FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - How is qualifying night determined?

Jun 24, 2004 | 6:06 am

#3

SoutheastGuy

Join Date: Jun 2004

Posts: 2

Well...sometimes... I guess...

Recently I stayed at a Four Points Hotel in Lakeland, FL. I had to book the hotel through travelocity as spg.com was down. This was a regular reservation (not an auction-type). When I arrived at the hotel, the hotel was no longer a Four Points or Starwood affiliate (though it was at the time the reservation was made, and though my hotel bill clearly states "Four Points-Lakeland". The SPG desk rewarded me by refusing to issue stay credit... on two grounds...First, the hotel was no longer affiliated with starwood and Second, the reservation was made through travelocity. I went through managers, etc., at the starwood desk and each said ONLY reservations made through SPG.com are eligible for stay or point credit--which I thought to be absurd (given that spg.com is frequently down) and two that I had received credit numerous times for NON-auction type stays booked through standard booking sites (expedia, travelocity, etc.). Unfortunately, it appears that the Starwood desk has little knowledge of its own policies (having had it misstated to me by several, including a "supervisor") and I was generously rewarded with a wasted 45 minutes and no "correct" resolution. Please advise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker

Hotwire reservations are not considered as qualifying stays.

From the Terms and Conditions of Membership:

3. Starpoints will be awarded for eligible charges ("Eligible Charges") on your room account based on the U.S. dollars or equivalent spent on eligible room rate, food and beverage, direct dialed telephone, laundry/valet, and in-room movies only. You will also earn Starpoints for food and beverage charges of US$10 or more in participating Starwood dining outlets, even if you are not a registered guest, when you present your membership card. Other charges such as parking, business center, retail stores, greens fees, etc, as well as taxes, gratuities, service charges and other applicable charges, such as energy charges, resort fees, etc, are not eligible for Starpoints credit. Starpoints are not awarded on alcoholic beverage purchases where prohibited by law. Starpoints cannot be earned on banquet or meeting room charges billed back to a member's room. Starpoints can not be earned or accrued for charges master-billed or paid by wholesale rates including WFNR, and all other rates from pre-paid channels, such as but not limited to, priceline.com, expedia.com, hotels.com, hrn.com, hotwire.com, lastminute.com, site59.com, etc. tour or tour operator or other vouchers or for certain other discounted rates including, without limit, airline vouchers or for certain other discounted rates. Other rates not eligible to earn Starpoints include: tour operator rates; wholesaler rates; stays longer than 30 days, Free Night Awards, TAED rates; room rates billed to master account, crew room rates, and employee rates.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]