Starwood upgrades, dolphin

[KIS]

I'm still confused about this. I got my Amex card. We've been accruing points. I ended up with a Gold card from Starwood.

I requested a fireworks view.

I don't know how high up I have to be. I don't know if my request suffices.

We have a reservation for April and I thought that I could not apply the points towards this trip.

As far as upgrades go, I recall learning that the club levels do not necessarily mean you get a fireworks view....

Is there no way to guarantee a "view" upgrade in advance through use of points or Gold Starwood status.

I've read that some folks made this request via SPG.com as well as upon check in.

So far, my direct dolphin reservation holds this special request. I was told I pretty much have to wait until 5 day prior or upon arrival to do something about this request.

Still, I'm confused about what my options will be at that time. Is there really nothing prior to that that I can do?

It might help to know that I was fortunate enough to get a teacher's discount rate back in July and have been told that this rate is better than anything that my points could get for one night's rate...

Why exactly will this card be an advantage? Does it really increase your chances of getting the view you want and any perks?

KIS

 

[Disbug]

The Gold Card Status and even better yet the Platinum SPG status get you perks when nothing else will.

Platinum SPG members get Club Level Access regardless of where their room is. They have the Resort Fee waived. They are guaranteed a blocked room and no one can bump them, even if late arriving. Many more perks may be found on the SPG website.

For gold members, you should be able to receive a complimentary upgrade on your room. This usually translates to the "view". You can also use points to get room upgrades, free nights, Club level access, room service, spa services, free in-room movies... Call the toll free number on the website and speak to a SPG Customer Service Rep. and they should be able to help you "spend" your points! Have a great stay!

 

[KIS]

Dear Disbug,

Just one more point of clarification, if you please:

I have written two special room requests:
1) non-smoking
2) fireworks view

I have given the reservation desk my starwood gold number.

They say the view is subject to availability. I understand that.

What I am still hazy on is that I made a reservation prior to becoming a SPG member or having the AMEX card connected with that status.

If we are to use points, which are accruing fast (we spend a lot, I guess), can we apply them to upgrades this time around or must we wait until our next stay at a Starwood resort? We will be going in April 2004.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate what you've already offered and hope you will have this information to share as well.

KIS

 

[aesalsa]

I am VERYinterested in this, too. We have tens of thousands of Am Ex Rewards points (have never redeemed any of them before), and we are interested in staying at the Swan in 2 years using the points toward the stay. How did you get the Starwood Gold Card through AmEx?

PLEASE keep us (me ) posted on the progress of your ressie and how the whole Starwood thing works.

 

[swilphil]

I don't really have any specific answers for your questions. I agree with Disbug that you should call the Starwood 800 number. If you haven't done so already, have your SPG member number added to your reservation. You can do that when you call Starwood.

 

[Mouseteacher]

I joined spg the summer of 2002 to up my chances for an upgrade at the Dolphin. Then, I applied for and received the Starwood AMEX cc. I called spg to have my status changed to Gold b/c of the Amex cc - I was given Gold status. I had no points accrued at that time but we received a comp upgrade to CL.

This past summer we stayed at the Swan and I had accrued enough points to use their cash and points promotion and was upgraded to a jr. suite.

Call the S/D and add your spg # to your ressie. Use your Amex card to hold your reservation and then pay for the stay. This accrues points and helps maintain your Gold level.

However, points can expire. Mine were scheduled to expire this February. Check with spg about how long you can hold onto points before they expire.

Gold can give you an upgrade - the fireworks view you requested. Sometimes you have to wait until check-in and ask again.

Our Dolphin trip, we saw our upgrade on the spg website about a week before arrival.

Our Swan stay, despite my e mailing and phoning in a request for a balcony room - it never showed on the website. I asked upon check-in and was given the surprise of not only a balcony but a jr. suite!

I, too, book using the teacher rate - book a standard room each time.

 

[aesalsa]

First of all, I am not a member of the SPG program. To join SPG program, would I have to stay at one of their resorts a certain # of times to be eligible for the SPG program? Really, the only time we spend time in hotels is when we go to WDW, and that's not every year.
I don't have the SPG AmEx credit card, but I do have an AM Ex card that I have tens of thousands of points on. And according to the AmEx rewards Catalog for 2003, 1000 rewards points equals 333 SPG points, which would mean that I could potentially have over 21, 645 Starpoints right now. I am clueless as to how this all works .

