[Maelstorm]

An interesting story for frequent travelers. I finally got invited to Hertz Platinum which I'm looking forward to taking advantage of over the next year. Anyone have any good travel stories?

[sionnsar]

None other than being surprised 3 weeks ago at getting an overseas upgrade into Business from NWA, who used to only upgrade on domestic flights. I was Gold when we took off, but Platinum upon landing at Schiphol.

Business was nice and I even slept on the plane (which I never can do in steerage) -- but that totally messed up my usual routine for getting on local time the following day, and I paid for that.

[Nonperson]

I got upgraded to first class and my supervisor had to stay in coach during several weekly flights we made together!

[justlurking]

I'm Platinum at my usual airline and Platinum at my usual hotel this year.

It sucks.

Not the perks... it's the amount of time I spent away from home to earn them this year.

[driftdiver]

Well I flew a lot so the TSA screeners finally started using some vaseline on the rubber glove.

[gargoyle]

....SSShht! I tried that, didn’t work for me...

[Grizzled Bear]

I was traveling across the U.S. Delta bumped me up to First Class. While I was waiting to board, a young mother told me her two children wanted to get a photo with me.

I believe the treatment was due to my appearance. I was returning home from a deployment and wearing desert BDUs.

[freedumb2003]

currently:
President’s Circle - Hertz
Executive Platinum - AA (1.5 million miles, 200,000 this year)
Platinum Premier (not Elite — Premier) - Marriott

Do *I* have travel stories.

I didn’t know Hertz had a Platinum level — holding out on me, are they?

[smokingfrog]

I have a Home Depot Platinum Card. They upgrade me from warped 2x4’s to straight ones.

[cripplecreek]

The brown dog barks at midnight but the canary doesn’t sing.

[OneWingedShark]

And here I was hoping for robes, rituals, conspiracy, and... MURDER! ;)

(Ref. Psych)

[loungitude]

Just got back. TWO weeks at Amsterdam Marriot, total work time 2 1/2 days. One-half day of work, two days of business dining and acting professional. Nice.

[freedumb2003]

I just read the article (sometimes I do that).

I am pretty sure Platinum Premier is one of the non-published levels.

I usually get high service, frequently the Hotel GM calls me when I first show up at a Marriott property I don’t usually stay at.

And of course other perks.

[JimSEA]

LOL The class of hotel I usually frequent in SEA gives me VIP treatment because I always pay my bill and tip the bell captain. The only stars they have are tones hidden by the smog.

Cheap and clean is the best I can hope for.

[BossLady]

I used to travel all over the world when I was working in Hollywood, so apparently I had accumulated enough ‘clout’ to warrant special treatment, unbeknownst to me. I decided to take time off and go to the Ritz on Maui and invited my boyfriend at the time. From the moment we were upgraded to First Class, met at the airport with a fancypants limo to our fancypants room my boyfriend kept being addressed as Mr. -my last name-. LMAO! Poor thing endured that for 12 days....but had a sense of humor about it....

A couple months later, we went to Vegas on R&R and were staying at Ceasars. We landed at the airport and one of those drivers with a sign was standing there with my name on it. Again...my boyfriend was called Mr. -my last name-....and once we got to the hotel....forget it!!!! HAHAHA!

I am out out of the biz now so I travel like everyone else....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Every time I flew in uniform (except for USAF aircraft, of course) I was upgraded to first class. I never asked why, because I didn't want to screw it up. Korean Airlines was the best ... I just had to think of something, and two stewardesses would appear.

[ccmay]

I have a family member who is a high executive with a well-known luxury hotel chain, and a friend who runs a dozen of the fanciest hotels in Mexico, so I'm used to this treatment. It's pretty fun to show up in flips flops and a Hawaiian shirt, driving a 19 dollar a day rental car, and get to your room three bedroom suite to find a big basket of fruit and cheese and chocolates and champagne waiting for you.

[uglybiker]

Gee Whiz! We've been upstaged! ;-)

[GVnana]

My chances for entry to any of those “clubs” are nil. :)

[egannacht]

My mail came faster.

[egannacht]

Bills pile up faster because the mail comes faster.

Is that a perk?