Starwood Preferred Guest - SPG Amex Annual Fee Going Up

Sorry if this has been posted and I missed it somehow. I just got a notice that the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (personal card) annual fee is going from $30 per year to $45 per year, effective September 3.

The notice I received says the business card fee will be going up "at a later date."

what da. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

this is not good! :(

well that sucks! I guess I will have to pay it, I have not other choice or switch to another amex card.

Well that's a bummer. :( I earn about half my *wood pts with the card.

Sorry if this has been posted and I missed it somehow. I just got a notice that the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (personal card) annual fee is going from $30 per year to $45 per year, effective September 3.

The notice I received says the business card fee will be going up "at a later date."

Was the notice an email? snail mail? in your bill?

this sucks, but at least mine just renewed this month so i'll get another year @ $30

While I agree that this isn't good news, we're only talking about $15 and this is still one of the cheaper reward cards out there in terms of an annual fee.

While I agree that this isn't good news, we're only talking about $15 and this is still one of the cheaper reward cards out there in terms of an annual fee.

I tend to agree. While I'm never excited about paying more money for anything, $45 is still cheaper than many other reward cards and it will more than pay for itself. I'm sure the "how to whine your way out of paying the annual fee" thread will be resurrected shortly.

Mine just renewed at $30, but I can't complain too much at $45. Isn't it also about time for SPG to enhance their point structure? ;)

Even $45 for the number of points I acquire annually is still a good deal.

Was the notice an email? snail mail? in your bill?

Notice was an e-mail from Amex, sent to its affiliates. We were told to update our websites with the new fee by September 3.

I still think the SPG card is a good deal, but a 50% increase in the fee stinks.

It would be nice to see an increase in benefits received..

although this certainly makes the PC visa card look great - $29 annual fee, bonuses, etc.

It would be nice to see an increase in benefits received..

although this certainly makes the PC visa card look great - $29 annual fee, bonuses, etc.

The PC Visa has a $29 annual fee? I've had the card for years fee free and it usually sits in my desk unless there's some promo or reason to use it (like now). Is this fee related to a "new" PC Visa (sorry, totally off topic for Starwood)?

Priority Club® Rewards Visa® Signature Card has no annual fee for the first year, then $29/yr afterwards. Maybe you have a different, older agreement in place? Anyway, sorry to drag this OT.:o

The PC Visa has a $29 annual fee? I've had the card for years fee free and it usually sits in my desk unless there's some promo or reason to use it (like now). Is this fee related to a "new" PC Visa (sorry, totally off topic for Starwood)?

I'm getting tired of AMEX constantly going up on their fees. I have the outrageous Platinum card and only justify the fee since I use it....but now SPG goes up...there's another 45, PC Visa...there's another 30, AAdvantage MC...another 85.

I'm paying too much in fees. I may cancel my AA MC since it's a larger fee that's not worth it. I guess I'll handle the 30 and 45 for the others...and the Platinum card I can get to pay for itself. There comes a point where you really have to add up what you pay and determine if you can make the cards worthwhile.

I'm getting tired of AMEX constantly going up on their fees. I have the outrageous Platinum card and only justify the fee since I use it....but now SPG goes up...there's another 45, PC Visa...there's another 30, AAdvantage MC...another 85.

I'm paying too much in fees. I may cancel my AA MC since it's a larger fee that's not worth it. I guess I'll handle the 30 and 45 for the others...and the Platinum card I can get to pay for itself. There comes a point where you really have to add up what you pay and determine if you can make the cards worthwhile.

same here, after getting the bonus miles I doubt my ff visa sig card is worth $80 a year. my fees are $80+$45=$125 for now, but I'm guessing others would follow SPG's movement and soon charge annual fee for HHonors and raise fees for other programs. Yet for now, I feel there exist some good enough annual fee-free cards such as merrill+, HHonors amex, nordstrom visa sig, and saks wemc (esp. for those who like shopping, obviously shown here:cool:). and since I'm using spg as my only mileage card, i'd want to see better offers and not see anymore meaningless (just in my opinion) changes of the website.

