Borrowing points?
Aug 3, 1999, 12:05 pm
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 68
Borrowing points?
I recently made a booking at a Westin property and was about 370 points shy for the award I needed. The agent was nice enough to allow me to "borrow" those points in order to bring the account up to the correct amount I needed. Has anyone else experienced the same thing? Every time I have had to deal with Starwood, they have been excellent with supporting my needs.
Aug 3, 1999, 12:39 pm
#2
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
I believe the AMEX Gold Plus Rewards Card is the only mileage program that has published rules allowing borrowing of points (up to 10,000 Membership Rewards points per year).
However, I have heard other anecdotal evidence that programs will allow this. I'm sure they look at two factors:
1) How much you want to borrow
2) You're previous earning patterns
in other words, I doubt they'll let you borrow more than about 10% and I also wouldn't think they'd let you borrow if you haven't earned miles with them in a year or two.
However, I have heard other anecdotal evidence that programs will allow this. I'm sure they look at two factors:
1) How much you want to borrow
2) You're previous earning patterns
in other words, I doubt they'll let you borrow more than about 10% and I also wouldn't think they'd let you borrow if you haven't earned miles with them in a year or two.
Aug 3, 1999, 3:14 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
Glad to hear that they are so relatively accomodating and it is also good business practice in my opinion!
Aug 3, 1999, 4:13 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yes, certainly it is good practice. Some other programs may also do so at their discretion, so if you are a little short its always best to ask and speak to a supervisor if necessary, stress that you are a good loyal customer and maybe they'll accommodate you.
With Diners if I am a little short I will buy a refundable ticket - they credit club reward points as soon as the transaction is posted.
Also Starwood has a feature which is not well advertised - two people in the same household can pool their points. The only other program I know which allows this is British Airways (US program).
With Diners if I am a little short I will buy a refundable ticket - they credit club reward points as soon as the transaction is posted.
Also Starwood has a feature which is not well advertised - two people in the same household can pool their points. The only other program I know which allows this is British Airways (US program).