V-Flyer

Hi All
I have booked a hotel in Tokyo which is part of the SPG rewards scheme. Its a category 6 hotel (whatever that means).
My question is, having made a booking and signing up to SPG (at time of booking) would it be worthwhile to transfer say 20k points from my AMEX to my SPG account? would these points be recognised now having made the booking and would I be able to use these to get one free night?

Do any of you guys and gals have any experience or knowledge on this matter?

Hi
I recently moved 40,000 AMEX points to SPG (worth 20,000) and booked 2 nights at BOS four points, 2 nights KC four points and part points/part cash for Nashville Sheraton 1 night. I chose SPG as when I tried to blind book HH there was no reward availability for pretty much anything I needed. As it happened I'm glad I did as SPG seems way better than HH.
My suggestion is to try a blind booking to see if there is availability in the hotel then transfer the points. But remember 20,000 points will become 10,000 SPG and a cat 6 might well be more than that number. Stay with SPG, as good as Marriott in my view.

Cheers
Bob

Thanks Bob.
I didnt realise that I would need double the amex points tho :-$ will think about it.
however I will give that a go.
Can you apply points retrospectively to a booking though? or if there is availability (upon doing a blind booking) do I cancel the original booking and rebook?

Remember spg are supposed to allow you to book if a standard room is available. Another good way is to try and hunt out points and cash, which can be very good value.

thanks guys
at coffee break i will revisit the hotel website and see whats what.
I am happy with the room I have booked just looking to utilise my points to maybe get one of the nights for free. If no can do on this occasion, its no worries.
you dont ask you dont get. etc.

gfonk wrote:Do any of you guys and gals have any experience or knowledge on this matter?

Using points to upgrade my original bookings???? Never done this before, nor would I consider such a heresy!!! (and yes a tongue out smiley does denote sarcasm - oop there's another one..)

Don't know why people are hating on Hilton, have always been good to me (aside from not knowing the diff between 11000 and 111000). There is not as good a redemption rate as the Hyatt, but not bad.

As Bob suggests, try out a dummy booking to see about availability.. If you are looking for free nights or room upgrades though, you might need to drop them an email if the option isn't on screen. Sometimes the offer of an upgrade doesn't appear if you don't have enough points in your account at that time.

gfonk wrote:Its a category 6 hotel (whatever that means).

Hotel category used to calculate reward redemptions. A cat 6 hotel will require more points to upgrade the room than a cat 5 for example.

joeyc wrote:Using points to upgrade my original bookings???? Never done this before, nor would I consider such a heresy!!! (and yes a tongue out smiley does denote sarcasm - oop there's another one..)

sarcasm surely not. lol

joeyc wrote:Don't know why people are hating on Hilton, have always been good to me (aside from not knowing the diff between 11000 and 111000). There is not as good a redemption rate as the Hyatt, but not bad.

As Bob suggests, try out a dummy booking to see about availability.. If you are looking for free nights or room upgrades though, you might need to drop them an email if the option isn't on screen. Sometimes the offer of an upgrade doesn't appear if you don't have enough points in your account at that time.

We are staying at the Hilton in Osaka. I dont have a HH membership. Should I get one of those too?

gfonk wrote:Its a category 6 hotel (whatever that means).

Hotel category used to calculate reward redemptions. A cat 6 hotel will require more points to upgrade the room than a cat 5 for example.[/quote]

Thanks for the info as always.

gfonk wrote:We are staying at the Hilton in Osaka. I dont have a HH membership. Should I get one of those too?

Will you being staying at a Hilton again? As you said before you don't ask, you don't get... it is amazing how little an amount of points it takes (relatively speaking) to upgrade room types. ii)

That all being said, I have to carry around a separate wallet with me when I travel given all the damn 'loyalty' cards I own.. ha. If it will be of use to you then go for it, if not then don't bother would be my advice

joeyc wrote:
Will you being staying at a Hilton again? As you said before you don't ask, you don't get... it is amazing how little an amount of points it takes (relatively speaking) to upgrade room types. ii)

That all being said, I have to carry around a separate wallet with me when I travel given all the damn 'loyalty' cards I own.. ha. If it will be of use to you then go for it, if not then don't bother would be my advice

probably wouldnt stay again for another year or so. so maybe not really worth the bother right?
I would probably be better to transfer miles from AMEX to HH? I havent checked out HH so dont know about the point structure.

Yeah know what you mean about loyalty cards and I only have a two lol (ok three if you count the "other" one ). Oh. I dont have an SPG one though? do they send these out? I signed up online when I made the booking.