Originally Posted by
BlissWorld
Not so. It depends on the product itself. Sure, no one in the right mind would book NW F. However, Continental also gives complimentary upgrades to their elites yet many of their first class seats are often booked to capacity. Try booking LAX-EWR. If you are not a Platinum on at least a H fare (almost full fare at about $1100 a pop), forget about the upgrade.
This doesn't disprove my point in any way. The OP could have had a suite, had he chosen to pay for it. He's looking for entitlement (beyond SPG rules of 'select standard suites), and trying to rationalize it: the hotel is nearly empty and they didn't give me the
best room.
Your CO example strengthens my argument: frequent CO fliers on that route soon would learn that cheapest fares never get them a ride upfront, and would learn to book H fares or better. Maybe if the OP here had booked a Junior Suite the St Regis upgrade gods could have smiled upon him.