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.…
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.
Starwood Elite Upgrades
Over at The Lobby, Starwood Lurker explains various reasons why a Platinum member might not get the upgrade to a suite that he or she wants … even when a suite appears to be for sale on a hotel’s website. I think that he gives hotels a bit of a pass, because despite the examples offered hotels do lie about available inventory. There are hotels that just do not like to offer upgrades simply because a hotel guest has stayed lots of nights in other hotels that are affiliated through a common loyalty program. But it’s important reading nonetheless — understanding just what kinds of upgrades you’re entitled to and what bumps in the road might prevent you from getting them is essential to scoring a suite. Know what room to ask for. Know if…
Hooters Air to End Scheduled Air Service
Hooters Air is going bust as a scheduled airline. (Doh!) The carrier isn’t filing for bankruptcy, it’s ending scheduled air service April 17 and going charter-only. The Chairman of Hooters learned a basic lesson about the airline industry, The chairman of Hooters of America … said he hoped to “have a little fun” in an industry that had always fascinated him. …“The flying industry is in a terrible mess,” Brooks said. “I’ve got a fair amount of money, but I don’t have enough to fix this animal.” He could have gotten that just from the old joke that the quickest way to become a millionaire… is to start off with a billion dollars and invest in an airline. And it doesn’t take much to know not to hub in Myrtle Beach, South Caroline. (Hat tip…
Immigration
I don’t usually do politics here, and I’m not going to delve into the substantive discussion of what immigration policy ought to be (though I generally agree with the point that Brad DeLong makes in criticizing Paul Krugman). But I hate disingenuous arguments, so I thought I’d reproduce this skewering from David Friedman. He quite elegantly points out how irrelevant national security arguments are to the debate over the Mexican border. The linkage is absurd for two different reasons. The first is that current illegal immigrants are not Muslims and have no connection with or allegiance to Islamic organizations, terrorist or otherwise. Most of them are Catholics. They are no more likely to support Islamic terrorism than the people already here—probably less likely. The second is that the U.S. doesn’t control its borders, isn’t going…
Best Credit Card Cash Bonus Signup Offer Ever?
American Express is offering a $250 statement credit with first purchase on the no annual fee Platinum Business Cash Back card. That’s a bribe worth taking!
Starwood Expands in San Francisco
Starwood loyalists who frequent San Francisco have reason to rejoice with the Argent becoming a Westin and the Park Hyatt becoming a Le Meridien.I love this quote from San Francisco’s Convention and Visitors Bureau Chairman, “If the Argent does suddenly better, it’s not because the building’s better but because someone is bribing them with Starwood points.” Starwood has some outstanding options in San Francisco already, with the new St. Regis, an outstanding W, the Westin St. Francis, and the love-it-or-hate-it Palace. Adding the Park Hyatt is a real coup.
The Suite Mystique
The New York Times carried a piece today on hotel presidential suites. They have expensive sticker prices but most people staying in them don’t pay sticker price — they’re upgrades from lesser rooms or comped rooms to meeting planners or other VIPs bringing the hotel significant business. I remember the very first hotel event I booked, they put me in their very best suite. Of course, it was a Best Western and it was their only suite. But it was my first year of work and I was impressed. Had folks over for the jacuzzi, too. I’ve never stayed in a true presidential suite, the kind they have at the Waldorf Towers in New York. It a matter of luck and I’ve never asked for one either. But I do have an Ambassador Suite booked…
