Starwood Preferred Guest - Can I "loan" my parents my Gold status?

I know I've read posts about this but I can't find anything through my searches, so...

My parents will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary and they want to visit Edinburgh. They currently have never signed up for an SPG account.

Can I book a room for them under their names with my Gold account number and pay for it with my credit card? Meaning, can my Gold status do anything to help them? (My goal is to get my parents the nicest, biggest Grand Deluxe room with castle view (they don't like suites) at the best price).

If any of you have done something similar or if the Lurker wouldn't mind posting (even tho I'm sure he's answered this before!) I would greatly appreciate it.

Sorry, but elite status benefits are for the member only.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

And boy, have I noticed a sharp increase in Front Desks asking for I.D. at check-in.

And if the person who's SPG number is in the reservation is not available at check-in, have also experienced them witholding benefits at that time and being told, "The member must present themselves here in person before check-out or we won't be giving benefits or stay credits."

If you have no or lower status, this is a bit of a pain when you are sharing a room and the person who's SPG is getting the stay credit isn't checking in until later, after you do.

I wonder if a memo went out or something on some of the hanky-panky that might have been going on in this regards?

Thanks for the fast reply.

Here's another question - is it possible to use my points for an award stay that my parents will actually use?

Or is there a way to transfer some points to an account in their name?

And again, the Lurker has probably covered this before - sorry for not paying closer attention when I've read FT in the past.

[This message has been edited by sk3 (edited 06-16-2003).]

You can make an award reservation for your parents, but it would be better to do so over the phone by calling the Customer Contact Center. You would have to make the call anyway to get their name added to the reservation if you did it online, so this cuts out one step.

It couldn't hurt to have the associate add that it is their 50th wedding anniversary to remarks directed to the hotel. Sometimes, but not always, the hotels throw in some extra goodies or other recognition.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 06-16-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by sk3:
Here's another question - is it possible to use my points for an award stay that my parents will actually use?
</font>

Yes...when making the award reservation all you need to do is give your parents' names to the agent and indicate that the reservation is for them. I've booked award rooms for my wife and son when they have been traveling separately from me and we have never had a problem.

That's great news Lurker and DFW DL! Cool, well atleast I'll be able to do that much for my parents. Thanks!

[This message has been edited by sk3 (edited 06-16-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:
And boy, have I noticed a sharp increase in Front Desks asking for I.D. at check-in.
</font>


PremEx,

THIS, they're good at. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Now if only the front desk staff could master the fine art of recognizing Starwood members with status. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Dan

edited for spacing


[This message has been edited by dhammer53 (edited 06-16-2003).]

I have another question regarding my parents EDI stay -

First, my parents were able to get SPG Gold by way of their Amex Platinum card, which is great.

Then I made an award reservation online for 2 of their nights and called SPG last nite to switch it over to my Dad's account. (I know Lurker said to just call, but I wanted to do it online so I could add the comment about their 50th Anni - but it turned out that I wasn't offered that box).

The phone call took about 15 minutes. I was told that although the reservation would now be under my dad's name, that my dad wouldn't be able see the reservation on his account (is that true?). But I was told that I would still see it on my account. I asked him if he could add the comment about their 50th and he typed for seriously about 10 minutes. It was actually kinda odd how much he was typing. So I just now looked at my account (curious what would now be in the comment section) and I am now unable to pull up the details of this reservation. So I have no evidence that this award is now in my dad's name. (And I looked at my dad's online account and can't see it there either). Call me neurotic, but I like to have something in print and all that I have received is another email, but it still shows my name and no mention of my parents.

Is there anyway I can get something in print (preferrably through SPG.com) showing that this res is in my Dad's name - or do I need to contact the hotel now to do this?

I would ask Reservations to fax me a copy of the reservation. That should show all the details including the name it's under.

sk3, the reservation is still in your name since you are the one providing the points to pay for it. Your dad's name is listed as a guest in the room with notations to the effect that he, not you, will be checking in as the primary guest. It also says that this is a gift from you for his anniversary.

This is how it is usually done and it has worked for several years now with no major repercussions. Probably the reason you can no longer see the reservation is that the hotel has changed the name of the guest on their end to your father's name. There is really no way for us to provide anything in print from spg.com. If you have any questions about the status of this reservation, I would send an email to the hotel directly at grandedinburgh.sheraton@sheraton.com.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Thanks Lurker. Since you were able to read the details, then I'm relieved and know all is set. And I will follow up with the hotel as you suggest. (Parents celebrating a 50th in this day and age is really something special and I just want to do everything I can to insure a great trip for them). Thanks again.