sbtinme, genuine "congrats" on your successful stay and in-depth report.

Pardon my cynicism, but I think you've just confirmed what most plats are frustrated over - *when*, and they are too rare it seems, the UPGRADE process works, and one gets lucky enough to get the promised "upgrade to best room available", then stays seem to be successful and traveler "x" is happy. When one is certain there are better rooms available, but we/he/she is intentionally not offered same, only creates frustration.

My recent experience:

I completed a matress run Nov/Dec last year by staying numerous nights in several DFW area starwoods - not a single upgrade was ever offered. In one particular case I was a repeat customer of one property 5-6 nights' in a 30day span (they almost had my first name down when I checked in by the end of the run)...not a single upgrade did I get as a PLAT. In one case it was a holiday night, and the hotel mgr mentioned a shocking 17% occupancy - no upgrade offered.

So, again, glad you had a successful stay at what most know to be a hard-luck hotel at best (NY Towers - maybe the general manager is tired of seeing this property be the poster child for what's wrong at starwood)...on the basis of my stay a couple of years ago, coupled w/ report after report of poor stays, I won't stay at this one in NYC again if I can avoid it.

But the inconsistency of starwood's "best room at time of check-in" for PLATs is sure irritating. They do a lot of things superbly, and many things "right" or better, but IMO and in my experience, their promised upgrade if available at time of checkin is a broken system.

P.S. I am also glad you get to use that 50% off award...its timed so that families have little chance to use it...since it expires right when schools let out 3rd week of May. Little chance I can use this w/ my family, so starwood wasted a tree sending that fancy paprt invitation to me. That was also a disingenious promotion IMO by starwood except that it, I suppose, fills rooms in the dead of winter and spring.