Starwood Preferred Guest - Change room on United Vacations pkg?

I originally posted this in the United Miles forum, but looks like this might be the more appropriate place.

Does anybody have experience with Starwood/Sheraton when staying there as part of a vacation package? I'm looking to book a flight, hotel & car through United Vacations at the Sheraton Kauai. Unfortunately, the room info is severely lacking on the United Vacations site, with nothing to indicate whether you're getting a pair of doubles or a King. Even if this wasn't our 25th Anniversary gig, it would still be greatly preferable to have a King.

So how is a "packaged" person treated at the hotel? Is it likely you can get a different bed (if the room's available)? Or pay the difference for an upgrade? Or are you stuck with whatever United Vacations sets you up with, period? And, if it makes any difference, I am now signed up with their SPG program.

Many thanks-

I originally posted this in the United Miles forum, but looks like this might be the more appropriate place.

Does anybody have experience with Starwood/Sheraton when staying there as part of a vacation package? I'm looking to book a flight, hotel & car through United Vacations at the Sheraton Kauai. Unfortunately, the room info is severely lacking on the United Vacations site, with nothing to indicate whether you're getting a pair of doubles or a King. Even if this wasn't our 25th Anniversary gig, it would still be greatly preferable to have a King.

So how is a "packaged" person treated at the hotel? Is it likely you can get a different bed (if the room's available)? Or pay the difference for an upgrade? Or are you stuck with whatever United Vacations sets you up with, period? And, if it makes any difference, I am now signed up with their SPG program.

Many thanks-

As far as what you get from United for the package deal, this is how I imagine that works: they buy a block of rooms from us at a wholesale rate and you get whatever is in that block of rooms. YMMV. If they do not give you much information about whether you will get a king or two doubles or smoking vs. non-smoking or if you can't indicate your preferences with them, this is something that I would try to address directly with the hotel once the package is booked.

Don't count on any SPG in-hotel benefits booking this way. In fact, don't even count on getting stay credit for the package as package deals are not eligible for Starpoints or stay credit, although you can be credited for eligible incidental charges if you give the hotel your Starwood Preferred Guest account number at check-in.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

As far as what you get from United for the package deal, this is how I imagine that works: they buy a block of rooms from us at a wholesale rate and you get whatever is in that block of rooms. YMMV. If they do not give you much information about whether you will get a king or two doubles or smoking vs. non-smoking or if you can't indicate your preferences with them, this is something that I would try to address directly with the hotel once the package is booked.
So it's likely that one could get switched to a King (instead of a pair of doubles) without too much hassle?

Don't count on any SPG in-hotel benefits booking this way. In fact, don't even count on getting stay credit for the package as package deals are not eligible for Starpoints or stay credit, although you can be credited for eligible incidental charges if you give the hotel your Starwood Preferred Guest account number at check-in.
Would this be the same for all packages, including, for example, Expedia (which doesn't appear to be a consolidator, but rather makes available whatever offerings Starwood does on their own website)?

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

So it's likely that one could get switched to a King (instead of a pair of doubles) without too much hassle?

No. I didn't say that. I said it would have to be something that you'd have to work out with the hotel directly. I have no idea if it would a hassle or not - huge or otherwise.


Would this be the same for all packages, including, for example, Expedia (which doesn't appear to be a consolidator, but rather makes available whatever offerings Starwood does on their own website)?

Expedia also sells wholesale rates, but the package deal not being eligible is part of Starwood Preferred Guest Terms and Conditions, so yes, it applies to all packages booked anywhere - unless of course it is booked on one of our proprietary web sites.

Note: SPGVacations.com is not one of our proprietary web sites, but you can earn a flat rate of 500 Starpoints per day for booking package deals there. Still no stay credit, however.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com