Update on Loew's First Program Changes

Disneyhappy

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 29, 2000
Messages
2,146
I was scheduled to become a platinum member with our July 4th stay. I noticed the AP rates would save me $50 per night over the AAA rate. I do not mind paying the extra money if I could be certain that the July 1st changes with the Loew's First program would still get me Platinum status. So, I decided to call and see what they would tell me. Fortunately, the same Loews rep that helped to figure out my status 4 weeks ago answered the phone and remembered me. She understood my quandary and put me on hold to speak with her supervisor because they keep making changes to the new program, up to and including this morning. She came back on line and told me I should be OK because they are pushing the effective date back to 7/15/08. (Doesn't this help you, Mac?) She said there will be major changes and that guests will have to work harder to get to a status level. "What do you mean?", I asked her. For example, no longer are you automatically a Loews Blue level when you sign up. You will now need at least two stays. I tried to pry additional info but someone told the rep to stop giving out info since the changes are still being worked on. I told her the email announcing changes tried to make it sound like it was going to be good news but it seems like the changes will make most people unhappy. She said she thinks I am correct and then she had to get off the phone. Because of the continued changes, I wonder when the actual changes in the program will be announced. The Gods are usually not on my side but on this occasion, they seem to be with the switch to a 7/15 effective date. My luck must be finally changing. It was apparent that if the changes became effective 7/1, I was not going to get Platinum with my 7/4 stay. I have no idea how many more nights I would have needed.
 
thanx for the heads up homie.

well, now the program takes effect mid july.
if things are not worked out, i'm sure that date will be extended also.

from what i was told, the first 6 months once the program changes, everyone will be safe on where they are.

it is after that 6 month time period a person has to be consistant with the rules and have the stays that are required by loews to hold at the level they are.

for me, nope, doesn't help me. not at all. my points will be gone with the universal mc on june 30th. bummer but that is how life goes. i have no options with it.

i refuse to pay for enrollment fees for AE. i don't have that card, cancelled mine 20 years ago
so, no transfer of points for me.


so, i'll be at the hotel in mid october and if i don't do 2 more trips before oct 09, i'll drop to gold.
not an issue for me.

i can start using my ap for the discounts at the hotels then.


i'll wait until i get my email from loews.
hopefully, if someone gets theirs before mine comes, they will post the 411 on a thread
 
i see loews did make a change on their announcement page.

this is what they put up now:

Beginning July 15, 2008, our LoewsFirst program will change. With benefits that are more flexible. More meaningful to you. More of what you want.
It's our way of saying "thank you" to our loyal guests. As a LoewsFirst member, you will be automatically enrolled in our new program at your current level.

In connection with the transition of our guest frequent stay program, the benefits available to program participants will be changing from and after July 1, 2008. Among other things, points and credits for the frequent travel programs sponsored by American Airlines, Midwest Airlines and Amtrak will no longer be awarded by Loews Hotels with respect to any hotel booking or reservation made after June 30, 2008, or with respect to any hotel stay made after September 30, 2008 even if booked or reserved prior to June 30, 2008.

they do have the july 1st date and the now july 15 th date listed.

about time period you check in:
yup, they even changed that....

you stay after sept 30, you are no longer grandfather claused in as said previously.

i go october.
 
Mac-
Check out the America Expres Blue rewards card. It has no annual fees, flexible rewards, and can be paid over time.

I will try to post the link but if it doesn't work, just google American Express Blue. https://www143.americanexpress.com/cards/home.do?pmccode=81#CARDS/81/0/0/-1

I will also venture a guess that Loews and AE may offer some type of sign on point bonus to introduce their new relationship with the new program.

ETA- Very Strange! I posted this in response to Mac's second post but my post is showing up in the middle of her two posts. Almost twilight zone strange! On another note, I am quite pleased with myself that I was able to post a link to AE. That is another first for me so there is still hope!
 

thanx disneyhappy. you did a great job in posting the link.

i just checked out the rewards site and the only thing that i could use my points for are the travelors checks.

but, i think i come out on the low end if i do points with them that way.

my carriers united and american are not on their lists.


maybe i will sit up tonight and spend 84,000 points on my mc univeral program tonight.
 
thanx disneyhappy. you did a great job in posting the link.

i just checked out the rewards site and the only thing that i could use my points for are the travelors checks.

but, i think i come out on the low end if i do points with them that way.

my carriers united and american are not on their lists.


maybe i will sit up tonight and spend 84,000 points on my mc univeral program tonight.

Sounds like a fun Friday night!
 
thanx disneyhappy. you did a great job in posting the link.

i just checked out the rewards site and the only thing that i could use my points for are the travelors checks.

but, i think i come out on the low end if i do points with them that way.

my carriers united and american are not on their lists.


maybe i will sit up tonight and spend 84,000 points on my mc univeral program tonight.

