If you have an AMEX Platinum card, you get SPG Gold on request. You need to call/email SPG, quote code "UI" and if required send a screenshot of your AMEX online statement browser screen with your name on it. They upgraded me to gold and also retroactively gave me gold bonus for stays in the past 6 months when I asked for it.
Just called Starwood about this offer and they mentioned that there was a "fake" offer out there and they are no longer able to offer the Gold status without a faxed copy or email of my platinum card. I don't feel comfortable doing this. Also, the code on the AmEx Platinum website says to mention "SN". Not sure what is going on. As usual, I will call back to get another person on the phone to verify, but I wanted to search around here first.
SPG is still doing this, but only if one is willing to prove they are actually an AMEX Platinum cardholder. The faxed/emailed image of your cardholder status with AMEX is a requirement now after numerous "fake" requests were received by SPG. Best regards, William R. Sanders Online Guest Feedback Coordinator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com
Glad to see SPG cleaning up the ranks of Golds (it's a big enough herd as it is) after the code and instructions was posted on several boards around town. I hope SPG can go back and verify those who were successful by simply calling in/live chatting and asking for it recently.
Slightly different procedure in Australia at least. The SPG Gold form is included in the Plat Charge Card (not the Plat Credit Card) Welcome Pack, and is then faxed back to the Amex Concierge number. (and damm hard to earn Plat given the lack of Starwoods in Australia, and the fact that the Westin Melbourne hardly ever has my corporate rate available so I am bumped by policy to Crown Towers or Intercontinental Rialto)
Thank you for responding, SPG Champion...I went another route though since they agreed to a status match for my Hilton Diamond. I appreciated the quick response to my request ~ 2 hours. If I don't re-qualify for platinum this year, I assume I would have to call back and request the Gold status via my AmEx platinum, correct?
You would be soft-landed to Gold first. If you did not then earn Gold, then you could seek the AMEX Platinum card benefit. Best regards, William R. Sanders Online Guest Feedback Coordinator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com
I've been an Amex Plat card holder for a long time. Last two years, I haven't requalified for SPG gold. It is a bit of a pain in the neck to have to call Amex to get the two letter code then call Starwood and give them the code. Invariably, one or both of the representatives involved aren't completely sure what to do and need to place me on a multi-minute hold. I had to go through all the hoops today to get the status back. Why can't this benefit be handled automatically between Starwood and Amex? Why does the burden fall on the customer?
Does that mean if we already have Aussie Plat Amex credit cards, we can't get the upgrade? Or can we use the code mentioned above?
I can understant NYB's frustration. Consider that as an AMEX SPG cardholder we did go over the spend bar and retained our Gold status as a reward. Amex automatically notified SPG within a few days of this milestone. Sra T obtained the AMEX Plat for it's myriad travel bennies and was perturbed over the fact AMEX and SPG would not provide her with more benefits. At some point the computers at AMEX can automatically notify SPG so valuable time does not have to be spent away from MilePoint and on a phone with a rep. Good luck.
When I asked if I had to reconfirm my SPG gold via AMEX plat every year, SPG Customer Service indicated AMEX would advise them if my status changed- I take this to mean I will be Gold as long as I remain Platinum...
That's not been my experience. As a long time Amex Platinum charge (not SPG!) card holder, I've had to reconfirm my status every other year. I would like to see it work so that, if you have your Amex Platinum charge card registered on your SPG account, your status would automatically be reconfirmed. I would think this would be easy since presumably: 1. Registered credit cards are validated. 2. There are a limited number of numerical prefixes used by the Amex Platinum card. Starwood Lurker SPG Champion, is this something that could be automated?
I am not sure if this would work since people can upgrade or downgrade their card and keep their existing card number.
It is about as automated as it can be. AMEX sends SPG a list of Platinum cardholders in good standing to get you started. Adding the proper call comment code to the SPG account will automatically ensure that you are kept at Gold year-in and year-out. Obviously, there have been some issues with one, the other or both for some members. Best regards, William R. Sanders Social Media Specialist Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com
I was asked to email a screenshot of me logged in to AMEX online application with platinum shown in my ard portfolio. Did that with the digits blanked out, and they gave me gold without issues.
Try emailing SPG via their website contact form? Only AMEX could figure out whether it is an Oz-issued card or not.
My experience over many years, until I became SPG Plat several years ago, was that I called and asked (not sure whether the number was for AmEx or SPG, it was given in my annual packet regarding Platinum Card benefits) the first time and then it seemed to be automatic most years, although my PTS agent could have been doing some updating for me whenever she made a Starwood reservation. The few times I noticed that SPG didn't seem to think I was Gold, a quick phone call instantly fixed the problem without any request to send documents. For the record, this is a regular AmEx Plat Charge Card, not the SPG credit card version.
Does anyone know the answer to this? Wife has SPG membership. I have plat card. Is it possible to get gold on her SPG acct? Same last name, she just doesn't have her own plat card. It's only in my name.
Now I am confused, is this only for Amex PLT charge cards or credit cards as well. I have the PLT credit card only.
The Platinum Card from American Express http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Platinum-Card
