Dec 31, 2014, 10:04 am
Discussion: 10 Suite Night Awards (SNAs) for Plats with 50 nights in calendar year
Sep 2, 2014, 9:22 am
#2596
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Ellicott City, MD USA
Programs: SPG Plat and that is that!
Posts: 253
My 2 cents ... on page 170...
So I follow this thread pretty regularly because it has so much interest to me. Finally someone pointed out what is so frustrating. I realize that I am perhaps not in the majority but I agree that these provide "tangible" value when I travel with my family. I have a 10 y-o and 8 y-o and we plan 2-3 family trips per year where we may end up at 5 or 6 different Starwoods.
The problem is that we "require" a suite or 2 connecting rooms. 5 days out in advance is generally useless to me b/c if we can't know for sure we get a Suite, then we can't plan to stay at that location.
I'm not complaining. I lost 9 SNA's last year, and am on track to lose another 9 this year, b/c when staying alone, its not really tangibly better than what I would get - I don't need the space, I'd rather save the SNA for when I might want the space and then they never clear. Like I said - no big deal, as a Plat I generally get a better room anyways, access to lounges, etc. and whether I have 300 sq ft or 600 sq ft doesn't matter.
BUT ... it would really be worth Starwood's while, IMHO, to perhaps allow maybe 5 of those 10 nights to be confirmable at time of booking. I suppose that would pretty much backfire on me though - cuz then when I want to book a suite for my family, it will be gone due to all the SNA's.
Who knows........
The problem is that we "require" a suite or 2 connecting rooms. 5 days out in advance is generally useless to me b/c if we can't know for sure we get a Suite, then we can't plan to stay at that location.
I'm not complaining. I lost 9 SNA's last year, and am on track to lose another 9 this year, b/c when staying alone, its not really tangibly better than what I would get - I don't need the space, I'd rather save the SNA for when I might want the space and then they never clear. Like I said - no big deal, as a Plat I generally get a better room anyways, access to lounges, etc. and whether I have 300 sq ft or 600 sq ft doesn't matter.
BUT ... it would really be worth Starwood's while, IMHO, to perhaps allow maybe 5 of those 10 nights to be confirmable at time of booking. I suppose that would pretty much backfire on me though - cuz then when I want to book a suite for my family, it will be gone due to all the SNA's.
Who knows........
Sep 2, 2014, 11:59 am
#2597
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London, Vancouver, Tokyo, San Francisco, NYC
Posts: 265
I have the same feeling. Also generally the suites on the selection are for 2 peoples and have to book 2 rooms in many cases...
But I am happy with current scheme and clear rate (almost 0% though...) because I don't expect so much
But I am happy with current scheme and clear rate (almost 0% though...) because I don't expect so much
Sep 2, 2014, 4:22 pm
#2598
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Platinum Pro (LT Gold), Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium, National Exec,Hyatt,Melia, BA Exec, Iberia+
Posts: 527
I have so far tried to use five SNA and all five have been confirmed five days out.
I used four on one stay this summer at the Westin San Antonio (the hotel seemed extremely full but can't say for sure). Very nice room with two small balconies. Room for a chair on each, overlooking the pool.
And I'm very excited to see the upgrade for a one-night stay this weekend at the Westin Whistler. The hotel had been sold out and last week, I saw an opening for Saturday and booked it. Put in for an upgrade which confirmed five days out. From a studio suite without mountain view to a 1BR mountain view. Can't wait.
I used four on one stay this summer at the Westin San Antonio (the hotel seemed extremely full but can't say for sure). Very nice room with two small balconies. Room for a chair on each, overlooking the pool.
And I'm very excited to see the upgrade for a one-night stay this weekend at the Westin Whistler. The hotel had been sold out and last week, I saw an opening for Saturday and booked it. Put in for an upgrade which confirmed five days out. From a studio suite without mountain view to a 1BR mountain view. Can't wait.
Sep 3, 2014, 7:27 pm
#2599
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: 32.7758° N, 96.7967° W
Programs: AA EXP,SPG 75
Posts: 318
anyone heard more about this?
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....lite-upgrades/
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....lite-upgrades/
Members will be able to select their core preferences either globally in their account, or varying for each individual stay (recognizing that needs can change by trip).
