Tonight I earn PC Plat...
Dec 16, 2007, 8:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: AS
Posts: 322
Tonight I earn PC Plat...
...How will this affect my life? I expect a fireworks show from the hotel and an upgrade to the presidential suite...
But seriously, besides the extra points, how tangible are the other Platinum benefits? How do the upgrades work, are they freely given or do I have to request them? How helpful is the Plat. line?
Anything else I should know?
But seriously, besides the extra points, how tangible are the other Platinum benefits? How do the upgrades work, are they freely given or do I have to request them? How helpful is the Plat. line?
Anything else I should know?
Dec 16, 2007, 9:05 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: *wood Plat, PC Plat RA, Shangri-la Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 116
I am afraid that only you can feel that should be the extra points. In some hotel, they will offer you a suite, but most, they only give you a higher floor, told you, you have been upgraded.......
Dec 16, 2007, 9:22 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Congrats on making Plat!^
To be honest I don't think I have stayed at a single non-IC Priority Club property in the US since getting Plat (that's where I use my Hilton status), but I have stayed at many outside the US, and with only one exception have always received either an upgrade to a club room, a suite, or both. So I have a pretty favorable impression. Usually I wait until they mention what kind of room I will get, and if they don't I ask about an upgrade.
To be honest I don't think I have stayed at a single non-IC Priority Club property in the US since getting Plat (that's where I use my Hilton status), but I have stayed at many outside the US, and with only one exception have always received either an upgrade to a club room, a suite, or both. So I have a pretty favorable impression. Usually I wait until they mention what kind of room I will get, and if they don't I ask about an upgrade.
Dec 16, 2007, 10:34 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Priority Club RA, Lots of other cards
Posts: 3,099
...How will this affect my life? I expect a fireworks show from the hotel and an upgrade to the presidential suite...
But seriously, besides the extra points, how tangible are the other Platinum benefits? How do the upgrades work, are they freely given or do I have to request them? How helpful is the Plat. line?
Anything else I should know?
But seriously, besides the extra points, how tangible are the other Platinum benefits? How do the upgrades work, are they freely given or do I have to request them? How helpful is the Plat. line?
Anything else I should know?
Well congrats on the Plat. Some folk will tell you it means nothing but a lot of the time you will get something for it. The extra points is not bad if your spending a good bit of time in hotels.
regards
Dec 16, 2007, 10:35 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: AS
Posts: 322
Thanks Lucky.
I suppose the biggest problem here is going to be that I tend to stay in Holiday Inn Expresses because when I travel for work its usually to small towns in North and South Carolina. I will be staying at a real HI tonight, but at this point I'm only Gold so I expect nothing.
Will the benefits be more pronounced at a higher end property? Crowne Plazas come to mind...?
I suppose the biggest problem here is going to be that I tend to stay in Holiday Inn Expresses because when I travel for work its usually to small towns in North and South Carolina. I will be staying at a real HI tonight, but at this point I'm only Gold so I expect nothing.
Will the benefits be more pronounced at a higher end property? Crowne Plazas come to mind...?
Dec 16, 2007, 11:15 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Generally speaking, yes. Keep in mind a lot of Holiday Inn Express properties don't really have much they can upgrade you to, so there's not a whole lot they can do in terms of upgraded accomodations. In general the better properties will be able to treat you better because they actually have suites and club lounges they can upgrade Plats to. Of course it comes down to the policies of the specific properties, but I'm sure for the most part if you're nice at check-in and ask nicely you should have pretty good success.
Dec 16, 2007, 11:46 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Priority Club RA, Lots of other cards
Posts: 3,099
Will you stop be so full of doom and gloom. Not everyone has the choice of how much they can spend on hotels or where they can stay. The PC programme is the best for me personally as they have hotels in EVERY location that I have to work in, other hotel brands dont have such a variety.
You would think you dont like the PC the way you go on about things but I know that deep down you just love them........
Dec 16, 2007, 2:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM), Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 873
Got a nice jacuzzi room for the night. No complaints there. Whether Plat gets your something or not, Radioman is right - different stories all over this board. My biggest lesson/advice? Just never forgot to ask...
Dec 16, 2007, 2:08 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM), Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 873
Dec 16, 2007, 3:18 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
Thanks Lucky.
I suppose the biggest problem here is going to be that I tend to stay in Holiday Inn Expresses because when I travel for work its usually to small towns in North and South Carolina. I will be staying at a real HI tonight, but at this point I'm only Gold so I expect nothing.
Will the benefits be more pronounced at a higher end property? Crowne Plazas come to mind...?
I suppose the biggest problem here is going to be that I tend to stay in Holiday Inn Expresses because when I travel for work its usually to small towns in North and South Carolina. I will be staying at a real HI tonight, but at this point I'm only Gold so I expect nothing.
Will the benefits be more pronounced at a higher end property? Crowne Plazas come to mind...?
1. I didn't find a big difference (in service, upgrade) for Gold or Platinum.
2. It depends a lot on the specific hotel regarding service, upgrade etc.
3. It's true, HI Express has not much to upgrade. However, I have had good experiences with HIX .. especially in Europe.
4. I was at Crowne Plaza in Santiago ... got a nice room at the executive floor with free breakfast.
In Asheville, where you work
, I arrived at 1:00PM. The Muppet on the reception didn't look even up and said "come back at 3:00PM!" Came back at 3:00PM and a friendly receptionist wanted to give me a nice(r) room .... I guess, they don't have any of those
.. but the hotel is OK.
Dec 16, 2007, 6:37 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Will you stop be so full of doom and gloom. Not everyone has the choice of how much they can spend on hotels or where they can stay. The PC programme is the best for me personally as they have hotels in EVERY location that I have to work in, other hotel brands dont have such a variety.
You would think you dont like the PC the way you go on about things but I know that deep down you just love them........
You would think you dont like the PC the way you go on about things but I know that deep down you just love them........
But if we have a realistic view of the quality and the consistency of the properties and the elite benefits the PC is at the bottom. On the promotional side it is at the top, however, along with the Hyatt.
I have listed on the "Where have you stayed" thread the IHG properties where I have been this year. As anyone can see it is heavy on the IC's. I do like how most the IC's treats RA's. I don't like, however, how most of the HI's, HIX's, and CP's treat PC Platinum members.
Quite honestly I don't like limited service hotels.