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I Guess I’m A Moron. I Picked SPG Suite Night Awards Again

a staircase with red carpet and stairs in a building

Starwood Preferred Guest’s Suite Night Awards have been frustrating for me since they rolled out in 2012.  One of the first indications that they weren’t working well was SPG extending the expiration dates.  I couldn’t use all of mine that year, even with the extension.  I had some expire in 2013 and 2014 as well.

In 2015 SPG tried to tweak the benefit by giving 50-night Platinum members other choices.  The alternatives weren’t worth more than $100.  I figured I could reasonably get more than that out of Suite Night Awards.  I chose Suite Night Awards again in 2015 and 2016.

I had more bumps and bruises in 2015, especially with some confusion at the Arion in Greece.  We had another bump earlier this year when a property upgraded me using Suite Night Awards, but did so instead of giving me connecting rooms.  I had requested connecting rooms from my SPG Ambassador when I made the reservation.  He confirmed it with the property.  But, they chose to call an audible and upgrade one of the rooms.

This year’s alternate choices are a bit better:

  • A free night at any SPG property (up to category 5).
  • 5 Elite Qualifying Nights-a shortcut to elite status.
  • A free 5-day car rental with Silvercar.
  • 40% off a hotel bed (Westin Heavenly Bed, and hopefully a new one!).
  • $100 donation to UNICEF.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I don’t much use for most of the choices.  I prefer to make my own charitable donations.  I don’t need a bed or a rental car.  And, I have lifetime Platinum status with SPG.  I’m pretty sure that carries over to Marriott, which means I’m likely committing to 100 nights or not many at all.

While the elite nights were a potential choice, it was really between the free night and the Suite Night Awards.  I figure to get at least $150 value out of that, if not much more.

It’s not like I’m the only guy letting Suite Night Awards expire.  View From The Wing wrote about it shortly after I did.  My good friend Scott has the same concerns as me:

And yet, Ben from One Mile at a Time used all his up.  I’m guessing he had more nights than me, but I can’t bet it was many more.  So, where does that leave me?

You Know The Punch Line

No suspense here, given the title of the post. I chose Suite Night Awards.  I have no clearly defined plan for a specific destination in 2017 with the family.  Given that lack of clarity, I thought there was more potential upside in the off-chance I can score a suite for a family trip.  That could mean saving 50,000-100,000 Starpoints by not needing a second room (or the cash equivalent).

It seems silly to say it, but 6th time’s a charm?

The post I Guess I’m A Moron.  I Picked SPG Suite Night Awards Again was published first on Pizza in Motion

8 Comments

  1. I chose suite upgrades as well. I had two still available for 2016. I figure even if i only use a few I am ahead of the game. The other options just do not have the same value. My concern, i am now three years away from lifetime platunum. I can reach the number of needed nights this year gor lifetime but have to wait two more years after 2017, with the merger eill i still have yhe chance to get there.

    1. Leonard, I have no inside information. But, the conversations I’ve had so far and the things Marriott has committed to make me think they’ll honor existing lifetime platinum customers from SPG. For folks who aren’t yet, I’m not sure what the answer will be. Since SPG doesn’t show us our lifetime base points, I’m not sure how they track it. I believe they do. If so, then that will probably be converted on some formula to Marriott system for lifetime status. That unfortunately will leave you in the dark for a little while longer.

  2. Frankly, I don’t get the fuss over suite upgrades. When traveling for business, do you really need an extra room? One of the nice new benefits of World of Hyatt is that suite upgrades can be used for award travel. That’s when I appreciate them. Yes, a suite at the Park Hyatt Vendome will be very nice or at my upcoming stay at Park Hyatt St. Kitts. I will say that during my SPG days I was given the presidential suite at Westin, Washington D. C. I said, “Hey, the president doesn’t stay here. He has a house here.” They didn’t think that was funny. It was so grand that I felt like “If they could see me now!” I considered bringing a hooker back to my room. When she asks, “What do you want?” I would say, ” Nothing. I just want you to see where they put me.” (I didn’t)

    1. Dave, I really couldn’t care less about suite upgrades when traveling for business. But, I find them hugely valuable for family vacations. Our family of 4 doesn’t sleep in one room and share one bathroom at home, so we prefer not to do so on the road.

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