Starwood is adding upgrade preferences so that members can specify that perhaps they want the first available room as quickly as possible, or maybe what’s more important is view or room size.
Come mid-October they’re going to start capturing this information for every Platinum member.
And they’ll have more to say about upgrade improvements too in the coming months.
Starwood is adding upgrade preferences so that members can specify that perhaps they want the first available room as quickly as possible, or maybe what’s more important is view or room size.
Come mid-October they’re going to start capturing this information for every Platinum member.
And they’ll have more to say about upgrade improvements too in the coming months.
Sep 4, 2014, 1:30 am
#2600
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
Sounds very interesting! Let's see what the program officially announces.
Sep 6, 2014, 7:29 pm
#2601
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
i made an interesting observation this morning....i've booked 2 rooms at the same hotel for a 5 night stay....the first reservation was made using points & the second is a revenue stay....the system is allowing me to attach suite nights to the points reservation but not to the revenue reservation....i wonder why????
I e-mailed the ambassador service and they said that they're also unable to due it due to a system limitation. Frustrating, as there is only a day or two left to sort this out.
Sep 6, 2014, 7:50 pm
#2602
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
Ultimately, Starwood still wins my business because I prefer their hotels and points scheme over Hyatt. But as far as perks go, Hyatt leads by a mile. If I was more into perks than points, I'd drop Starwood for Hyatt in a second. With that in mind, it would be nice to see Starwood close the gap on perks by making their SNAs function more like Hyatt does.
Sep 7, 2014, 12:13 pm
#2603
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 498
"Hands down" is in the eye of the beholder. Both have benefits the other one doesn't. I like being able to apply SNAs to award stays, that to me is just as if not more valuable than confirmation at booking for certain properties.
Sep 7, 2014, 12:22 pm
#2604
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 212
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 502
Sep 7, 2014, 6:32 pm
#2605
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
+2 ... I think this is a major benefit compared to Hyatt, as *most* of the stays to which I'm going to apply SNA are award stays.
Sep 7, 2014, 8:56 pm
#2606
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
Just wondering if I should bother applying SNA's to the following:
2 Nights Le Meriden Pyramids
5 Nights Sheraton on the Park Sydney
Would these hotels have decent suites that I would not get as a plat? Would they even clear?
2 Nights Le Meriden Pyramids
5 Nights Sheraton on the Park Sydney
Would these hotels have decent suites that I would not get as a plat? Would they even clear?
Sep 8, 2014, 7:47 am
#2607
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
Half my cleared SNA stays were award stays so I also appreciate that feature, but all my SNA upgrades were nice-to-haves. On need-to-have stays I pay for a suite, which could mean booking away from SPG if their offerings aren't cost-effective. Thus the uncertain nature of SNAs cost SPG some big bookings.
Sep 9, 2014, 12:41 am
#2608
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
My ambassador says the second room I had booked was a promo rate that doesn't allow any changes (the rate was for a club room, but higher than the rate for the first room I used SNAs on) This is apparently restricting SNAs being applied to the room. She contacted the property, but I haven't heard anything back yet.
Sep 9, 2014, 8:28 am
#2609
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW; Allen, TX
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott PLT, National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,083
So I follow this thread pretty regularly because it has so much interest to me. Finally someone pointed out what is so frustrating. I realize that I am perhaps not in the majority but I agree that these provide "tangible" value when I travel with my family. I have a 10 y-o and 8 y-o and we plan 2-3 family trips per year where we may end up at 5 or 6 different Starwoods.
Sep 10, 2014, 12:13 pm
#2610
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,011
FHR reservations cannot be modified online as they are 'controlled' by the Amex Platinum/Centurion Travel Service. Since you cannot modify the reservation online, you cannot request the SNA.
Unless anyone else has information to the contrary, that's what I was told by SPG in the past.
Unless anyone else has information to the contrary, that's what I was told by SPG in the past.
My ambassador says the second room I had booked was a promo rate that doesn't allow any changes (the rate was for a club room, but higher than the rate for the first room I used SNAs on) This is apparently restricting SNAs being applied to the room. She contacted the property, but I haven't heard anything back yet.
