Starwood Preferred Guest - Starwood Newbie Questions

So I am ditching Priority Club and joining Starwood. I have a few questions. I have only spent three nights so far with *wood.

1. I signed up for the Amex card. Got it today and along with it in a separate mailing came a letter that states I will get 2 Starpoints for each eligible $ spent. Does this mean that I get 2 point for staying at the hotel and an additional 2 instead of 1 from the credit card?

2. I also received a promo via email and I would get 2000 points for my first three stays unless it's a 4point, then only 1000. Will this be in addition to the 1000 point bonus I get for my first paid stay by paying with the credit card?

3. I registered for the 500 online booking bonus points promo. I have booked 2 stays since then and received the normal 2 points per $ spent. However, the online bonus did not post yet. The promo does say 6-8 weeks but it seems from reading other threads that these are posting quicker.

4. I noticed the terms of the promo say that back to back booking in the same city counts only as one stay. This is different from Priority Club. Is the system that good to catch that? I often stay the first/last night at an airport hotel and usually get credit for these as different stays with PC.

Thanks!!


[This message has been edited by michaelr (edited 08-07-2003).]

[This message has been edited by michaelr (edited 08-07-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by michaelr:
I signed up for the Amex card. Got it today and along with it in a separate mailing came a letter that states I will get 2 Starpoints for each eligible $ spent. Does this mean that I get 2 point for staying at the hotel and an additional 2 instead of 1 from the credit card? </font>

No. Despite the confusing language in the card's marketing materials (that has been discussed many times on FT), you only earn 1 SPG point per $ spent with your AmEx card, no matter where you use it.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by michaelr:
So I am ditching Priority Club and joining Starwood. I have a few questions. I have only spent three nights so far with *wood.

1. I signed up for the Amex card. Got it today and along with it in a separate mailing came a letter that states I will get 2 Starpoints for each eligible $ spent. Does this mean that I get 2 point for staying at the hotel and an additional 2 instead of 1 from the credit card?

2. I also received a promo via email and I would get 2000 points for my first three stays unless it's a 4point, then only 1000. Will this be in addition to the 1000 point bonus I get for my first paid stay by paying with the credit card?

3. I registered for the 500 online booking bonus points promo. I have booked 2 stays since then and received the normal 2 points per $ spent. However, the online bonus did not post yet. The promo does say 6-8 weeks but it seems from reading other threads that these are posting quicker.

4. I noticed the terms of the promo say that back to back booking in the same city counts only as one stay. This is different from Priority Club. Is the system that good to catch that? I often stay the first/last night at an airport hotel and usually get credit for these as different stays with PC.

Thanks!!


[This message has been edited by michaelr (edited 08-07-2003).]</font>

Thanks to Eugene for covering #1. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

#2 - Points received from using the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express are a separate transaction, so you can expect these in addition to, provided all the Terms and Conditions of the offer are met.

#3 - Web booking bonuses are swept once a month. If you are missing a web booking bonus 31 days after your check-out, contact the Customer Contact Center and ask for a follow-up.

#4 - Your mileage may vary, as they say here often. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Welcome to Starwood Preferred Guest and the Starwood forum. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 08-07-2003).]

ok, i am not exactly a newbie, but i have a question relating to bonus points. Currently there is a triple bonus point promotion for 4-5 of hotels in asia (BKK, HKG, etc), would a Gold Preferred member earn 9 points per dollar or 5 points per dollar spend?

Thank you, lurker.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by corrad:
ok, i am not exactly a newbie, but i have a question relating to bonus points. Currently there is a triple bonus point promotion for 4-5 of hotels in asia (BKK, HKG, etc), would a Gold Preferred member earn 9 points per dollar or 5 points per dollar spend?</font>

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/007206.html

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

I had a quick question. I have an old SPG card and number. I am currently President's Platnum with Fairmont and Platnum with Delta Hotels.

I was wondering if SPG comp's to plat status if I were to switch my travels to their Westin or Sheraton hotels.

Just wondering?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by stinger:
I had a quick question. I have an old SPG card and number. I am currently President's Platnum with Fairmont and Platnum with Delta Hotels.

I was wondering if SPG comp's to plat status if I were to switch my travels to their Westin or Sheraton hotels.

Just wondering?</font>

Sorry. Just top tier status matches with Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Starwood Lurker:
[B] Sorry. Just top tier status matches with Hilton, Hyatt, or Marriott.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

Oh well, I guess I will continue to send my business their way. Any reason why they won't match other programs?

Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriot are considered to be our three leading competitors. Beyond this, I have no idea. Maybe they just don't want to fill up the elite member ranks with complimentary matchers in status?

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Was reading up on other threads regarding targeted promotions and was wondering if there is any way I could increase the likelihood that I would receive these? I travel for business and usually book 2 months worth of (weekly) reservations ahead of time - could this be causing it?? I.e. I'm already a "loyal" customer so no promotions needed to get my business?!! In addition, I made platinum earlier this year and have 30+ stays / 135+ nights to date - shouldn't I be getting some promotions targeted to me?? Feeling a bit slighted here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Join the club, every program is like this

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mia73:
Was reading up on other threads regarding targeted promotions and was wondering if there is any way I could increase the likelihood that I would receive these? I travel for business and usually book 2 months worth of (weekly) reservations ahead of time - could this be causing it?? I.e. I'm already a "loyal" customer so no promotions needed to get my business?!! In addition, I made platinum earlier this year and have 30+ stays / 135+ nights to date - shouldn't I be getting some promotions targeted to me?? Feeling a bit slighted here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif</font>