Any starwood gold referals available?
Sep 17, 2002, 3:54 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,043
I called the Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum Concierge Desk this morning (Chamorro Standard Time).
I started by giving my current account number and explaining my situation to the person who answered the phone, including never having stayed at a Starwood property, my willingness to do so for 5 stays instead of Hilton, the "PGG" source code, and that I had a new Gold number and Platinum referral number. She said I could be a Gold through "marriage" of accounts. It sounded from the way she said it like this was a fairly routine process.
On the other hand, when I asked if there were any way to keep the old number, she said she would contact a supervisor. Thereafter, the supervisor said I could not become Gold any other way than ten stays.
Sounds like Starwood does not want my business so much after all. Fortunately for me, there are Hilton alternatives in my primary travel destinations (GUM, TYO, SFO, WAS).
I started by giving my current account number and explaining my situation to the person who answered the phone, including never having stayed at a Starwood property, my willingness to do so for 5 stays instead of Hilton, the "PGG" source code, and that I had a new Gold number and Platinum referral number. She said I could be a Gold through "marriage" of accounts. It sounded from the way she said it like this was a fairly routine process.
On the other hand, when I asked if there were any way to keep the old number, she said she would contact a supervisor. Thereafter, the supervisor said I could not become Gold any other way than ten stays.
Sounds like Starwood does not want my business so much after all. Fortunately for me, there are Hilton alternatives in my primary travel destinations (GUM, TYO, SFO, WAS).
Sep 17, 2002, 7:43 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Texas
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 514
I AM looking for a *wood GOLD referal!
Pls e-mail.
Pls e-mail.
Sep 17, 2002, 9:58 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: San Francisco (Marin County), CA
Programs: UA Global Services, AA Lifetime ExecPlat, LH HON Circle, SQ PPS Solitaire, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 3,002
I have 4 Gold referrals left and will give them to anyone who will seriously do the 5 stays (you get 5,000 bonus points). As an incentive, when you complete your 5 stays, I'll be happy to mail you your choice of a 50% off SPG50 certificate or a President's Club pass for 2 people with no expiration.
Email me if interested.
Email me if interested.
Sep 18, 2002, 7:44 am
#34
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: SAN
Posts: 887
Do all of these gold referrals expire in October? I may be able to get 5 in by October but definitely can in November. Plz email me and I'll set you up with 5000 points.
Sep 18, 2002, 4:58 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,043
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Honesty is the best policy.</font>
As before, I explained my situation honestly (as I always do), this time being sure to take notes (as I try do if there is a chance of misinterpretation or if the stakes are high).
This SPG Platinum Concierge Desk employee (Carolyn) was more knowledgeable than yesterday's. She didn't need to go to a supervisor, but also didn't offer to let me combine two accounts.
She explained that this promotion was only for "new" members, and the fact that I had an account with zero Starwood stays didn't qualify me as being "new" (in her interpretation).
What she did do, "as a goodwill gesture," was to immediately convert my account to Gold.
So the bottom line is that I lose out on the 5000 Starpoints from the promotion, as does the generous Platinum who offered to refer me.
On the other hand, I will get the 50% bonus (3 Starpoints per dollar for each stay instead of two).
That is not enough for me to cancel all my reservations at Hilton booked on my Hilton AmEx card (which I would have done to get the 5000 Starpoints). But it is enough to get me to make a few Starwood reservations I might not have otherwise made, both on this trip and next year, when I might be able to get the ten stays if I try very hard.
They "split the baby." Win some, lose some.
Sep 18, 2002, 5:12 pm
#36
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Santa Monica, CA, USA
Posts: 1,013
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by emaij:
Do all of these gold referrals expire in October? I may be able to get 5 in by October but definitely can in November. Plz email me and I'll set you up with 5000 points.</font>
Do all of these gold referrals expire in October? I may be able to get 5 in by October but definitely can in November. Plz email me and I'll set you up with 5000 points.</font>
Sep 18, 2002, 6:27 pm
#37
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 6,084
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eugene:
If you are not an SPG member, just e-mail one of the members who posted that they had special invitation cards to give (including myself), and we'll forward you all the information needed for you to call SPG and obtain an instant Gold SPG membership. If you stay 5 times before October 31, both you and I would receive additional 5,000 point bonus.</font>
If you are not an SPG member, just e-mail one of the members who posted that they had special invitation cards to give (including myself), and we'll forward you all the information needed for you to call SPG and obtain an instant Gold SPG membership. If you stay 5 times before October 31, both you and I would receive additional 5,000 point bonus.</font>
Sep 19, 2002, 3:24 pm
#38
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: USA
Programs: HH diamond, Hyatt diamond, *wood plat, Delta Diamond 4th yr, SWA A List
Posts: 263
If you are seeking a complimentary gold card, I have three left. Send me an email and I will provide the last three to the first three.
------------------
oops, forgot email address
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by VFF1000000 (edited 09-19-2002).]
------------------
oops, forgot email address
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by VFF1000000 (edited 09-19-2002).]
Sep 23, 2002, 2:27 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: HH Gold, DL Silver, NW Silver
Posts: 30
Does anyone still have *wood gold referral? Thanks.
Sep 23, 2002, 4:19 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: SPG Plat, lowly UA Silver
Posts: 191
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by travellot:
Does anyone still have *wood gold referral? Thanks.</font>
Does anyone still have *wood gold referral? Thanks.</font>
YGM
Sep 23, 2002, 5:07 pm
#41
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New York
Programs: Bonvoy LifetimeTitanium, UA Plat 2MM, LHW LeadersClub, IHGPlat, HiltonDiamnd, ASMVPG100K, WyndDiamnd
Posts: 1,227
If you need a referral and are hopefully planning on five stays by the end of October, please let me know.
Sep 24, 2002, 12:19 am
#42
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Vancouver BC
Programs: AA, HH, Mariott, SPG - Now if only I was travelling more...
Posts: 386
If anyone has any referrals left, I could use one. I've got three stays booked before November and could probably swing two more.
Cheers
Mike
Cheers
Mike
Sep 24, 2002, 12:47 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Plat, HH Dia, Marriott S
Posts: 356
buddyboy, you have mail
Sep 24, 2002, 1:27 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: pittsburgh, pa, USA
Programs: lots
Posts: 389
i'd like gold status... I can probably swing 4-5 stays before nov. 15th.