Major upgrades to Starwood Preferred Guest starting March 1, 2012

[burrco]

Recently logged on to my account to find I'd qualified for lifetime gold so that was a bit of a bonus. That said I'm not a real fan of lifetime status and wished Starwood hadn't gone down that path.

 

[Isochronous]

What's the LTG threshold?

 

[drron]

What's the LTG threshold?

5 years of gold status and 250 nights.Should reach it at the end of the year.

 

[Hawkeye]

4 years elite status, and 167 nights for me. Will clock up the status year component of qualification by end of 2012, but will take another 3-4 years to meet the nights requirement.

That said I'm not a real fan of lifetime status and wished Starwood hadn't gone down that path.

Why so? I think the lifetime platinum bar is sufficiently high to keep riff-raff out. And SPG gold is sufficiently easy to "maintain" through AMEX etc, that I don't think it will substantially impact upon overall numbers.

 

[burrco]

4 years elite status, and 167 nights for me. Will clock up the status year component of qualification by end of 2012, but will take another 3-4 years to meet the nights requirement.


Why so? I think the lifetime platinum bar is sufficiently high to keep riff-raff out. And SPG gold is sufficiently easy to "maintain" through AMEX etc, that I don't think it will substantially impact upon overall numbers.

No real rational reason just feel that lifetime status has the potential to ultimately led to reductions in the platinum level and hasten the official introduction of a higher tier (which is now happening in practice anyway). Of course I'm happy to be a hypocrite - will most likely qualify as a lifetime plat next year - and will happily accept it! In fact, if any staff member referred to me as a "platinum" member I will correct them with lifetime platinum member - in true DYKWIA style

 

[drron]

I do feel a little apprehension such as burrco states.Introducing standards for upgrades etc may turn out a little like the renowned QFF enhancements.There are already reports of hotels that used to provide plats with full breakfasts now providing either points or a continental breakfast instead as per the new T&Cs so in fact a diminuition of benefits.Others still give more than required.I also fear the quaranteed suite upgrades may again in some places lead to a lessening of benefits-ie suite upgrades are only the standard suites where previously all suites were potential upgrades.Will just wait and see.

 

[Flashback]

Why so? I think the lifetime platinum bar is sufficiently high to keep riff-raff out. And SPG gold is sufficiently easy to "maintain" through AMEX etc, that I don't think it will substantially impact upon overall numbers.

How can it be maintained via AMEX? I thought it was only a 1-off status match? Are you saying it can be done every year?

 

[beardoc]

How can it be maintained via AMEX? I thought it was only a 1-off status match? Are you saying it can be done every year?

It's a permanent SPG Gold for as long as you keep your Amex Platinum Charge/Centurion.

 

[Flashback]

It's a permanent SPG Gold for as long as you keep your Amex Platinum Charge/Centurion.

Interesting, when I asked AMEX UK they weren't able to confirm/deny that...

 

[Hawkeye]

How can it be maintained via AMEX? I thought it was only a 1-off status match? Are you saying it can be done every year?

As beardoc mentioned, SPG Gold appears to be a continuous benefit, as long as the platinum card is retained. That is different to the priority club benefit which provides 12 months of Gold elite membership, then you need to earn it thereafter.

I do feel a little apprehension such as burrco states.Introducing standards for upgrades etc may turn out a little like the renowned QFF enhancements.There are already reports of hotels that used to provide plats with full breakfasts now providing either points or a continental breakfast instead as per the new T&Cs so in fact a diminuition of benefits.Others still give more than required.I also fear the quaranteed suite upgrades may again in some places lead to a lessening of benefits-ie suite upgrades are only the standard suites where previously all suites were potential upgrades.Will just wait and see.

Agree with these points, although they don't refer specifically to the addition of lifetime status per se, rather other enhancements announced in parallel. Complimentary suite upgrades are looking very endangered.

