Merger update from "points guy" [Integrating SPG / Marriott Rewards]

[Helios]

In less than 24 hours I was given silver status on united as a new Marriot platinum! Nice Marriot perk.

Not to disappoint you, but United Silver does not get much other than occasional Economy Plus and a couple more UA miles. You have the potential for upgrades but good luck with that.

On the flip side, it's a free perk, so I guess it is a plus.

 

[Helios]

No one is forcing you to convert points from SPG to MR. SPG members haven't lost anything, they can continue to use their points in SPG just as they did before.

Nicely said...

 

[Helios]

These are hotel points - not timeshare ownership.

This is like saying that 1 US dollar is worth 3 Euros - each currency has a different underlying value.

Also - there is no Starwood ownership - Starwood is Vistana now.

Somebody should start counting how many times Denise clarifies the difference between TS and Hotels...

She should get some award after 100 times

 

[dioxide45]

Not to disappoint you, but United Silver does not get much other than occasional Economy Plus and a couple more UA miles. You have the potential for upgrades but good luck with that.

On the flip side, it's a free perk, so I guess it is a plus.

We did get a free upgrade ONCE because my wife was Premier Silver. Up to business class. Though that was on Copa Airlines between Aruba and Panama. Still nice for something that was a free perk.

 

[Ken555]

Somebody should start counting how many times Denise clarifies the difference between TS and Hotels...



She should get some award after 100 times

She passed 100 months ago...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Negma]

Not to disappoint you, but United Silver does not get much other than occasional Economy Plus and a couple more UA miles. You have the potential for upgrades but good luck with that.

On the flip side, it's a free perk, so I guess it is a plus.

It also lets you board group 2 as does United credit card and free checked bag. And it took all of two minutes.

 

[Henry M.]

Here's the latest owner letter I just received (I added the bold emphasis)

Dear Owner,

Earlier today, Marriott International® announced the completion of its planned merger and acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. We wanted to personally reach out to you as a valued Vistana™ Signature Experiences (Vistana) Owner and SPG® member to help clarify any questions you may have pertaining to your ownership.

The announcement confirmed that the SPG and Marriott Rewards® loyalty programs will remain operating as separate entities for some time, allowing you to continue to earn, redeem and enjoy your benefits at any of the more than 1,300 SPG-affiliated hotels and resorts worldwide.

Rest assured that your current reservations, branded resort experiences and existing SPG level status remain unchanged. To help answer any additional questions, we have provided these frequently asked questions. Should you require further information, please visit spg.com/updates or contact Owner Services at 1-800-847-8262.

This news comes at what is already an exciting time to be an Owner. Our recent merger with Interval Leisure Group℠, along with their support and resources, has Vistana well-positioned for significant growth over the next few years. The Westin St. John Resort & Villas will unveil new poolside villas in early 2017, and the highly anticipated grand opening of The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas on the beautiful island of Maui is scheduled for summer of 2017.

Plans are also underway to add villa accommodations at our five newest resort hotels. The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa is on track to re-open as an all-villa resort in the second quarter of 2017 after renovations following Hurricane Odile. Additionally, The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancún; The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta; Sheraton Kauai Resort; and Sheraton Steamboat Resort are all anticipated to add villas over time. Until then, Owners can continue to access these resort hotels through the SPG program.

We look forward to enhancing your future vacations by delivering even more choices and upper-upscale leisure experiences.

Thank you for your continued loyalty and we hope to see you on vacation soon.

Sincerely,
Stephen G. Williams
Chief Operating Officer

I wasn't aware Los Cabo's was going to be available in 2017. The Westin Resort and Spa in Cancun is NOT Westin Lagunamar, but the hotel property at the end of the hotel strip, closer to the airport.

 

[Helios]

It also lets you board group 2 as does United credit card and free checked bag. And it took all of two minutes.

There is no reason not to do it, as you said the cost is minimal effort. But, the reward will also be minimal.

 

[Helios]

We did get a free upgrade ONCE because my wife was Premier Silver. Up to business class. Though that was on Copa Airlines between Aruba and Panama. Still nice for something that was a free perk.

Sure, upgrades are a perk. If you fly routes that are not popular, if you fly on big planes that have more than a couple Business or First Class seats (777, 767, 757-200, and 747), or if you fly during not peak times you may get an occasional rare upgrade.

UA silver competes with 3 UA elite levels that clear upgrades before and with the people who buy upgrades during online check in. So, usually, the chances are very small. But, never say never I suppose.

 

[Helios]

Sure, upgrades are a perk. If you fly routes that are not popular, if you fly on big planes that have more than a couple Business or First Class seats (777, 767, 757-200, and 747), or if you fly during not peak times you may get an occasional rare upgrade.

UA silver competes with 3 UA elite levels that clear upgrades before and with the people who buy upgrades during online check in. So, usually, the chances are very small. But, never say never I suppose.

Also, now there is more competition since all SPG Plats who comp status and apply for UA Silver will make things harder for the UA flyers...

 

[Helios]

She passed 100 months ago...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I was talking about this thread, if you count all her postings about this across all forums, she may be approaching 1,000 or may have passed it...

 

[Helios]

Here's the latest owner letter I just received (I added the bold emphasis)



I wasn't aware Los Cabo's was going to be available in 2017. The Westin Resort and Spa in Cancun is NOT Westin Lagunamar, but the hotel property at the end of the hotel strip, closer to the airport.

