Yesterday I posted about a disturbing development with Starwood, where they were apparently testing a change to Platinum upgrade benefits — providing a one room class upgrade instead of upgrade to best available room at checkin, including standard suites. This morning I posted on Flyertalk Starwood is within its rights to change the Terms and Conditions, but frankly changing elite benefits shouldn’t ever be done without substantial notice — people earn their status with butt-in-bed based on the promise of perks the following year. A decision made now to change benefits ought to be implemented beginning in 2008. However… if there is a ‘test’ to provide something other than the best available room at checkin, including standard suites then the test is in violation of Starwood Preferred Guest’s terms and conditions. Starwood writes the T&C.…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for April 2006.
Tomorrow
A colleague just pointed out to me On Wednesday at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning (AM), and the afternoon (PM), the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
A Threat to the Greatest Loyalty Program on Earth
Hyatt sometimes offers suite upgrades to Diamond members, as does Hilton, but neither program offers it as a published benefit. Marriott used to offer their Platinums an upgrade to the best available room at checkin including suites but now suites are explicitly no longer a part of the upgrade benefit. Technically, Intercontinental’s Royal Ambassador status (which doesn’t have explicit qualification criteria but that you can get by learning the secret handshake or being referred by an existing Royal Ambassador, the latter method being how I got mine) does offer upgrades to an Executive Rooms or Suites which in practice varies from hotel to hotel (but which I’ve found to be quite generous if inconsistent). But among major loyalty program top-tier status levels, only Starwood Platinum offers an upgrade to the best available room at check-in…
Starwood Proud of its Credit Card
Starwood’s The Lobby is justifiably beaming with pride over a Fortune magazine piece which declares its co-branded American Express card the best rewards card. Indeed, it is. Two thoughts occur to me, however. First, how come they don’t kvell just as much when I endorse their card as best? Second, the Fortune writer doesn’t seem to know that Diners Club no longer offers two billing cycles to pay. Doesn’t make me the better expert? And more of a reason to kvell over my endorsement? Heh. Oh well, as long as people carry the card then I suppose my work is done.
