Starwood Preferred Guest - Please explain SPG AmEx Platinum benefits

I was under the impression that if we had an SPG AmEx Platinum card we would be upgraded to gold SPG members. We have called SPG three times after receiving our SPG AmEx Platinum card for the upgrade but have been told this is not possible. Is it or isn't it..help!! We have 2 rooms reserved through hotwire for 12 nights at WDW Swan in 3 weeks and would love to have this figured out before our trip as an upgraded room if available would be great. Thanks

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bluesfan:
I was under the impression that if we had an SPG AmEx Platinum card we would be upgraded to gold SPG members. We have called SPG three times after receiving our SPG AmEx Platinum card for the upgrade but have been told this is not possible. Is it or isn't it..help!! We have 2 rooms reserved through hotwire for 12 nights at WDW Swan in 3 weeks and would love to have this figured out before our trip as an upgraded room if available would be great. Thanks</font>

Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express cardholders are given Preferred Plus status, not Gold elite status.

gleff explained this today right here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/007182.html

You are confusing the real Platinum American Express card that has a $340 yearly fee with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, which is not really a Platinum card as far as they are concerned.

Still, the upgrade benefit for Preferred Plus and Gold elite is identical - Preferred Room, subject to availability at check-in.

Other Preferred Plus benefits? Glad you asked:

The benefits of Preferred Plus membership in Starwood Preferred Guest are as follows:

- Two Starpoints per U. S. Dollar or equivalent spent on eligible charges.
- Ability to earn Starpoints on restaurant charges when not staying at a participating property. (US$10.00 Minimum)
- Personal profile information, including: floor, bedding, pillow, smoking preferences, and newspaper preferences.
- Choice of National or Financial weekday newspaper.
- Pre-blocked and pre-keyed room on day of arrival.
- Personalized, fast and efficient check-in.
- Special toll-free number for Starwood Preferred Guest related inquiries.
- Unlimited ability to transfer Starpoints between two accounts in the same household.
- Preferred Plus membership credentials.
- Guaranteed late check-out of up to 4:00 p.m., based upon availability at resort properties and conference destinations during peak periods.
- Upgrade to a Preferred Room, subject to availability at time of check-in.

Welcome to Flyertalk and the Starwood forum.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

By the way, reservations booked through hotwire are not eligible for stay credit for promotion and status re-qualification purposes or for earning Starpoints in the room revenue portion of your hotel bill.

You can still earn Starpoints for any eligible incidentals during your stay and you are still eligible for your other benefits, however.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 05-13-2003).]