Starwood Preferred Guest recently announced new member benefits. Gold members will now receive a welcome gift. Platinum members will receive 10 suite upgrades, extra points, a 24 hour check in ability, a personal ambassador, and continental breakfast. My favorite part of this announcement is the Lifetime Gold and Platinum status. The best part is past stays count towards the Lifetime status. Progress towards Lifetime status is displayed once you log into your account.
Lifetime Starwood Platinum and Gold Status
In general, Starwood Lifetime status is earned through a combination of nights (250 nights for Gold, 500 nights for Platinum) and elite status duration (5 years for Gold, 10 years for Platinum).
Starwood Lifetime Gold Status
So Close To Plat
To earn SPG Lifetime Gold status, an SPG member must have a minimum of five years of elite status during his/her SPG tenure AND 250 eligible nights since joining the program.
You’re golden. Enjoy Gold membership status for life when you achieve 250 eligible nights total and any five years of elite SPG status since joining the program. If you’re currently Platinum, don’t worry — your Platinum benefits are still intact. Likewise, as an SPG Lifetime Gold member, you can still earn Platinum status each year. Just enjoy the comfort of knowing that the benefits of Gold status are yours, even if you have a light travel year.
Benefits:
- Three Starpoints for every eligible U.S. dollar spent – a 50% bonus over base-level membership
- 4 p.m. late checkout, so you can sleep in, relax by the pool or see more of the local area you’re visiting
- An enhanced room at check-in, when available
- Special elite customer service telephone line (available in most countries)
- New! Your choice of a welcome gift with each stay. Choose from bonus Starpoints, complimentary in-room Internet access and a complimentary beverage
Starwood Lifetime Platinum Status
To earn SPG Lifetime Platinum status, an SPG member must have a minimum of 10 years of Platinum status during his/her SPG tenure AND 500 eligible nights since joining the program.
It doesn’t get any better than this. Enjoy Platinum membership status for life when you achieve 500 eligible nights total and any 10 years of Platinum SPG status since joining the program. Yes, it’s quite an accomplishment — and one that deserves to be recognized for life.
Benefits:
- Three Starpoints per eligible US dollar spent, a 50% bonus over the Preferred level
- Upgrades to best available room at check-in, including Standard Suites
- Your choice of a welcome gift with each stay. Choose from bonus Starpoints, continental breakfast (New Option!) and local amenities
- Club- and Executive-level privileges where available
- Complimentary in-room Internet access
- 4 p.m. late checkout, so you can sleep in, relax by the pool or see more of the local area you’re visiting
- Guaranteed room availability when your room is booked by 3 p.m., 72+ hours prior to arrival.
- Our signature Platinum Concierge service4 at 888-625-4991 – always one call away to help you arrange just about anything regarding your visit. It’s service tailored to your needs
Starwood Lifetime Status Details
- The SPG Lifetime designation starting March 1, 2012
- SPG can take away or cancel the status if a member violates the terms and conditions of the SPG program or for any other reason
- Don’t Get Lazy because Starpoints still expire
- Starpoints must be earned or redeemed at least once every 12 months
- If this is not done, the SPG Lifetime member account will become inactive and the Starpoints will automatically be forfeited
- You may contact SPG to reactivate your SPG program membership at the level of your SPG Lifetime designation; however, the forfeited Starpoints will not be returned
Bottom Line
Starwood’s Lifetime Platinum status is a big carrot to chase. But once you reach these benefits you are essentially a Platinum light. This is because only Platinum members who stay over 50 nights in a calendar year will receive the 10 suite upgrades and only Platinum members who stay over 75 nights in a calendar year will receive the 24 hour check in ability.
Even with the Platinum light, I’m only 75 nights and 2 years away from making Platinum status for Life! This is really a game changer since I’m so close.
I’m interested in your Lifetime status strategy. Is it worth focusing only on Starwood for Lifetime Platinum status?
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The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.
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Doesn’t earning Audience Rewards points and choosing Starwood count as activity that will extend the life of Starpoints? Seems like a possibility for those who haven’t had a stay lately and don’t have an AMEX card.
Hello Marriott! Setup it up!
I’m trying to compare two giants in this space, SPG and Marriott Rewards.
Many of us reading this have been travelling for years. Over those years I’ve been forced to travel to sites that don’t have an SPG or a MR hotel available, so switching between the two has been a must from time to time.
The SPG lifetime program is explained well above – 10 yrs Platinum / 500 nights and you’re set. The Marriot Platinum for Life program is a bit different – 12 years at ANY Elite level, at least 1 of those at Platinum and 2M lifetime points (easily achievable in 12 yrs).
So here is the dilema: I was Marriot Platinum for 3 yrs ending last year. I joined in 2006. I switched to SPG a year and a half ago and have 3yrs platinum with them as well. Question is – what should I do from here?
Seems that that if you miss one year then good-bye lifetime. Also seems like the Marriott lifetime is MUCH easier to obtain. Their platinum benefits are just as good as the SPG ones (in my opinion).
Any input folks? I’m not trying to put down SPG, but it would be nice if they could be a little more competitive to those of us who still have years to go. This is the time to target us “middle-of-the-road” folks who still have 10yrs of travel to go through (no offence to those who have obtained their Lifetime goals already – you deserve it), but if the SPG goal of introducing lifetime is meant to instill loyalty, take a look at the current competition and stay competitive so I can work on reaching my goal in 7 yrs.
This is just an opinion and I welcome comments even if they are contrary.
Just put in how close you are to your goal so we can get perspective as to where you’re coming from.
I totally agree and will look to leave Starwood. All call centers have a less qualified platinum concierge now ( not dedicated) it shows. The benefits are harder to obtain and black out or denial of rate is constant. I do have over 10 years of travel left as do my employees. This will take a while but Starwood has grown by their previous policies. They will demise with these new ones. I know our corporate hotel allowances are not jumping at the rate they are increasing their rates . And parking. Really venturabharbor is a perfect example. Any way to squeeze a buck. Bad decisions at the top will return you to the bottom. Listen to the travelers. I hate to say this I have gone out of my way forvstarwood loyalty. Every company needs to make money, but this is a bit much. I hope they quickly throw at least platinum or gold promos. Not 5 stays for one night. Really $1000.00 to earn a night on a hotel that has 70% occupancy. It’s just not good business
Spg 50 rarely available, cash and points rarely available at higher end hotels. AAA is not much better .This is even if I book months out. PLEASE STARWOOD LISTEN SO WE DON’T LEAVE! WE LIVE IN YOUR HOTELS and vacation there as well. Pay for your renovations by looking into upper management. Don’t use the people who have been so kind and loyal . The changes are not all good, I’m speaking for alot of people. HELP HELP.
I spoke to Starwood, and your elite years do not have to be all in a row. So if you were platinum for 3 years and then didn’t reach it, you DO NOT start over. its a combination of 10 years 500 days.
Author, did you make it yet and how is platinum for life treating ya? I’m also close and wonder if it’s good once there?