 

[Flashback]

As beardoc mentioned, SPG Gold appears to be a continuous benefit, as long as the platinum card is retained. That is different to the priority club benefit which provides 12 months of Gold elite membership, then you need to earn it thereafter.

Agree with these points, although they don't refer specifically to the addition of lifetime status per se, rather other enhancements announced in parallel. Complimentary suite upgrades are looking very endangered.

Do you need to keep putting the form in each year or does it just keep ticking over? I wonder how they check.

 

[beardoc]

Do you need to keep putting the form in each year or does it just keep ticking over? I wonder how they check.

Amex seems to send Starwood and Priority Pass details that you renewed - and you get an email and a new card.

 

[Flashback]

Amex seems to send Starwood and Priority Pass details that you renewed - and you get an email and a new card.

Fantastic. I may as well kick mine off tomorrow then, as the only reason I had been holding off was I had no real need for it, only doing a stay at the Sheraton CDG once a month or so.

 

[AsterisK]

I just ticked over to Platinum few weeks ago, been staying in Westin chain Sunday-Friday since October last year, stacking up the nights!

Very much love the changes to the program! I recently used my points to pay for a premium rated weekend (4 nights) for the Melbourne F1 GP, cost me around 36000 points as opposed to the elevated standard rate of about $450/night, so I was pretty happy with that, especially since the premium price was not reflected in the points deduction!!

 

[Febs]

I just ticked over to Platinum few weeks ago, been staying in Westin chain Sunday-Friday since October last year, stacking up the nights!

Very much love the changes to the program! I recently used my points to pay for a premium rated weekend (4 nights) for the Melbourne F1 GP, cost me around 36000 points as opposed to the elevated standard rate of about $450/night, so I was pretty happy with that, especially since the premium price was not reflected in the points deduction!!

This for me is the real value of points stays. Twice now I've used points to stay at the Sheraton 4P in Munich. Not an amazing hotel (nice enough post-renovations though), and usually around $100/nt...but during Oktoberfest? Over $600! (It's a 4 minute walk). Stayed there for Oktoberfest 2009 and 2010 on points - cant remember exactly how many but it wasn't much - 7000/nt from memory? Crazy good value for points. Also got a fantastic upgrade in 2010 too (unless all the rooms are humongous and have their own kitchenettes.).

I'm also loving the new changes. I managed to make Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat and Hilton Diamond last year, but SPG is and always has been my primary program - for member benefits, range of hotels, upgrades, customer service and redemption offers. Hard to beat IMO

Cheers
Febs.

 

[AsterisK]

had my first platinum continental breakfast experience this morning... first time in the restaurant - besides the constant questions if I would like top ups to my coffee, I was left sitting around for about 10 minutes, looking dumb, without realising, hey, it's an open buffet was a bit disappointed that the staff didn't tell me when I walked in, that hey, you gotta get off your a*** and do it yourself (which is fine, just wish they said something instead of assuming I knew so I didn't look like a retard sitting at my table waiting for nothing)

 

[Hubbins]

Anyone know how I can get a SPG Gold as I am travelling to the USA soon and would like the free internet

 

[Flashback]

Anyone know how I can get a SPG Gold as I am travelling to the USA soon and would like the free internet

Only way I can think of without earning it is to do it via a AMEX Platinum Charge Card.

 

[QF WP]

Will have to check out my SPG account to see what my program stays to date are and how many years I was Gold (before I found the Hilton and IHG programs more enticing).

It was my first frequent guest program (1989 along with QF) and like drron, 4P Darling Harbour was my choice in SYD and Sheraton Towers in SIN. But the loss of Sheraton Towers in MEL was the death knell.

Now, like Serfty, stays are the exception not the rule - but as a points conduit it is my number 1 program.

 

[Hawkeye]

Only way I can think of without earning it is to do it via a AMEX Platinum Charge Card.

As an addition to this, I'm pretty certain that the World Mastercard (i.e. CBA Diamond etc.) privilege progam also offers SPG gold.