Nov 12, 2013, 11:05 am
Last edit by: Oxon Flyer
UPDATE AS OF 28 NOVEMBER 2017 :
For our members with SPG Lifetime™ status: We’ll always recognize your lifetime achievement. And starting now, your Starpoints will never expire.
When do my SPG points expire?
Per the SPG T&C,
What activity counts towards keeping an account active to prevent points from expiring?
"Any account activity resets the clock. Earning, burning, transferring, buying...anything that creates activity." (from Starwood Lurker, post #78)
This means your options for resetting the clock are
What happens if I am a SPG Lifetime Platinum or Lifetime Gold?
According to the T&C, your lifetime status will be lost and your points forfeited after the period of inactivity.
Starpoints never expire for Lifetime Platinum members.
For our members with SPG Lifetime™ status: We’ll always recognize your lifetime achievement. And starting now, your Starpoints will never expire.
When do my SPG points expire?
Per the SPG T&C,
Forfeiting Starpoints. Except for SVO Owners to whom the obligations in Section 9 apply, Starpoints earned or otherwise obtained by an SPG Member will forfeit without notice if the SPG Member becomes Inactive, even if the SPG Member has achieved SPG Lifetime Gold or SPG Lifetime Platinum status. An SPG Member is considered "Inactive" if during a 12 month period: (a) the SPG Member has not had an Eligible Stay at an SPG Participating Hotel; (b) the SPG Member has not earned or redeemed any Starpoints, or (c) the SPG Member's account has been cancelled.
"Any account activity resets the clock. Earning, burning, transferring, buying...anything that creates activity." (from Starwood Lurker, post #78)
This means your options for resetting the clock are
- Earning points via a paid (cash) hotel stay
- Earning points via an SPG Amex card
- Earning points from food/beverages >$10 purchased at a Starwood property
- Make sure that server understands that SPG # must be added to system
- This option does not apply to alcohol purchases in CA, OR, HI, or MA
- Earning points in any other legal manner.
- Redeeming points for an award (such as a hotel stay, SPG Moments, etc.)
- This includes booking and then canceling an award; see post #155
- Purchasing SPG points (you can purchase 500 points for $17.50; takes 24-hours to hit your account) https://storefront.points.com/spg/en-US/buy
- Transfering SPG points to/from the SPG account of another member of your household (note: now requires transfers in 1,000-point increments)
- Transfering SPG points to or from your linked Marriott Rewards account (FYI, the reverse does not count as qualifying activity for your Marriott Rewards account)
- Transfering SPG points to an airline or other travel partner
- Transfering Amex Membership Rewards Points into your SPG account
Starpoints never expire for Lifetime Platinum members.
How to keep SPG points from expiring after 12 months of account inactivity
Mar 1, 2012, 3:25 pm
#16
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Hi,
I am not looking to bust chops here. I just think the entire paragraph is poorly worded because you are telling me that this doesn't apply to elites, but this paragraph says that the policy is inclusive of persons with LT elite status. Are LT elites not full elites as well?
Emphasis mine.
I am not looking to bust chops here. I just think the entire paragraph is poorly worded because you are telling me that this doesn't apply to elites, but this paragraph says that the policy is inclusive of persons with LT elite status. Are LT elites not full elites as well?
Emphasis mine.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Mar 1, 2012, 3:53 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 13
A stay that's set up for Direct Deposit to airline miles. (Although internally it does tend to post as earning 500-or-whatever points and then immediately deducting them as it turns them into miles, to the average person who doesn't look at it that closely it may seem like they never earned points at all.)
Also, an award stay using a free night cert.
Also, an award stay using a free night cert.
Mar 1, 2012, 4:01 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
This was all discussed before Lifetime Elite became a reality and none of that entered the conversation. But, I'll see if anything has changed with regard to Lifetime Elites since then.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Mar 1, 2012, 5:29 pm
#19
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
As it turns out, inactive Lifetime Elites are going to be given the same time frame an inactive Elite would be given, which is approximately four years for a Lifetime Platinum and approximately three years for a Lifetime Gold, before forfeiture will take place.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Mar 1, 2012, 6:03 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,736
If I redeem points for a stay and then cancel it straight away, hence crediting the points back. Does that count as activity?
Mar 1, 2012, 6:06 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
As it turns out, inactive Lifetime Elites are going to be given the same time frame an inactive Elite would be given, which is approximately four years for a Lifetime Platinum and approximately three years for a Lifetime Gold, before forfeiture will take place.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Thanks!
Mar 1, 2012, 7:53 pm
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
William, are transfers into an SPG account considered "earning" SPG points and therefore will such transfers keep the recipient's account active?
Specifically, I am wondering about spousal transfers, as well as transfers from AMEX and Diners Club.
Thanks,
NJ
Specifically, I am wondering about spousal transfers, as well as transfers from AMEX and Diners Club.
Thanks,
NJ
Last edited by NJUPINTHEAIR; Mar 2, 2012 at 11:53 am
Mar 2, 2012, 5:12 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TPE, MNL
Programs: AA lifetime GOLD, but still an AA Baby compare to people here. CX nobody. BR Silver.
