Starwood Preferred Guest - Thanks *wood for disappointing me

Well.....I just want to vent...I asked about extending that free night certificate a lousy THIRTY days as my mom is really sick....and we aren't going to be able to use it....since she's been in the hospital off and on all summer....

Really nice...I wanted to go someplace different and nice for her since she's sick, but *wood said NO!

Thanks for nothing...I am really sad.........................and I just wanted to vent. If y'all are gonna flame go ahead, and then you can change places with me and get 4 hours sleep each night in 1 hour increments, and you can sleep in this chair in my mom's hospital room.:(:mad::td:

Thanks for nothing...I am really sad.........................and I just wanted to vent. If y'all are gonna flame go ahead, and then you can change places with me and get 4 hours sleep each night in 1 hour increments, and you can sleep in this chair in my mom's hospital room.:(:mad::td:
And yet you have time to worry about using a free hotel night??

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your mother.

And yet you have time to worry about using a free hotel night??

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your mother.


just the reaction i expected.................yeah..she likes to get the he!! out of the house and we try to NOT spend hundreds so when i can save i like to save...:rolleyes:

And yet you have time to worry about using a free hotel night??

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your mother.

^ Best wishes to her.

How do you suppose a big company implement such an exception policy? Empower every $15/hour telephone agent to exercise independent discretion? Think it through and you'll understand why.

Well.....I just want to vent...

Honestly, this is more whining then venting.

I asked about extending that free night certificate a lousy THIRTY days

... 1 day ... 3 days that might be worthy of a vent. But a month? I think you were asking for too much. Personally, I wouldn't extend it at all. This promotion was EXTREMELY generous.

as my mom is really sick....and we aren't going to be able to use it....since she's been in the hospital off and on all summer....

This, I'm sorry for and can truly empathize with you on.

Really nice...I wanted to go someplace different and nice for her since she's sick, but *wood said NO!

So use your Starpoints to book a night somewhere.

If y'all are gonna flame go ahead, and then you can change places with me and get 4 hours sleep each night in 1 hour increments, and you can sleep in this chair in my mom's hospital room.:(:mad::td:

Really? Because someone calls you out on what they think to be an unreasonable complaint you wish them to trade places with you? I think you need to take a step back for a second (get some well needed rest), take a look at the situation as a whole, and realize what is really important here.

I think it unreasonable to expect that SPG would extend the expiration by even a day, let alone a full month.

Hope your mom gets well soon.

just the reaction i expected.................yeah..she likes to get the he!! out of the house and we try to NOT spend hundreds so when i can save i like to save...:rolleyes:

I agree with sbm12. You're upset because starwood is following the rules. Did you read and understand the T&C of the promo? You may personally think you have extenuating circumstances, but so will every requester.

They have to make a decision and clearly stated the rules in the T&C that there are no extensions. It's not what you want to hear, but those are the rules.

yeah..she likes to get the he!! out of the house and we try to NOT spend hundreds so when i can save i like to save...:rolleyes:

Good for you. Now use the points you have earned as a Starwood Platinum and Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond (according to your profile) and save your "hundreds" :p :rolleyes:.

And my best wishes to your mother.

I agree with sbm12. You're upset because starwood is following the rules. You may personally think you have extenuating circumstances, but so will every requester.

They have to make a decision and clearly stated the rules in the T&C that there are no extensions. It's not what you want to hear, but those are the rules.


I had earned 6 FWNs then came the news my Mom had to undergo some back surgery. There went those 6 certs, yet not a:td: or anything from me and I could have done C&P on some of the stays and 1 was a run just to get #6 . And I could have used my 1-5 Plat gift which is still unused in my acct

But I knew the T&Cs going in and didnt ask or expect any special treatment

then it worked out my mom only needed like a week down and I was able in the end to get of Dodge, and so I did :D

OP sorry but them the brakes.

