Elite Credit for PAID stay for someone else?
Jul 13, 2015, 10:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 56
Elite Credit for PAID stay for someone else?
I'm sorry if this has been asked, but everything I have found involves questions with award bookings. This has to do with a paid stay. If I call SPG and book a paid stay for a friend from my account, will I still get the elite credit? Do I have to add myself to the reservation even if I won't be there? The hotel is in Argentina if it matters. The whole point is so that I can get the credit to get me to Platinum and I can wipe it out on my arrival anyway. Thanks in advance.
Jul 13, 2015, 10:22 am
#2
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
I'm sorry if this has been asked, but everything I have found involves questions with award bookings. This has to do with a paid stay. If I call SPG and book a paid stay for a friend from my account, will I still get the elite credit? Do I have to add myself to the reservation even if I won't be there? The hotel is in Argentina if it matters. The whole point is so that I can get the credit to get me to Platinum and I can wipe it out on my arrival anyway. Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jul 13, 2015, 10:37 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MCO-The Mouse House
Programs: AA EXPlt, SPG Plt, Nat EE
Posts: 1,542
Worse, it's fraudulent. I wouldn't be surprised if you had you account audited.
Jul 13, 2015, 10:41 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Print out the Lurker's post. Someday when your account gets audited and shut down, you can at least point to it for the suggestion that it may or may not work.
Jul 13, 2015, 10:51 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
I'm sorry if this has been asked, but everything I have found involves questions with award bookings. This has to do with a paid stay. If I call SPG and book a paid stay for a friend from my account, will I still get the elite credit? Do I have to add myself to the reservation even if I won't be there? The hotel is in Argentina if it matters. The whole point is so that I can get the credit to get me to Platinum and I can wipe it out on my arrival anyway. Thanks in advance.
Jul 13, 2015, 11:23 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
A new thread seems to come up with this question every couple months. Maybe we should start a master thread.
SPG is already generous enough with what qualifies - reward stays count, up to 3 rooms count if you're staying etc.
Imagine if airlines worked like this? The entire cabin would be filled with Elite members.
Remember, if everyone is special then nobody is special.
SPG is already generous enough with what qualifies - reward stays count, up to 3 rooms count if you're staying etc.
Imagine if airlines worked like this? The entire cabin would be filled with Elite members.
Remember, if everyone is special then nobody is special.
Jul 13, 2015, 11:29 am
#7
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, this question is very frequent (especially if you follow more than one program). Just shows many new posters don't read the threads. I guess if a program ever did allow this, instead of being frequent guests, members would be frequent travel arrangers! Granted there is some merit to such a program but not what we have at this time.
Jul 13, 2015, 1:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
Yes, this question is very frequent (especially if you follow more than one program). Just shows many new posters don't read the threads. I guess if a program ever did allow this, instead of being frequent guests, members would be frequent travel arrangers! Granted there is some merit to such a program but not what we have at this time.
Jul 13, 2015, 4:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 498
I feel like the only way to get away with this is if you both have the same name(like a father/son combo). Otherwise you usually need to check in yourself. People have mentioned to make the reservation in your name, and attach your friends name to be able to check in with the front desk, but risk are involved with that too.
Jul 13, 2015, 6:19 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
In fact, that's one reason n they do these audits in the first place.
Cheers,
Jul 13, 2015, 7:39 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Jul 14, 2015, 7:13 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
I'm sorry if this has been asked, but everything I have found involves questions with award bookings. This has to do with a paid stay. If I call SPG and book a paid stay for a friend from my account, will I still get the elite credit? Do I have to add myself to the reservation even if I won't be there? The hotel is in Argentina if it matters. The whole point is so that I can get the credit to get me to Platinum and I can wipe it out on my arrival anyway. Thanks in advance.
Less quick answer: You should know that this violates the T&C (OK, I'm done lecturing). However, IF you were to do this, it would behoove you to maintain a very, very low profile - ie not posting this kind of question on FT.
I did a quick review of your posts; you're primarily an MSer. I imagine you're looking at this as doing a favor for a friend while benefitting from giving him a free room. You are much better off simply gifting him the room and not trying to get credit for it.
Based on this post:
, you can definitely afford to not get the credit for your friend's stay.
If you're coming up short on Plat requirements, I recommend that you do a few mattress runs. Find a Cat I/II near you and book 3 rooms for a single night on points. That will give you 3 nights/stays. I recommend booking for a weekend night (costs less points). If you need more than 3 stays/nights, do it again the next weekend. Since you've got the SPG AmEx, you only need a total of 22 stays/yr for Plat (the other 3 stays come from having the SPG AmEx). If you were only getting your stays in this manner, it would take you 8 weekends for 66K pts (Cat I) or 88K pts (Cat II) to get Plat.
Since you're experienced with MSing, you know you don't want an audit of your account. Not worth the risk.
All the best to you.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:44 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 56
Wow, well thanks everyone for the feedback. I definitely never meant to piss anyone off or make such a huge mistake; I figured this was a common occurrence. Having said that, I won't be doing it since I don't want to take any risks. I was just doing it for the couple elite night credits as it would save me from doing a couple more mattress runs. I'll just stick to the mattress runs and stay clear of this idea and a possible audit. Thanks everyone.
Jul 14, 2015, 2:07 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
Wow, well thanks everyone for the feedback. I definitely never meant to piss anyone off or make such a huge mistake; I figured this was a common occurrence. Having said that, I won't be doing it since I don't want to take any risks. I was just doing it for the couple elite night credits as it would save me from doing a couple more mattress runs. I'll just stick to the mattress runs and stay clear of this idea and a possible audit. Thanks everyone.
Might I suggest you read more of the elite status and FAQ threads to better familiarize yourself with the program. You'll probably learn more than you thought you would. See the stickies on the first page of the forum.
Jul 14, 2015, 2:34 pm
#15
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,032
I'm sorry if this has been asked, but everything I have found involves questions with award bookings. This has to do with a paid stay. If I call SPG and book a paid stay for a friend from my account, will I still get the elite credit? Do I have to add myself to the reservation even if I won't be there? The hotel is in Argentina if it matters. The whole point is so that I can get the credit to get me to Platinum and I can wipe it out on my arrival anyway. Thanks in advance.