Originally Posted by
chp37
I just acheived Starwood Platinum status and it seems that the benefits are not as generous as Hilton Diamond, for which I have been Diamond for 4 years. I just checked into a Westin and they said that since they didn't have an upgrade, I could choose 2 benefits, such as beer, a movie, more starpoints or minibar credit. I really don't care about those things, I would prefer practical amenities, such as breakfast coupons or free internet. They offer free gym access but only at Platinum level and Hilton offers that to Gold and Diamonds. Also, I have never had an either or proposition at Hiltons. If they have an upgrade room available they will give it, but if they don't, I still get the same other benefits.
I think you're possibly confusing the Starwood "Platinum Amenity" choice, with the "upgrade to best available room including standard suite" benefit. You get the choice of Platinum Amenity (e.g. minibar credit, movie, or 500 Starpoints) even if you get upgraded. It sounds like the hotel on their own volition gave you a second choice from the Platinum Amenities because they didn't have an available upgrade. They didn't have to do that.
FYI, Hilton has gone to an "either/or" proposition for upgrades vs. benefits as of a year of two ago, it's called "MyWay". Your HH profile lets you chose either upgrades or in-hotel benefits or points. For example you can set up your benefits at Doubletree to be one of 1) upgrade+breakfast, 2) Free Internet, or 3) 1000 HHonors points bonus. If you're getting an upgrade and extra other benefits, it's because the hotel is doing that on their own; upgrade is now either/or with the other benefits under MyWay.
I've found that I'm a lot more likely to get upgrades from *wood than from HH (even if I have upgrade in my profile for that HH brand). I've gotten about 90% success rate on upgrades at starwood properties. Far better than HHonors, to the point where at HHonors properties I've gone for the extra points bonus as my MyWay preference.