I would not be staying at the Swan until Dec. 2005, but I am excited about taking my siblings on their first trip ever to WDW. PLEASE HELP!!

 

[cdrn1]

I joined Starwood after I made my reservation, about one month prior to my first stay. I never made any requests. I didn't have any points. When I checked in they asked me which I would prefer for my upgrade, a balcony or an Epcot view. It was a very pleasant surprise.

 

[Connears]

You can transfer Am Ex rewards points right from the Am ex website. Just look for travel partners and it will lead you to SPG program and just enter how many you want to transfer. I just did this to use $10,000 fro upgrade to jr. suite in December.
Connears

 

[Mouseteacher]

aesalsa~ I joined spg just before my first trip to the Dolphin. It's free. I don't stay at resorts often enough either to maintain gold or even get platinum status. You don't need to get the Starwood Amex cc where you already have one. Just join spg and when you check-in, ask very humbly for a comp upgrade. Give them your spg #, too, before arriving by calling and adding it to reservation. You have nothing to lose and an upgrade to gain by joining.

 

[aesalsa]

Thanks for the info! Do you know if Starpoints from SPG ever expire??

 

[micks]

I'm very new to this Starwood stuff. Can you all answer a couple of questions for me?

We're planning on a stay at the Dolphin in October, 2004 using the teacher discount as soon as it becomes available. Here are my questions:

1. I have signed up for the Starwood points - is this what you mean by SPG?

2. Do I have to have a certain number of points accumulated to qualify for the comp. upgrade - or do I need to have a specific AmEx?

3. What's the SPG website - I bet some of these answers are there, huh?

Thanks again!

 

[aesalsa]

!. Yes, SPG is "Starwood Preferred Guest". So if you see SPG points or Starpoints, they are both the same thing.

2. I can't answer the first part of you question, but I think you need any Am EX card, and you can use the Am Ex Membership rewards points that you accrue toward the SPG program. You can go to www.americanexpress.com , login, and see what you'd like to redeem some of your Am Expoints for. The Am Ex Membership Rewards 2003 catalog also shows that 1000 Am Ex Rewards points = 333 Starpoints, and you have to link the Am Ex points to your SPG account to use them toward SPG program.

3. www.spg.com


I'm no expert, but I hope this helps.

 

[Mouseteacher]

aesalsa~ I'm not sure about the points expiring - my Gold card says it expires February 2004. I have 2 Starwood hotels stays coming up - one in December and one in April both in Boston for conferences I am attending. I hope that maintains my Gold status. I am hoping for a July 2004 trip to the Swan if our budget can handle it and I've accrued some points, too.

 

[Poohlovr]

The points themselves do not expire. You may lose your gold status, if you don't meet the criteria, but, not your points.

can't answer the first part of you question, but I think you need any Am EX card,

You do not need an Am-Ex to earn SPG ppoints. All you need is to belong to SPG. The AmEx is just a way to earn points faster.

To or maintain Gold Status, you need 10 stays, or 25 nights, per year.

 

[aesalsa]

Thanks for clarifying that Am EX thing regarding SPG program.

I did not mean that that someone needs to have one to gain Starpoints or to be in the SPG program. Later on in in that same answer I state that you CAN use the Am Ex points to get Starpoints and that both accounts (One's SPG account AND one's AM Ex account) need to be linked to use the points toward SPG program. Seeing how all the other posters had an AM EX card, I assumed that MICKS also had a Am Ex account and needed to know about how to get a comp. upgrade using the points. I shouldn't have assumed that, so thanks again.

 

[micks]

aesalsa- Sorry for the confusion! And thanks for clarifying - I don't have an AmEx - the only charge card we have is a Disney Visa - but I so appreciate all of the info I get here. Still not sure if we'll do the Dolphin or the Beach Club - if I can get AP rates for next October. Really a wait and see thing at this point - but I'm a researcher (like most people on the DIS!) and need all the info FAR in advance! Thanks again!

 

[aesalsa]

Glad to help, Micks!