Starwood Preferred Guest - doesn't spg amex get you gold spg?

I thought that the spg amex got you gold on spg? My gold it appears just ran out - I have no idea honestly how I got it to begin with - can't remember!

any advice on getting the gold back? :)

thanks!

SPG Amex does NOT get you SPG Gold status simply by having the card. But you can get it by spending $30k in a year.

My understanding is that getting the card will get you "Preferred Plus" status which can be thought of as "Gold Lite". And if you spend 30K or more in a calendar year, then you will be bumped to full Gold status.

My understanding is that getting the card will get you "Preferred Plus" status which can be thought of as "Gold Lite". And if you spend 30K or more in a calendar year, then you will be bumped to full Gold status.

And there is only ONE difference between "Preferred Plus" (also called "Preferred Business") and Gold: You get 3 points per dollar spent at SPG hotels instead of 2 points per dollar.

Amex Platinum will get you automatic Gold though.

right on brotha!

And there is only ONE difference between "Preferred Plus" (also called "Preferred Business") and Gold: You get 3 points per dollar spent at SPG hotels instead of 2 points per dollar.

I thought Gold also received late check out. Am I mistaken?

All are correct here.

catonis: Preferred Plus receives 4pm checkout as well. The only technical difference is the bonus point per $ spent at SPG.

Also, if the hotel has one available Preferred room for two members, one Gold, one Preferred Plus, the upgrade should, in theory, go to the Gold member. Lastly, international properties, in some instances and IME, give better treatment to Gold - but just a little bit.

Really, it's not a big deal to have Preferred Plus instead of Gold.

To be absolutely precise, gold gets 4 pm checkout based on availability. Plats get 4 pm guaranteed.

In my experience as gold, I've only been successful getting as late as a 2 PM checkout, never 4 PM.

And there is only ONE difference between "Preferred Plus" (also called "Preferred Business") and Gold: You get 3 points per dollar spent at SPG hotels instead of 2 points per dollar.

I have allways been confused about this...dont know why, but I am confused. Are the 3 points in addition to the charge to the card, therefore 4 points? I now have to stay at Sheratons in Orlando as my company negotiated a very good rate and the office "hotel stay police" has ticketed as apparently I have not been using approved hotel or some nonsense like that.

Are the 3 points in addition to the charge to the card, therefore 4 points?

Yes

[QUOTE=kuroneko;7425027]To be absolutely precise, gold gets 4 pm checkout based on availability. Plats get 4 pm guaranteedQUOTE]

Is this really the case? I thought Plats, Gold, Preferred Plus and Corp. Preferreds are all eligible for 4pm check-out except at some resort/conference locations subject to availability

To be absolutely precise, gold gets 4 pm checkout based on availability. Plats get 4 pm guaranteed.


What is the definition of availability? I mean you already have the room, so it's got to be available. ;) Does it mean that if they are sold out for that night they won't let you have a late checkout because they will definitely need the room?

To be absolutely precise, gold gets 4 pm checkout based on availability. Plats get 4 pm guaranteed.

In my experience as gold, I've only been successful getting as late as a 2 PM checkout, never 4 PM.


AFAIK, it's guaranteed based on availability for all but standard Preferred guests. Excludes resorts. I will let someone else speak to the Plat side fo this, as I've never been, however as Preferred Plus, Corporate Preferred Plus, and as Gold, I have gotten 4pm checkout roughly 95% of the time. The times I did not, I still got 1 or 2pm and those were at resorts. Never ever been denied at a non-resort property although a few times I had to "train" the desk employees on benefits.

From what I understand, 4 PM checkout is one benefit that many hotels loathe to give out. (The reasons are obvious). In fact, this is the reason why many fine hotels do not participate in Amex FHR, which guarantees a 4 PM checkout when booking a hotel under this program.

Anyway, the policies for Gold and Plat re: 4 Pm checkout are different. Here is the exact wording for both:

gold: "Little Extras: Take advantage of a morning newspaper, 4 p.m. late checkout when available, check-cashing privileges up to $300, and access to the Gold Preferred Guest special customer service telephone number for reservations and information. "

Plat: "Platinum members receive guaranteed room availability with 72+ hour notice of arrival and 4 pm late check out. * Platinum members are eligible for late check-out up to 4pm, except at resorts and convention locations, where it is based upon availability."

Anyway, the policies for Gold and Plat re: 4 Pm checkout are different.The late check-out benefit is the same for both Gold and Platinum levels, as per the SPG T&Cs (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/terms_conditions.html#6):

"Upon request, 4 p.m. late check-out worldwide, subject to availability at resorts and conference locations."

Plat: "Platinum members receive guaranteed room availability with 72+ hour notice of arrival and 4 pm late check out. * Platinum members are eligible for late check-out up to 4pm, except at resorts and convention locations, where it is based upon availability."

KVS is absolutely correct, You have to look at the official T&C's, not the marketing materials, to get the legally correct answer. In fact, the OFFICIAL rules are identical for P+, Golds, and Plats. I was once told I could only stay until 1 PM at a non-resort, non-conference Sheraton, and when I complained to SPG Customer Service, the hotel apologized and gave me five times the SPG points I had earned for that stay as a goodwill bonus.

Just FYI - I had spent over $30k in about half my first year on SPG Amex, so I had 40k+ SPG points and I called *wood CS and asked them to upgrade me to Gold since it wouldn't happen until March of the following year, and they did so immediately, no questions asked.^