for the referral, if I want to ask my friend to split 5000 bonus points half and transfer 2500 points to me, is there a fee for this? :p

The hard pull from my credit report.

The term "entitled" is less apt here than "eligible". You can receive an upgrade to a better (but non-suite) room, subject to availability. And since there may be no availability at all, or the available rooms may be assigned to Plats and Golds, that is a substantial limitation. So far as I am aware, the fact that a room is available for purchase does not automatically make it available as a complementary upgrade.

15000 SPG bonus points missing?
 

I signed for the SPG Amex card sometime in November 2010 where it was 10,000 SPG points for the first spend, then 15000 bonus SPG points after 15,000 USD spend.

I wrote to SPG amex and they said they never heard of such a promotion. Does anyone have a copy of the promotion from nov 2010 or have suggestions on what to do? I would like my 15,000 bonus points. please .

Beltway, I'm sorry, I really don't understand. It wasn't even like there was only one room available for the upgrade purchase, we were given our choice of several different views at different prices. None of them were suites. How could those rooms not have been the ones eligible for the complimentary upgrade? Wouldn't the Golds and Plats be upgraded to the suites, therefore making even MORE regular balcony rooms available? We didn't push the matter because it's our first year for the card, and honestly didn't know what we were entitled to. I hope William sees this post, because I'd really like to know what the policy is since we've got some spg stays coming up.

At the end of the day it cost us $100 for our 5 night stay, so not the end of the world, and we just loved the hotel...but I'd really like to know why this published perk was not honored since there was plenty of availability.

The first check is log into your account to see if your status is updated as "Preferred Plus". Having an Amex SPG will give you that status but sometimes you will have to call in to request them update your account if it is not updated automatically.

What is the benefit for preferred plus
 

From spg.com, there are mentioning of only 3 tiers: preferred, gold and platinum. So, what exactly is the benefit of preferred plus? thanks!

In terms of upgrades and late checkout, exactly the same as Gold. In terms of points earning, Gold gets an elite bonus and may get other promos during the year.

Thanks!

Is it well known among the properties? None of the properties I checked in had ever mentioned about it. So, I would have to ask?

So that was exactly my problem...I did feel that as a "preferred" I should have been offered a complimentary upgrade, and even after asking about it was told "no". My question is, was this correct? I can't get back what I lost, but I would like an answer from someone who knows to not have the same experience in the future.

Last (and probably least), Gold has a lower minimum (1500) for points transfers to other programs. It's a mixed blessing, in that you'd be missing out on the 25% bonus for transfers of 20K or more, but it might be useful in special cases (e.g., someone who needs another 1600 miles for a US Airways award would not have to transfer the Preferred Member minimum of 2500 points).

From the SPG T&Cs for Gold:
So did you get that? Did you get the best available non-balcony room?

It seems to me that there is a very common misconception about Gold: thinking that Gold members are to get to a preferred non-suite room. By the T&Cs, that isn't what is promised when arriving to a hotel that has multiple non-suite room categories. Many hotels do choose to treat Golds with this additional level of upgrading, though.

Whether they recognized your status or not, I don't know. But even if they did, I believe that they were operating within the terms of the SPG T&Cs if they chose to charge for an upgrade to a balcony room.

It might be worth asking what that particular hotel's policy is for Gold members. Would they have extended the upgrade to a Gold? If so, I don't know whether they must extend the same upgrade to a Preferred Plus member.

The upgrade policy for Preferred Plus is the same as for a Gold member:

4B.9(b) An Enhanced/Preferred Room at Participating Properties at the time of check-in based upon room availability for your entire stay, except at Aloft and Element properties. Enhanced/Preferred Rooms are identified by each property and are restricted to the class of room originally booked, but may include rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms, or rooms with preferred views. The upgrade benefit is available for one room for the personal use of the Member only, regardless of the number of additional rooms purchased by the Member. At properties in India, taxes are based on the on the published retail (RACK) room rate applicable to the type of room given, regardless of room rate confirmed; therefore, an upgrade may increase your applicable taxes.

Emphasis mine. So, if you booked the room type you were seeking to be upgrade to it could have been a room on a higher floor, a corner room, a newly renovated room, or a room with a preferred view, subject to availability at check-in and if it was available for the entire length of your stay.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Then I was treated exactly as I should have been, and the $100 balcony upgrade charge was not a hardship at all.

I now know what to expect on future stays.

How does this differ from the upgrade rules of a platinum member? I'm starting to feel there isn't really an appreciable difference between preferred and gold members who are primarily redeeming CC points for miles rather than earning points via stays.