Starwood Preferred Guest - Platinum Upgrades on Paid vs. Award Stays?

My thanks in advance for any help you can provide on this one.....

I am a "newly-minted" SPG Plat, after having spent many years off the road!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I had previously been a Westin Gold and very much enjoyed the Suite upgrades.

Here's my question: I have plenty of Starpoints that I could use for a "free" stay at the Palace SF (Labor Day weekend) with my wife. However, I really want to be upgraded and was wondering whether "paid" stays and "award" stays are treated differently in terms of Plat recognition/upgrades??

Could I pay for the first night, use *points for the other 2 nights, and stay in the same (presumably) upgraded accomodations?

What has your experience been in this regard?
Best wishes, Dave

Officially they are treated the same.

Unofficially, I have the (for me) surprising experience of actually getting better upgrades on Award stays vs. paid stays. Probably just a fluke, but that's how it's worked out for me so far. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Typing this moment from the Sheraton Anaheim, where I've had over 15 paid nights so far just this year, always gotten a nice Suite upgrade, but on this 4 night Award stay, have gotten a truly wonderful Suite that I didn't even know existed here!

You can also sometimes actually book a Suite under an standard Award stay! I suspect this may be a fluke as well, but it does happen on occasion. Both on the web and via PlatCons by phone. I often book Award stays on the web and then when I immediately check My Reservations to see what type of room it's booked for me, I often see a Suite or Jr. Suite or Club level room. Just a few weeks ago I called a PlatCons to book an Award at the Four Points Ventura, and even they offered me my choice of a huge 2 room/2 bathroom Suite, or a newly refurbished Jr. Suite. All for the standard award amount. I was again a bit surprised by this and they were too a little bit, but he said he does see it from time-to-time. Could have been a hotel mistake I suppose. Regardless, it "stuck" as that's what they had me in when I arrived! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Should point out however, that Lurker has stated here in the past that on standard Award stays, no matter what type of room you are "confirmed" in, the hotel only has to give you a standard room when you check-in, if that's all that's available.

No complaints from me on Award stays with Starwood. So far. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 07-30-2003).]

The award possibilities at the Palace in San Francisco are as follows:

SPG4 (standard award) = superior king or two double beds; cost 10,000 Starpoints per room per night.

SPG4S (specialty 1 upgrade award) = deluxe king or two double beds; cost 11,000 Starpoints per room per night.

SPG4SS (specialty 2 upgrade award = grand deluxe king or two double beds; cost 11,500 Starpoints per room per night.

SPG4SU (suite upgrade award = superior suite with king or two double beds; cost 20,000 Starpoints per room per night.

Of course, fifth night free applies.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

PremEx and Lurker - thanks much for the very prompt replies.....

I remain a "bit" confused, though, as 1) PremEx suggests that Plat upgrades "may" acoompany award stays, and 2) Lurker suggests that any upgrade to "best available room" or something similar requires add'l starpoints straight out of the box.

I recognize that this may be a case of YMMV, but I was really wondering if there is any type of precedent for whether Plats would be upgraded to a better room with an award stay. Thanks again for the help!

Best wishes, Dave

Sorry, for any confusion, bseller. Let me try to explain.

You can certainly depend upon the hotel for an upgrade commensurate with your elite status, subject to availability at check-in - award room or not. And, from most reports the Palace follows the rules to the letter.

What I provided was information that would allow you to confirm a specific upgraded room type in advance of your stay. To take away the suspense, if you will, should this happen to be a special weekend for the both of you.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 07-30-2003).]

Ok Premex, you have my curiosity.... I have stayed @ Sheraton Anaheim. What kind of special suite do you have?

Lurker - thanks for the clarification! That is certainly consistent with PremEx's answer, and one that I'm willing to live with. As its a holiday weekend, I'm not terribly concerned with hordes of Plats travelling on business competing with me!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Hence, if I book a "standard" award stay for 10K *Wood points/night, I would STILL be eligible for the "best available room" (including suites, but excluding "specialty suites) at checkin,,,IIUC...

Best wishes, Dave

chix questions: <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Ok Premex, you have my curiosity.... I have stayed @ Sheraton Anaheim. What kind of special suite do you have?</font>

It's much the same Sq. Ft. (prehaps a bit more) as this Standard Suite here:

http://members.aol.com/premexfiles/sherANA2161.jpg

...but it's a totally different designed and furnished "Deluxe" Suite. There's only one. Basically instead of the wet bar as shown in that photo, it has a floor to ceiling and whole length of the room wall unit with bar built in, that includes large Sony Trinitron TV, full home theater surround sound system (with Bose subwoofer even), very nice antiques and plush furnishings, throw pillows, drapes, carpets, crystal lamps, coffeetable books, gold fixtures and accessories, bathroom beautifully tiled and larger than the other suites. Even light gold fabric'd shower curtain. High poster bed. Very, very nice. Basically everything, right down to the toilet has been plussed up. I've stayed in the standard Suites here many times, and they are nice, but when I walked into this one, I went, "Wow, this is different!"

I was told this was basically a VIP Suite that is primarily used when they are courting a conference or convention, or when they have new management arrive that needs temporary housing. I didn't mooch it. It was just assigned to me.

Reminded me of the decor of the Suites at the Sheraton Russell in New York a bit, if you've ever stayed there.

It's room 1241 and is on the ground floor overlooking the pool. I'll have some photos next week (once they get developed) and will post them to an appropriate Anaheim Sheraton thread at that time.

BTW, this property has begun installation of the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, but I was told it's going to take almost a year for all rooms to be converted.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 07-30-2003).]

My experiences:

1) it seems like I have gotten better rooms as a Plat on award stays than on paid stays. But like PremEx said, it may be a fluke.

2) order of importance of who decides what room you will get when you show up: a) the hotel, b) Starwood Lurker & Plat Concierge, c) you, me and the rest of this forum. My point: don't get your hope up too much. Set your expectations low and you will be pleasantly surprised, set them high and you may be dissapointed.

By the way, PremEx, I hope to get the GREAT suite that you got at the Sheraton Anaheim the next time I will be there. I know exactly what you talking about regarding the suite at the Sheraton Russell - it's got to be the finest hotel accommadation on Park Avenue and Murray Hill! Truly unforgettable!