Points for Drinks in California
Sep 8, 2004, 4:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 650
Points for Drinks in California
I recently stayed at Westins at LAX and in Pasadena. I (and some guests) had drinks at each property's bar. The drink charges were posted as "other" (not as F&B) on my statement from each hotel. And no points were awarded for the charges for the drinks.
I understand that points are not awarded for purchase of alcoholic drinks where such an award is prohibited by law.
Does California prohibit Starwood from awarding points for refreshment at the bar?
Thanks.
I understand that points are not awarded for purchase of alcoholic drinks where such an award is prohibited by law.
Does California prohibit Starwood from awarding points for refreshment at the bar?
Thanks.
Sep 8, 2004, 10:55 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 197
Shouldn't be a California-wide issue - AFAIK I've had points from bar tabs at Westin SFO, Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf, and W Silicon Valley all within the past year.
Sep 8, 2004, 12:32 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 650
Thanks. I too have had credit for liquor at CA properties. But during these two stays at two different properties on two consecutive days the liquor charges were listed in "other" rather than "F&B." Perhaps Lurker can enlighten us (or at least me!).
Sep 8, 2004, 12:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ft Worth, TX, AA PLAT 4MM, UA 1K, HH Diamond,
Posts: 266
I got credit for drinks last week at the W San Diego.
Sep 8, 2004, 1:36 pm
#5
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
This is from an internal document concerning earning Starpoints for alcoholic beverages:
"NOTE: No points may be earned for alcohol charges where prohibited by law. Currently, earning points for alcohol charges is prohibited in Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Massachusetts."
Does it really matter if the hotel applies them as "F&B" or as "Other"? Maybe that's their way of getting around the state regulations?
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
"NOTE: No points may be earned for alcohol charges where prohibited by law. Currently, earning points for alcohol charges is prohibited in Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Massachusetts."
Does it really matter if the hotel applies them as "F&B" or as "Other"? Maybe that's their way of getting around the state regulations?
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Sep 8, 2004, 5:55 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 650
Thanks for this clarification. It is helpful. I won't even try to claim my points. But it is also disappointing that *wood does not list the handful of states to which this policy applies. I dropped a non-trivial amount of money in these lounges at LAX and in Pasadena. I had hoped/expected to gain points. In the future, perhaps I will simply entertain elsewhere, with cheaper drinks and superior atmosphere.
Sep 8, 2004, 6:32 pm
#7
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Nevermind.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Last edited by Starwood Lurker; Sep 8, 2004 at 6:36 pm
Sep 9, 2004, 7:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 197
Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker
"NOTE: No points may be earned for alcohol charges where prohibited by law. Currently, earning points for alcohol charges is prohibited in Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Massachusetts."
Any idea if this limitation is just on hotel reward points or also credit card points? This would seem to be an accounting nightmare for the various program administrators.
Sep 9, 2004, 7:16 pm
#9
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
[QUOTE=ConsultantFlyer]
Don't really know. All I can answer for is the part about the SPG program and earning Starpoints at the hotel level. I assume that someone using the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express would earn 1 Starpoint per eligible dollar spent when using the card, but I don't know if that is regulated on the American Express end of things or not, meaning that I don't know if AMEX considers alcohol charges in these same states to be eligible.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker
"NOTE: No points may be earned for alcohol charges where prohibited by law. Currently, earning points for alcohol charges is prohibited in Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Massachusetts."
QUOTE]
Any idea if this limitation is just on hotel reward points or also credit card points? This would seem to be an accounting nightmare for the various program administrators.
QUOTE]
Any idea if this limitation is just on hotel reward points or also credit card points? This would seem to be an accounting nightmare for the various program administrators.Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Sep 10, 2004, 1:29 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
I've had booze post at points at many California *Wood properties. I'm not telling which ones so they don't get in trouble! 
Sep 10, 2004, 9:01 am
#11
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Just an FYI...
I could care less about hotels not following the rules as far as giving stuff they aren't supposed to. It isn't part of my job description to follow them around on stuff like this.
Besides this, everyone needs a little lagniape every now and then.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
Besides this, everyone needs a little lagniape every now and then.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]