Discussion: 10 Suite Night Awards (SNAs) for Plats with 50 nights in calendar year
#3616
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Well, the value of the SNAs should be purely defined by what they get you over regular Platinum upgrades. I haven't tried to use SNAs myself, but if they do ensure a higher level of upgrades than the standard you'd get while traveling, I'd find it to be a valuable program.
I've had great success asking the GM / Insider / my Ambassador directly when I do care about an upgrade. In fact, I'm staying for the second time in a W where I got the same Wow suite on both stays by just contacting them ahead of time. I'd love the SNAs to give me some kind of advantage in getting a higher suite, but I'm afraid that good hotels will always upgrade you as much as they can regardless, and lousy hotels will be lousy either way. So I'm not sure what benefit the SNAs have if they can't be confirmed.
I've had great success asking the GM / Insider / my Ambassador directly when I do care about an upgrade. In fact, I'm staying for the second time in a W where I got the same Wow suite on both stays by just contacting them ahead of time. I'd love the SNAs to give me some kind of advantage in getting a higher suite, but I'm afraid that good hotels will always upgrade you as much as they can regardless, and lousy hotels will be lousy either way. So I'm not sure what benefit the SNAs have if they can't be confirmed.
#3617
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
Cheers,
#3618
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,772
Well I applied 6 SNAs to an upcoming stay at the Westin Turtle Bay Mauritius.
These should have cleared on Monday and there was availability for one upgrade type (of the 2 I selected). There is also availability today (I have screen shots capturing the availability of both). How do I escalate this?
These should have cleared on Monday and there was availability for one upgrade type (of the 2 I selected). There is also availability today (I have screen shots capturing the availability of both). How do I escalate this?
#3619
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,266
Unlike Hyatt, availability of the suites for sale does not mean that the upgrade is/should be confirmed. IIRC hotels apparently set a separate inventory for SNA clearing, which is a subset of the overall availability. And the staff do not have manual override over the process which is apparently automated.
Escalating might resolve any issues with attaching the SNAs correctly, but it won't actually help you clear.
Escalating might resolve any issues with attaching the SNAs correctly, but it won't actually help you clear.
#3620
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,772
Unlike Hyatt, availability of the suites for sale does not mean that the upgrade is/should be confirmed. IIRC hotels apparently set a separate inventory for SNA clearing, which is a subset of the overall availability. And the staff do not have manual override over the process which is apparently automated.
Escalating might resolve any issues with attaching the SNAs correctly, but it won't actually help you clear.
Escalating might resolve any issues with attaching the SNAs correctly, but it won't actually help you clear.
#3621
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Well I applied 6 SNAs to an upcoming stay at the Westin Turtle Bay Mauritius.
These should have cleared on Monday and there was availability for one upgrade type (of the 2 I selected). There is also availability today (I have screen shots capturing the availability of both). How do I escalate this?
These should have cleared on Monday and there was availability for one upgrade type (of the 2 I selected). There is also availability today (I have screen shots capturing the availability of both). How do I escalate this?
#3622
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,772
That doesn't help me decide whether to ditch this stay or not. I absolutely do not want to stay in the reserved room type even if I need to spend ££££ elsewhere
#3623
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Yes, the SNA inventory pool is opaque and we have no idea whats being offered up. Several have reported SNAs not being approved but they got the same, or better, upgrade upon arrival. As many have stated, if you really want a suite, book a suite. It's not a perfect game, but the one we have.
#3624
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,772
There are some loyalty programs that seem to go out of their way to make a "benefit" sound valuable (i.e. MR's Cash & Points). SPG's SNA benefit has great value at some properties and much less at others. I attribute this to the property management and their desire to participate in the program.
Yes, the SNA inventory pool is opaque and we have no idea whats being offered up. Several have reported SNAs not being approved but they got the same, or better, upgrade upon arrival. As many have stated, if you really want a suite, book a suite. It's not a perfect game, but the one we have.
Yes, the SNA inventory pool is opaque and we have no idea whats being offered up. Several have reported SNAs not being approved but they got the same, or better, upgrade upon arrival. As many have stated, if you really want a suite, book a suite. It's not a perfect game, but the one we have.
In this case I have an alternative reservation at the Hilton which is also fully flexible and I am monitoring what is happening with both rooms before committing which to stay at or whether to opt for a total alternative. It would just have been good to get increased certainty because the likely consequence of not getting an early confirmation is that my reservation gets cancelled and I take my booking and considerable additional F&B/Spa etc. revenue with me elsewhere, that isn't really in anyones interest is it?
#3625
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
As I am pretty sure we have explored her before if you have to book the specific room type you want then you get zero value from any loyalty scheme. It is worse in this case because I had to book a twin room (as all that was available in its type) and absolutely do not want a twin room regardless of the upgrade position.
In this case I have an alternative reservation at the Hilton which is also fully flexible and I am monitoring what is happening with both rooms before committing which to stay at or whether to opt for a total alternative. It would just have been good to get increased certainty because the likely consequence of not getting an early confirmation is that my reservation gets cancelled and I take my booking and considerable additional F&B/Spa etc. revenue with me elsewhere, that isn't really in anyones interest is it?
In this case I have an alternative reservation at the Hilton which is also fully flexible and I am monitoring what is happening with both rooms before committing which to stay at or whether to opt for a total alternative. It would just have been good to get increased certainty because the likely consequence of not getting an early confirmation is that my reservation gets cancelled and I take my booking and considerable additional F&B/Spa etc. revenue with me elsewhere, that isn't really in anyones interest is it?
#3626
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,772
No of course you are right SNAs aren't completely useless at all they are totally perfect, wow your remorseless logic won me over to your viewpoint
#3627
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Land-of-Miles has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.
#3628
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
#3629
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
As I clean up on SNAs. Thanks.
#3630
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: USA
Programs: SPG Platinum (100)
Posts: 517
Well I applied 6 SNAs to an upcoming stay at the Westin Turtle Bay Mauritius.
These should have cleared on Monday and there was availability for one upgrade type (of the 2 I selected). There is also availability today (I have screen shots capturing the availability of both). How do I escalate this?
These should have cleared on Monday and there was availability for one upgrade type (of the 2 I selected). There is also availability today (I have screen shots capturing the availability of both). How do I escalate this?