SPG no longer doing instant internal transfers
Nov 15, 2010, 8:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: CO GLD, *A GLD, A"A Lifetime GLD, Avis Pres. Club, SPG PLT, Hyatt DMND, Fairmont PRMR
Posts: 70
SPG no longer doing instant internal transfers
EFFECTIVE TODAY - NOVEMBER 15th
All internal point transfers will go through a special department which will check eligibility for the transfer. Due to overwhelming fraud in the internal point transfer system, it will now take up to 5 days for a point transfer to take effect.
This came from a Platinum Concierge agent.
All internal point transfers will go through a special department which will check eligibility for the transfer. Due to overwhelming fraud in the internal point transfer system, it will now take up to 5 days for a point transfer to take effect.
This came from a Platinum Concierge agent.
Nov 15, 2010, 8:42 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
Sounds like they're clamping down on all those "short-term address changes".
Nov 15, 2010, 10:17 am
#3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG Platinum, AA 2.0 MM, DL Plat, Hertz Plat, LY Gold
Posts: 1,602
No surprise here. It was only a matter of time....
Nov 15, 2010, 11:00 am
#4
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
As long as they are still allowing point transfers, this sounds like an expected change. I recently signed my wife up for the 30K CC bonus promo and would like to combine our points in the future for some awards. ^
Nov 15, 2010, 12:58 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
This is bad news for all. It was one of the few programs that allowed this so freely. It was a big reason for how highly they were valued in CC as well. Still a great program and their value is still high, but this does take some of their value away as it won't be easy to exchange.
Nov 15, 2010, 1:57 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
Funny, I would say it's good news for all legitimate members. Fewer people getting points fraudulently should lead to better availability.
Making the program harder to defraud makes it worse?
Making the program harder to defraud makes it worse?
Nov 15, 2010, 4:47 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,905
I think this might be a reference not to SPG being a worse program as a result, but maybe as a non-viable conduit to transfer SPG to AA. For many, SPG was the backbone of AA transfer accrual.
Nov 15, 2010, 5:42 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: JAX
Programs: UA,CO,SPG
Posts: 149
I just did a transfer through the online chat. They said it could take up to 5 days before I see the points in my account.
Nov 15, 2010, 6:04 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
This is bad news for all. It was one of the few programs that allowed this so freely. It was a big reason for how highly they were valued in CC as well. Still a great program and their value is still high, but this does take some of their value away as it won't be easy to exchange.
Nov 15, 2010, 6:06 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Vancouver, B.C. - Canada
Posts: 498
Starwood Points
Earlier today, I called in and did a transfer to a family member with the same last name, residing at the same address since the inception of both accounts.
All points transferred immediately.
So perhaps only certain transfers are undergoing scrutiny.
All points transferred immediately.
So perhaps only certain transfers are undergoing scrutiny.
Nov 15, 2010, 7:48 pm
#11
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,737
Seriously. Enough has been said about fraud. Can we please return to the newsworthy initial post, and people's experience with the implementation.
/mod
/mod
Nov 15, 2010, 7:52 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
part of this has to be that US Air Grand Slam promo where everyone wanted one mile transferred in. I don't know much about it but there were quite a few requests for this type of transaction.
Nov 15, 2010, 7:55 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: EWR, ORD, IAH, LGA
Programs: UA GS, AA CK, DL PLT, HH DIA, MARRIOTT PLT, FAIRMONT LT PLT, HYATT DIA, SIXT PLT, AVIS PC
Posts: 506
I understand wanting to add a level of security such as verifying an additional security question or having a supervisor make the transfer but requiring 5 days is simply not acceptable for the 21st century.
Nov 15, 2010, 8:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: China
Programs: UA,DL,CZ
Posts: 860
But what happens if they found out two are trading points or the two accounts has no relationship to each other? Just like IHG, shut your account?
Nov 15, 2010, 8:43 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: California
Posts: 290
Household Account?
One way to prevent fraud would be to create something like the household account in British Airway program. You can still transfer between household members, but it take more works to add members and remove members from the account.