emcnj

Property: Westin Portland Maine
Date(s): Feb 21-Feb 23rd
Room booked: Traditional King
Room received: Junior Suite
Award stay: no
BRG stay: no
SNAs redeemed: no
Comments: occupancy levels are low here this time of year. Upgrade was expected.

Property: Westin Boston Waterfront
Date(s): Feb 23-24th
Room booked: Deluxe King
Room received: Ambassador Suite
Award stay: no
BRG stay: no
SNAs redeemed: no
Comments: hotel was packed. Honestly wasn't expecting an upgrade here at all considering it was a late check-in and just overnight stay. Front Desk associate noted platinum status but said nothing about an upgrade. Didn't realize until I got to the room! Pleasant surprise.

kodansha999

Property: Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel
Date(s): February 2016 (1 night)
Room booked: Athénée Room
Room received: Athénée Suite
Award stay: No
BRG stay: Yes
SNAs redeemed: N/A
Comments: Its a suite with Twin Bed which is rare but I didn't mind at all

lcpteck

Nice, haven't had a chance at Suites yet.

lcpteck

Property: Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral
Date(s): February 2016 (1 night)
Room booked: Loft Room
Room received: Urban Room
Award stay: No
BRG stay: Yes
SNAs redeemed: N/A
Comments: Pre-allocated the upgraded room before arrival. Urban rooms comes with free mini-bar. There's no difference between Loft and Urban rooms besides the mini-bar benefit.

lcpteck

Property: Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur
Date(s): February 2016 (1 night)
Room booked: Classic Room
Room received: Le Meridien Suite
Award stay: No
BRG stay: Yes
SNAs redeemed: N/A
Comments: I like the new renovation, very nice indeed. Staff here are always nice and friendly.

khabah

Property: The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa
Date(s): February 25th-27th
Room booked: Deluxe Room
Room received: Premium Deluxe Room
Award stay (yes/no), type (C+P, FAN, FWN, FRN, SPG50, etc.): No
BRG stay (yes/no): Yes
SNAs redeemed (yes/no): No
Comments: This was basically just a standard/deluxe room but only on the ground floor and with very high ceilings. Have a feeling that this hotel is a bit stingy with regards to upgrades... Plus happy hour was a bit paltry with very few food offerings.

khabah

Property: Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi
Date(s): February 27th-28th
Room booked: Deluxe Room
Room received: Deluxe Corner Suite
Award stay (yes/no), type (C+P, FAN, FWN, FRN, SPG50, etc.): No
BRG stay (yes/no): Yes
SNAs redeemed (yes/no): No
Comments: Got upgraded to a lovely deluxe corner suite with a beautiful view of Abu Dhabi from the 22nd floor. Club lounge looks to be a lovely addition - plus the renovations to this property are absolutely spot-on. Lovely part of the Le Méridien portfolio and lives up to every standard of the brand.

remymartin

Property: Hotel Kämp, A Luxury Collection
Date(s): February, 1nt
Room booked: Deluxe Room
Room received: Junior Corner Suite
Award stay (yes/no), type (C+P, FAN, FWN, FRN, SPG50, etc.): No
BRG stay (yes/no): no
SNAs redeemed (yes/no): No
Comments: just had to stay here one last time before the deflagging.

supatight80

Ajman Saray, A Luxury Collection
Date(s): 4 nights February/March
Room booked: Cheapest
Room received: Al Dana Suite 1 bedroom (sea view)
Award stay (yes/no): No
BRG stay (yes/no): Yes
SNAs redeemed (yes/no): No
Comments: Huge 80+ square metre 1 bedroom sea view suite on 2nd highest floor. Large balcony, spa like bathroom and separate toilet on living room. BRG Rate 483ish AED. Pre upgraded about a month prior

ignorantcow

Exact same as above but without twin beds, so I won't repeat info. If I had known they had these available I would have asked! Good to know, thanks!

When were you there? I had to charm my way to an upgrade after the usual blocker excuses ("No have suite", "Full tonight, lots of guests", etc). I really wish FD agents would stop lying about availability. Doesn't bode too well, makes me feel like I have to do a song and dance every single time.

travelswithmyself

Not complaining, but you should mention that you were made to jump through hoops in the comments section. So the rest of us know that the property is one of "those"...

ignorantcow

What did you mean by "comments section"? I've posted in this thread, so I'm guessing it's sufficient, unless you meant somewhere else. I'll be happy to do so if you point me in the right direction.

You know... I'm new to the game, about 2 years in. I've had mixed experiences with my stays so far, some outstanding, some downright terrible. After a horrifying experience at Westin GCT last Christmas where it involved another guest shouting at me for using my SPG benefits and management did NOTHING as well as radio silence from corporate, I've adjusted my expectations levels to be much lower from the program as a whole.

I've taken a different stance on published plat benefits, not just with upgrades, but others too that weren't given until asked. What, so should I be expected to know without being informed? Are they expecting everyone to be diligent FT readers who know plat benefits better than they do?

So in reality it's totally up to the property to handle, coupled by your ability to take control of the narrative/impression that you give. E.g. I usually put in a Your24 request even though I don't need it (usually 5pm-5pm), hoping someone with more experience or higher up would notice. It helps to be friendly too I guess, which is hard for introverts + those with a RBF (me). The interpretation of "Best Available Room" is so subjective, it is not simply about having an eligible suite available at check in.

travelswithmyself

My apologies. With all the quoting going on, I thought you were the original poster. I was referring to the "comments" section in the Platinum Upgrade Success report - highlighted in red above.

uxb

Property: Sheraton ORD
Date(s): 13-14 February 2016
Room booked: Double suite
Room received: Double suite, club floor
Award stay: no
BRG stay: no
SNAs redeemed: no
Comments: This is an all-suite property, so not much to report here. I guess it was once an Embassy Suites or Homewood Suites. It kinda has the look and feel of that.

Property: Aloft Silicon Valley
Date(s): 26-27 February 2016
Room booked: Aloft Room
Room received: Aloft Suite
Award stay: no
BRG stay: no
SNAs redeemed: no
Comments: Prolly the best Aloft Suite I've ever stayed in. Came with a mini-kitchen. Not that I needed it. AAA rate had a $25,- F+B credit. Excellent value. Didn't see Botlr in action though. Next time.

Property: Westin Bonaventure
Date(s): 27-29 February 2016
Room booked: Traditional
Room received: Tower Suite
Award stay: no
BRG stay: yes
SNAs redeemed: no
Comments: I've never been upgraded any higher here.

Property: Four Points LAX
Date(s): 29 February - 1 March
Room booked: Traditional
Room received: Deluxe suite (f/k/a Junior suite)
Award stay: no
BRG stay: yes
SNAs redeemed: no
Comments: This was the cleanest room I've ever been in at this property. Finally!!! I guess they've finally realised that it is sink-or-swim time with the Aloft ready to swing open their doors.

svo242

Are people still seeing their rooms upgraded in the SPG app ahead of time?