Starwood Preferred Guest - AX50 (aka SPG50) Now Paperless?

Before I get flamed for no searching, please read the entire post. I requested an AX50 award (aka SPG50 from the Amex card) to be ordered off my account with the renewal of my Amex card this past month. When I called a few weeks ago, I spoke with an agent who was unsure what an AX50 was. So today I e-mailed customer service and wanted to confirm that an SPG50 was indeed being mailed to my home. Heres the reply I received:
Dear Mr. slippahs,

Thank you for your recent email concerning your Starwood Preferred Guest account. I welcome this opportunity to assist you.

Our records indicate that the AX50 certificate has been credited to your Starwood Preferred Guest account. Therefore, as a "paperless company" we do not send out the certificate via mail.

To book this award, you may contact us within the United States and Canada, by calling toll free 1-888-625-4988 or refer to https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/service/service_centers_na.html for the telephone number of the office nearest you.

We appreciate your patronage of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. If you have any further customer service questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at starwood.preferred.guest@starwoodhotels.com.

Best Regards,

xxxx
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
I'm confused. I thought SPG50s came in the mail. Is this something new? I've done searches and found the appropriate threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=480289&highlight=ax50
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=496146&highlight=ax50
However, I'm not so clear on whether or not an AX50 is now entirely paperless. It seems people request AX50s and are told that they are indeed paperless, when they really are not. Seems like there's some miscommunication about how an AX50 is redeemed, which has made customers like myself somewhat confused. William, can you clarify, please?

My sister and I just got our paper ones from spg last week. Btw, if you have a coporate SET # in your account, you can register at the below link to get a "paperless" 50% award after 2 stays.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/promotions/registration/landing_page.html?promoID=50C

Beware that most CS inclduing platinum concierge are not familiar with this C50 award, you might have to be more patient when redeeming it.

I think this is definitely something for Starwood Lurker to clarify, but it is my understanding that the AX50 and SPG50 are two different animals, if for nothing else, because of the source from where they are obtained. In other words, technically, they are different but they accomplish the same thing.

I do know that there are both paper and electronic forms of the SPG50.
a. I have an electronic SPG50 in my possession.
When I previoulsy requested to use one of these, I made a call to the reservations center and they made an "electronic" entry in my account for the reservation indicating "cert in hand".
b. There are also electronic forms of the SPG50 which just deduct 1,000 pts from your account when your reservation is made through the service center.

As for the AX50, I believe it is similar; however, there may be subtle T&C differences for which I am unaware since I've never used an AX50.

3 days ago in the mail I just received a paper SPG50 from the renewal of my SPG Amex so they definitely still have paper SPG50s. That said, I signed up and made my first purchase on my SPG Amex in Feb. 2005 so I don't know what took so long. And I still haven't seen the $30 annual fee charge, but I assume it will show up on my next statement now that I received the SPG50 renewel cert.

So how do you know if it has been posted to your account?

So how do you know if it has been posted to your account?

You wouldn't. This is only a convenience issue for those who did not get theirs from American Express. It is not like every account has one or anything like that.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

...William, can you clarify, please?

Still very much a paper experience on these.

Thanks for letting me know. I have taken care of following up
with the associates involved.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

So do the AX50 and the SPG50 have the same T&C's or are there any subtle differences in the two?

So do the AX50 and the SPG50 have the same T&C's or are there any subtle differences in the two?

The only significant difference is in Item # 2. On the AX50 ones, it says,"50% Off Award is valid for a maximum of five consecutive nights at any participating property when you pay with your Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express."

The T&C's for the other one just says, ","50% Off Award is valid for a maximum of five consecutive nights at any participating property worldwide."

Anticipating the next question, no, I don't think that the hotels themselves care one way or another, but you may find one that does...and certainly, AMEX and SPG would care. ;)

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Anticipating the next question, no, I don't think that the hotels themselves care one way or another, but you may find one that does...and certainly, AMEX and SPG would care. ;)


Man, you're on top of your game today............^

Man, you're on top of your game today............^
Ditto on that. Thanks, William! ^

Following up. I got my SPG50 in the mail. Only, it was a true SPG50 rather than an Amex SPG50, so that took me by surprise a bit (though not really, since the difference between the two are mostly cosmetic).

William- 2 quick questions:
(1) I am signed up for paperless statements and have never received an SPG50 from SPG amex after the first year. How do I go about getting my one annual cert? I actually love these things, and while I dont mind spending the 1k points, I'd love to get one free.
(2) jimmychang mentions a promo for those of us with SET accounts. I seem to be registered for this already and since I have stayed at least 2 times I figured I would be eligible for the electronic cert now. How do I claim this? Am I reading the T&C's correctly that you only get one of these in this promo?
thanks!

William- 2 quick questions:
(1) I am signed up for paperless statements and have never received an SPG50 from SPG amex after the first year. How do I go about getting my one annual cert? I actually love these things, and while I dont mind spending the 1k points, I'd love to get one free.

Call the Customer Contact Center and ask the associate to order an AX50 award from off your account. You should get the certificate in 10 - 14 days.

(2) jimmychang mentions a promo for those of us with SET accounts. I seem to be registered for this already and since I have stayed at least 2 times I figured I would be eligible for the electronic cert now. How do I claim this? Am I reading the T&C's correctly that you only get one of these in this promo?
thanks!

This isn't for anyone with a SET account. It is only for Corporate level members who register for 50C using the URL they are sent. It replaces the bonus Starpoints they used to receive as a part of their benefits that went away a couple of years ago.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com