gold status upgrades?

[tinkybelle]

anyone got any gold status upgrade clues
other than this one
hope someone can use

Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Im looking for gold status for a friend

she is not amex plat charge and doesnt have a mastercard

 

[serfty]

What for? SPG gold only gives a few additional Starpoints and 4pm late check-out.

SPG gave it to me in 2005 merely by asking them.

On the few stays I had in Oz I received only the additional status points.

 

[tinkybelle]

you are talking about 7 yrs ago!!!
we are in 2012 dont forget
I recently stayed at the westin in sydney am plat i stayed with a gold member in another room and we both got club access
and yes for 50% more points why not?
she is spending about 5k so thats an extra 2.5k!!
plus extra 250 pts plus internet access
so dont poopoo gold
anyone else have a way to get her gold

 

[dfcatch]

you are talking about 7 yrs ago!!!
we are in 2012 dont forget
I recently stayed at the westin in sydney am plat i stayed with a gold member in another room and we both got club access
and yes for 50% more points why not?
she is spending about 5k so thats an extra 2.5k!!
plus extra 250 pts plus internet access
so dont poopoo gold
anyone else have a way to get her gold

I never received club access at Westin Sydney (or anywhere) as Gold.

I did get room upgrades generally and 50% for late checkout.

 

[serfty]

you are talking about 7 yrs ago!!!
we are in 2012 dont forget
I recently stayed at the westin in sydney am plat i stayed with a gold member in another room and we both got club access
and yes for 50% more points why not?
she is spending about 5k so thats an extra 2.5k!!
plus extra 250 pts plus internet access
so dont poopoo gold
anyone else have a way to get her gold

I'll poopoo gold if I want to. I just described the garanteed benefits. Never was I upgraded as a gold for any stay (other than sometimes to "Preferred Guest" rooms which don't count as an elite upgrade as standard SPG members are eligible).

As I posted, I received SPG Gold simply by asking - turned out a waste of time.

I never received club access at Westin Sydney (or anywhere) as Gold.

I did get room upgrades generally and 50% for late checkout.

Late check out (at non conference and resort hotels) is supposed to be guaranteed for ANY Preferred+ , Gold or Platinum SPG member.

There are three¹ "conference" or "resort" SPG properties in Australia - at any of the others, including Westin, it is a guaranteed benefit.

FAQ: 4 PM Late Check-Out: A benefit for Platinum, Gold & Preferred Plus - FlyerTalk Forums

¹
Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, Port Douglas, Australia
Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa, Gold Coast, Australia
Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa, Noosa Heads, Australia

 

[tinkybelle]

you are still talking 7 yrs ago
maybe things change!
certainly did for my friends 13 march 2012 stay in sydney!

 

[k_sheep]

I've stayed at SPG as a gold about 40 times in the last 3 years, across Asia and Australia. Sorry to say it, but your friends' thing was a fluke. Most of the time I get an upgraded room (higher level, corner room, better view, bigger), twice to a suite, regularly get a little something in the room (chocolates, fruit, occassionally alcohol) but have never been upgraded to a club room.

In Australia I quite often have to ask for the 4pm checkout, and rarly get a better room.

 

[tinkybelle]

well the 50% extra pts plus the little something plus the suite x 2 is certainly worth trying to get gold isnt it?
better than a green card.and getting nothing

 

[dfcatch]

well the 50% extra pts plus the little something plus the suite x 2 is certainly worth trying to get gold isnt it?
better than a green card.and getting nothing

If you get a suite upgrade as a gold again - ill buy u a beer.

It was a fluke - period.

 

[drron]

I guess the best way to see would be to PM one of the Lurkers on FT.Lurker11 is a member here but I have forgotten the handle.

And I do agree with you what happened in 2005 is irrelevant.I was then HH diamond and regularly missed out on exec lounge access including ADL,CNS.Suite upgrades were as rare as hen's teeth then for diamonds.

 

[serfty]

... Suite upgrades were as rare as hen's teeth then for diamonds.

Still are hen's teeth rare for Diamonds, but then again, until recently, they were specifically not part of the bennies for Diamond.

[Off Topic ASIDE]

I believe that SPG Gold is better than HH Silver, due to guaranteed late check-out (and the welcome gift, especially the internet access option - see below). You would have as much chance as getting a useful statused based upgrade as a SPG Gold as you may as a Silver - i.e. almost none.

Also, these days, SPG Platinum is on a similar level to Diamond, although more expensive to earn when based in Oz.
​

[/Off Topic ASIDE]

Tinky, if you really want SPG Gold for your friend, I note from FT that SPG no longer match - but may issue a "challenge".

Policy Change Related to Status Match Requests - Beginning April 1, 2011 - FlyerTalk Forums


Note that from March 1 this year, specific Gold welcome gifts were introduced.

(Discussion: New Gold Welcome Amenity choices - FlyerTalk Forums)

Gold Welcome Gift

Check in, and check out your new Gold welcome gift options. Choose one with each stay — you’ve earned it.

•Bonus Starpoints. Get to the points. Receive 250 bonus Starpoints® per eligible stay at St. Regis®, Luxury Collection®, W®, Le Méridien®, Westin® and Sheraton® and 125 Starpoints per stay at AloftSM, ElementSM and Four Points® by Sheraton.

•In-Room Internet Access. Online. On us. Surf, stream and stay connected in the convenience of your guest room with free in-room Internet access for your entire stay.

•Complimentary Beverage. Cheers. Sit back and relax with your favorite coughtail in the hotel’s restaurant or bar.

This is certainly an improvement from what they used to be ([until recently] SPG gold benefits - what are they? - FlyerTalk Forums).