Starwood Preferred Guest - What's your checkin routine?

I'm thinking of making myself a Starwood checklist of things to ask/review with the people who check me in.

Sometimes I forget to request late checkout, sometimes they forget to offer Platinum Amenity, sometimes I forget to ask hours for the club lounge, sometimes they forget to code the roomkey for lounge floor and/or late checkout. (3rd time in a row my key stopped working on the last day because they forgot to code it for late checkout even though they put me in the "system" for it.)

I was wondering if any of you are as freakish like me and have a checklist?

I'm thinking of making myself a Starwood checklist of things to ask/review with the people who check me in.

Sometimes I forget to request late checkout, sometimes they forget to offer Platinum Amenity, sometimes I forget to ask hours for the club lounge, sometimes they forget to code the roomkey for lounge floor and/or late checkout. (3rd time in a row my key stopped working on the last day because they forgot to code it for late checkout even though they put me in the "system" for it.)

I was wondering if any of you are as freakish like me and have a checklist?

The key not working thing for late check out is a tough one. I have yet to successfly make arrangements in advance for my key not to die at noon at certain properties (W Seattle, for example, is notorious for this).

I have, on many occasions at various properties, not only requested in advance that this not happen and been assured that it wouldn't, but when it did happen, I have had to go back down to reception, have a new key progrommed, only to find that that key also didn't work (W Chicago Lakeshore, are you listening? :p).

As for the checklist, I don't really share your concern. What are we talking about here, three or four things? Did I get my welcome amenity? Did I get an upgrade? Did I get health club access? (assuming I even want it), and did I get late check out? Personally, I don't even usually ask for late check out until the day before departure and I very rarely encounter any problems getting it, but that's just me.

No checklist for me. Anything that is forgotten at check-in can be followed up with the front desk later on, or with Starwood after the fact (i.e. Plat amenity).

My 'routine' is simple. If I'm within Canada/US, I hand my SPG Plat card stacked on top of my drivers license and credit card. If I'm outside Canada/US, I hand my passport over with my SPG Plat card on top of my credit card, which are sticking out of the photo page. Makes things nice and smooth. Everything else is based on circumstances/context.

It sort of struck me as funny that after I created the obnoxious guest checklist below that there are at least a couple that I have had to "bust out" on occasion. OP...sorry for the hijack.

1. Hairy eyeball to ensure proper Platinum recognition - check
2. Announcement of outsized upgrade to non-Plat colleagues - check
3. Mention to female receptionist that I hope that the gym is open late since I tend to get in at least 2 workouts during my 18 hour stay - check
4. Proclamation that if the beer and popcorn amenity option was six beers and popcorn that I might finally forgo my 500 points.
5. Ask for name of general manager, just in case - check
6. Request room map to ensure proper room placement - check
7. Assess whether there is someone who can accompany me to my room "in case I don't like it." - check
8. Mention again that I am Platinum - check
9. Ask a final time if "this is the best you can do room-wise for an important guest?" - check
10. After arrival in my Four Points king non-smoking call down and ask for foam pillows (this doesn't have the same effect when done at the front desk) - check.

That's all, really. Boy, I'm hoping to get VIP status one of these days so I can really impress myself and, more importantly, the staff of the hotels in which I stay.

It sort of struck me as funny that after I created the obnoxious guest checklist below that there are at least a couple that I have had to "bust out" on occasion. OP...sorry for the hijack.

1. Hairy eyeball to ensure proper Platinum recognition - check
2. Announcement of outsized upgrade to non-Plat colleagues - check
3. Mention to female receptionist that I hope that the gym is open late since I tend to get in at least 2 workouts during my 18 hour stay - check
4. Proclamation that if the beer and popcorn amenity option was six beers and popcorn that I might finally forgo my 500 points.
5. Ask for name of general manager, just in case - check
6. Request room map to ensure proper room placement - check
7. Assess whether there is someone who can accompany me to my room "in case I don't like it." - check
8. Mention again that I am Platinum - check
9. Ask a final time if "this is the best you can do room-wise for an important guest?" - check
10. After arrival in my Four Points king non-smoking call down and ask for foam pillows (this doesn't have the same effect when done at the front desk) - check.

That's all, really. Boy, I'm hoping to get VIP status one of these days so I can really impress myself and, more importantly, the staff of the hotels in which I stay.

Do you really go through all of these every time you check in? That is impressive. Are you able to get better rooms by doing this?

Well, even when I was lowly Gold (been a Plat for a year now), I never forget to ask "politely" for an upgraded room.

Since I've become a Plat, never forget to ask, again, "politely," for a suite (if the check-in agent doesn't mention anything about my room upgrade. :D

The rule of thumb is not to be so rude when asking. It's always good to know that suite upgrades are not a guaranteed perk and is not what I actually paid for (since I always opt to pay for the cheapest room and hope for a nice upgrade). ;)

Do you really go through all of these every time you check in? That is impressive. Are you able to get better rooms by doing this?

I find that like the famed rookie pitcher Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh all goes much better if I "bring the heater (so as to) announce my presence with authority."

Kidding aside, I tend to be polite as I have had much better experiences that way. Behaving like an ... might get me the result that I want - the better upgrade - but I then I would be an .... I know, very profound...