Posts: 984
William, does buying SPG point count?
Thanks
Thanks
Mar 2, 2012, 9:13 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
I'm coming back to Starwood after being gone for a very long time. I cleared out most of my points by getting my wife Starbucks cards but had a few points expire a few years ago.
I reactivated my Starwood account a few days ago. I noticed that Starwood credited back my 580 points. It states: Return Forfeited Starpoints. This was before I even made any reservations.
Edit: For those looking for an 'easy' way to earn Starpoints, Avis has a Starpoints option. Perhaps one Avis rental per year if you're not staying at Starwoods for a while?
I sadly left Starwood to get lifetime status with Marriott; I now only need a few Marriott points and 2 more years in the program for lifetime Plat. With Starwood adding a lifetime status, this is a huge gamechanger for me. I have always preferred the Westin product over almost all other hotel chains and love Starwood's boutique hotels in Europe.
I reactivated my Starwood account a few days ago. I noticed that Starwood credited back my 580 points. It states: Return Forfeited Starpoints. This was before I even made any reservations.
Edit: For those looking for an 'easy' way to earn Starpoints, Avis has a Starpoints option. Perhaps one Avis rental per year if you're not staying at Starwoods for a while?
I sadly left Starwood to get lifetime status with Marriott; I now only need a few Marriott points and 2 more years in the program for lifetime Plat. With Starwood adding a lifetime status, this is a huge gamechanger for me. I have always preferred the Westin product over almost all other hotel chains and love Starwood's boutique hotels in Europe.
Last edited by iflyjetz; Mar 2, 2012 at 9:18 am
Mar 2, 2012, 9:34 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
As it turns out, inactive Lifetime Elites are going to be given the same time frame an inactive Elite would be given, which is approximately four years for a Lifetime Platinum and approximately three years for a Lifetime Gold, before forfeiture will take place.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Personally, I don't see this to be an issue for me since I currently intend on keeping the AMEX SPG card and there will always be some activity each and every month. But it's always fun to speculate how things might be interpreted years down the road. After all, even at&t has determined unlimited data now needs a cap.
Mar 2, 2012, 10:09 am
#26
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Mar 2, 2012, 11:30 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Hmmm, so if I read this correctly, even lifetime members will need to maintain some level of activity depending upon level obtained (other than just staying alive). I always chuckle when I read "lifetime". It prompts the question, who's lifetime, mine, their's, or the commodity being exchanged (aka someone's whim)?
Personally, I don't see this to be an issue for me since I currently intend on keeping the AMEX SPG card and there will always be some activity each and every month. But it's always fun to speculate how things might be interpreted years down the road. After all, even at&t has determined unlimited data now needs a cap.
Personally, I don't see this to be an issue for me since I currently intend on keeping the AMEX SPG card and there will always be some activity each and every month. But it's always fun to speculate how things might be interpreted years down the road. After all, even at&t has determined unlimited data now needs a cap.
Mar 2, 2012, 11:54 am
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
I'm coming back to Starwood after being gone for a very long time. I cleared out most of my points by getting my wife Starbucks cards but had a few points expire a few years ago.
I reactivated my Starwood account a few days ago. I noticed that Starwood credited back my 580 points. It states: Return Forfeited Starpoints. This was before I even made any reservations.
Edit: For those looking for an 'easy' way to earn Starpoints, Avis has a Starpoints option. Perhaps one Avis rental per year if you're not staying at Starwoods for a while?
I sadly left Starwood to get lifetime status with Marriott; I now only need a few Marriott points and 2 more years in the program for lifetime Plat. With Starwood adding a lifetime status, this is a huge gamechanger for me. I have always preferred the Westin product over almost all other hotel chains and love Starwood's boutique hotels in Europe.
I reactivated my Starwood account a few days ago. I noticed that Starwood credited back my 580 points. It states: Return Forfeited Starpoints. This was before I even made any reservations.
Edit: For those looking for an 'easy' way to earn Starpoints, Avis has a Starpoints option. Perhaps one Avis rental per year if you're not staying at Starwoods for a while?
I sadly left Starwood to get lifetime status with Marriott; I now only need a few Marriott points and 2 more years in the program for lifetime Plat. With Starwood adding a lifetime status, this is a huge gamechanger for me. I have always preferred the Westin product over almost all other hotel chains and love Starwood's boutique hotels in Europe.
Its much easier to spend $10 on food at a property.
Mar 2, 2012, 11:54 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
As an aside, I believe the AA move is strategic and not financial, so not a lot to worry about there.
Mar 2, 2012, 11:57 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Yes, but my point was the use of a title "lifetime" when it isn't (like at&t's capped unlimited plan). All the programs I belong to have an escape clause where they can choose to end the program at any time for any reason. The use of lifetime makes me wonder how much credit they give their customer base. There is a mattress company that advertises if they can't beat a competitor's price you get the mattress for free... Personally, I don't want to do business with someone that thinks I'll buy that line.
As an aside, I believe the AA move is strategic and not financial, so not a lot to worry about there.
As an aside, I believe the AA move is strategic and not financial, so not a lot to worry about there.
