Originally Posted by
RichMSN
Forgive my bluntness, but I'm never annoyed more on FT then when someone posts "if you want F, pay for F" or "if you want a suite, book a suite." These programs have benefits and not just the ones you list and we shouldn't have to pull teeth to get properties to provide these benefits.
First, bluntness forgiven. One of the things which makes FT great is the open exchange of so many different ideas.
I'm on the other side of this. If you care a lot about the type of room in which you stay, book it and pay for it. If you are less concerned but like to enjoy suite upgrades when they are available (that's where I am on this), then you take your chances. Sometimes you get the upgrade, sometimes you do not. I don't let failure to be assigned to a suite, whether I should have been or not, affect whether or not I enjoy my stay. I have much better things to do on arrival at a hotel than get online to check suite availability and start fighting with management if there are standard suites available for sale on SPG.com.
That said, Starwood properties should conform to the rules of the SPG program.