Starwood Preferred Guest - Upgrades On Award Stays?

The answer to this is no, right? What about Points and Cash stays? Upgrades allowed?

Actually the answer is yes! The upgrade process is identical for all stays -- award, paid or cash & points. This is one of the nice features of SPG.

doesn't the T&C say NO, but most props usually do it anyway?

doesn't the T&C say NO, but most props usually do it anyway?

No. The T&C's don't say that.

Have always been upgraded as a PLT member, paid or award stays.

As people have frequently noted on this board, hotels have a lot of discretion (or take a lot of discretion) in awarding upgrades. They should do it for award stays, cash & points, etc. but my own experience is that award stay guests are viewed by many hotels as somewhat "second-class" citizens, so it may be tougher to get them to honor their program obligations.

This being said, I had a TERRIFIC award stay at the Western Cape in which all benefits were freely given--in fact, I think they over-did it a bit! :D

I did not feel any difference between paid stays and award stays, especially in Aisa and Europe.

It has always been my observation here that the only type of stays that consistently to not get upgraded are those obtained through Priceline.

The only type of stays that consistently do not get upgraded are those obtained through Priceline.
As well it should be, since these are NOT eligible for stay credit/points/upgrades or any other benefits of Plat/Gold membership. Has been this way for a couple of years, IIRC.

Frankly, I'm glad that *Wood did this. Hardly fair to pay a 'decent' rate thru them and get aced out of a suite b/c of someone who managed to grab a P-line resv a few weeks earlier.

Best, Dave

I've usually not had problems receiving an upgrade of some sort when on an award stay, although my award stays are usually combined with a revenue stay. I've only had one property "penalize" me for this type of stay because their standard award rooms weren't at the same level I had booked for the paid night. When I checked in I learned my room for the paid night had been downgraded (but at the originally booked rate) to match the same room type as their standard award room. It was taken care of a check-in and received both nights in the originally booked room type I had reserved for the revenue night, but it took a bit of inquiring on my part.

I have got u/g on award stays and cash and points as the T/C give the benefits to Platinums members and not to the prices they are paying. Best U/G for me has been at Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi--even the airport transfers were complimentary let alone the towers upgrades :D

Like others, I haven't seen a difference between paid and award upgrades. Possibly because I usually pay a pretty low rate anyway with advance booking -- so YMMV if you pay rack rate on a regular basis. Some excellent award and cash&points upgrades, including a good selection of suites in Germany and Switzerland, at the Diplomat in Florida, and a villa at the Grande Laguna Phuket.

Which I think makes business sense. In many cases the program functions to give people free holidays in return for steering their employer's or clients' money toward SPG on paid stays. So the award stay is when you really have time to appreciate the upgrade, lie on the balcony, soak in the tub, drink the free wine, etc.

As gold I have gotten "preferred" rooms on my recent 2 award stays. About a year ago using a promotional free night certificate at the St Regis in DC, I got a suite upgrade even though I was only gold....

This is good news. I just booked a weekend in Niagara Falls for the wife and I in October. My wife is pregnant (future flyertalker ?) and isn't supposed to fly, which is why we decided just to go to the falls (close by). We decided on the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel.

I booked a club floor Loft Suite for the first night (paid) and the award stay the second night is just a basic city view room. Any chance that they'll let us remain in the loft suite both nights? I hoping they don't ask us to switch rooms after the first night. Should I just ask for this at check-in? I guess if worse came to worse, I could always use points to upgrade, but I was quoted 7000 pts to upgrade by a SPG agent over the phone which seemed a bit excessive.

Any tips on getting management to allow us to remain in the suite both nights?

Pregnant wife, say its some kind of special occasion, Oct might not be high season?

Seems like reasonable chance.. Maybe ask if you can pay difference between "upgraded" room you might get as Gold and loft suite? Or point difference between "upgraded" room and loft suite..

I was allowed to get a penthouse room with huge terrace at the Florence Westin last May...and a suite the next week at the Danieli Venice on *wood points. Took a lot of points compared to 'ordinary' rooms but sure made for a very memorable first trip to both cities.

