The best benefit of platinum status is the suite upgrades, however this year I was upgraded to a suite less than 30% of the time (even if the hotel had suites available on their website). Are other plat members seeing the same thing? Or do I have a flag on my account that says "this guy is a jerk, don't upgrade him"?
To keep my plat status for 2013, I need to get a few more nights in before Dec 31st. I'm trying to decide it's worth the cost. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Platinum members can get upgraded to 'Select Standard Suites'. Just because you see a suite on the web site, it doesn't mean that you're eligible to get upgraded to it. And platinum recognition can vary between properties - some are really good at upgrades and others not so much. Check out the hotel master thread next time you go somewhere!
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
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I feel your pain and largely agree with you. I'm personally much less enthusiastic about the SPG program than I was before this year.
In my case, I've already requalified for Plat for the fifth year (and achieved lifetime Gold earlier this year) and I'm very close to 50 nights, just as I was at the end of last year. I'll probably hit 50 nights, get the ten SNA certs, and then re-evaluate the whole program next year. I've already re-qualified for Hyatt Diamond (which has been treating me very well) and Marriott Plat (where I hope to retain Platinum Premier), so I don't feel at all forced to stay with Starwood, although I do like a lot of their properties. We will see........
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Last edited by MSPeconomist; Nov 9, 12 at 10:43 am..
Programs: UA - Premier 1K, SPG - Ambassador Platinum 100 (Lifetime Gold), Hilton - Diamond, Avis First
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbscboi
The best benefit of platinum status is the suite upgrades, however this year I was upgraded to a suite less than 30% of the time (even if the hotel had suites available on their website). Are other plat members seeing the same thing? Or do I have a flag on my account that says "this guy is a jerk, don't upgrade him"?
To keep my plat status for 2013, I need to get a few more nights in before Dec 31st. I'm trying to decide it's worth the cost. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Seems like a pretty simple cost / benefit analysis for you. Based on your travel plans for next year, is getting upgraded on 30% of those stays worth the effort you'll need to put in between now and the end of the year? Only you can really answer that one.
I have been a Plat for 4 years but won't make the status for next year because of a territory change for me. A city I go to quite a bit does not have a *Wood prop. I will miss the Plat status. The extra points alone adds value and 30% upgrade isn't bad either. I will only have 17 stays and 39 night by year end. I wish there was another way to re-qual but it is what it is.
I too have seen the upgrade frequency decline dramatically this year (perhaps 2 suit upgrades out of 24 stays), even in hotels where I regularly stay more than 10 nights per year. While I will make platinum again this year, I won't be going the extra mile to re-qualify next year. Gold works just fine.
I have been a Plat for 4 years but won't make the status for next year because of a territory change for me. A city I go to quite a bit does not have a *Wood prop. I will miss the Plat status. The extra points alone adds value and 30% upgrade isn't bad either. I will only have 17 stays and 39 night by year end. I wish there was another way to re-qual but it is what it is.
`You can get the personal and business cc which will give you 2 stays/5 nights each.
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Or do I have a flag on my account that says "this guy is a jerk, don't upgrade him"?
For a member who's been registered with FT for five and a half years without posting anything, that sure is one classy first post.
Welcome, finally.
It's always a good idea for posters to set up something in the "location" area of your FT profile : knowing a posters home location tends to add considerable colour to the answers you get.
I never had a problem to get a suite upgrade if available this year. I stay 70 stays and 200 nights with SPG a year and feel pretty fine with what I receive.
Programs: AA EXP; DL DM; US CP; Hilton Diamond; SPG Platinum; Hyatt Platinum; National Exec and others
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I have been upgraded almost every stay this year. In a stay last week I was given a suite (actually the second largest suite in the hotel) for six nights and they charged me one suite upgrade only. I'm happy with SPG.
In a stay last week I was given a suite (actually the second largest suite in the hotel) for six nights and they charged me one suite upgrade only.
Just curious - what was charged? Did you use a Suite Night Award, but only one of your 10 was taken? Or starpoints for one night's suite upgrade? Or..?
I'm at 100% success when requested using the SNAs and over 90% otherwise. The three hotels I did not get upgraded to a suite were the Sheraton Taipei, Sheraton Hong Kong and Westin Melbourne on one of multiple stays at each of the hotels.
