Using Points for Club Level

[even1]

Hi all! We stayed at the Dolphin 2/15 - 2/22 Gov. rate. I am Gold Level and wanted to use points for Club Lounge. CM did the paperwork & called SPG to verify points and was told that guests paying the government rate were no longer eligible to use their points to upgrade to Club although we could upgrade if we paid $75. per day. The CM was apologetic and I didn't want to start off my vacation with a hassle but I was really disappointed. This was a "special trip" for myself and my 11 year old and we had a renovated room w/ heavenly beds!!!! We REALLY loved those beds! We enjoyed not having to eat at specific times so it worked out fine for us but I wondered if anyone else has heard of this.

 

[TY31088]

Did you benefit at all by being a Gold Member? What kind of room did you have? We are going this summer.

Thanks,
Ty

 

[even1]

Ty,

We were upgraded from a standard room to a renovated balcony room.To be exact it was room 6080 and we really liked the view. We could see Tower of Terror, Sorc. Hat, Dolphin Fountain and the "shells" were right in front of us. The walkway to the Friendships was to our left and we could see all the comings & goings of guests each morning!! We were also close to the elevator. We always stay on the west side so decided to try the east this time. I will always stay in west for future visits because I love the convenience of one elevator ride down to Tubbi's, pool, arcade and laundry. We enjoy all the views we've had. We did not receive any other perks but we really didn't look for any either. Housekeepimg was fine but nothing special. It was a great week but truthfully I have never received the special treatment that I have often read about on the boards. We love the location and the price can't be beat so we have been happy.
We ordered breakfast in the room one morning (an extravagance for us!) and were very impressed with the set up. Our server wheeled in a table and it was completely set with everything we needed, nothing was forgotten and it was hot and delicious! You will enjoy your stay whether you receive the "royal treatment" or not, so don't worry. The most important thing in our opinion was the renovated room and second was the balcony. When are you going?

 

[emagirl]

*bump*
Just wondering if anyone else knows about not being able to upgrade to Club Leve using points if you are getting the Gov't rate at either the Swan or Dolphin. I have had my ressie for the Swan for many months and was told I could call back within 5 days of my arrival to upgrade to CL with my accumulated points (this was back last fall or so).

Anyone?

 

[anitad]

I am also interested in this question/answer. I have been a guest at the S/D for years, using the govt. rate. And in the past have had much success with using the points to upgrade to club level 5 days before leaving home calling the gold member number. Have reservations for a trip in July and planned to use the points to upgrade again. I have not tried to use points at check in.

 

[emagirl]

bumpity*bump* bump* bump

 

[KIS]

My priority is the view over all else. I have an upcoming trip to WDW, the first, where we'lll use the government discount for the Dolphin.

Does anyone know about using the SPG (gold) points for this purpose? Would requesting this club level 5 days prior thwart the request for the fireworks view?

KIS

 

[reeanna]

I called SPG directly 3 days before our trip and was allowed to upgrade to balcony w/resort view using pts. for the first week of Feb on the nurse's rate. I orig. asked to upgrade to CL & it was granted, then changed my mind & upgraded to balcony w/Epcot view using pts. I asked at check-in if a comp. upgrade for SPG Gold to CL privs was avail. but was told no. We had a renovated room w/Epcot view on the 6th floor. I was told that all balcony rooms w/Epcot views had now been renovated so it wasn't nec. to ask for a renovated room if you had an Epcot view. SPG has been changing a lot of their policies since Jan 1st re: using Hotwire, Priceline, etc. Maybe its trickling down to the discounted rooms now? I sure hope not!!

 

[even1]

Hi all,

I think it's really all about what rep you talk to. It's the same with CM's, some quote one policy and others quote something else. It would help so much if there was one policy for all and all employees should be made aware of changes. My CM was Chiaki (I hope I spelled it right!) she was very sweet and I was standing right in front of her when she was on the phone. She said she was speaking to someone in NY and that this was a new policy. I was happy I had a renovated room w/balcony and I just wanted to start vacationing not calling for a manager. Maybe I should have called Starwood myself before I left home. If I stay at Dolphin again I'll try that. Hope all goes well for everyone else.
Eileen

 

[TY31088]

I presented this e-mail question to SPG:

Can I use my SPG points to upgrade my room at the Swan if I am getting the
Gov Rate?

Here's the response i got:

Thank you for your inquiry via the westin@westin.com Web site. We welcome this opportunity to assist you.

Upgrade Awards in advance may be confirmed and ordered through a Starwood Preferred Guest office within 5 days of arrival on standard (paid) reservations. These upgrades are booked at the time the reservation is made. An Instant Upgrade may be purchased at the hotel upon arrival. You can purchase Instant Upgrade Awards on any rate, even when you are staying on a Preferred (free) Night Award.

Thank you for your interest in Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Please contact us if you require any further assistance.


I replied and asked if "on standard (paid) reservations" means Rack Rates.
Haven't got an answer to this yet. I'll let you know more when/if I hear back from them.

Ty

 

[TY31088]

Here's the current reply to my e-mail question:

"Thank you for your e-mail reply. We are happy to be of further assistance. I apologize for any miscommunication in our previous correspondence.

Upgrades Awards may be confirmed with Starpoints five days prior to arrival on any paid rate, including the Government rate. Instant Upgrade Awards my also be confirmed at the time of check in on any paid rate.

We appreciate your patronage of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us."


Please keep me posted if ya'll get more info,
Ty

 

[madge]

I used points last fall to upgrade to CL and I had a "special" (govt., nurses, teachers, etc) rate. no problems at all

 

[TY31088]

After asking for more clarification I received the following message:

"Thank you for your e-mail reply. We are happy to be of further assistance.

