KSA_USA

I have no issues at all. tip is one thing and bribe is another thing. I fully agree with what you said. but we are not talking about tips we are talking about bribe here.

i have lots to say on this but after reading some of the posts on the link provided by sc flier i guess it all comes down to who cares

I like this (from the link provided by sc flier)

"Frankly, I'd be embarrassed to offer a bribe to a check-in agent: Just spend the money and upgrade through the front desk. It's less of a game and if they've got something you want, they'll offer it (for a price)"

BenjaminNicholas, Post #844

mahasamatman

It's only one reason to avoid Las Vegas.

DCBob

+1. Plus it's demeaning and humiliating to offer it or accept it. After all, it's a BRIBE. A tip is offered AFTER the service is provided.

izzik

I agree.. you should really be throwing down some benjamins. (Note the plural.) $20 is a joke.

Zurich Flyer

I'd advise you to pay cash for your upgrades! @:-)

Why would Westin upgrade a non-platinum member?

Zurich Flyer

I did it as well in some Las Vegas hotels.

Then, when I got what I wanted, I asked for someone from the management and brought this policy to their attention. In those cases, where I was refused to talk to an executive, I brought the case to the hotel chain's head office's attention @:-)

Don't let the Vegas hotels fool you

mlad1101

Oh I agree with you on that. I tip regardless, if they are helpful and polite. I would never say "Here's $20 if you upgrade me, if not give me the $20 back. It's something that usually pays off for future visits if you will be a frequent guess.

There are times though that if I find out I've been upgraded after tipping them just for check in, I'll go back down and tip them more specifically for the upgrade. For instance I recently booked an entry level suite and tipped the nice gentleman for checking us in, no mention of upgrade from him or I, just a "Hope you enjoy the room" as we were leaving. I get to the room and find out he put us in a 3000+ sq ft. suite, so I went back down and slipped him a few hundred, because I felt he went above and beyond and the upgrade justified it.

Also let's be serious in this day and age $20 is a pretty stingy tip to demand an upgrade to a suite that likely costs 4-5x the rate they are paying.

mlad1101

I'm confused as to the point of your post? So where did taking the case get you? Nowhere I'll assume. Why bother trying it if you don't like it? Also I assume when it worked as you said, you declined the upgrade or afterwards asked to be switched back to your lower end room(or made sure instead you were charged and paid the full price between your room rate and the upgraded one) because you're a stand up guy and wouldn't want to benefit off of a policy you believe is wrong, right?

Keyser

that's exactly what i was thinking....

Gold Rush

After my first night at the Las Vegas Westin in February, I received an upgrade when I was a preferred plus SPG member because the noise level in lower floor rooms at this hotel is ridiculous at all hours of the day and night. I called and asked to speak with the manager and explained that I had (naively) booked this hotel based on its website's claim that it offered a quiet retreat from the Strip. (This was before I found FlyerTalk and read the horrible reviews.) Later that day, after I called again, they found me a room on an SPG floor. That room was quieter, which I appreciated, but it was small and outdated. There is no possible way that this hotel should be a Category 5. I've stayed at Category 2 Sheratons that were much nicer than this. I don't think this hotel even deserves to have the Westin name.

If I had used points to stay at this hotel, I would have felt very ripped off. I hope the OP has a better experience at this hotel than I did.

Zurich Flyer

In my understanding I do have some benefits that come with a top status (e.g. Platinum with SPG). There are clear rules, e.g. that room upgrades to go the Platinums (if there is availabiliy). Period.

Denying complimentary room upgrades to top status customers and giving them against "tip" (= bribe money) to no-status/low-status members is on the one side clearly against the spirit of the loyality program and on the other hand against my personal understanding of fair business practice!

Of course it did bring me to what I wanted: I got the room upgrades (despite the "there was no availability" when I asked for a complimentary upgrade) and it did give me back the bribe money.

PS: Attn the Starwood Lurkers. What is your opinion about this topic? Should the complimentary room upgrades (if available at check-in) go to top status customers or is it ok if they go against "tips" to other customers?

Keyser

how do you know that the upgrade you got was to a select standard suite????maybe there was no availability of a select standard suite & the suite you 'bribed' to get upgraded to was a speciality suite....

KSA_USA

I actually like to go to Vegas with friends. its a different city. we enjoy the shows, restaurants, shopping and the crowds. no gambling ( or bribes ) tho.

controller1

I believe you are confused as to the use of the category classification. The Starwood categories are based on average room rates and are used for determination of number of points needed for room awards, C&P, etc. In other words, fewer points are needed to reserve a room award at a Category 2 than at a Category 5.

The Starwood category is not a quality rating system similar to Mobil or AAA.

KSA_USA

it is indeed. ^

Really! you did this .

you have lots of courage to do so^.

may be i should try it next time i am in Vegas, but what if the check-in agent was a decent person and returns my bribe money back?. it is going to be so embarrassing. an experience that i won't forget for the rest of my life.

you are very generous. i never tipped a front desk agent. when i receive a phenomenal service or upgrade what i often do is this,

I buy a very nice gift and write a very nice DETAILED letter to the Hotel GM. upon check-out i ask the concierge to deliver the package to the GM office. I always receive a nice reply from the GM.

even though it cost much more than bribing a front desk agent but i find it to be more ethical, effective and fair to all.