-7737 and mention enrollment code "AAA" to upgrade your account.

I called not knowing exactly what the upgrade would be, spoke with a lovely woman, and she said she upgraded me to gold!

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by paras4ri
It's right on the SPG website, on the page for AAA members here.

In case the link doesn't work, this is what it says:
Already a Starwood Preferred Guest?
Call 1-866-782-7737 and mention enrollment code "AAA" to upgrade your account.

I called not knowing exactly what the upgrade would be, spoke with a lovely woman, and she said she upgraded me to gold!

I think you lucked out Gail - I called this morning and got upgrated to "preferred plus". Not sure what this does for me, I will check out the website for the "plus" information.

Thanks again for the information.

TJ

 

[dreamflight99]

Nice Thread over here...

 

[JudyS]

Wow, thanks, I am glad to hear about the AAA upgrade! I have a AAA membership, so this works out great. I tried calling a few days ago and asking if my Amex gold card could get me upgraded to Starwood Preferred Gold, but the rep said no, only a AMEX platinum card would work. I asked if there was some other way to get Gold status, but the rep said no.

It looks like the AAA Preferred Plus SPG gives at least some of the same benefits as SPG gold. This is what the Starwood site says:
Join Starwood Preferred Guest® today, to enjoy AAA Preferred Plus® advantages:
Instant upgrade to a Preferred room at check-in*
4pm late checkout*
1,000 Starpoints(SM) on your first three stays (through June 1, 2004)
Two Starpoints for every dollar spent
Advance notice of hotels offers and more
*Subject to availability.

I'm thrilled about the late checkout, and also the prefered room. I'm not sure the benefits are any different than with the SPG Gold card. (Except that I can't remember how many Starpoints one gets per dollar spent with a SPG Gold card -- I know that some level of SPG gives three points, but that might be the platinum SPG card.) I suppose the desk might give a "better" preferred room with gold, but it may just depend on what they have available.


Thanks so much to everyone who posted info here! This board rocks!

 

[KIS]

Dear Judy S,

Did you try to get the AAA SPG gold? I am confused. What did you have and what did you gain by adding the AAA to the AMEX-SPG membership?

I have a SPG gold just from my use of the AMEX alone. When I contacted SPG, they told me that the AAA combo was more of the same. I'm not sure what your experience was and if it confers or contradicts this customer service person's line.

We are, by the way, already AAA members because of the car services it offers. But, I wonder if I should connect that status to the SPG.

Please clarify for me.


Thanks.


KIS

 

[reeanna]

Hi All. Great thread you've got going. Here's some info I found on another forum.....its worth calling SPG and giving it a shot using the code listed below...



"I just went to the amex website and as a new promotion they are giving free upgrades to gold. The website does not give the promotion code and it was a little bit of a runaround getting it from amex (code axsb) but finally with code upgrade at spg was easy and pleasant..."