If you didn't mind a small (if anything) hit on your credit score, couldn't you get around this by getting a new SPG card for free for the first year and then canceling the old one? No bonus points, but saving $45 per year.

I'm getting tired of AMEX constantly going up on their fees. I have the outrageous Platinum card and only justify the fee since I use it....but now SPG goes up...there's another 45, PC Visa...there's another 30, AAdvantage MC...another 85.

I don't know how "constantly" AmEx is raising their fees. I've had the SPG AmEx for five or six years, and the fee has always been $30 (except for the fee-free first year, of course). Perhaps one shouldn't be so willing to have so many credit cards that have fees!

At any rate, the problem expressed above doesn't necessarily seem to be with the SPG AmEx in particular or with AmEx in general, but in one's choice of which cards to own.

Don't get me wrong -- I'd prefer to have all my credit cards be free, but I think the SPG AmEx is worth a lot to me and I don't mind paying the $30 (now, evidently, $45).

I'm paying too much in fees. I may cancel my AA MC since it's a larger fee that's not worth it. I guess I'll handle the 30 and 45 for the others...and the Platinum card I can get to pay for itself. There comes a point where you really have to add up what you pay and determine if you can make the cards worthwhile.

Exactly!

I just got a notice that the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (personal card) annual fee is going from $30 per year to $45 per year, effective September 3.

So far I have not had any problem canceling my card before the first year was up and getting a new card (and another signup bonus) with a first year free.

If you want to bother you can also transfer most of your credit line to another Amex card before you cancel it and still get another card with a full credit line.

I say Amex contantly increases fees because not only have they increased the SPG card fee, but they have increased the fees on all of their charge cards as well.

They say they have some "added value" features...which I will give them that for the Platinum card since they added the domestic companion tickets and AA lounge access; but as for the others, they have not added anything. I used to hold the Platinum Skymiles card until I realized how much of a waste of $ it was seeing that I could barely get Sky Saver Awards and the MQM bonus wasn't worth the $ for the card. I never spent enough to get the additional bonus. The companion ticket they give you expires yearly, and I never had a chance to use it, so I got rid of the card and now have SPG in its place.

I just hope the SPG card doesn't become one of those $85 cards later on.

My statement closed earlier this week, so I went on line to pay the bill. I noticed that my $30 annual fee just posted yesterday.

This is why I switched over to the Hilton AMEX card. 15000 points up front, no annual fee. You can also get a Citi Hilton Visa for 10,000 (sometimes 15000) more points and no fee. I'm canceling my Starwood AMEX in 1-2 months as soon as I reach 14000 points again.
-W

They will continue raising their fees as long as people keep paying them.

.......PC Visa...there's another 30, AAdvantage MC...another 85.

I'm paying too much in fees.

Yikes, if you are paying $30 for the PC Visa, you've got problems. That is one of the most worthless CCs out there except for the signup bonus. The only thing that I find it's worth it to charge to that card is IC/PC stays, and even that is a stretch because I find I get just as good a value by charging those same IC/PC statys to my SPG Amex. :eek:

The trick with the PC Visa is to get the free version of the card (if you can find the offer still) for 15000 points. But don't sign up for online statements or anything. Then when you register it you can get bonus points to sign up for their credit protector plan, bonus points for online statements, and then they will offer you, in a month or two, an option to get 15000 more points to upgrade to the $30/year annual fee card. When all was said and done, I got about 35000 points for $30 and cashed them in for a night at a 600 EURO/Night room in Paris this last July.

I way over think this.

-W

The trick with the PC Visa is to get the free version of the card (if you can find the offer still) for 15000 points.

Yes, the bonus points are definitely worth it, as are all the add-on bonus points that you mention. But to charge anything to the PC Visa you'd have to be crazy (unless it's PC/IC stays and even then its a toss-up, I just charge those stays to the card since I feel bad for signing up for their CC and never charging anything to it :) ).

Unless you're only charging a couple hundred bucks a month, I can't see how anyone can complain about paying $45/year for this card.

