Thunderroad

I've searched and found a couple of useful, related threads from some time ago, but just wanted to see if I have the following right. The background is that I might book and pay for a room (using $$, not points, with the best rate available right now being an advanced purchase option) for a friend one night next month.

1. I can add his name to the reservation, so he can check in even if I'm not around when he arrives.
2. For me to get a stay credit and the perks like the 500-point amenity, I'm supposed to be staying in the room as well, not simply making the reservation. Though I imagine the hotel is not going to check on that very carefully. That is, my name has to be on the reservation to get these things; I can't simply book it for him.
3. If I choose breakfast as an amenity, it will be good for the two of us.

Do I have that all right? Thanks for any help!

Keyser

correct....

the hotel will ask your friend to make sure you stop by the front desk otherwise you won't get the stay credit....also, if you don't check in then your friend might be charged for the upgrade & breakfast (if any)....

correct....

Thunderroad

Thanks, keyser. I'll definitely check myself in as well.

Dr. HFH

My understanding is that you can be there to check in or out.

Thunderroad

Well, I'll probably be there to meet up with him at check-in, but it's good to know about the check-out option as well. Thanks!

Keyser

correct....but i have had a problem once in brussels....my wife checked in a couple of hours before me & they asked her to tell me to stop by the front desk when i got in....i completely forgot to do that....when i tried checking out the next morning they gave me a hard time saying that i had failed to check-in....i eventually got it sorted out but just to be on the safe side i always stop by the front desk whenever my wife checks in before me....

lkar

Tagging on to this existing thread to ask a question that I think is similar -- didn't want to start a new thread.

It looks like I will be making plat this year, with 50 nights, for the first time. I have some existing reservations that have been gifted to me by another using points or C&P.

It appears that I will not be able to use my suite night awards on these reservations, since, presumably, the primary on the reservation is not me. I just confirmed this in the Suite Nights thread with William, but I had another question that doesn't belong in that thread. How about platinum amenities for me? For example, by brother in law makes a C&P reservation for me. I show up and make sure that my SPG number is on the reservation so that I get stay credit, and incidentals on the reservation get points to my account. Will I also get platinum benefits, like potential upgrade, breakfast, etc.?

BL1KITW

A friend booked a Sheraton free night award for me using his Starpoints. It took a call to the Platinum desk to get my name added to the reservation and a note placed in the comments on the reservation that this was a gift to me from the other Platinum member. When I checked into the hotel and presented my SPG Platinum card and my SPG AMEX credit card for incidentals, I received all of the usual Platinum benefits, including a Club Level upgrade, Platinum amenity, etc. I made certain that I brought a printed copy of the confirmation with me that showed both of our names on the reservation since the other member's name, SPG number and credit card number had to be on the reservation when it was booked since the points came from his account even though he would not actually be staying at the hotel that night. I had to ask the Platinum desk to email a copy of the confirmation to me because the version that shows up on spg.com only had the name of the member who was using his Starpoints for the award.

Starwood Lurker II

Before calling in to add your name and SPG details to the reservation presumably given to you, you must be officially a Platinum member. Not Platinum-pending, not after-this-upcoming-stay-Platinum etc...

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

MSPeconomist

Huh? Any SPG member can add their number to the reservation for a room in which they will stay. However, they only receive Gold benefits after officially becoming Gold and Plat benefits after officially becoming Plat.

Keyser

i don't think you have followed this discussion properly....ikar is about to make platinum for the first time & he wanted to know if the plat benefits would apply to him if someone else made the reservation for him....thyetus didn't say that he had to be a plat member to add their membership number to the reservation but that the plat benefits would only apply if the platinum status was reflecting on their account....

MSPeconomist

I have been following the discussion here "properly" but I'm also concerned by the precise wording in answers. Normally a post should mean exactly what it says.

Keyser

no confusion here for anyone following the discussion 'properly'....the post was not a general statement but a clarification to a question asked....

Starwood Lurker II

I have quoted the original post so I would be answering specifically to lkar. Of course, one does not need to be a Platinum member to call in to add his/her name.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

lkar

Thanks Theyetus.

As I understand it, the answer is that I must be plat at the time the person gifting me the award reservation adds me to the reservation. And, if I further understand things, I must be added to the reservation at the time the award is issued. (Terms 3.1.c.)

So, what this effectively means is that someone in my situation cannot get plat benefits for a gifted award stay. For example, my brother-in-law makes the award reservation for me today for a stay in December, but I don't make plat until September. I'm out of luck, so far as plat benefits are concerned when I stay in December, even though I will be plat at the time.

That to me seems like a bit of a stretch under the terms. So long as I provide a plat number at check in, it would seem under the terms that I should be eligible for plat benefits. Starwood could, I suppose, take the position that an award gifted by one member to another is not an "Eligible Stay" at all -- even after October 1, 2011, because the Member did not actually redeem the award with points out of his own account. It think that would stretch the terms, and it doesn't seem consistent with the practice, but it would not be a totally indefensible position to take. But, barring that, it's hard to figure why a plat who is plat at the time of the stay wouldn't be entitle to plat benefits. All that said, (1) it's too small an issue to be too worried about, and (2) I'm being given the stay for free, so I'm not really complaining about any benefits.

One potential way around the problem is if a member could make an award reservation and then add his giftee's name at a later date. So, for example, my BIL could make the award reservation now to ensure availability, but then wait until September when I make plat to add my name. It seems like this is not permitted under the terms, but perhaps this is a rule honored in the breach.