More Important I wish a very speedy recovery to your mom and you the ability to get out of Dodge ASAP as I got

I wish your mother a speedy recovery. When someone that close to you is really sick, it is not just tough on her but really tough on the entire family.

I know there is only 2 weekends left but perhaps another family member can take a weekend shift with your mother as you get a needed break. This is what my brothers and I did when my mother was very sick. From NJ, there are many options and you need not go too far away to "get away".

For god's sake people, have a heart.

The OP said, twice, "I just want to vent." Is a lecture really necessary? Really?

Put yourself in the situation described. It sounds extraordinarily stressful and exhausting. In such a state, people vent, whether reasonable or not. As a community, can't we just let someone vent when they need to -- without challenging whether they're spending their time where they should be or whether they read the fine print of some T&C's? :(

megtravels, it sounds like a very tough time. Best of luck to you and your Mom.

Honestly, I suspect Starwood would be willing to make an exception if we were talking about more of a "normal" operation: for example, the illness causing you to cancel a room after 4PM on day of arrival. I've had that happen in the past and been allowed to cancel the room without paying the late-cancel fee.

A possible problem with the promotion is that there probably isn't any easy way to extend your certificate by a month. Since you didn't spend anything to get the cert to begin with, there's nothing for Starwood to refund to you. Although people like us may do specific mattress runs to get the free nights, in Starwood's view you haven't lost anything by not using the cert.

Good for you. Now use the points you have earned as a Starwood Platinum and Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond (according to your profile) and save your "hundreds" :p :rolleyes:.

And my best wishes to your mother.

^

For god's sake people, have a heart.

The OP said, twice, "I just want to vent." Is a lecture really necessary? Really?

Put yourself in the situation described. It sounds extraordinarily stressful and exhausting. In such a state, people vent, whether reasonable or not. As a community, can't we just let someone vent when they need to -- without challenging whether they're spending their time where they should be or whether they read the fine print of some T&C's? :(

megtravels, it sounds like a very tough time. Best of luck to you and your Mom.

Oh please!!
Terms and Conditions are...terms and conditions.
Yes we sympathise but it was a generous promotion and if you give someone 30 days,someone else wants a 40 day extention.
It has to end at the end date for liability reasons alone.This is business!

Oh please!!
Terms and Conditions are...terms and conditions.

Ya, I get that. And I get why SPG is not willing to make an exception. It's a business. That's not my point.

It's the cold harshness of some of the responses here that disappoints me.

Speedy recovery to your mother and I hope she is on the mend soon.

For god's sake people, have a heart.

The OP said, twice, "I just want to vent." Is a lecture really necessary? Really?

Put yourself in the situation described. It sounds extraordinarily stressful and exhausting. In such a state, people vent, whether reasonable or not. As a community, can't we just let someone vent when they need to -- without challenging whether they're spending their time where they should be or whether they read the fine print of some T&C's? :(

megtravels, it sounds like a very tough time. Best of luck to you and your Mom.

as I posted a couple of posts before yours , I too just went thru a rough time with my Mom

I understand your feelings, but the OP could have written their post and then simply not clicked 'Submit Reply'. Mission would have been accomplished. They would have Vented and gotten it out of their system. But they chose instead to Click and submit their post

Ive written many a letter that wasnt nice but it also was Never sent! After I was done writting it,Mission was accomplished and it was torn up and thrown away

On the web write what one wishes just dont Click Submit

also no real need for the ':td:' IMO

PS, seems like me the OP is top level at several programs, maybe like me they have close to 7 digit pts in their accts, with no shortage of pts a great way to use some would be on such an occasion, yea it would have been nice to use a FWN and not any pts, but they there for a reason and for me at least this would be such a reason

To be Fair, a friend had appx 1 dz FFNs in his pocket when his mother turned very ill and no way was he able to use them, Hyatt ended up extending them twice so instead of a 3/31 date they ended up being extended till 6/1 or 7/1, and he ended up using them all. Yet there isnt any post on the Hyatt Forum venting or bashing Hyatt before the extension was granted and at 1st it was denied.

