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What does "50% off regular rack rates" mean?

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What does "50% off regular rack rates" mean?

 
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Old Jul 27, 2011, 3:31 pm
  #1  
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What does "50% off regular rack rates" mean?
Hi,
New to FT and to SPG And just got my first 10K from opening a SPG Amex.

Can someone please explain to me what the SPG bonus of "50% off regular rack rates" for just 1k Starwood points means?

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefe...em/50_off.html

seems too good to be true to get your room at half off for just 1k pts.

Thanks!
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Old Jul 27, 2011, 3:52 pm
  #2  
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Originally Posted by p112983
Hi,
New to FT and to SPG And just got my first 10K from opening a SPG Amex.

Can someone please explain to me what the SPG bonus of "50% off regular rack rates" for just 1k Starwood points means?

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefe...em/50_off.html

seems too good to be true to get your room at half off for just 1k pts.

Thanks!
RACK rate is often the highest retail rate that can be charged on a given night before any discounts are applied.

This 50% off rate depends upon the availability of the SPG50 rate plan, however, which would be 50% off whatever the RACK rate is at the time and dates you are booking.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]
Starwood Lurker is offline  
Old Jul 27, 2011, 3:56 pm
  #3  
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Hi p112983, welcome to FlyerTalk.

This is a topic that has been discussed here on FlyerTalk a bunch of times. I looked for a main thread to point you to, but there really doesn't seem to be a good single one.

I suggest you do a search within this forum for the keyword "spg50" -- and limit the search to 'titles only.' You'll have a good bit of reading to bring you up to speed on this Starwood award.

Also, if you look in the "SPG Forum FAQ and Hotel Master Thread" thread at the top of the forum list, there are a number of SPG50 threads highlighted there.

Good luck -- and have fun learning more than you ever thought possible about miles and points here on FT.

AZ
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Old Jul 27, 2011, 4:07 pm
  #4  
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Originally Posted by p112983
seems too good to be true to get your room at half off for just 1k pts.
Half off rack rates is still usually higher than most discount rates (which are often 70-80% lower than rack rate).
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Old Jul 27, 2011, 7:35 pm
  #5  
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
Half off rack rates is still usually higher than most discount rates (which are often 70-80% lower than rack rate).
Exactly. It varies by property, -- it's useless at some properties, but a real money saver at others. Remember, too, that rack rates are not available at SPG.com. You need to call.
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Old Jul 27, 2011, 8:53 pm
  #6  
 
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Def possible to save some money with them, takes some searching. I saved $140 a night off of BAR on an up coming stay.
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Old Jul 27, 2011, 9:50 pm
  #7  
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Originally Posted by mlad1101
Def possible to save some money with them, takes some searching. I saved $140 a night off of BAR on an up coming stay.
Yes it is possible. IIRC when we made the exercise more than half the people who thought they saved money didn't as lower rates were available.
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Old Jul 28, 2011, 12:25 am
  #8  
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the only times i have saved a considerable amount using spg50 is when booking suites....i recently saved over $200 a night over the lowest priced suite on spg.com....
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Old Jul 31, 2011, 9:42 am
  #9  
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It appears online this rate cannot be found by putting in the SPG50 code in a property search (at least at a couple of properties I've just tried), so is there any way of determining this rate online?
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Old Jul 31, 2011, 9:48 am
  #10  
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Originally Posted by Shareholder
is there any way of determining this rate online?
Only by using online chat. This is a longstanding shortcoming, and all indications are that there is no intention to address it.
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Old Jul 31, 2011, 9:49 am
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Shareholder
It appears online this rate cannot be found by putting in the SPG50 code in a property search (at least at a couple of properties I've just tried), so is there any way of determining this rate online?
this site is sometimes useful....
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Old Jul 31, 2011, 3:26 pm
  #12  
 
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I've tried using this rate multiple times in the past. It usually turns out to be a suckers bet. They will quote you a rack rate of $600 and tell you that you can have the room for $300 +1000 points when online rates are going for $229.

I have never found this promo to have any value.
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Old Jul 31, 2011, 3:44 pm
  #13  
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Originally Posted by PtsFreak
I've tried using this rate multiple times in the past. It usually turns out to be a suckers bet. They will quote you a rack rate of $600 and tell you that you can have the room for $300 +1000 points when online rates are going for $229.

I have never found this promo to have any value.
True for most properties in US. SPG50 rates can provide savings at certain properties during certain time of the year. They are mostly outside of the US.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...rtificate.html
TerryK is offline  



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