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[edit] How to redeem
To request an award ticket or certificate, call the service center. Instant room upgrades and hotel credit can be redeemed at the hotel. Members may also convert Starpoints to frequent flyer miles, redeem for hotel awards, and redeem for merchandise online.
Redeeming Starpoints
No blackouts or availability restrictions on Free Night Awards. Free Night Awards apply to standard rooms only, as defined by each participating property.
Cash & Points Awards allow you to redeem Award Nights at select hotels by combining as little as $25 and 1,200 Starpoints
5th Night Free allow the fifth night of an award stay for no additional points at Category 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 hotels.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/starpoints/redeem/free_nights.html
Transfer Bonus for Frequent Flier Miles
5,000-point transfer bonus when transferring 20,000 Starpoints in one transaction to frequent flyer miles.
An airline with a 1:1 transfer ratio means 20,000 Starpoints = 25,000 frequent flyer miles(American, Delta, Northwest, US Airways).
An airline with a 2:1 transfer ratio (Continental, United) means 20,000 Starpoints = 12,500 frequent flyer miles.
Room Upgrades using Starpoints
Starwood Preferred Guest allows a member to upgrade a paid room reservation using Starpoints. A member may even upgrade to a suite. This can be a valuable use of points. Individual hotels have some flexibility in setting the Starpoint rate for a specialty or suite upgrade.
You may upgrade from any category of room with a Free Night Award or a paid reservation. Upgrade Starpoint amounts are per room/per night. Upgrade types may include larger rooms, a Club Room, Westin Guest Office, Corporate Club Room, Smart Room, a room on a floor that may include Club Lounge Services or Concierge Services, suites, or a room based on type of view or floor within the hotel. Each type of upgrade room is not available at all properties. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/starpoints/redeem/upgrades.html
[[Starwood Preferred Guest Hotel & Resort Categories]]
Category 1 hotels are mid-priced, full-service hotels and resorts. 2,000 Starpoints for free night on Friday or Saturday 3,000 Starpoints for free night on weeknights, Sunday to Thursday
Category 1 Hotel Listings - [1]
Category 2 hotels are full-service hotels and resorts in exciting destinations across the globe. 3,000 Starpoints for a free Friday or Saturday night. 4,000 Starpoints for a free weeknight Sunday to Thursday.
Category 2 Hotel Listings -[2]
Category 3 hotels are full-service hotels and resorts in premium destinations and major cities worldwide. 7,000 Starpoints for a free night at a Category 3 hotel.
Category 3 Hotel Listings - [3]
Category 4 hotels are superior hotels and resorts in choice locations. 10,000 Starpoints for a free night at a Category 4 hotel.
Category 4 Hotel Listings - [4]
Category 5 hotels are an elite assembly of hotels and resorts in the most exclusive destinations. Depending on the season, you will need between 12,000 or 16,000 Starpoints for a free night at a Category 5 hotel.
Category 5 Hotel Listings - [5]
Category 6 hotels are the world's most exclusive hotels and resorts, each one reflecting the unique characteristics of its surroundings for an unparalleled travel experience.
Depending on the season, you will need between 20,000 or 25,000 Starpoints for a free night at a Category 6 hotel.
Category 6 Hotel Listings - [6]
Category 7 consists of Starwood’s uber hotels and resorts offering awe-inspiring surroundings in some of the world’s most spectacular destinations.
Depending on the season, you will need 30,000 or 35,000 Starpoints per night for a free night in a standard room at a Category 7 hotel.
All rooms at Category 7 hotels--the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora, and the Le Méridien Bora Bora in Bora Bora; the W Maldives, Maldives; the Sunset Key Guest Cottages, A Westin Resort, Key West; and the Mystique, Santorini, Greece are suites or villas only and require 60,000 to 140,000 Starpoints per night for a free night in a standard suite. All rooms at Category 5 hotel--The Resort at Singer Island, Singer Island, FL are suites only and require a minimum of 24,000 to 64,000 Starpoints per night for a free night.
Category 7 Hotel Listings - [7]
[edit] How long it takes
Hotel awards are instant, no certificate is required. Merchandise certificates will be processed within 2-4 weeks. Allow 2-4 weeks for miles to be posted to frequent flyer accounts.
[edit] Expedited Award Delivery
Rush transfer of points to American Airlines AAdvantage, United Airlines Mileage Plus, or British Airways Executive Club. SPG will expedite Starpoint transfers to these airline partners only. They require approval by an SPG supervisor, can take from 3-5 business days, and are only offered to members with severe time constraints. The cost is 3,500 Starpoints.
[edit] Transferability of Awards
Awards may be transferred to anyone at time of award issuance by the person whose name appears on the certificate. There may be exceptions in regard to awards earned through promotional offers where SPG specifically says that the award is non-transferrable.
[edit] Changing an Award
Call reservations to change an award, there is no fee. Redepositing points: Unused awards can be redeposited as long as the member cancels in accordance with the hotel cancellation policy which is typically before 6 p.m. on the day of arrival. There is no fee.
