Previously, Starwood points could be extended by only the following activities:
1) Stay at a Starwood property
* Westin
* St. Regis
* Le Meridien
* aloft
* element
* Sheraton
* Four Points
* The Luxury Collection
2)Incidental spending (counts even during an ineligible stay)
3)Use the Starwood American Express card
4)Eating at a Starwood property and giving your SPG number when you pay your bill
5)Be a Gold or Platinum member
These activités would not extend your points
1)Redeeming points
2)Transferring points
3)Purchasing points
4)Taking surveys
Recently, the Terms and Conditions have changed.
4.2 Forfeiting Starpoints. Except for SVO Owners to whom the obligations in Section 9 apply, Starpoints earned or otherwise obtained by an SPG Member will forfeit without notice if the SPG Member becomes Inactive, even if the SPG Member has achieved SPG Lifetime Gold or SPG Lifetime Platinum status. An SPG Member is considered “Inactive” if during a 12 month period: (a) the SPG Member has not had an Eligible Stay at an SPG Participating Hotel; (b) the SPG Member has not earned or redeemed any Starpoints, or (c) the SPG Member’s account has been cancelled.
From Starwood Lurker himself: “Just to clarify, it should be read as being a) or b) or c). Any Starpoints activity resulting from earning or redeeming will now count towards keeping an account active.”
This change makes keeping those Starwood points from expiring much easier now. Thanks Starwood!
That’s written poorly, and the clarification doesn’t help. Starwood Lurker’s version would mean that you must have an Eligible Stay AND earn or redeem Starpoints in order to avoid losing your points. I’m sure that’s not what was intended. Sometimes having been trained as both a computer programmer and an attorney is a pain for me because such logical errors are a major pet peeve…
It currently says:
You lose points if Inactive. Inactive means a) no stay OR b) no earning or redeeming OR c) account canceled. SHOULD BE:
Inactive means [a) no stay AND b) no earning or redeeming] OR c) account canceled.
COULD BE:
Inactive means [no a) stays NOR b) earning or redeeming] OR c) account canceled.