SPG Gold - what is the big deal?
Sep 26, 2016, 9:03 am
#46
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You know, I could have sworn this thread was about a Marriott Gold who values lounge access asking if there are any compelling reasons he should switch his stays to SPG, which does not offer lounge access as a Gold bennie - and not a thread on Plat levels, suite upgrades, which credit card of which chain is better or worse 
Cheers.
Cheers.
Sep 26, 2016, 9:22 am
#47
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Mind as well sign up for it (assuming you use Uber) while you're at it!
Sep 26, 2016, 11:45 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: EWR
Posts: 2,112
In addition to SP Lurker's instructions, you can also link Uber and earn 3 (4 for Plat) SPG points on days when you're staying at a *wood property. It's 1 on non-SPG days, which is better than nothing.
Mind as well sign up for it (assuming you use Uber) while you're at it!
Mind as well sign up for it (assuming you use Uber) while you're at it!
Sep 26, 2016, 11:51 am
#49
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
Thanks, all, for the helpful advice
Sep 26, 2016, 12:48 pm
#50
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absolutely unequal. my experience as far as i know is very representative of the broad population. in 7 or 8 years as a marriot platinum including a year as platinum premier, i believe i've gotten less than 5 suite upgrades.
in my 3 years as SPG platinum, it's been well over 50%, and almost always the times i care most (calling etc for a special occasion yas >95% hit rate to getting what i'm hoping for).
the suite upgrades between the 2 programs are nowhere near comparable. marriott folks made out well getting SPG platinum. (yay for me since i stopped staying at SPG this year and am relying on my marriott lifetime plat status for the match)
in my 3 years as SPG platinum, it's been well over 50%, and almost always the times i care most (calling etc for a special occasion yas >95% hit rate to getting what i'm hoping for).
the suite upgrades between the 2 programs are nowhere near comparable. marriott folks made out well getting SPG platinum. (yay for me since i stopped staying at SPG this year and am relying on my marriott lifetime plat status for the match)
I've been Marriott Platinum for many years, and am now LT Gold. 600-ish total nights, probably 5 to 8 true suite upgrades at properties that weren't all-suite properties to begin with. (e.g., Marriott or Renaissance, upgraded to at least a real 1-bedroom suite.)
With Starwood, I was only Plat for about 2 years and had easily 10-15 true suite upgrades. Granted, many were on solo trips where it didn't particularly matter, but they definitely supplied the upgrades.
There are other reasons I like Marriott. I've never really had a complaint about my rooms there - they always get my bed/smoke right and always provide a pretty good room. It's just not, and has never been, an upgrade-centric program.
Sep 26, 2016, 5:04 pm
#51
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Man I'm so going to be the sticky wicket. I usually get suite upgrades at Marriott, both domestic & int'l & have for years (am Platinum). A lot of times they're pre-assigned. Sometimes I need to ask at check-in.
Do I get them every time? No. Do I get them a lot? Yes. Do I like it when I get them? Sometimes yes; sometimes no. If I'm getting in late/early, then I really don't give a patootie.
And FWIW - I actually value lounge access more than suite upgrades, except for a few particular trips.
Cheers.
Do I get them every time? No. Do I get them a lot? Yes. Do I like it when I get them? Sometimes yes; sometimes no. If I'm getting in late/early, then I really don't give a patootie.
And FWIW - I actually value lounge access more than suite upgrades, except for a few particular trips.
Cheers.
Sep 27, 2016, 12:38 am
#52
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Man I'm so going to be the sticky wicket. I usually get suite upgrades at Marriott, both domestic & int'l & have for years (am Platinum). A lot of times they're pre-assigned. Sometimes I need to ask at check-in.
Do I get them every time? No. Do I get them a lot? Yes. Do I like it when I get them? Sometimes yes; sometimes no. If I'm getting in late/early, then I really don't give a patootie.
And FWIW - I actually value lounge access more than suite upgrades, except for a few particular trips.
Cheers.
Do I get them every time? No. Do I get them a lot? Yes. Do I like it when I get them? Sometimes yes; sometimes no. If I'm getting in late/early, then I really don't give a patootie.
