Starwood Preferred Guest - Transfer Of Spg Points To ????????

Hello All,

I have over 100k in SPG points, thats a lot of complaining ;)

Do you reccomend transferring the point to something else, IE, Airline points etc.

Thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

SML

No.

Don't transfer your points (unless and until there's another promo like the one where 20k SPG points yielded 50k BA miles).

1) Your points are often more valuable for hotels
2) But if you want airline miles, wait until you know what program you need to top off. If you transfer them now, you lose flexibility.

Thank you.






No.

Don't transfer your points (unless and until there's another promo like the one where 20k SPG points yielded 50k BA miles).

1) Your points are often more valuable for hotels
2) But if you want airline miles, wait until you know what program you need to top off. If you transfer them now, you lose flexibility.

Thank you.

What do you think of this...? Is it worth it?

What do you think of this...? Is it worth it?

Please, please don't do it!! 14000 points will get you hotel rooms which go for $450-600 per night so why do you want to spend 14000 points for 150USD?

never exchange SPG with airlines miles. the ratio is awful...

if you want flights you better trade in CC.

dp

never exchange SPG with airlines miles. the ratio is awful...

if you want flights you better trade in CC.

dpI'm not sure how you came up with this. I get 1.25 AA miles for each $ charged to an Starwood Amex; I get 1.0 miles for each $ charged to a Citi MC.

What do you think of this...? Is it worth it?
No. No. No. No.

I'd do it perhaps with CO miles. Maybe.

But SPG points? No. Never.

Now wait. It depends whether or not it is worth it to transfer SPG points to airline miles.

I have transferred SPG points several times, altho it's been about 18 months since our last transaction.

Let's take 80,000 SPG points. Each 10,000 would give you a room in the $300+/- category, right? $300 times 8 nights equals $2,400.

When we transferred 80,000 into United Mileage Plus, with the 5K for each 20K points, that equalled 100,000 MP miles. That a F/C tix to Europe. Current cost F/C from Sacramento-LAX/SFO-FRA is in the range of $12,000. And we got to fly LH.

We've also transferred miles to BA Executive Club, and got two F/C tix on BA to Europe. Their F/C service LAX-LHR is pretty darn good. And I just priced out their flights on some dates I want to travel in Mar. LAX-LHR on 3/16, return 3/23. Total price, with taxes, is $16,002. Granted, BA requires 150,000 points. That's 120,000 SPG points (plus the bonus thrown in). 12 times $300 equals $3,600.

For us, it is a deal to transfer points to miles. But we only transfer points when we are ready to travel.....we do the transfer....wait about 48 hours.....then book the flights.

It does sound like transfering pts to air might have its times... I am concerned about moving the pts, only to be unable to book an award flight due to availability. How would one ensure they could get the award flight before committing to a transfer out from spg ?

When we transferred 80,000 into United Mileage Plus, with the 5K for each 20K points, that equalled 100,000 MP miles.


How did you manage that? Last time I checked, the United transfer was 1 Starpoint = .5 United mile. :(

How did you manage that? Last time I checked, the United transfer was 1 Starpoint = .5 United mile. :(

The 2 SPG = 1 UA is relatively new (within the last year or two). Before that it was 1:1.

Let's take 80,000 SPG points. Each 10,000 would give you a room in the $300+/- category, right? $300 times 8 nights equals $2,400.

When we transferred 80,000 into United Mileage Plus, with the 5K for each 20K points, that equalled 100,000 MP miles. That a F/C tix to Europe. Current cost F/C from Sacramento-LAX/SFO-FRA is in the range of $12,000. And we got to fly LH.

This isn't a good comparison unless you'd be willing to spend $12,000 for the F ticket to Europe. I think it's a lot more likely that someone would be willing to spend $300 for a hotel night than $12,000 for a plane ticket (I have spent ~$300 for a room night, but never over $1000 for a personal plane ticket).

As has been posted on FT thousands of times, the award is worth what you're willing to pay for it. Many would argue that 10,000 SPG points is worth $300 because it saves them from spending $300 for a room (and there are certainly some areas where it's tough to find decent lodging for much less than this amount). However, few would value 100,000 miles at $12,000 (I'd gladly sell you all of my miles at 12 cents each if you value them at that amount; hell, I might even cut you a deal and part with them for 8 cents each). So, what would you spend on a very restricted, non-mileage earning, F ticket to Europe (restricted C tickets are certainly not in the $12,000 range)? That's probably what the 100,000 miles are worth to you.

I argee with those who say the best use of SPG points is at SPG hotels. However, topping off an airline account when you're a few miles short of an award can be excused.

The 2 SPG = 1 UA is relatively new (within the last year or two). Before that it was 1:1.

