Fizzer

I have some questions for the more educated posters and possibly the Lurkers. It relates to identifying what charges are excluded from earning SPG points. I have read the T & C and still find some questions unanswered.
It seems the following accrue points
" b) food and beverage (excluding alcoholic beverage where prohibited by law) "

Is there any way of identifying those cities or states where earning points is excluded by law? Would Hawai'i and specifically Waikiki/ Honolulu be one of those?

My second concern is while I understand that not all restaurants physically located in Starwood Hotels participate in SPG is there a list anywhere of those that do not, or perhaps some other way of identifying them. I ask because we will sometimes eat in a hotel restaurant rather than another solely based upon earning points. It is frustrating to find out that it didn't after the fact. Is there a Wiki of such restaurants/ hotels anywhere?

A third question relates to hotels that have a Stay at One Dine at All policy, where you can charge your meals at one Starwood hotel to your folio at another where you are staying. Who is responsible for crediting those point. The hotel where you are staying or where you ate ( and charged back to the first).

Finally, it is my understanding that the Cash part of a C & P stay does not earn points, although this is not clearly stated in the T & C unless it is covered by

"Eligible Charges do not include any complimentary services, SPG Awards, SPG Promotion Rewards or any other fees or charges including, without limitation: (A) charges for banquets, meetings or other functions, with the exception of Starpoints earned in connection with an Eligible Event; (B) other fees paid including, without limitation, parking, business center, high-speed internet access, retail stores, spa products and services and greens fees; and (C) taxes, gratuities, service charges, mandatory or automatic charges (e.g., resort charges) and other applicable charges; or"


I ask because we had a recent stay and the points awarded were significantly less than I had expected. I knew the Resort fee, gratuities, taxes etc etc didn't earn. My suspicion is that it was the alcohol that was "prohibited by law " in Waikiki but if not then there is something fishy going on possibly. TBH I don't normally check my bills that carefully and I trust the hotels to be accurate but a total of 750 points ( excluding alternative amenities and welcome gift ) for a bill of over $3200 got me looking closer.

iflyjetz

I would guess that calling the hotel and asking to speak to accounting would be your best bet to get a straight answer. I could make assumptions, but they won't necessarily be correct.

A quick google of 'Hawaii alcohol hotel points' pulled up this thread; I haven't read the whole thing but it looks like the title was changed to reflect correct information at that time: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...n-updated.html

So I'll say likely no SPG points on alcohol in Hawaii, but I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Steve M

You can ask the restaurant if they allow room charging the bill. If yes, then you can earn SPG points at the restaurant (even if you don't actually charge it to the room, and even if you're not staying at the hotel). If no, then you don't earn SPG points either.

Fizzer

Thanks to you both. It seems that alcohol was the reason but I was a little paranoid about the Moana

lcpteck

To check discounts and SPG managed restaurants, use the below website.

www.spgrestaurantsandbars.com


I always review my account after a stay has posted. Just wanted to make sure the entitled points and amount are credited correctly. Only a small number of hiccups over the years and it got sorted out eventually.

lilpisher

While these are restaurants where you can earn a discount, I have successfully earned points at restaurants that are not listed on this website - specifically Norma's at Le Parker Meridien in Palm Springs. Agree with the above mentioned poster - if you can charge to your room, the restaurant bill should earn points. If you don't charge to the room, make sure you get a voucher from the restaurant or front desk. I've often had more success stopping by the front desk than asking the restaurant staff if I'm not staying at the hotel.

lcpteck

Looks like Spa services still don't earn Starpoints.

Does anybody know if Transport provided by the hotel earns Starpoints? I use to remember that it was excluded in the T&Cs, maybe it's changed? Or all along it was Starpoints eligible?

Starwood Lurker III

Hi lcpteck,

Transport charges are still not eligible to earn Starpoints.

Best Regards,

Christina Zhou
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

lcpteck

Thanks Christina for the info.

cre95

Must have been a lot of drinking to make up the difference from the $3,200 bill to 750 points ... or some pretty expensive wine

Fizzer

It's a long time ago and my memory is bad, especially after all that alcohol.
I think a lot of my bill was the cash part of cash and points and the such. I'd also ordered flowers and tours which I wasn't expecting points on.

TravelinSperry

Nothing more annoying than spending almost $400 at a property and earning ZERO starpoints because both the cash portion of C&P and all of the resort fees are ineligible to earn Starpoints. This is an outlandish policy, especially for resort fees. I can imagine a time when the hotel rate becomes $1 per night but we are required to pay $249 for "resort fees" which include a bed, pillow, door lock, etc.

BuBu4

does anyone know if C&P will trigger promos? like right now, i have the 2500 for the first night and 5000 for the 2nd night promotion.

Starwood Lurker

Award reservations, including Cash & Points, do not count towards promotional offers.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

littlevoices

I just discovered this today when wondering why my posting for a recent stay was incorrect (but wasn't really).... that is a real shame, that in hindsight I should have realised before. This is also, I think, quite different from Marriott where most things earn points as far as I knew - though I guess a car may be classed as ineligible 'charges for third party-provided goods and services', but I've always received appropriate credit.

Anyway, my reason for posting is a comment on how silly this is, considering how overpriced hotel transport is in general the hotel should be encouraging you to use it (for near negligible points benefit). I'll just remember the benefits of uber/grab in the future more!