And FWIW - I actually value lounge access more than suite upgrades, except for a few particular trips.
Cheers.
- how long are your average stays? I think generally for most, easier w/shorter stays.
- how many different properties are in your "rotation"? Do they know you well?
Thanks!
Sep 27, 2016, 10:43 am
#53
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Would love a bit more info Sharon out of curiosity, as the MR success rate w/suites seems to swing wildly:
- how long are your average stays? I think generally for most, easier w/shorter stays.
- how many different properties are in your "rotation"? Do they know you well?
Thanks!
- how long are your average stays? I think generally for most, easier w/shorter stays.
- how many different properties are in your "rotation"? Do they know you well?
Thanks!
I should note that while I get a lot of suite upgrades it's certainly not 100% of the time. And sometimes I get them when they're of no use to me - ie, arriving late at night & leaving early the next morning vs. when I might appreciate them more.
Cheers.
Mar 10, 2017, 3:53 pm
#54
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
We are currently at a Sheraton. With Gold we get free wifi but after we hooked up found out we can only connect 3 devices. So we had both connected our phones and kid's iPad. Now neither of us can connect our laptops to work. Suggestions? Do Gold members have a limit like this usually?
Mar 10, 2017, 4:14 pm
#55
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I saw a reference to a 3-device limit as a Plat at a U.S. Westin just this week.
Mar 10, 2017, 4:26 pm
#56
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
We are currently at a Sheraton. With Gold we get free wifi but after we hooked up found out we can only connect 3 devices. So we had both connected our phones and kid's iPad. Now neither of us can connect our laptops to work. Suggestions? Do Gold members have a limit like this usually?
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, LLC
[email protected]
Mar 10, 2017, 5:20 pm
#57
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We are currently at a Sheraton. With Gold we get free wifi but after we hooked up found out we can only connect 3 devices. So we had both connected our phones and kid's iPad. Now neither of us can connect our laptops to work. Suggestions? Do Gold members have a limit like this usually?
On the breakfast issue (as mentioned up thread) Gold members on both sides do better w/ Marriott than SPG, as Golds staying at Marriott properties automatically get lounge access &/or free brekkie, whereas the reverse is not true for Golds on both sides staying at SPG properties.
Re: the issue w/ the laptop etc for your current stay, I'd recommend contacting the front desk & asking them how to de-connect a couple of devices so you can connect your laptops.
Cheers.
Mar 10, 2017, 5:41 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
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On this one I'd cut SPG some slack. Even Marriott properties have different limits on how many devices can connect at one time and it varies by property.
On the breakfast issue (as mentioned up thread) Gold members on both sides do better w/ Marriott than SPG, as Golds staying at Marriott properties automatically get lounge access &/or free brekkie, whereas the reverse is not true for Golds on both sides staying at SPG properties.
Re: the issue w/ the laptop etc for your current stay, I'd recommend contacting the front desk & asking them how to de-connect a couple of devices so you can connect your laptops.
Cheers.
On the breakfast issue (as mentioned up thread) Gold members on both sides do better w/ Marriott than SPG, as Golds staying at Marriott properties automatically get lounge access &/or free brekkie, whereas the reverse is not true for Golds on both sides staying at SPG properties.
Re: the issue w/ the laptop etc for your current stay, I'd recommend contacting the front desk & asking them how to de-connect a couple of devices so you can connect your laptops.
Cheers.
As for breakfast, we actually got club access b/c we are SPG Gold but b/c child <12, they are letting us have continental brekkie in restaurant. <12 not allowed in club. All worked out.
Mar 23, 2017, 2:07 pm
#59
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
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Helpful thread for me as a MR gold hence SPG gold. In looks like my hosts in Santiago will be putting me in a Sheraton next month.
I know that I can do a late check-out which will help with the 9 pm departure, but what about my 9 am arrival into SCL? With the Marriott app, I do the mobile check-in and have few problems checking in early.
I know that I can do a late check-out which will help with the 9 pm departure, but what about my 9 am arrival into SCL? With the Marriott app, I do the mobile check-in and have few problems checking in early.