I just called to cancel my SPG AMEX personal card and the rep offered me a $10 credit or 1000 spg points to not cancel. I thought that was pretty low offer. I told him it was because i don't use that card anymore and annual fee is going up to $45. He said only the business card is going up to $45 and personal is staying at $30. Maybe he didn't know what he was talking about, but just thought i'd pass it on..

btw, also think $45 is still a good deal if you charge enough. On my SPG business amex ive charged almost $24k this month, which is going to pay for 2 nights in vegas @ the westin on a weekend where its $300+/night. Seems like a good deal to me. Plus, AMEX OPEN has saved me almost $40 this month on fedex discounts...I still think it's a pretty damn good card, for me at least.

He said only the business card is going up to $45 and personal is staying at $30. Maybe he didn't know what he was talking about, but just thought i'd pass it on..

Nope, he's got it backward. I just double-checked and if you try to sign up for a personal card now, the official Amex sign-up site says $45 after the first year.

Nope, he's got it backward. I just double-checked and if you try to sign up for a personal card now, the official Amex sign-up site says $45 after the first year.

Actually the Business card is going up to $45 dollars too...later this month I was told.

Actually the Business card is going up to $45 dollars too...later this month I was told.

Yes, I stated that in the original post, though I don't know the actual timeline for the increase. :)

I have a few fee cards, and for fear of credit blot, I have not thought of cancelling them.
Delta Platinum Amex = $85
SPG Amex = $45 (now onwards)
AA Master Card = $80

Not to mention a lot of other fees like:
Magazine Sub ($60)
Online Booster($15 additional. give mes 15MB speed - cablevision)
Audible ($15/= )

etc.

These were opened for some mile benefits and its stuck.. I realize the waste.. will start making calls... ;(

Effective November 1, 2007 the annual fee for the Starwood American Express goes from $30 to $45.

Just read my statement and saw this as well. Trying to wade through all the other changes to the agreement. Probably not a good thing to do while jetlagged.

Effective November 1, 2007 the annual fee for the Starwood American Express goes from $30 to $45.

Is this the same thing?

Why two different "effective" dates?

So when we call and complain do we now get 7,500 points instead of the usual 3,000 - 5,000 we have gotten in the past?

This has been previous reported in the Starwood AMEX thread, but I guess it deserves its own topic.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8401063&postcount=462

I will certainly complain at renewal time and demand a renewal bonus. For the first time, I did complain at my last $30 renewal (I was actually thinking about dropping the card, as this was after the devaluation and before the new C&P program). They did toss some points at me. I think I only got 3000, however. Those who got more must have really bargained. :) Before the devaluation, I probably averaged $25,000/year on the card for about a decade (back when it was still just Sheraton).

While I agree that this isn't good news, we're only talking about $15 and this is still one of the cheaper reward cards out there in terms of an annual fee.
I find it kind of funny. Delta waives the first year fee, so Does SPG. Hilton is always free. Every other year I switch between Delta and SPG. You would think if your spend was High enough they would not ask. I know one year I called and they waived it, but why go through all the trouble.

Unless you're only charging a couple hundred bucks a month, I can't see how anyone can complain about paying $45/year for this card. Because as much as I charge, I think people would want me to use their card versus someone elses.

This is why I switched over to the Hilton AMEX card. 15000 points up front, no annual fee. You can also get a Citi Hilton Visa for 10,000 (sometimes 15000) more points and no fee. I'm canceling my Starwood AMEX in 1-2 months as soon as I reach 14000 points again.
-W

Do you know of any way currently to get 15K up front? Best I find is 10K...

Do you know of any way currently to get 15K up front? Best I find is 10K...

I don't know of any current 15K point offers upfront. The best current offer is 10K on 1st purchase and 15K bonus points for spending $15K in 6 months.

Just received a notice that the SPG Business Amex fee goes up to $45/year as of September 24.

Note the fee increase itself is effective November 1st on the business card. So if you renew before then you will still pay $30.

I am really not one who is into churning, (dont really have the time or energy) but this increase is certainly making me consider cancelling my card and reapplying to get a free year - lather, rinse, repeat.

I agree that these card fees are really getting out of control. Like another poster, I swallowed the Plat Amex fee increase (now 450) because I get at least that much value in the FHR program and concierge service alone. But $45 is bringing me to the tipping point on the SPG Amex.

