Modifying a reservation - why do I bother being platinum?
Mar 26, 2015, 8:18 am
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
I don't know about Hilton, but you don't get SPG Ambassador status for just $40,000 spend on their credit card; it requires 100 nights.
Note also that most programs require 50 nights or 25 stays, for example Hyatt Diamond or SPG Plat, not just 20 or 25 nights.
Note also that most programs require 50 nights or 25 stays, for example Hyatt Diamond or SPG Plat, not just 20 or 25 nights.
Mar 26, 2015, 3:24 pm
#32
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: BTR
Programs: DL GM, UA Silver, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,810
Some hotels have early departure fees, typically about $50 in the USA.
Went like this:
- 6pm: call from home to get home on next flight.
- 6:02pm: change flight to 10pm red-eye
- 8pm: go to front desk, tell them I'm checking out tonight instead of Noon the next day. Front desk charges me $100 for staying beyond noon and does not charge me for the last night.
Mar 26, 2015, 7:46 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
All of the posts about leaving early without a problem makes my point. It's not a major issue. Thus when a platinum "elite" (lol) member calls the platinum elite line they should just take care of it. I was confident once I got to the hotel that I could tell them I would leave early and there would be no issue. However, I am a planner and like to have everything organized ahead of time.
It's just one more example in my mind that this status stuff is pure garbage. If status meant anything they would just solve your problem when you call. It's so easy to attain "status" now with most hotels that most everybody is among the highest two published categories for most hotel chains. It's too easy. 20 nights in a hotel, a credit card, and a couple misc bonuses or credit card spend and boom you are there. For Hilton and Starwood, I believe you only have to spend $40k a year on your credit card to attain the highest published status. With everybody attaining status they don't do anything for you anymore.
It's just one more example in my mind that this status stuff is pure garbage. If status meant anything they would just solve your problem when you call. It's so easy to attain "status" now with most hotels that most everybody is among the highest two published categories for most hotel chains. It's too easy. 20 nights in a hotel, a credit card, and a couple misc bonuses or credit card spend and boom you are there. For Hilton and Starwood, I believe you only have to spend $40k a year on your credit card to attain the highest published status. With everybody attaining status they don't do anything for you anymore.
Mar 26, 2015, 10:08 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
In my experience working in hotels, early departure fees are generally instituted during periods of extreme demand due to special events. Although the language was included on all reservations, I only recall us enforcing it during the NCAA basketball tournament and the year one of the national political conventions was in town.
The hotel in which I worked were business-oriented properties in the downtown area. We'd never consider charging a business-traveler an early departure fee.
The hotel in which I worked were business-oriented properties in the downtown area. We'd never consider charging a business-traveler an early departure fee.
Mar 27, 2015, 8:51 am
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Formerly of SacTown, Cali
Posts: 1,243
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...er-thread.html
Mar 27, 2015, 9:45 am
#36
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
SPG has various "levels" of Plat status. It is somewhat analogous to Marriott's Plat Premier level (except that Starwood has officially defined exactly what it takes to get each level and has official defined benefits for reaching each of those levels.)