I have 3800 pts in my account that are probably about to expire, since my last stay was just over 12 moths ago. I was wondering if there is anything to do with this many pts, or do I just let them go. Will purchasing the minimum (500?) possible pts extend my existing pts for another 12 months? Is it worth it?
I'm unlikely to have any Starwood stays this year. I'm a leisure only traveler and have been focusing on getting and keeping Hyatt Diamond for the coming year, but in 2014 we'll probably go back to spreading our stays more widely.
You do realize free nights (Cat 1 weekend) begin at 2000 points. You could buy 200 points, and have 2 free nights.
Or transfer the 3800 to your FFP of choice. SPG partners with almost all airlines!
Thanks. Actually I did not realize that free nights anywhere required so few points, but in any case, the lowest cat in Japan is a 3. I'm going to transfer the pts to UA miles. It is certainly better than just letting them expire.
Thanks. Actually I did not realize that free nights anywhere required so few points, but in any case, the lowest cat in Japan is a 3. I'm going to transfer the pts to UA miles. It is certainly better than just letting them expire.
The UA transfer with SPG is at a very poor ratio. It might be worthwhile to see if any of the other transfer partners would be interesting to you.
Programs: SPG Plat, BA Executive Gold, Skywards Silver
Posts: 1,842
Quote:
Originally Posted by OsakaWino
Thanks. Actually I did not realize that free nights anywhere required so few points, but in any case, the lowest cat in Japan is a 3. I'm going to transfer the pts to UA miles. It is certainly better than just letting them expire.
You could get 2 nights at a Cat. 2 hotel using cash and points.
Thanks. Actually I did not realize that free nights anywhere required so few points, but in any case, the lowest cat in Japan is a 3. I'm going to transfer the pts to UA miles. It is certainly better than just letting them expire.
UA is the worst possible use.
go buy a drink at a sheraton or order and award then cancel gives them another 12 mths.
Thanks. Actually I did not realize that free nights anywhere required so few points, but in any case, the lowest cat in Japan is a 3. I'm going to transfer the pts to UA miles. It is certainly better than just letting them expire.
Do you realize that any earning or redemption activity now extends your expiration (it doesn't have to be earning at a hotel)? (This policy changed, for the better, less than a year ago, so that's why you may not be aware of it yet.)
So if you can redeem just a few points (I'm not sure what the smallest possible redempion is), or earn form anywhere quickly (just avoid partners who take a long time to post), you can extend your expiration.
With that in mind, I wouldn't rush to redeem them into a poor redemption rate destination such as UA (where you'd only get about 1500 miles out of it).
You can transfer 1 point to United or whatever the minimum is and this will extend your account. I recently transferred 10 points to USAir to extend my USAir account.
You can transfer 1 point to United or whatever the minimum is and this will extend your account. I recently transferred 10 points to USAir to extend my USAir account.
Excellent suggestion! I hadn't realized this, since I'm a new Plat but the SPG transfer policy is:
Quote:
There is no minimum Starpoint transfer requirement for Platinum members with most airlines. Gold members have a minimum transfer requirement of 1,500 Starpoints, and Preferred members have a minimum transfer requirement of 2,500 Starpoints.
You can transfer 1 point to United or whatever the minimum is and this will extend your account. I recently transferred 10 points to USAir to extend my USAir account.
Any SPG member can do this transfer? OP did not indicate that he's got status.
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Posts: 656
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry305
Any SPG member can do this transfer? OP did not indicate that he's got status.
Quoted from SPG portal:
There is no minimum Starpoint transfer requirement for Platinum members with most airlines. Gold members have a minimum transfer requirement of 1,500 Starpoints, and Preferred members have a minimum transfer requirement of 2,500 Starpoints.
Unfortunately I exchanged all 3800 pts for 1900 UA miles just a few minutes after my last post. From what everyone has said, it obviously was not the best way to go, but I had lost a similar number of pts a few years ago from lack of attention and did not what to repeat that. It's been just over 12 moths from my last SPG activity.
No, I did not know that ANY ACTIVITY, either in or out, would extend the expiration. I looked for that information on the SPG site and couldn't find it. That will teach me to ask here before assuming that I have all the information I need.
At least I know I can use the UA miles, so I guess if this transfer is the worst mistake I make this year I'll be happy.
Thank you all again. I'm always impressed with how generous FT members are in sharing useful hints and advice.
SPG Lifetime™ Gold 