I agree that these card fees are really getting out of control. Like another poster, I swallowed the Plat Amex fee increase (now 450) because I get at least that much value in the FHR program and concierge service alone. But $45 is bringing me to the tipping point on the SPG Amex.

I don't see how. Do you use the card very rarely? I mean even if you only average $833/month spending on the card you'll earn enough points (20k) for a free domestic (US) roundtrip ticket in 2 years. Or if you want hotel stays, that's enough for 2 nights in a cat 4. Aren't both of these worth $90? I've looked around for a better award card and haven't found one that comes close, even with this year's SPG devaluation. I don't want to give Amex any ideas, but the truth is I would pay $100/year for the SPG Amex and not complain.

Given the 50% price increase in the annual fee, maybe Starwood will reduce their award requirements by 50%. ;)

In general, the value of Starwood has decreased by a substantial margin over the past year. Hilton is quickly gaining ground in my opinion. I have charged $35,000 so far this year and am considering cancelling my card. I will give Amex a call to see if they are willing to waive the fee. If not, then I will place all of my charges on my Hilton Amex even when I stay in starwood hotels. I am currently gold (16 stays ytd) but am not overly happy with the service that I have been receiving of late.

In general, the value of Starwood has decreased by a substantial margin over the past year. Hilton is quickly gaining ground in my opinion. I have charged $35,000 so far this year and am considering cancelling my card. I will give Amex a call to see if they are willing to waive the fee. If not, then I will place all of my charges on my Hilton Amex even when I stay in starwood hotels. I am currently gold (16 stays ytd) but am not overly happy with the service that I have been receiving of late.


Service aside, how would you get better value from $35k spent on a Hilton Amex over the SPG Amex? I recently did the comparison and Hilton did not match up.

Service aside, how would you get better value from $35k spent on a Hilton Amex over the SPG Amex? I recently did the comparison and Hilton did not match up.
I agree with you. My caculations told me that normal charging on the SPG Amex gives me a 33% better return than charging on my HH Amex. The only better value about the HH Amex is charging the 5 pt per $ items (gas, groceries, restaurants, HH stays, etc).

I don't see how. Do you use the card very rarely? I mean even if you only average $833/month spending on the card you'll earn enough points (20k) for a free domestic (US) roundtrip ticket in 2 years. Or if you want hotel stays, that's enough for 2 nights in a cat 4. Aren't both of these worth $90? I've looked around for a better award card and haven't found one that comes close, even with this year's SPG devaluation. I don't want to give Amex any ideas, but the truth is I would pay $100/year for the SPG Amex and not complain.

It's the principle of the matter. I am a very good customer of SPG (just below plat at this point) and spend a good deal on the card itself. From that standpoint, it should be free like Hilton Amex (which I've had for a much longer time than SPG) and countless other competitive cards. It's not like they make any real money on the card fees anyway - that should come from your spend pattern and finance charges if you happen to acrue them. Would it hurt to throw their good customers a bone now and then? I think not.

The fact of the matter is that I don't need all the cards I have and if SPG wants to encourage me to keep and use theirs, then don't slap me with a 50% increase in fees. I have a choice when it comes to my use of credit cards, and I'm going to keep the ones that a) provide me good value and customer service b) don't p*ss me off. SPG has failed on point b as far as I'm concerned.

This year they didn't even send me the 50% rack coupon on renewal.

Truth be told, I don't know if I will cancel the card or not, but for the first time, I will certainly consider churning to avoid the fee.

This year they didn't even send me the 50% rack coupon on renewal.

Those can show up several months after the renewal date.

This is why I switched over to the Hilton AMEX card. 15000 points up front, no annual fee. You can also get a Citi Hilton Visa for 10,000 (sometimes 15000) more points and no fee. I'm canceling my Starwood AMEX in 1-2 months as soon as I reach 14000 points again.
-W

But look at it this way. 15K pts with Hilton might get you ONE night at a crappy Hampton Inn in Paduca, KY. Whereas, the 10K SPG AMEX is easily worth $300. Thus, the bonus used to pay for roughly 10 years of fees. Granted now it is closer to 6, its still one hell of a deal.

