2004 Program Changes?
 

Noticed there was a thread for 2003 with lot's of postings. How about 2004?

The biggest change was already announced concerning not receiving in-hotel benefits or stay credit with reservations booked on third-party web sites.

There will, no doubt, be some airline transfer ratio changes once the contracts are signed as well as some property category changes once that has been determined.

Other than that, I wouldn't expect anything else.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited Dec 23, 2003).]

Currently can get Platinum with stays or nights. Any chance Platinum will be offered according to $ spent (such as 100,000 HH base points for Diamond)? I would jump in right away if that was the case!

[This message has been edited by fromYXU (edited Dec 23, 2003).]

Sorry, nothing based on points earned in the program.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited Dec 23, 2003).]

I don't think I like the sound of that. Can you let us in on which airlines the contracts are being negotiated for?

All of them...each and every year about this time.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

I seem to remember that last year a number of the changes were not announced until Q1 so perhaps we should not be too hasty in assuming that there has been only one change for 2004.

But you can rest assured that the changes announced after the start of 2004 will be retroactive to January 1 if they involve devaluation or dilution of benefits. It's the Starwood way!

Let's not forget the significant (but well announced) increase in the level needed to achieve platinum for 2004 from 40 to 50.

Maybe that's considered a 2003 change.

I was told last year that I qualified based on spending more then $15,000 in the year. I think this is still the case. I didn't have enough nights.

Benefits are excluded now on package tour rates.

Any word on airline transfer ratios for 2004?

Does this mean that my business trips which I must book through expedia corporate travel will not count toward points?

Yes, I beleive you will not earn points on those stays.

Only one that I am personally aware of:

On January 1st, the transfer ratio for Air New Zealand changed from 1:2 to 1:1.

Also, as far as earning airline miles on Air Canada instead of Starpoints and stay credit to your SPG account, you can get 750 miles per stay for all brands except Four Points, which is 500 miles per stay.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited Jan 05, 2004).]