Well, did you spend them? What did you get?
 
son had a birthday and busy with him and didn't get to order any of the orlando mc rewards.


well, all those points down the tube.
have been piling them up for over 6 years.


that's how life goes,
win some
lose some
 
Got an email today announcing the new name of the program - You First - but still no details.
 
click on the website for some info about it.

they do list one thing there.

i'm sure more info will be added on soon.
i'm guessing prior to july 15th

if you received the email, it confirms they have you in the system for the change over
 
Platinum members will receive something like a $100 food and beverage credit...Thats nice!!!!!!!!!!!:goodvibes :goodvibes
 
Platinum members will receive something like a $100 food and beverage credit...Thats nice!!!!!!!!!!!:goodvibes :goodvibes

if that happens to me when i go in october, i'll be the first to let you know.

i'm not counting on anything until it all comes out in the email.......
 
Just spoke to someone at the Loews first and they said that hard Rock would no longer participate in the program.

They also said that if you stay once with 6 months after the changes (7/15) that you would keep your status for another 12 months.
 
Just spoke to someone at the Loews first and they said that hard Rock would no longer participate in the program.

They also said that if you stay once with 6 months after the changes (7/15) that you would keep your status for another 12 months.

Well, when the changes were to be effective 7/1, I would have qualified with my July 4th stay. Now it looks like I will have to stay a night in Phila or NY to keep my status as I don't think I'll be returning to Universal until mid January.
 
I am Plat., but I guess not for long. I hate the way the email makes it sound like it is going to be better. I have been a raving fan of Loews for a long time, but I think this has run me off. Disney Resorts are looking better and better every day! (and I hope Loews is reading this) I feel just :sick:
 
If it starts now on July 15th , I have until January 15th to plan a stay is that right? I may be able to swing something by then.
 
Just spoke to someone at the Loews first and they said that hard Rock would no longer participate in the program.

They also said that if you stay once with 6 months after the changes (7/15) that you would keep your status for another 12 months.


i read that the seminole bought the hard rock hotel chains sometime back.
they will still have the universal perks of fotl.

i'm going to wait to see what the new program brings before i make a decision for next year's stay.

yes, as of july 15th all people that received the email have been put into the system for the new "enhanced" loewsfirst program.
if you stay within that 6 month grace period of july 15 to january 15th, you can keep your status for a year.

after that, you're working off the clock for the stays in the calendar year after that one year period expires.

Well, when the changes were to be effective 7/1, I would have qualified with my July 4th stay. Now it looks like I will have to stay a night in Phila or NY to keep my status as I don't think I'll be returning to Universal until mid January.

you should be good for the 6th month beginning period.
you said mid january was your next uo trip. if you make it by jan 15, you would be set for another year.

I am Plat., but I guess not for long. I hate the way the email makes it sound like it is going to be better. I have been a raving fan of Loews for a long time, but I think this has run me off. Disney Resorts are looking better and better every day! (and I hope Loews is reading this) I feel just :sick:

i'm signing up for the american express and hilton plans this week.
i think that would be a better program for me for the reward issues.

fee fee, i still like staying on site at universal.
depending on the changes could make me start staying at the other 2 more.
just depends what is revealed to the loewsfirst members. i'll wait and see.

this october will be my 19th stay at hard rock hotel. ( i have encouraged many to try hrh for a stay.)

i have stayed at the other two but always have favored hard rock.

it just felt like home.

change is hard for me but i'm willing to move to another place to hang my hat...

disney is fine for me but the resorts don't measure up to what i am used to at a loews establishment.

i stay at disney prior to my universal stay each fall.
for a value room, i am now paying $95.xx per night for m-th and 115.xx per night for fridays and saturdays. that is the going price for early october at the value resorts at the all stars....

let me tell you, it is not worth it.
compare that price to the rph at $150 with the discount for the same time period and it doesn't even come close to the service and comfort at universal.

i'll stay on site depending on the ap rates for hhn time period.
if the amenities from loews first disappear, i can stay off site and spend more money on food at another hotel.
 
what's the signifigance of American Express in all this?

I am already a gold card member, is this something I can take advantage of considering I just signed up as a Blue LoewsFirst in June
 
what's the signifigance of American Express in all this?

I am already a gold card member, is this something I can take advantage of considering I just signed up as a Blue LoewsFirst in June

the official credit card for universal was their mastercard.

the dropped mc and started with AE in late June.
with that i have to transfer my reward points over to AE's program.

i had planned to use my reward points for universal merch but the program expired on june 29. i would have to apply for the AE card in order to transfer my reward points if i wanted to use them.

the credit card program and loewsfirst are 2 different programs.
 
I am Plat., but I guess not for long. I hate the way the email makes it sound like it is going to be better. I have been a raving fan of Loews for a long time, but I think this has run me off. Disney Resorts are looking better and better every day! (and I hope Loews is reading this) I feel just :sick:

Oh please. If I ever got anything extra for staying at Disney resort other than a huge bill, I think I would fall over and die.
 












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