Originally Posted by
temporarilySFO
So you didn’t ask and are just guessing? Exception proves the rule.
What makes sense about having completely separate award inventory for using full points vs points to upgrade paid stay?
Counterpoint, upgraded paid stay with points last month. Premium suite award availability for my dates disappeared from hotel immediately after.
Disagree. You still pay 50-70% of standard rate for suite using points + cash. Probably decent deal for the property and they set standard rate so don’t need to limit to award inventory.
That premium suite award availability disappeared when you upgraded doesn't disprove my theory. But again, it's just a speculation--- that hotels might have cash for standard room+points suite upgrade available, even if all points for suite is not available. I'm only spit-balling here, but since the former is not a well-known method for upgrades, and it's not available online, maybe hotels don't regulate it as strictly.
"You still pay 50-70% of standard rate"-- we're talking about two different things here. I'm not referring to points+cash for a room/suite, rather I'm referring to a standard cash rate for a room, plus the 6,000 or 9,000 points nightly to upgrade to a suite or premium suite.