I see. That's too bad.

I have to say that personally I find using the points for hotel stays to be much more "rewarding."

I just booked 2 nights at a cat 4 hotel for 20,000 starpoints. The best available rate was $329. So that means I got $658 for 20,000 points. If i did an airline transfer, I would of had 25,000 miles, wich would be a RT domestic coach ticket (with tons of availability restrictions, and it would have been double, 50K for a more flexible selection of airfares) for say a value of $350-400 or so. So for me, I found the hotel award to be much better, but I'm sure there are other situations when the opposite is true, I would imagine international first class would be the biggie here.

Also, 2 nights in a W hotel are more enjoyable than a coach flight, in my opinion.

Transfer Starpoints to airline miles? It really depends on your own personal travel patterns and preferences. If you have a surfeit of Starpoints, and a shortage of airline miles, then it might make sense.

But I'm in the opposite situation. I accumulate far more airline miles than hotel points, and burn more hotel points than airline miles, so for me it is NOT something I normally want to do.

If you DO decide to transfer Starpoints to air miles, consider one of the "Nights and Flights" awards. Those are a somewhat sweeter redemption deal than the normal ones.

Nights & Flights Awards

Combine your Starpoints® and miles to pay for your whole vacation package!

With Nights & Flights, you can redeem 60,000 Starpoints for 50,000 airline miles and five free nights at a Category 3 hotel or resort.
With Nights & Flights II, you can redeem 70,000 Starpoints and receive 50,000 airline miles and five free nights at a Category 4 hotel or resort.

To redeem your travel awards, please call your local Customer Contact Center.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/starpoints/redeem_landing.html#6

Normally, five free nights at Cat. 3 would cost 28,000 Starpoints; at Cat. 4, 40,000 points. And for most airlines, 50,000 airmiles would cost you 40,000 Starpoints.

So instead of 68,000 points for the Cat. 3 package, you are paying only 60,000; a savings of 8,000 points. Instead of 80,000 points for the Cat. 4 package, you are paying 70,000, a savings of 10,000 points. This is a good deal for some people (not me)!

In my opinion the best value is European Holiday Award - 67,000 SPG points for 7 nights at up to 3 hotels. Meaning you get a Cat 5 hotel room in Europe for about 9,500 points which has a going rate of about 350 to 450 Euros

This isn't a good comparison unless you'd be willing to spend $12,000 for the F ticket to Europe. I think it's a lot more likely that someone would be willing to spend $300 for a hotel night than $12,000 for a plane ticket (I have spent ~$300 for a room night, but never over $1000 for a personal plane ticket).

As has been posted on FT thousands of times, the award is worth what you're willing to pay for it. Many would argue that 10,000 SPG points is worth $300 because it saves them from spending $300 for a room (and there are certainly some areas where it's tough to find decent lodging for much less than this amount). However, few would value 100,000 miles at $12,000 (I'd gladly sell you all of my miles at 12 cents each if you value them at that amount; hell, I might even cut you a deal and part with them for 8 cents each). So, what would you spend on a very restricted, non-mileage earning, F ticket to Europe (restricted C tickets are certainly not in the $12,000 range)? That's probably what the 100,000 miles are worth to you.

When I have to pay for tix, I usually purchase a Q fare and upgrade to C class. I can not afford to buy a Z or D fare...and certainly not an international C tix. (All of my international travel is on holiday; my business limits me to domestic travel.)

But, I've become so spoiled :rolleyes: , it frustrates me that I am not in the front cabin.....or, even better, upstairs on LH, in seat 83A. Yet because I am such a mileage whore, and will do just about anything to collect more miles and ensure United 1K (or at least 1P), I do just that sometimes. It all depends on my planned travels for the year and the probability of elite status.

Luckily, more often than not, when I travel internationally, I am in First on award travel. LH and SQ are my favs. And for that, my use of 100,000 points is much more valuable than 100,000 points in a frequent guest program.

When I do cash in the SPG points for hotel stays, it's usually at the very expensive properties.....Rayavadee, hotels in Italy, etc.

In my opinion the best value is European Holiday Award - 67,000 SPG points for 7 nights at up to 3 hotels. Meaning you get a Cat 5 hotel room in Europe for about 9,500 points which has a going rate of about 350 to 450 Euros
Indeed that is an excellent redemption value. And it might convince the OP to keep the Starpoints rather than converting them to airline miles or something else.

I do wonder, though, about the "incidental expenses" (pricey breakfasts or other meals, for example) that one might incur while staying at these luxury hotels on points. In some cases these "incidentals" alone could exceed the cost of a good hotel room elsewhere! ;)