I didn't know either. I thought they were going to be ready by 2018 or 2019.

 

[GrayFal]

I was able to get DH a SPG account today and link it with his Marriott account. He now shows as SPG Platinum.

Now will change him to the Primary Owner of our Starwood/VSE timeshares so we earn SPGs under his account at the higher Platinum rate.
All good.

Not sure if this is the same situation, but I wanted to change around our names on our ownership, and add husband to one where he was not even listed, but I was told that it would require the titles to be completely reissued, along with whatever fees.

You are able to designate anyone on the title as the Primary owner. 4 of our VOI are deeded Mr GrayFal and Grayfal, one is deeded GrayFal and Mr GrayFal. .
All we had to do was fax a letter signed by both of us stating who would be the Primary to email for SVO title change that is in the stickies.
If you want to add DH to the deed, then yes, you would have to get a new deed but LTT transfers will do it for under $150.

 

[thinze3]

SPG Plat is the same (so is Hilton Diamond).

But they do not do this for Gold, which is what I am with Marriott (and now SPG)?

 

[dioxide45]

I am currently sitting on ~150K SPG points. If I transfer to Marriott, it would be ~450K points. Can I still convert to airline miles (Hawaiian)? If so, this is a no brainer.

You would be better to convert them to a travel package or two. Getting 120,000 airline miles and a week hotel certificate.

 

[farsighted99]

You would be better to convert them to a travel package or two. Getting 120,000 airline miles and a week hotel certificate.

Interesting. How do you do that?

 

[dioxide45]

Interesting. How do you do that?

Read up on the travel package options on Marriott.com. There are different costs depending on the hotel category certificate that you want.

http://www.marriott.com/rewards/usepoints/morepack.mi

Hawaiian is in Hotel + Air Package 1. The important thing is to always get the package that includes 120,000 air miles. The benefit in these is in the air miles. Effectively they convert at 1:1 after the hotel certificate is factored out. If you just convert MR points to air miles, the ration is 3 MR points to 1 mile. You are only about 100,000 MR points short of being able to convert to two category 5 packages which would net you 240,000 miles and two 7 night hotel certificates. If you were just to flat out convert the points to miles, you would only get 180,000 from the same number of points. You have to call Marriott Rewards to book these travel packages.

 

[Helios]

But they do not do this for Gold, which is what I am with Marriott (and now SPG)?

With SPG Gold you may get upgraded to a club floor but access to club floor would not be guaranteed. In reality (for the most part), the club for is just a slightly nicer room and finger food, not a real breakfast. However, I've been to some hotels that have had a very spread and some hotels that don't have a Club Floor Lounge and they give passes to their restaurants. That's where I have found the best value. Last one I remember was an aloft in GDL with excellent food and service.

 

[m61376]

I wonder if l MR hotel certificates will be usable at Starwood properties. MR has some nice airline point/hotel certificate packages, which have long been considered the best use of MR points. Does Starwood have anything similar, and/or are they going to categorize Starwood hotels so as to be able to use the MR certificates?

 

[dioxide45]

I wonder if l MR hotel certificates will be usable at Starwood properties. MR has some nice airline point/hotel certificate packages, which have long been considered the best use of MR points. Does Starwood have anything similar, and/or are they going to categorize Starwood hotels so as to be able to use the MR certificates?

I think all this has to wait until the programs are fully integrated. You won't be able to cross use certificates. Just transfer points for bookings. Once they integrate, all the properties will be under the same category system. They really need to be on the same reservation system to allow for certificate bookings between the brands.

 

[Helios]

I think all this has to wait until the programs are fully integrated. You won't be able to cross use certificates. Just transfer points for bookings. Once they integrate, all the properties will be under the same category system. They really need to be on the same reservation system to allow for certificate bookings between the brands.

I see the point about using cross certificates, you need to have a commonality of some sort. But they don't have to assign SPG hotels to a Marriott category. The Ritz program runs side by side under Tiers, not categories, and both programs use MR as the common currency.

 

[dioxide45]

I see the point about using cross certificates, you need to have a commonality of some sort. But they don't have to assign SPG hotels to a Marriott category. The Ritz program runs side by side under Tiers, not categories, and both programs use MR as the common currency.

True, but it seems like a lot of work for just an interim period. In the end it will all work seamlessly together in a single program. Better to put the resources toward integrating the programs as one than trying to maps and price the points costs between two programs that will become one in the end anyway.

 

[Helios]

True, but it seems like a lot of work for just an interim period. In the end it will all work seamlessly together in a single program. Better to put the resources toward integrating the programs as one than trying to maps and price the points costs between two programs that will become one in the end anyway.

I see your point, and perhaps I am biased, but I hope they keep the programs separate just like they did with Ritz and simply use MR for redemption purposes. I suppose if this happens they will end up at the same spot as they assign categories to SPG properties and convert all SPG points to MR points at the 3:1 rate.

 

[myip]

Marriott & united airline

How do you link the Marriott account with United Airline to get Silver status with United?

 

[Negma]

From duke post #43

duke
TUG Member

How did you get silver status on United? I just linked up my SPG with Marriott. I just got Marriott Platinum.

Log in Marriott web site: click on My Account at top of page in right hand corner, Click on Discover Benefits, Click on Whats New, Scroll down to middle of page and CLICK ON REWARDSPLUS - then Learn More.

Marriott Platinum get automatic UNITED AIRLINES SILVER STATUS through the RewardsPlus Marriott program.