This is the first post in a series about the different status levels in the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty scheme:
- Preferred
- Preferred Plus
- Gold
- Platinum
When you join the loyalty scheme of Starwood hotels, you begin with SPG Preferred Status. It doesn’t offer any particularly valuable benefits, but it’s still worth registering if you have any upcoming stays.
Here’s a guide to everything you can expect for simply registering with the SPG loyalty scheme for free.
Important Note: You’ll only receive these benefits when you book a hotel stay directly with SPG, either on their website, mobile app or by phone. If you book a stay using an OTA (Online Travel Agency) like Expedia, you’re not eligible to receive any of these benefits.
SPG Preferred Status Benefits
1) Collect Points Or Miles
With Preferred status you earn 2 Starpoints per dollar spent at all of Starwood’s brands. Alternatively, you can choose to earn miles with many different airlines on a 1:1 basis.
In my opinion, it’s not worth having your points automatically transfer to an airline though. The reason for that is because you can transfer your Starpoints to airlines at any time on a 1:1 basis. Even better than that, if you transfer your points to airlines in 20,000 point increments, SPG provide a 5,000 mile bonus.
That means you’ll end up with 25,000 miles – something you can’t take advantage of when automatically transferring to miles after each stay.
2) Reward Nights Count Towards Elite Status
Once registered with SPG, each stay counts towards attaining the next status level. That’s the case no matter whether it’s a paid stay or a reward night booked using your points.
3) No Blackout Dates
So long as there are standard rooms available at the hotel you want to stay at, you can use your points without any blackout dates.
4) Complimentary Internet
You’ll receive complimentary in-room internet access provided you book your stay directly via one of their websites or apps (not by calling their reservations line).
5) Free Bottled Water
Even at this lowest status level you’ll receive a couple of free bottles of water in your room.
6) Earn Points When Booking Groups
If you’re planning a wedding, meeting, etc. at one of Starwood’s hotels, you’ll earn 1 Starpoint per $3 spent. You can earn a maximum of 20,000 points per contract with Preferred status.
7) Earn Points When Using Uber
This benefit ended on December 17, 2017.
So long as you have an SPG hotel stay credited to your account in the current calendar year, you can link your SPG and Uber accounts to earn bonus Starpoints.
You’ll earn 1 point per $2 spent on Uber rides. If you use Uber during an SPG hotel stay, you’ll earn 2 points per $1 spent.
How To Get SPG Preferred Status
It’s nice and easy to get Preferred status with SPG as all you need to do is register here.
Next up, we’ll explain how to get Preferred Plus status.
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