Starwood Preferred Guest - Best Current Venue for Amex Application?

Have a couple of associates who are interested in getting on board.

Any good promos or offers going on?

12,000 Starwood Points.

https://www66.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=6/12874/b/57/2584349830/258120959176/0/n

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AAdvantageGuy:
12,000 Starwood Points.

https://www66.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=6/12874/b/57/25843 49830/258120959176/0/n (https://www66.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=6/12874/b/57/2584349830/258120959176/0/n)</font>

"Exclusively for Platinum Preferred Members" only.

Agree. However, read item no. 5.

"If you are currently enrolled in the Starwood Preferred Guest Program, please enter your Starwood Preferred Guest Number:
(Required if existing Starwood Preferred Guest member. If you are not a Starwood Preferred Guest member you will automatically be enrolled upon approval of your credit card application) "

Explain that to me . . .

Regardless, I know 2 people who have applied and received their card, and points who are not Platinum.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AAdvantageGuy:
Regardless, I know 2 people who have applied and received their card, and points who are not Platinum.

</font>

That's good to know. I'm going to forward this on to a co-worker too.

Hmm, so existing non-Platinum Starwood members might not get the points, but completely new Starwood applicants have from experience ?

Lurker,
can you give us a confidence level (ie clarification) as to whether a NON-SPG member would get this 12,000pt bonus ? The thread above exposes the apparent conflict. Another AMEX screw-up.

I clicked on the link below, and sure enough, it clearly does indicate "PLAT SPG", which begs the question of what link should a NON-SPG member, and/or a CURRENT SPG member, but NON-PLAT, would go to open an new card ? Gosh, AMEX makes this difficult.

https://www66.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=6/12874/b/57/25843 49830/258120959176/0/n (https://www66.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=6/12874/b/57/2584349830/258120959176/0/n)


I also have to wonder to myself how many SPG PLATs out there have made it to starwood PLATINUM level, and DO NOT already have a card in their pocket. Strange logic, that AMEX CORP. Almost appears to be a"gotcha" they can refer back to and disclaim a nice bonus after the fact to a new applicant. Let's not go there.

Moving on - I realize this crosses the boundary some between the AMEX promo, proper, and starwood, and you probably can opt out of clearing this up for us, but suffice it to say I don't trust AMEX (competency, or integrity) as far as I can throw one of the CSRs. Conversely, I welcome your comments and advice. As in most cases, calling AMEX just doesn't cut it and is an excercise in futility.

Reason I ask - a(nother] friend of mine is asking me for advice on how to open ANY affinity card to capture some nice monthly recurring charges in their small business...I have bluntly told them the starood/amex is tops by multiple metrics (the spg program, not the card issuing bank), and they charge around $4000-$5000/mo in their small business and could probably double that with a little effort. AFTER I told them they effectively are throwing a free weeks' stay at the St Regis/Aspen, PEAK SEASON at that, in the trash by not capturing these expenses via the starwood/amex affinity product affinity card...they are all ears. This will be the third or fourth "big spender" I've personally directed to the spg card. I will re-state, not unlike a broken record, if this weren't tied to an AMEX product, and were a more-mainstream, readily-accepted V or M/S, you could take my annual accumulation (and I know you can see it in spg.com), and triple that. No kidding. So you know why I have a sad face when I discuss this AMEX product.

Still, I keep a game face and keep directing my friends who own small businesses to your product, which INdirectly gets them focused on starwood properties. Nifty, eh ?. Just as an affinity program should do.

Help, please !! WILL THEY GET A 12,000pt bonus as a NON-SPG member from this link, and if not, what AMEX link should they use ? I've specifically advised them to let me find them the best bonus before formally applying.

[This message has been edited by ILUVCITIBANK (edited Feb 05, 2004).]

I wish I could give some kind of confidence level, but sadly, I have no idea how American Express' technology sorts out who is who as far as Starwood Preferred Guest status is concerned.

It would be better for you to direct your friends toward something that we all know they can use for an enrollment bonus rather than playing the system, discovering it didn't work, and then being disappointed about it later.

For instance, in the latest InsideFlyer Magazine there is this offer:

http://www66.americanexpress.com/cards/Fmacfservlet?csi=6/1165/b/3/0368426907/036182056370/0/n

even though they list the wrong URL for it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com