fhben

I think the SPG platinum is probably the best value in the industry. The 500 amenity points are a great deal (normalized, it's at least 5 times as much as you get with other programs), I get a suite upgrade probably 9 out of 10 times, and the lounge access is great too.

So, yes, there is a real noticeable difference from gold for me.

Points Surfer

Being new to Plat....biggest thing for me is the extra points. Although I have not noticed a large difference in treatment ie upgrades, perks going from Gold to Plat in my Can/US travels. If not for the extra points, in my case, I'd probably stay Gold and be happy with SPG.

plemos

I have been Platinum for the past 8 years and for me is very clear that Platinum status is worthless in North America and a great advantage in the rest of the world.
The top 3 Platinum benefits:
Up-grades to suites (80% up-grade rate outside the US)
Early-check in (In Dubai I check-in almost every week as early as 6 pm without any issues)
Free transfer to and from airport in some Middle East and Asian cities.

I stayed 5 times at SPG properties in July (Middle East and Europe) and in all of them got up-grade to a suite

taipeiflyer

this is just a flat-out falsehood. hyatt gives you 1,000 bonus points, and even with their category revaluation, the top properties are still only 22,000 points, just slightly higher than an spg cat 6, and substantially lower than all-suite cat 7 spg properties, which can push 6 figure award points per night. this is not a critique of the spg brand, or another in the long line of hyatt diamond vs. spg plat comparisons- i am content with the benefits i receive as an spg plat (although i think the service has slipped substantially in the past 18 months), but merely me pointing out that your claim truly lacks merit, and not for other people to rely on what you claim to be fact.

Keyser

i wouldn't go as far as to say its worthless in north america, although its much much better in the rest of the world, specially asia....

Spent_All_My_Miles

My upgrade percent when I've been a Plat has been maybe 40-50%. in stays ignoring 4P/alofts (although some 4P but not others have suites).

My issue is, I really have no idea whether to expect suite upgrades in the properties I'm at.

Does the SPG website (or, for that matter, some other website) list how many suites different properties have? It seems some do, and some don't in the hotel descriptions. For that matter, when I don't get suites, it's hard to tell when a get a genuinely better room (view/size/etc.) and when I don't, at least in hotels that I'm not familiar with -- they'll always say you've been upgraded.

So I wonder how much the varying experiences of different people can be explained by variations in available suites, how much to competition for those suites (agree with the poster about long-term business travelers especially at Westins), and how much to bad luck.

envgeo

+1. That and the fact that I can transfer points to AA miles with a 25% bump. Perfect for Credit Card use that I used to place on my AA Citicard.

HomerJ

....to me the biggest advantage is suites in vacation spots.
I agree the u/g record in NA is spotty at best...but honestly if I am on business I don't care that much....lounge access and free HSI is all I really need.
However in places like hawaii, most of europe and asia which are mostly vacation spots (I did get one former employer to send me on biz to hawaii twice but that's another story) for me, I have had excellent upgrade sucess, which definitely adds to my vacation...so for me thats been its stellar benefit.

IluvSQ

Not even close. Platinum is way better than Gold.
Gold is the same as basic or non-membership.

andrewpartyman

My experiences as a Gold in Europe and Asia, much less as Platinum have always been way better than anything I've experienced in the States. Stayed at the Westin Detroit last night. My "upgrade" was not a suite, but a "more spacious room." The hotel was DEAD (it's Detroit), yet they couldn't put me in a suite? Seems fishy. I am sure there were plenty of available suites.

Keyser

i wouldn't say gold is the same as basic or non-membership....i got a few suite upgrades when i was gold....my father has had gold status for the last few years & he always gets stuff like lounge access, early checkin & late checkout....

silverfalls

Did you mean 6 AM? or checking in previous evening at 6 PM. Although I believe its NOT the later. I would still like to be confirmed.

shinbal

Part of the problem with Platinum benefits is that the ranks have been bloated over the last couple years with people qualifying through double stay credit, etc., who would otherwise have been Gold. I'm hoping the lack of bonus stay promotions will unload a lof of them. I certainly don't blame those who take advantage of such promotions, and if I wouldn't qualify through my own travel, I'd want to take advantage too. But for those of us who make basic Platinum qualifications without promos, the last few years have meant a lot more competition for Platinum benefits - especially in the room upgrade area.

Very rarely have I been disappointed as a Platinum with SPG.

If you're really concerned about a suite upgrade, call the Rooms Manager at the hotel a few days out and tell him/her how important it is to you.

Keyser

i hate doing that....if i really wanted a suite that badly then i would book one to begin with....

tkyoshi

Also to add to Saad, apparently even with promos the number of Plats don't really increase that much according to the Lurkers.

What may be happening is to entice more business is hotels are blocking off suites for corporate bookers. That way they can offer say Book # of rooms, get # of suites thrown in free, etc.... That would take suites out of the pool for upgrades. (Hypothetical Example)