Ya, I get that. And I get why SPG is not willing to make an exception. It's a business. That's not my point.

It's the cold harshness of some of the responses here that disappoints me.

That's sort of the norm lately...not unique to SPG. :( Perhaps a lot of long-timers here have seen too many "My TV remote control didn't work...how much compensation should I ask for?" threads.

Fortunately, I've had several cases in the past 10 years where a hotel has made an exception for me - either waiving a late cancel fee or working outside of the regular published rates in their system to arrange or lengthen a stay. I still believe that hotels are generally more client-oriented than airlines when it comes to thinking through fair solutions for people. Had the illness caused a real out-of-pocket impact to the OP, I suspect something could have been done to help mitigate the damage.

In all fairness, I can empathize with the OP. Hyatt goes above and beyond with their Faster Free Nights, and allows a one month courtesy extension upon request (though it may only be for Diamonds). Also, they do it every year, and it's good for any property on any day of the week.

In all fairness, I can empathize with the OP. Hyatt goes above and beyond with their Faster Free Nights, and allows a one month courtesy extension upon request (though it may only be for Diamonds). Also, they do it every year, and it's good for any property on any day of the week.

Just checked the OPs info and yep its listed Hyatt GR Diamond

I guess thats why they expected and asked for a 1 month extenstion, knowing Hyatt gives it

But to be fair DL still hasnt come on board with DEQMs again and the 1st time the ElCheapos werent included although they were included by the other Carriers

So as nice as it would be had SPG given an extenstion to All who asked , since its really SPGs 1st time in the water regarding this type of a promo, I will still side with them. and its not fair IMO to use what another program will do for what SPG should do

also SPGs new promo, well Marriott lets me as a Plat call up the last day and change my offer to whatever I want or have earned by then. SPG stated once you chose 2x this year or 1 this yr & 1 next yr, no Changes will be allowed, and no retro for credit on the 2x if you didnt reg before your 1st stay. Them just SPGs T&Cs know them and make your decision accordingly. For those who dont like them , dont do the promo or dont stay with SPG

I have friends who have taken both sides of this issue and so I -- believe it or not -- am going to try to steer a clear course of neutrality on this, in addition to the fact that I understand both viewpoints.

To be sure, Starwood and William have been quite clear, upfront and pro-active with respect to the fact that there would be no extensions of the free nights earned. In fact, many may recall my implicit call to extend the terms another 2 weeks or more, as many will not be able to fully take advantage of the last 2 weeks of the use period because of religious obligations. SPG decided to reject this -- which is their right as the terms of use were set forth at the begining of the promotion.

For those comparing Hyatt to Starwood and what the former might have done, that is an inappropriate comparison. Hyatt is far smaller than SPG in terms of numbers, as well as properties. Moreover, Hyatt has been doing this for many years now and although I have not been with SPG that long, I take it that it has rarely done this.

In any event, rules are there to be enforced -- or not -- just so long that if they are going to be relaxed, they be relaxed in a non-discriminatory manner. Inasmuch as SPG had decided that they would not relax the use of the free nights for inidviduals situated in my position, I am hardly surprised that they have taken the position that they have.

MEG -- I hope your mother makes a speedy recovery and feels better real soon. :) :)

Hi megtravels, I have been through similar circumstances and know how physically and emotionally exhausting it can be.

I know you want to give your mother a nice gift but you already have. Instead of going off to enjoy a free night, you have been sitting in a chair, supporting her through a terrible time. That is what she will remember. Hope she is fully recovered soon.

well to the 2 or 3 people who are sincere, thanks..

everyone else....no comment...but i have no family who can do this, just my mom....i asked a simple question and you make me feel like an a$$ho!e-i have enough crap on my mind to remember every friggin detail of every promotion i have gotten.....

to the MODS...close this if you want...

I wish your mother all the best, with a quick return to good health.

I'll go ahead and close this thread at your request.

/mod