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Lifetime Gold Status at Starwood

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Lifetime status sounds really impressive, especially since I hope to have many decades of travel in my future.  I have just attained a lifetime status for the first time:

starwood-lifetime-gold-notification

This took a few days after my last stay posted putting me over the 250 night threshold.

Starwood Lifetime Gold

Lifetime Gold status is not most exciting set of benefits, but its nice to know that I will keep these benefits moving forward with all Starwood stays.  As referenced above, these standard Gold benefits include:

  • 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.
I currently maintain Platinum status, which has many more benefits, and plan to maintain that, but in case I have a slow travel year, and I don’t re-qualify, I’ll have these Gold benefits to fall back on.  Starwood is my primary hotel chain, and once I got close to this 250 night threshold, and in the absence of other lucrative promotions this spring, I have somewhat focused my stays at SPG.
My SPG card (from the iPhone app) has been updated to reflect this new status.  Here are my cards from before and after achieving Lifetime Gold:
spg-card
starwood-lifetime-gold-card
It’s a bit odd that even though this card reflects current Platinum status, the the color scheme is now gold.  I guess it would look odd to have both colors on one card, obviously the Platinum text is what matters.  I believe, that a new metallic SPG card will be sent out, but I haven’t received that yet.

Next up, Lifetime Platinum!

Starwood also offers Lifetime Platinum status.  This status requires 500 nights and 10 years (consecutive years not required) as Platinum.  I’ve had Platinum for a few years, but I’m quite a ways from 10 years, plus I’m only about half way through the nights requirement.
Starwood has many unique promotions. This leads to lots of notations in my accounts:
starwood-many-statuses
Lifetime Gold, Platinum Preferred Guest, Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card Member, Crossover Rewards with SPG and Delta SkyMiles.  Geez, enough!

Lifetime status

I’m also in striking distance of United million miler, but at my current pace, it will be well into 2014 before I hit that number.  With my current streak of bad luck flying United, I’m not sure if I should be excited or scared for that one.

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What about you, any lifetime status you are excited about reaching?

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About Brad

Brad is a frequent traveler, based in Milwaukee. He typically travels in around 200,000 miles per year, much of it for business, and often in economy. This blog focuses on experiences and tips from the perspective of a frequent business traveler trying to maximize value. In addition to frequent work trips, he uses miles and points for even more travel with his wife and young child.

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