Upgrade Awards in advance offer Starwood Preferred Guest members the ability to use Starpoints to confirm an upgrade to a room type better than the one in which they were originally confirmed, prior to their arrival at the property. All Upgrade Awards in advance are paperless to the member and to the property. Upgrade Awards in advance may be confirmed and ordered through a Starwood Preferred Guest office within 5 days of arrival on standard (paid) reservations. An Instant Upgrade may be purchased at the hotel upon arrival. You can purchase Instant Upgrade Awards on any rate, even when you are staying on a Preferred (free) Night Award.

The number of Starpoints needed for a particular Upgrade Award is based on the type of room and the number of nights the member wishes to retain the upgrade. The Walt Disney World Swan is a category 4 hotel. The points needed per room type and per night are as follows:

1,000 Specialty 1 upgrade for Category 4 hotel
1,500 Specialty 2 upgrade for Category 4 hotel
10,000 Suite upgrade in a Category 4 hotel

A Specialty 1 (Specialty Room) is defined as a Club Room, Westin Guest Office, Corporate Club Room, Smart Room, or a room on a floor that may include Club Lounge Services or Concierge Services.

A Specialty 2 (Specialty Select Room) is based on hotel category and in general will include a room on a Towers floor, a mini-suite, or a junior suite.

In some resort locations, upgrades will be based on preferred view or room style offered. You may use the link below for more information on Room Upgrades using your Starpoints. http://www.starwood.com/preferredguest/starpoints/upgrade_nights.html

Therefore, there are two ways you can request an upgrade using points. You can request it when you are checking into the hotel, or you may contact one of our reservations specialists to check availability for specific hotels and to assist you in determining the best value for your Starpoints. You can contact a Member Services Representative at 1-888-625-4990.

We appreciate your patronage of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. If you have any further customer service questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at starwood.preferred.guest@starwoodhotels.com."

Ty

 

[even1]

Hi Ty,

I just e-mailed customer service to let them know what happened to me at check-in. I'll post when I receive a response. I'm a little ticked off that I seem to be the only person to experience the "new rule" !!! Thanks for all your info. Eileen

 

[paras4ri]

A Specialty 2 (Specialty Select Room) is based on hotel category and in general will include a room on a Towers floor, a mini-suite, or a junior suite.

I'm in a smilar situation in trying to decide what to do with my points and I got the same response to a similar e-mail a while back. When I called spg I was told that a junior suite doesn't fall into this category at the Dolphin, you need 10,000 points per day for a suite upgrade.

I'd love Club Level and it sure would help with my pre-teen eating machine.....but my heart is set on a balcony (if it's possible) and CL floors are not balcony floors.

I'm not complaining.....I'm totally thrilled to be staying at the Dolphin and any upgrades I can manage will just be icing on the cake!

 

[penjen]

I'm so new to this. It has most likely been mentioned many times but I'm a "starwood prefered guest "as per my card. What phone number do I call for an upgrade?

I woke up this morning and got all excited about our trip

 

[dreamflight99]

even1~Eileen, so sorry to read of your recent experience with check-in at the Dolphin.

*Prior to January 2004, people were reserving rooms at a DEEPLY discounted rate on sites such as HOTWIRE and PRICELINE, etc. The rates were as low as $59.00 per eve. These rates were offered during specific times, and for "specific" rooms. The Swan/Dolphin, and just about every other resort property has rooms which are not considered to be that "desirable" to most people. The views are inferior, etc. Yet, this is precisely why the rates are so low. Just as a cruise ship sells the "interior" rooms w/o windows, etc., at a much lower price. The cruise ship industry does not permit any change/upgrades from these cabins without payment. The resort sold blocks of these rooms to a few discount travel companies, in an attempt to generate revenue.

Apparently, some persons were trying to use points with these rates to "upgrade" to a better view, and/or CL. Others were simply receiving upgrades at the time of check-in by merely "asking." Once Starwood became aware of this situation, they promptly closed the door on the process. They issued emails, and posted the "change" on their website. The restriction applies only to reservations made using these venues, and NOT on any ressies made through Starwood and/or the Swan/Dolphin.

Since the "special" rates, such as the Nurses, Gov't., and Teacher's rate are ongoing discounts, offered year-round through the resort, they remain unaffected. You may DEFINITELY upgrade to CL, and or a preferred view w/balcony using any of the above discounted rates. You may also upgrade while reserved under the "points & cash" promotion, or the FREE NIGHTS promotion. Also, every perk associated with your level of SPG membership (Gold, Plat), will apply with discounted/special reservations made through Starwood or the resort(s).

The deeply discounted rates offered through these online travel venues (hotwire, priceline, etc) will not be eligible for any upgrades, and will not earn SPG points. The resorts have applied these restrictions for years on reservations made through "conventions & corporate accounts." Apparently, abuse of certain benefits and programs warranted the abrupt change by Starwood to include these reservations.

I believe the CM you spoke with was a bit confused. You definitely would have been able to use points to upgrade to CL under the Gov't rate. In the future, be sure to clarify such things before you travel. This helps to avoid any problems once you have arrived.

I'm happy you enjoyed the time you spent at this lovely resort with your family. Thank you for taking the time to post your experience.

TTFN...Df99

 

[penjen]

I was able to use Starwood points TODAY 3/16/4 for an upgrade to club Level at the Dolphin. I was charged 1000 per night. Today is the earliest I could do this (5 days in advance). I also had to call a couple of CSR's. The first said that it was 1500 points per night. He *said* he had talked to a couple of supervisors. I then called back and talked to someone else (5 minutes later) and they had told me it was 1000pts. a night. So it does depend on who you talk to.

I knew from an email that it was supposed to be 1000 pts but the first person wouldn't budge.


hope this helps someone....
Now on with my happy feeling

I guess I should have added that I have the teacher's rate.