Starwood Preferred Guest - Randy's info on new Starwood Credit Card

From today's USA Today chat:

Asheville, NC: Have you heard any details of the new Starwood affinity credit card? Word on the street is that they are going to switch from Amex, which is an excellent program for people who don't fly as frequently.

Randy Petersen: Well, in infamous words: "I'd have to kill you if I told you." Actually I do know but should probably keep some details still available for Starwood to tell you. Here's what I think I can say - the street is wrong. It will still be an American Express card, it will likely have some element as a "free first year annual fee" benefit and probably become the best mile-for-mile card on the market. Now, when might you be able to own this gem? Look for it to be launched in mid-June. Line forms to the left....


[This message has been edited by dhacker (edited 05-09-2001).]

Originally posted by dhacker:
it will likely have some element as a "free first year annual fee" benefit and probably become the best mile-for-mile card on the market

The key question is still: What makes the new card better than the old? We'll have to wait a month to find out.

Pure speculation says either it will offer more miles per dollar than the current card or some portion of the mileage accumulation will count for status miles on designated airlines.

Of the many mileage/rebate cards I've had, my experience is that "improvements" to cards usually are downgrades. The MBNA NEA MC is the most recent example. The Starpoints AmEx is such a no-brainer, given the current competition, that even if it were to start slapping on a (small) annual fee in June 2002, with no change in the benefits, a strong case could be made that it would still be the card of choice. Hopefully, when the details emerge, the cynics like me will be proven wrong.

I hope the AMEX card remains no annual fee!

The First USA World card is better than the NEA. It is truly a global card. For 50,000 points, you can travel ANYWHERE in the world.

The NEA is going down in flames after it's new redemption schedule takes effect on 1/2001.

The Starwood AMEX is a good card, but any "improvements" such as what NEA termed their newly-designed card, is an excuse to add some useless bennies while downgrading their product. I have no hope that it will be better.

Woudln't it be great if there was a Diner's Club VISA?!!

Originally posted by Wolverine:
The NEA is going down in flames after it's new redemption schedule takes effect on 1/2001.


Sorry: correction: 1/2002

No annual fee, or no card for me.

In all honesty, the ability to accumulate status miles might tip the scales, but we'll see...

I'm ready to sleep in the heavenly bed with Starwood. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I checked out the AMEX site to see if it had any info on the Sheraton/Starwood card. The site did not allow me to apply for the current card. This seems to be a sign of change in the air.

I called Amex a couple of weeks ago,to switch from the Delta card to the Starwood card(my DL card was up after the 1st yr and a fee was to be charged) had NO probs getting them to switch it,was told that the new card was sent out on the 16th(didnt come yet).
This way I didnt have to reapply to Amex,and all charges on the old card will be counted as if I used the Starwood card.

Are "all" your charges from the Delta card posting on Starwood, or just those unbilled? I'd love to transfer MR points to Starwood to AA.

only those charges that I made after my last statement was printed ,since right afterwards I was switched to Starwoods, that will continue till I receive the new card and activate it at which point the DL card goes down.