Amex FHR VS. SPG platinum
 

If

Two guests check in to a SPG hotel in the same time, they both asking for an upgrade to a Suite, and there is only one suite left.

A is a Amex Plat holder booking through FHR, also having SPG platinum by Staus match or whatever, not really a royalty SPG member, maybe stay less than 15 nights a year.

B is a SPG platinum member who have stay with SPG for a long time and a faithful customer, staying 30~50 nights a year.

Who do you think will get the upgrade?

Why those hotel are willing to give Amex such a great benefit? How much did Amex FHR paid to SPG St regis and Four Seasons?


Which is more important to a hotel? FHR or their own member ?

Probably the one who doesn't ask...

;)

A. The hotel sees A as a platinum guest + paying higher rate.

It should be whoever checks in first. It's impossible for two people to check in at exactly the same time.

some upgrades are done before arrival, can also be negotiated without agency/status

FHR = one category upgrade (top room to suite) at checkin
some centurion FHR may be one category upgrade at booking

virtuoso/etc have some st regis with one cat upgrade (including to suite) at booking

SPG and others certainly track beyond platinum/100 status - all are not equal

reputation of FHR/etc varies, FHR/etc agents vary

rates and packages vary

AMEX doesn't pay the hotels... promotion through AMEX channels is valuable to a hotel and AMEX FHR-eligible cardholders are seen as high-income and high-value so they want to attract them.

With a few exceptions, the published FHR benefit is a one category upgrade, based on availability at check in. You can ask PTS/CTS phone agents for specifics of what categories upgrade into which categories; they can easily see this information in their computer systems.

Of course, some properties will decide to give a FHR customer an upgrade of more than one category, sometimes when the one category up rooms are sold out and sometimes (yay!) just because. However, if the category immediately above the category you booked is not available, the hotel is not obligated to give any upgrade.

contracts always one category, "centurion partner" brands (not all centurion FHR) offer at booking

i think GHA is only one to publish two category upgrade, not sure re limits (or if any SPG)

agencies (and marketers) refer revenue to suppliers. amex was first to create something like FHR, because they issued platinum charge card worldwide (no centurion at the time) and had a travel business.

Wouldn't this logic (high-income, high-value) generally apply to SPG platinum members as well though? In fact, having a Platinum AmEx means that you have a decent credit score and income, but doesn't really reflect on your liquidity or disposable income. SPG Platinum means you spend at least, say $350 x 50 = $17.5k a year on hotels.

@MSPeconomist "You can ask PTS/CTS phone agents for specifics of what categories upgrade"

Why should regular guests need to ask? I hate asking for upgrades, I feel more "loved" when they are offered.

Not ask for the upgrade but ask about the details of "if I reserve room category X, into exactly what category Y of room can I get my one category FHR upgrade?" This is useful to know as sometimes a superior with view can upgrade one category into deluxe with no view, etc.

I asked a front desk manager once at one of the SF properties. He said that when allotting rooms, they sort by status and then by FHR/Virtuoso. But, he said, if you are an elite+FHR, you pop right to the top for an upgrade. Not sure if that's policy or just how that property does it.

I think it also depends on the total length of your stay and the availability of the upgraded category during that length of time.

It is easier to upgrade the guest with a short stay (eg. 1-2 night) as opposed to the guest of a longer stay (eg. 7 days).

And one thing people often forget is that it also matters what the person's history with that particular hotel is.

I know a guy who is SPG Plat and for many years has brought a minimum of 40 nights a year to a specific property. He pretty much gets upgraded to the exact same suite every stay.

If he were to drop from SPG PLT to SPG Gold one year for whatever reason you can be sure that he will still get "his" suite when he only booked a standard room as a Gold.

The kind of pre-allocated upgrades they do the afternoon before tend to take care of the house VIPs as well.

and some spend $17.5K per trip/night

amex issues cards = sees and markets what cardholders spend
hotels see average spend of clients from certain agencies
FHR does not include lower end SPG properties

forumpersona999, spend trumps nights