Don't often post in these parts but had to today as I find the Standard vs Premium internet offering that seems to be popping up at numerous Starwood properties (Westins particularly) an absolute joke.
For the uninitiated, upon logging onto the internet, you are given two options. Standard internet access (free to Platinums) or Premium, which everyone has to pay for.
Now, I'd be happy to pay the extra if the two services were like this:
Standard: How the service was before the 'tiering' was introduced
Premium: A new, super-fast service that was noticeably faster and worth the extra.
However, the reality goes like this.
Premium: How the service was before the 'tiering' was introduced
Standard: A throttled, bottle-necked, slowed down service to try and force people into paying for Premium.
The difference between the two is only $6-10 or so, but as a 75+ night Plat with Ambassador service, I just find it a bit of an insult. I spend a huge amount of money with Starwood (on my own dime as I'm self-employed) and it riles me when I get nickel & dimed over internet access, especially when I'm generally treated very well by SPG.
Even someone just qualifying for Plat is a) probably spending a decent amount with Starwood, and b) is probably a business traveller, and therefore unlikely to be able to tolerate the unusably slow 'Standard' internet speeds. Would it really be that much of a big deal to offer your best customers the full speed of your internet connection?
