Starwood Preferred Guest - An Interesting Coincidence re: 2004 Qualification

Back in November, I subscribed to "Inside Flyer". When I received my "Frequent Flier Guidebook", I was thumbing through various programs. I was surprised to see in the STARWOOD section that the qualification for Platinum was 25 nights, not the 20 I originally thought. I suddenly thought I'd have to load on one or two more stays to requalify, but then I checked the Starwood website, which still had 20 nights listed for 2003 qualification. I figured that the folks at Inside Flyer had made a typo. I gave the book to my sister and am trying to get her to verify for me what I saw; but maybe others could take a look too. If I'm mistaken about what I read, I apologize...but I'm pretty sure I remember seeing that.

Two months later, it's announced that the threshold for Platinum is being raised. I'm curious if the decision on this was made a while back, but only just announced. Did Inside Flyer really know something that no one else did, back in November?

Just a question.

In Nov. I was at the Sheraton Nashua and all the SPG materials in my room and the concierge lounge said 25 stays, not 20. I checked the website and was relieved to see 20. I figured the materials were old, not prescient.

"The Official Frequent Flyer Guide" Seventh Edition does list 25 stays or 50 nights for Platinum qualification.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by shinbal:
Back in November, I subscribed to "Inside Flyer". When I received my "Frequent Flier Guidebook", I was thumbing through various programs. I was surprised to see in the STARWOOD section that the qualification for Platinum was 25 nights, not the 20 I originally thought. I suddenly thought I'd have to load on one or two more stays to requalify, but then I checked the Starwood website, which still had 20 nights listed for 2003 qualification. I figured that the folks at Inside Flyer had made a typo. I gave the book to my sister and am trying to get her to verify for me what I saw; but maybe others could take a look too. If I'm mistaken about what I read, I apologize...but I'm pretty sure I remember seeing that.

Two months later, it's announced that the threshold for Platinum is being raised. I'm curious if the decision on this was made a while back, but only just announced. Did Inside Flyer really know something that no one else did, back in November?

Just a question. </font>

The "Frequent Flier Guidebook" (seventh edition) was printed in 2000, thus listing pre-2001 Starwood qualifications level, which then used to be 25 stays/50 nights for Platinum.

No conspiracy here... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Ummmmm....looks like a number of FT legal eagles will be eating crow. Seems their big premise was Starwoods total lack of advance notification, which now seems not to be the case http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mauld:
Ummmmm....looks like a number of FT legal eagles will be eating crow. Seems their big premise was Starwoods total lack of advance notification, which now seems not to be the case http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

Speaking of crow...

The obsolete, out of date information contained within the book did not presage the unannounced Plat level increase for 2004.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mauld:
Ummmmm....looks like a number of FT legal eagles will be eating crow. Seems their big premise was Starwoods total lack of advance notification, which now seems not to be the case http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

I don't get the crow reference here. It used to be 25. Then it was 20, now it is 25.