I've had better luck with upgrades on award stays than with paid stays - although lately, I've had fine upgrades at most of the better SPG hotels I've stayed in, including several that get :td: :td: elsewhere on this board. As a qualifier, though, I note that all of our award stays have been in Europe, and in general the non-US properties seem to treat Gold and Platinum guests with much more appreciation than the US properties do. The (SF) Palace last weekend treated us as well as all of the other Luxury Collection hotels we've stayed in - suite, welcome fruit basket, even a nice bottle of Chardonnay - and the Sheraton Sonoma went out of their way to make us feel welcome too.

I've had very good luck with points/free nights stays as a Plat.

W San Diego - Kool King, as big as some suites I've had in other hotels
Westin River North, Chicago - Presidential Suite (1 night stay)
Westin E&R (Venice) - Room overlooking Grand Canal
Grand Hotel, Florence - Suite overlooking the Arno
Westin Excelsior, Rome - 2nd bigest suite (took some work)
Sheraton Moorea - Horizon OWB
Sheraton Cuyahoga Falls (Cleveland) - 2 level suite
W Lakeshore, Chicago - Urban Suite
Westin Swan - club level

I didn't get upgraded on points stays at (at least not memorable):
SR Dana Point
Westin Horton Plaza (San Diego)

I've had very good luck with points/free nights stays as a Plat.

W San Diego - Kool King, as big as some suites I've had in other hotels
Westin River North, Chicago - Presidential Suite (1 night stay)
Westin E&R (Venice) - Room overlooking Grand Canal
Grand Hotel, Florence - Suite overlooking the Arno
Westin Excelsior, Rome - 2nd bigest suite (took some work)
Sheraton Moorea - Horizon OWB
Sheraton Cuyahoga Falls (Cleveland) - 2 level suite
W Lakeshore, Chicago - Urban Suite
Westin Swan - club level

I didn't get upgraded on points stays at (at least not memorable):
SR Dana Point
Westin Horton Plaza (San Diego)

"Westin Excelsior, Rome - 2nd bigest suite (took some work)" Was that the Presidential? If it was I was able to upgrade there as well with Gold--magnicent room!

"Westin Excelsior, Rome - 2nd bigest suite (took some work)" Was that the Presidential? If it was I was able to upgrade there as well with Gold--magnicent room!

It was the Imperial Suite.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/rooms/room_class_detail.html?propertyID=70&roomClassId=83120014

The (SF) Palace last weekend treated us as well as all of the other Luxury Collection hotels we've stayed in - suite, welcome fruit basket, even a nice bottle of Chardonnay - and the Sheraton Sonoma went out of their way to make us feel welcome too.

Ha...I got nothing at the Palace when I visited earlier this year. Horrible experience. I had to fight to get just the Platinum Amenity ($10 or $15 room service credit) out of them, and of course no upgrade. I actually think I was downgraded from the standard room I booked, not that I would know the difference since I have never stayed there before (and never will again)...but my room was awfully small and crappy.

Mrs. Rhetor and I got terrific suites on recent award stays at both the Royal Orchid Sheraton and the Le Meridien Plaza Athenee in Bangkok. :cool:

Have gotten 3 ocean view rooms on reward stays at the Sheraton Rio, so I guess that's an upgrade. Much better than facing the favela across the road.

Did not get upgrade on points at W San Diego - seemed to be a standard room, but nice nonetheless - and the Royal Hawaiian would not put me in a tower room, gave me a room in the older part of the hotel with a courtyard view.

In general, though, I don't really push for upgrades even on paid stays.

As an old VIP SPG I received upgrades to many wonderful suites. As a PLAT SPG now, great suites are much harder to come by- although they are possible.

Only recently, I received an upgrade to the Royal Suite at the Grand Hotel in Florence- on an award stay. I was very impressed.

We were upgraded to the Via Veneto Suite at the Westin Excelsior in Rome--as a lowly gold!

I've been upgraded a number of times, when staying on points. Especially in Italy, where we most often use our reward stays. Never gotten an upgrade at a W - even on a revenue stay. But had a fabulous suite with a HUGE balcony overlooking the Arny in Florence last year. VERY nice.

had a fabulous suite with a HUGE balcony overlooking the Arny in Florence last year. VERY nice.
I have had a suite overlooking the ARNO as well, but as a Plat!
Best, Dave

I got upgraded to a suite when I had an award stay at the st. regis in New York, so they definitely happen.