Two exciting new benefits added to the SPGŪ Credit Card from American Express (U. S.)
Jul 30, 2010, 10:57 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHX
Posts: 623
The one thing I do get is the 44% increase in annual fees
Jul 30, 2010, 11:06 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
If that's the case, then it's very deceitful and there's only one new "benefit" - achieving elite status a little faster. In my particular situation, I get zero new benefits because I achieve Gold through $30K spend, but I never rack up enough nights/stays for Plat.
The one thing I do get is the 44% increase in annual fees
The one thing I do get is the 44% increase in annual fees
on increase in annual fees.Here's something innovative: let customers choose between the benefits and increased fee or no benefits and no increased fee! More choice for consumers is always ideal, IMO.
Jul 30, 2010, 11:11 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
I am sure the SPG Promotion professionals will realise that giving 5 nights credit and no stay credit is unfair and probably not intented and when the detailed rules come out, will give us a token 2 or 3 stay credit
Jul 30, 2010, 11:22 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: Marriott Titanium & Lifetime Platinum, United Platinum, Delta Silver
Posts: 591
New benefits are useless. There is already a ZH3 code and how often would I really want to stay at a Sheraton? I qualify on stays, not nights so this won't really help. And the fee is getting to be high enough that I'm going to seriously re-consider whether I keep the card (especially depending on how my SPG travel shakes out for the next year)
And yes this does remind me of SkyPesos
Jul 30, 2010, 11:28 am
#20
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
As someone who often uses the Z3H rate I would disagree. The Z3H rate while not based on the cheapest bookable nightly rate invariably gets me a lower average rate than otherwise bookable at the Sydney hotels I use it at.
The Z3H rate requires a Fri or Sat arrival so if this new benefit doesn't have this same restriction and books at the same rate as the Z3H rate then it is indeed a worthwhile benefit.
All this of course is pointless speculation for me as SPG doesn't offer the card in Australia
Jul 30, 2010, 11:46 am
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
although it will help out those who actually get status based on Nights,it really should have been chose between say 2 stay credits or 5 nights
bout I will end up with is an Increase in the Annual Fee
Jul 30, 2010, 11:46 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 105
I wonder what would happen if we don't accept the terms of the agreement. Do we just continue to pay $45 annually until our credit card expires and then the card will cancel automatically? Because the new benefits do not justify the fee increase IMHO.
Jul 30, 2010, 12:05 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 103
Lurker,
Is the SPG-50 award going away all together or just the free certificate you get with the AMEX card ?
Is the SPG-50 award going away all together or just the free certificate you get with the AMEX card ?
Jul 30, 2010, 12:06 pm
#24
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: 52,139
Jul 30, 2010, 12:12 pm
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: HY
Programs: AA-EXP (3.3MM), AAirpass, SQ-PPS Solitaire, DL-PM (.777MM), SPG-Plat, HH-D
Posts: 2,307
Jul 30, 2010, 12:32 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: US
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, Starwood Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,020
On October 14, 2010, the Starwood Preferred GuestŪ Credit Card from American Express gets even more rewarding with two new benefits.
New - It will be even easier to reach elite status. SPG and Amex will provide Cardmembers with five night credits each year. That means only 20 nights to achieve Gold status or 45 nights to reach Platinum status.
New - Cardmembers can also receive a complimentary third night when they use their Card to purchase a two night minimum stay at participating Sheraton hotels and resorts worldwide. This is an exclusive offer only available to SPG Cardmembers.
These two new benefits will replace the existing annual 50 percent–off Award. The annual membership fee for the Card will increase to $65 from the previous $45, but the first year of Cardmembership is still free. (Cardmembers will not pay the new annual fee until their next anniversary date.) Cardmembers should expect a letter detailing the changes including the new benefits in the next day or so.
Cardmembers will continue to enjoy access to best-in-class benefits such as earning at least 4 Starpoints per dollar at participating hotels and resorts, and the ability to redeem Starpoints for stays at more than 940 participating hotels and resorts in more than 93 countries and for flights on more than 350 airlines -- both with no blackout dates. Visit SPG.com to book reservations or redeem Starpoints.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
New - It will be even easier to reach elite status. SPG and Amex will provide Cardmembers with five night credits each year. That means only 20 nights to achieve Gold status or 45 nights to reach Platinum status.
New - Cardmembers can also receive a complimentary third night when they use their Card to purchase a two night minimum stay at participating Sheraton hotels and resorts worldwide. This is an exclusive offer only available to SPG Cardmembers.
These two new benefits will replace the existing annual 50 percent–off Award. The annual membership fee for the Card will increase to $65 from the previous $45, but the first year of Cardmembership is still free. (Cardmembers will not pay the new annual fee until their next anniversary date.) Cardmembers should expect a letter detailing the changes including the new benefits in the next day or so.
Cardmembers will continue to enjoy access to best-in-class benefits such as earning at least 4 Starpoints per dollar at participating hotels and resorts, and the ability to redeem Starpoints for stays at more than 940 participating hotels and resorts in more than 93 countries and for flights on more than 350 airlines -- both with no blackout dates. Visit SPG.com to book reservations or redeem Starpoints.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
I hope we get stay credits instead of night credits. I always qualify thru stays, not nights since my trips are usually 1 night, deposition, go home.
BTW.. I have 2 SPG AMEX business cards, would that still qualify?
Jul 30, 2010, 12:35 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: L.A.
Programs: WN A-list & CP, Delta GM
Posts: 448
I will wait until seeing the details of the 3 for 2.
A couple days ago, I was over the phone with an Amex CSR who indicated a website address (did not bother to write it down) which has something to do with Z3H/Z3R. If that is really what we get, then this is purely a degrading.
A couple days ago, I was over the phone with an Amex CSR who indicated a website address (did not bother to write it down) which has something to do with Z3H/Z3R. If that is really what we get, then this is purely a degrading.
Jul 30, 2010, 12:46 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
The SPG50 certificate was worth way more to me. How about waiving the annual fee at 100 nights?
Jul 30, 2010, 12:55 pm
#30
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593