I mean even if you only average $833/month spending on the card you'll earn enough points (20k) for a free domestic (US) roundtrip ticket in 2 years. Or if you want hotel stays, that's enough for 2 nights in a cat 4. Aren't both of these worth $90?
I assume you mean aren't both of these worth $290. ($90 in fees + $200 in opportunity cost for not using a 1% cash back card).

the issue is more the ongoing spend since there is no fee for the first year...

its worse when you consider the SPG devaluation of late...
spending $10K on SPG AX used to be 10k *points that you could redeem for a W stay in NY (~$400 value). Now those hotels are cat 5-6. 16-25k/night.

spending $10K on HH HAX => 30k HH points, which is their cat 4 level also, but its only 10k more for cat 6 (3333 spend) rather than $15k spend more for SPG 6.

I use my SPG AX for some purchases and the HH for only Hilton purchases. My current "utility" card is the Citi PP Elite @ 2pts/$ and ~2c/pt. Category spend points go to the appropriate (Pro for restaurants/DR AX for gas/groc/drug).

I'll probably keep teh SPG card for a while longer though, they were good for refunding the diff on my iPhone...

I have a SPG consumer amex and just got hit with the renewal fee for Oct.

Nope, still $30 only ;)

I wonder if its "contractual" where when I signed up the agreement was 30 so they will stay 30 until I cancel my card :D

I have a SPG consumer amex and just got hit with the renewal fee for Oct.

Nope, still $30 only ;)

I wonder if its "contractual" where when I signed up the agreement was 30 so they will stay 30 until I cancel my card :D

Nope, the $45 annual fee begins for renewals on or after Nov. 1. It said so on my statement.

I assume you mean aren't both of these worth $290. ($90 in fees + $200 in opportunity cost for not using a 1% cash back card).

Yes, you are right. I should have typed $290.

But look at it this way. 15K pts with Hilton might get you ONE night at a crappy Hampton Inn in Paduca, KY. Whereas, the 10K SPG AMEX is easily worth $300. Thus, the bonus used to pay for roughly 10 years of fees. Granted now it is closer to 6, its still one hell of a deal.

Lately, I've stayed at a few new Hamptons that have been far superior to some Sheratons I've stayed at.

...spending $10K on HH HAX => 30k HH points, which is their cat 4 level also, but its only 10k more for cat 6 (3333 spend) rather than $15k spend more for SPG 6.Apples & oranges. In general, a cat 6 HH property is not in the same league as a Starwood cat 6.

Apples & oranges. In general, a cat 6 HH property is not in the same league as a Starwood cat 6.


does anybody know if the starwoods amex transfer bonus for every 20,000 starwood points for 25,000 miles is unlimited?

example 60,000 starwood points can be converted into 75,000 miles at transfer.

does anybody know if the starwoods amex transfer bonus for every 20,000 starwood points for 25,000 miles is unlimited?

example 60,000 starwood points can be converted into 75,000 miles at transfer.

Yes.

excellent, thank you. do they have a starwoods business amex? i can only find a personal starwoods amex.

excellent, thank you. do they have a starwoods business amex? i can only find a personal starwoods amex.

Yes, they do :) If you click the Travel credit cards link below, it's the first card reviewed (top-leftmost link).

Yes, they do :) If you click the Travel credit cards link below, it's the first card reviewed (top-leftmost link).

excellent, thank you

Lately, I've stayed at a few new Hamptons that have been far superior to some Sheratons I've stayed at. Are you talking about 4 pts or Sheratons? Some of the Hampton inn and suites downtown, since they are brand new may be better then an old run down sheraton, but that is very rare.

My SPG AMEX has a 04/09 expiration date stamped on it. I don't do annual fees. On which date will AMEX try to charge me the annual fee? I want to make sure to cancel before that date.

Thanks.

My SPG AMEX has a 04/09 expiration date stamped on it. I don't do annual fees. On which date will AMEX try to charge me the annual fee? I want to make sure to cancel before that date.

Thanks.


No need to worry, as you have 30 days to cancel w/o penalty from the date that the fees statement is on. So its as if you get 13 months and not 12 months worth of usage.