red star

I'm a little confused. According to the T&Cs 9.5 a member has to pay (money or points or...) and stay to get elite benefits.
In this case the member did not pay.

Can you please clarify?

Starwood Lurker II

Sure. A gifted stay is one booked using Starpoints from a SPG member. You would agree that this is considered an award stay, right?

Now let us look at it this way: The person receiving the gifted award stay and thus using it in the end needs to pay an amount equating to zero since it has been paid for by the giver.

In this situation, only one room is booked and the member who is enjoying the stay happens to be the person with the elite status. As such, he should be receiving the benefits attached to his respective status. One crucial condition is that the hotel has to know prior to the guest's arrival, his full details, including SPG account and membership level.

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Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

switchyj

just got the Amex SPG and was hoping to use the CC pts to book a hotel room.
would there be a possibility of transferring my points to a friend, him booking the stay for me, and me getting the benefits of his membership when checking in (ie room upgrade...) ?

RogerD408

Yes, there is a possibility, but it is against the T&Cs. Status benefits are for the member and not everyone they know. Now if your friend is travelling with you, then all you need to do is have him show his card (or provide account) at check-in and at least on-property benefits will be offered. If he's not going to be there then only your benefits should be expected.

switchyj

He'll be there, just not staying in the room 😊
I'll try that then!
I would only need the room at 9pm. In order to have a higher chance of getting a nice upgrade, is it best to check in as early as possible (8am-3pm), or is it best to check as late as possible (9pm) ?

thanks!

RogerD408

I presume not staying at that hotel... They may not extend benefits to more than one room.

As for upgrades, that's a crap shoot. If the property has a lot of available upgrades, they may start giving them out early. I find many properties give out their better rooms earlier in the day. But I have also been upgraded to 1-bedrooms arriving at 10pm. Personally, I try for early arrivals to get settled in and not worry about getting the worst room there or being walked.

Soccerdad1995

You actually did the husband a favor assuming that the wife was waiting in the room and not hanging out in the lobby.

I picture husband walking to the FD. FDC clerk saying "oh your wife already checked in for you, do you need an extra key?". Then husband getting the hell out of dodge or at a minimum ditching his "friend" before he went to the room.

RogerD408

The quoted post in this post is from 2006!

I've been noticing a lot of very old posts being replied to on different threads. Is this a moon phase thing?

lkar

Digging up this old thread -- sorry if there's a more up to date one.

I'm going to surprise Mrs. lkar with a trip with her best friend, and use my points to book a room for them. I won't be there. I am Plat, they have no status, but my wife does have the SPG Business Amex and the stay is at a Sheraton.

How should I book it to get them the best experience?

RogerD408

You can book the stay online and then call SPG to add them to the rez. Let them know if it's a special occasion and maybe, just maybe the property will deliver a special experience... No guarantee, but if you don't ask, good chance nothing will be done.

doog1000

Not looking at booking an award stay bur rather a revenue stay for a colleague when logged into my account.
On the SPG booking page I can change the name on the personal information page but don't want it still to come through in my name as reservation non refundable so bit wary.
Advantage of doing it this way is my colleague might but I know far from guaranteed benefit from my account status.
Any experience greatly appreciated.

RogerD408

So you are hoping you and your colleague will get your status benefits when not due? Don't expect that since it is against the rules. If this is someone you're not likely to get paid if your card is used then I would not do anything that ties the reservation to your account. If there should be any damage to the room, regardless of being caused by your colleague or not, might also result in a charge to your card and/or could get your account flagged. Too many people seem to think the loyalty program is not only for them, but anyone and everyone they know and it's not. That is why the T&Cs spell out that the member must pay and stay to get benefits/credit.

Now I will say, that I have made reservations for family on a special trip and that was relayed to the property which provided special consideration that would have matched what I would have expected during the stay. It was not expected. It was greatly appreciated. And it was totally within their right to do so.