Award stays for relatives count for Platinum qualification?
May 27, 2015, 2:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 504
Award stays for relatives count for Platinum qualification?
Hi there,
I am looking to book a few awards for relatives with my points. At that point, I am also just missing 3 stays for Platinum requalification. Would those award stays booked for my relatives count for my requalification?
Technically, it is a stay and it is booked under my name, right?!
Thanks for your help.
Best
I am looking to book a few awards for relatives with my points. At that point, I am also just missing 3 stays for Platinum requalification. Would those award stays booked for my relatives count for my requalification?
Technically, it is a stay and it is booked under my name, right?!
Thanks for your help.
Best
May 27, 2015, 4:02 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
Hi there,
I am looking to book a few awards for relatives with my points. At that point, I am also just missing 3 stays for Platinum requalification. Would those award stays booked for my relatives count for my requalification?
Technically, it is a stay and it is booked under my name, right?!
Thanks for your help.
Best
I am looking to book a few awards for relatives with my points. At that point, I am also just missing 3 stays for Platinum requalification. Would those award stays booked for my relatives count for my requalification?
Technically, it is a stay and it is booked under my name, right?!
Thanks for your help.
Best
May 27, 2015, 4:13 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,134
You can always book the room for yourself and add your relative's name to the reservation. This is a YMMV situation, so you may receive credit and you may not. If you are local to the hotel, you can always go check in and give the keys to your relatives.
May 27, 2015, 7:45 am
#4
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May 27, 2015, 8:13 am
#5
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Just about all the hotel programs call for the member to stay and pay for the room to earn credit (paying with points included). There are some properties that mess up and post credit (nights, stay, and/or points) when the member is not present. Even if the posting does happen, it could be reversed at a later time when/if discovered.
Safest approach is to not count on it and plan to have legitimate stays to make status.
Safest approach is to not count on it and plan to have legitimate stays to make status.
May 27, 2015, 8:17 am
#6
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
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Posts: 16,032
The definition of a "stay" is defined in the T&Cs :
so, technically, you're not entitled to a stay credit if you don't physically stay yourself, though, as other posters have said, sometimes YMMV.
Originally Posted by SPG T&Cs
B. A "Stay" is a stay of one or more consecutive nights at the same SPG Participating Hotel by an SPG Member who: (A) provides his/her SPG Member number at the time of reservation or at check-in; (B) pays an Eligible Rate or, for stays on or after October 1, 2011, redeems an SPG Award or an SPG Promotion Reward for the stay; and (C) stays in one of the reserved guest rooms.
May 27, 2015, 11:29 am
#7
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I wouldn't want to count on such (fraudulent) stays to maintain status since accounts can be audited and credits removed at any time.
May 27, 2015, 11:48 am
#8
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Now, yes, if the stay does post the OP risks losing the credit if an audit is done. This can be problematic if done near the end of the year and OP can't make up the credit lost.
May 27, 2015, 11:57 am
#9
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Nothing fraudulent at all about the say. Even if it gets posted to the OP's account, it would be tough to say he did anything wrong. It's perfectly ok to book rooms for others using your points. The system is going to associate the OP's account to the booking (the points gotta come from somewhere). The fact that the property doesn't check for the member's attendance is totally on them. The posting of credit is done by the property (manual/automatic). So the OP has not done anything wrong.
Now, yes, if the stay does post the OP risks losing the credit if an audit is done. This can be problematic if done near the end of the year and OP can't make up the credit lost.
Now, yes, if the stay does post the OP risks losing the credit if an audit is done. This can be problematic if done near the end of the year and OP can't make up the credit lost.
May 27, 2015, 12:07 pm
#10
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Very true. But I would hope SPG would see this as their mistake and not take away status, especially from a Platinum. I don't know if SPG has a company-wide CRM where future bookings can be flagged to confirm member in attendance, but if they determine this is/was a frequent occurrence some action may be warranted. Given the member should be present for ANY account credit posting to occur, the system and/or training may need some attention.
May 27, 2015, 12:23 pm
#11
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Very true. But I would hope SPG would see this as their mistake and not take away status, especially from a Platinum. I don't know if SPG has a company-wide CRM where future bookings can be flagged to confirm member in attendance, but if they determine this is/was a frequent occurrence some action may be warranted. Given the member should be present for ANY account credit posting to occur, the system and/or training may need some attention.
IMO it's always wise to audit your own accounts as the end of the year approaches to check that you're not relying on anything that has been erroneously posted to your account.
May 28, 2015, 12:35 am
#12
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Bottom line is if you present yourself at checkin it wont be a problem otherwise plan a mattress run.
May 28, 2015, 8:27 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Posts: 1,079
Very true. But I would hope SPG would see this as their mistake and not take away status, especially from a Platinum. I don't know if SPG has a company-wide CRM where future bookings can be flagged to confirm member in attendance, but if they determine this is/was a frequent occurrence some action may be warranted. Given the member should be present for ANY account credit posting to occur, the system and/or training may need some attention.
May 28, 2015, 8:38 am
#14
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That defense may be appropriate for the first year, but if the member has been a Platinum, for at least a year before, then some latitude is appropriate. Not to mention, the member will have at least been a Gold that also shows some level of commitment to the program. And, as I said, if it's a recurrent situation of trying to get credit for non-compliant stays, pulling the plug is appropriate.