Starwood Preferred Guest - Instant upgrade to Gold?

I've found a very interesting promotion which upgrades your Starwood membership status to Gold instantly -- well, maybe, maybe not, I'm not quite sure at this time yet.

Here's the story:

On Yahoo! Japan Auction I found several offerings that SELL the method at about $8, to instantly upgrade your Starwood membership status to Gold for nothing other than just two toll-free phone calls. Though I was very interested in it, I didn't want to pay for it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Instead I searched web for more information about it, and finally I belived I found one. (If you don't mind reading Japanese, here's the actual page: Nov 19 of http://www.alpha-net.ne.jp/users2/rainbow7/zakkannkako2000312.htm )

It reads:
There's a promotion for JAL Card members which will give 5,000 bonus miles for two qualified stays by the end of Feb at any Starwood group. In order to sign up this promotion one has to give Starwood mustomer service the promotion code "WK". When you you present this code, your status will automatically be upgraded to Gold. Finally I've got Gold without staying Starwood.

JAL Card is a co-branded credit card combined with JAL's mileage program (named Jal Mileage Bank, or JMB in short). It requires annual fee and is I guess only available for Japanese residents. But the auction item was clearly saying there's totally no payment, so that I guessed just having JMB account is sufficient for the offer.

Since I already had JMB account, I just signed up for SPG and called SPG member service, told the rep I want to sign up the offer, gave him the promotion code and my JMB account number.

Can someone confirm about this offer?

I've just done it about 30 min ago, and so far nothing has changed in my account info I can see on the web. I'll also call SPG member service in Japan to make sure later.
I'll keep you informed...

Confirmed...other than the "instant upgrade to Gold" part.
This offer is clearly shown in JAL's web site!!

I've just called SPG member service in Tokyo, and confirmed:

1. It is true that with this promotion members get instant upgrade to Gold.
2. I've already been Gold Preferred. That means, no need to call up Japan.
3. It'll take some time before the status shown in account info page is updated.

This offer expires on 2/28. To stand on the safer side, I'd recommend to call on or before 2/27 because of the time difference between US and Japan.
The SPG service rep I spoke with at Tokyo said "Oh you've just signed up yesterday", though I've done a few hours before.

At last, I found there's a page of promotion details (except the "instant upgrade" part): https://www.japanair.com/JMB/For_JMB_Members/News_n_Notes/2000/04/page3.htm

"STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS / ALL HOTELS WORLDWIDE" is the one I've been mentioning.

Here's a round up.

If you are a Starwood Preferred Guest, you can instantly upgrade to Gold Preferred by two steps:

1. Enroll Japan Airline's JAL Mileage Bank (JMB).
2. Call SPG member support and give both promotion code "WK" and your JMB account number.

This offer expires on Feb 28.

For promotion details, please see "STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS / ALL HOTELS WORLDWIDE" in https://www.japanair.com/JMB/For_JMB_Members/News_n_Notes/2000/04/page3.htm (English) or http://www.jal.co.jp/cgi-bin/jal/jalmile/info/index.cgi?curr=81&tn=mileage&nx=mi_fr2 (Japanese).
They don't mention anything about the instant upgrade, but I directly confirmed it from SPG support rep in Tokyo by phone.

There are several online signup forms for JMB, but only one of them for Japanese residents in Japanese processes request real time. See https://www.japanair.com/JMB/How_JMB_Works/default.htm for other application methods.


Here's my case.

I called SPG support 1-888-625-4988 and gave promotion code and JMB account number. Though it seemed he didn't know about the promo, he entered the code into the system with no problem. The status on account info page didn't change at this time, though.
Next I called SPG support in Tokyo +81-3-5423-6062, told I signed up for the promo but I didn't see status upgraded yet. The answer was that my status is actually gold but it'll take time to show up.
Again I called SPG support 1-888-625-4988, told I should have been upgraded to Gold Preferred but I couldn't see it. The rep worked with his console a while, and now I can actually see I'm Gold Preferred! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Nice work, nan358!

William

Indeed, nan358, nicely done.

I was not a member in JMB, so I registered on the web at http://www.japanair.com/JMB/How_JMB_Works/default.htm

But after registering, I was told I would receive a card in 2-5 weeks. Not enough time for this promo! So, I called 1-800-JAL-MILE (1-800-525-6453) and received a number immediately.

Next, called Starwood at 1-888-625-4988, and chose prompt "3". The agent set it up with no difficulty, and pointed out that a stay before 2/28/2001 would earn 5000 JAL miles. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

Incidentally, I noticed that when you have your JMB number and PIN, you can receive 500 miles for receiving their e-mail: http://www.japanair.com/Promotions/e-Mail_Registration.htm



[This message has been edited by tulane85 (edited 02-21-2001).]

Best use of 5 minutes of my time this week.
How long do you stay gold preferred???

