Yet more Starwood questions--sorry.

[Fargoman2]

I posted these questions elsewhere here and couldn't get any takers.

Allow me to try again.

Thanks.



Get Fargoman out of the fog!

I've caught Starwood fever and have jumped through all the necessary
hoops to get points:

1. Getting the membership
2. Getting the American Express Card
3. Signing up for AT&T online

Now I wonder exactly how to make it pay-off.

We have a standard room booked for July 29- Aug.5. I have read that
sometimes you are upgraded automatically--without points. How does
one know which strategy to play?

Is there any way of getting enough points or points/cash combo to bump up to a deluxe room or
a suite? Or is your maximum upgrade essentially getting a room with a better view and free continental breakfast and evening snacks?

Do we do all this at check-in or ahead of time? I'm really slow...remember, I'm
Fargoman

Thanks!

 

[gepetto]

I'm assuming you're at Swan/Dolphin?

I've always been upgraded without asking. Starwood will usually upgrade you automatically (1 category) if there are rooms available.

 

[dreamflight99]

based upon "availability", Dolphin/Swan associates will upgrade you from a standard view to a preferred view. Other upgrades (Club level, suites, etc.) must be paid for with $$ or points (most always).

 

[Fargoman2]

Dreamflight and gepetto--Thanks for the info!

Any ballpark idea about how many points and/or $$$ are needed to upgrade
to a suite?

 

[Bimmy56]

I'm going in June!!! Hooray! I think I need to get the AMEX card to maximize my benefits. Where do you get one? I already have
a United ff Visa, that we use for most everything, and earn about 2 flights a year but a second card might be good. ( We charge my daughters college tuition on it - that's good for 1 flight alone)

Thanks!!