Originally Posted by
nba1017
The problem is that Four Seasons already has something akin to this which is not formally on the books. Almost any frequent Four Seasons guest can call and politely but firmly request an upgrade on a stay for a given reason and get it. Four Seasons is much, much better at accommodating this than Ritz, St. Regis, and Park Hyatt, all of which have to contend with more formal "elite" members.
As it stands, I'd much prefer the system as it is now where I spend 100 nights a year at Four Seasons, always get an upgrade to a junior suite, and can call and ask when I'd really like a bigger suite. From people I've spoken with who have similar stay patterns, they get similar treatment. This is much more luxurious, if more cumbersome, than a points/credits program.
I agree, and that's why I believe that maybe Four Seasons should have stuck to its guns and not implemented a loyalty program. I guess they felt they had to, given the competition among the other brands you mention.
As it is, the program is half-hearted in its benefits, so maybe does more harm than good. I have recently decided not to upgrade at two properties, Hampshire and Las Vegas, that have such a dizzying array of room categories that I didn't see the point in upgrading from one low category to another. (For example, in Vegas the upgrade was to the same room type, but with a Las Vegas Strip view instead of a desert view -- I actually prefer the desert view, even for no cost, so saw no need to burn an upgrade.)
Like others, I have upgrade points piling up that I will likely never use. I agree that making them stackable would be a relatively low-cost fix that would significantly improve the program.