Originally posted by Maximus:
How long do you stay gold preferred???
I confirmed with SPG today that the upgrade offer is just for one year - the same as if you got a Starpoints Amex card.

Thanks nan358 & tulane85! Just did what you guys outlined and everything worked like a charm. This is what I love about FT. Now I'm both a Hilton and Starwood gold, with only 8 stays between the two, over the past 2 years. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Originally posted by Tranman:
Thanks nan358 & tulane85! Just did what you guys outlined and everything worked like a charm. This is what I love about FT. Now I'm both a Hilton and Starwood gold, with only 8 stays between the two, over the past 2 years. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Sigh.... people are addicted to status, silver, gold, platinum, etc. It is no wonder that all reward programs (CC, airlines, gas) keep coming up with all these new levels of status with no real benefits.

Let me ask you... if you hardly stay in starwood or hilton hotels, what is the point of getting a gold status?

When you look at it... you will see how hard people put themselves through to get a plastic with different color, for no good real reason. I am sure you feel very special now... like a royal noble family member? Part of gold group?

Big deal for an occasional traveller. Maybe you should frame that piece of gold plastic to satisfy your ego.

MoreMiles, I've got to take exception to your unkind remarks to Tranman. So what if he only has eight stays over a two year period? Now that he is gold, maybe he'll stay more. Furthermore, with SPG gold, he will now earn a 50% bonus on starpoints, will get late checkout, may get upgraded to a better room, etc. All for a couple minute time investment. I say, if it makes him happy, then it was worth it for him.

As for his post, all he was doing was thanking FT, and two FTers in particular, for providing him the info - no need to rain on his parade. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

tudorcity,

Thanks for the support. And you're right, I AM planning to have more stays at both chains this year due to the better benefits. In that respect, Hilton's and Starwood's Gold promotions did their job, they're getting more revenue from me.

As for MoreMiles raining on my parade... not even close! I NEVER let people whom I do not know nor respect bother me, especially uptight idiots.

MoreMiles: If this bugs you, that's your problem--go ahead, waste your time and post as many replies and you want--you know what I think of your opinion. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Thanks again, FT'ers. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

About ten years ago, "gold credit cards" were created and only given to people with high income or good credit. Then people start asking for it for its status... The result? Everyone has a gold MC or Visa card these days as long as he has a job with steady income. You also see many no-fee "gold card" with no benefits.

About five years ago, an extra level of frequent flyer tier was created by airlines because of people's request. The lowest level (known as silver in many programs) very shortly got reduced to a mere name with no benefit. In fact, many airlines do NOT allow priority check-in, boarding, or upgrade these days for this lowest elite status any more. Another victim of ego marketing.

About few weeks ago, hotels such as Hilton and Starwood start to give comp gold levels to anyone who askes (eg, comp programs or promotional codes)... needless to say, things will be downhill from that point on. This is seen so many times from the unavoidable side-effect of ego marketing. Just wait and see. Soon hotels will raise points redemption requirement and lower upgrade opportunities.

Yes, I like to express my opinions on a public bulletin board, just like you too. My previous post was based on an observation, and not intended for any personal attack. I do not know this person and apologize for any hard feelings that this may bring. However, I do maintain my position on my remarks on how people these days would do for silly things like this.

No need to apologize. Like I said, I do not know nor respect you, so no offense was taken. And moreover, you go on to prove my point of why I dismiss your opinions with the following:

Originally posted by MoreMiles:
Maybe you should frame that piece of gold plastic to satisfy your ego.

To which you eloquently followed up with:

Originally posted by MoreMiles:
My previous post was based on an observation, and not intended for any personal attack.

Hey, that first remark DID seem like more of an observation than an attack. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif As they say in the old Westerns, "Paleface speaks with forked toungue." LOL.

Sounds like your real issues are with Starwood... they make the rules, I just play by them.

"Don't hate the player, hate the game."



[This message has been edited by Tranman (edited 02-24-2001).]

Thanks to all - like everyone else, I did the necessary & the Customer Service Rep confirmed my status as Gold - she really emphasised the point, and mentioned possible upgrades etc. as a benefit of the higher status.

I'll let everyone know of my experiences !!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I appreciate the info too, just did this! It will be really nice to be gold, I wasn't treated that well by Starwood on my last stay as just a regular Preferred, though I am sure this is a fluke. I am going to book a Sheraton now. PS - like tranman, I too will stay at Starwood more now that I am gold. The same way I have been staying a lot more at Hiltons after they made me gold, just my way of expressing my appreciation to them. Thanks!

Sorry bringing this old thread back to top, but I've heard selected JAL Mileage Bank members recently received an information of SPG instant gold upgrade promotion again.

I went back to JAL web site and checked their newsletters, but there wasn't any info about it. (Maybe in next issue...)

Could some "selected JMB member" tell its promotion code and conditions?