Use Starpoints for flights -- SPG Flights
Sep 5, 2008, 11:25 pm
#151
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
Oh, this old topic
By that level, the hotels will be so unused to seeing a Plat card that they will have no practice in providing that benefit--because Plats will be so rare.
I for one am happy at the current 25 stay level.
Sep 6, 2008, 12:02 am
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Programs: ICH Ambassador, HH Gold VIP, Starwood Platinum Preferred, UA Premier, AA, Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 10,629
Maybe for certain level hotels? As a IC Royal Ambassador I get 8AM plus suites. It's on availability, but I have never been denied. Plus I get free minibar. It can be done.
Sep 6, 2008, 12:48 am
#153
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
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Sep 6, 2008, 1:54 am
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,170
8 am is guaranteed (you might need the change rooms if the upgrade is not availabe). But you get room without extra payment at 8 am. Free minibar is the trade off for the lounge you do not get as a regular perk. But seriously: When I have suite (with free alcohol and pay-TV) I do not need a lounge (with free coke, honor bar and CNN). Every program has its plus and minus'
Sep 6, 2008, 10:34 am
#155
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 2.2MM LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,572
IF the flight you want is at full miles SPG is a decent deal. Also I normally buy my ticket and use points for the wife and kids. I earn and keep more hotel points then anything since, I still only need one room versus 3 plane tickets. In a couple of years we are going to Germany on points. I was stuck with buying a pricey ticket J/C or lose the miles now I can still do both.
For four tickets, that's over 1 million Starpoints. For that many Starpoints, you can do some pretty incredible things.
With SPG Flights, it all comes down to cents of value per Starpoint, which will always be around 1.3 cents per Starpoint.
Sep 6, 2008, 10:48 am
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
It'll still be a pricey ticket, but it'll be pricey with Starpoints instead of cash. I just checked on a Business Class LGA-MUC ticket for March, for instance, and the cheapest option is 255,000 Starpoints (per ticket). If you buy the same ticket, it's $3,186. That's 1.25 cents per Starpoint.
For many, this may be a good alternative to converting points into FF plans. No sweating over transfer timing and ongoing award availability now that lengthy courtesy holds seem to have been scrapped from (most?) U.S. FF plans.
Sep 6, 2008, 11:05 am
#157
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AC, VIPorter, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 368
William,
However, since a First class ticket is generally refundable, the prevailing airline T & Cs would allow for the flight to be voluntarily canceled by the customer. In this situation, where would the money be sent to? Or, is there no mechanism for this? When we are told its to be considered a cash-paid ticket that operates like any ticket directly purchased by the customer, this is were the confusion is caused (I think!).
However, since a First class ticket is generally refundable, the prevailing airline T & Cs would allow for the flight to be voluntarily canceled by the customer. In this situation, where would the money be sent to? Or, is there no mechanism for this? When we are told its to be considered a cash-paid ticket that operates like any ticket directly purchased by the customer, this is were the confusion is caused (I think!).
Of course, this doesn't seem fair if SPG won't refund your points when they get the cash back, but I guess it's just another thing to consider when deciding if SPG Flights is a worthwhile use of points.
Sep 6, 2008, 12:08 pm
#158
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,086
Sep 6, 2008, 12:35 pm
#159
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Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
It's a tough decision and they could go either way. I like Intercontinental's approach. They only offer their top level (Royal Ambassador) to their top 1% customers. That is why they can give great benefits such as 8am check in and free mini-bar. I would hope that Starwood can see the benefit of this approach. The worst case (IMHO) is the United Airlines way which heavily dilutes the value of Premier Executive and 1K. Both examples exist and both have their pros and cons. We'll see which one Starwood chooses. I hope they don't go the United way (no pun) and either stay pat or raise the levels.
Sep 6, 2008, 12:37 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Not the top 0.001%. Top 1% would be fine. It's my guess that it would be 60 or 65 nights for the top 1%, but that is just a guess.
Sep 6, 2008, 12:59 pm
#161
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: BWI
Programs: Starwood Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 48
So while we we briefly were talking about improvements to the SPG website, how about being able to see suite award availability and being able to book more than just standard or deluxe award rooms online?
Sep 6, 2008, 3:53 pm
#162
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Silver, MR Plat Prem & LT Plat, Hyatt Plat,SPG Plat, Hertz PC, National EE, UA 1K
Posts: 3,407
Marriott Plat Premier is SAID to be the top 2%. Evidence is that 150-200+ nights is necessary, and about $40K spend/year. I am one. I can tell you that I am in the 200-210 nights/year and $60K+ range with Marriott.
Dont know how MR and SPG total members works out, but that is just some BASIC evidence from MR.
Sep 7, 2008, 8:18 am
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Programs: UA 2MM/GS; SPG Lifetime Plat; MHC Lifetime; Tar Heel forever; and I "Dig the Pig" at Piggly Wiggly
Posts: 12,152
You know.....it might not be a "perfect" redemption value, but at least it is another option. Whether or not someone someone uses this program depends on priorities; sometimes, you've got so many miles to burn, it is better than paying $5000 cash for a ticket.
Having said that, using 1.4M points for a F tic SMF-LHR does not seem like a good deal.
Having said that, using 1.4M points for a F tic SMF-LHR does not seem like a good deal.
Sep 7, 2008, 8:36 am
#164
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
But flying a relative up for the holidays for 20K is a great option and one I just exercised!! It's also worth noting that, had I used the airline's FF program for this booking, it would've been 50K in miles AND I'd have also had to spend extra $$ to complete the "free" award booking.
Using SPGflights for International F or J/C bookings will NEVER be a deal for anyone (hasn't that been firmly established at this point?!?), but for the right person at the right time, domestic bookings can make some real sense for some of us with lots of excess SPG points.
Last edited by sbtinme; Sep 7, 2008 at 9:32 am
Sep 7, 2008, 8:59 am
#165
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
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Posts: 10,839
It is kinda sad, however, that whatever "benefits" PP's receive they pale comparison to just plain vanilla SPG PLT.