Jun 12, 2015, 7:15 pm
Last edit by: KENNECTED
This thread is for discussion of the new benefits & fee structure announced in June 2015. For general discussion of the SPG Amex, see SPG American Express [Master Thread].
Will the additional cardholders on my Starwood Business Amex account get access to the Sheraton Club lounge? What about guests in additional rooms I'm also paying for?
Will the additional cardholders on my Starwood Business Amex account get access to the Sheraton Club lounge? What about guests in additional rooms I'm also paying for?
"This benefit is for Basic Card Members only on Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations...Sheraton Club lounge access is limited to the eligible Card Member and a guest staying in the same room for the duration of the stay, regardless of how many rooms have been reserved." (See Starwood FAQs.)
Which hotel brands with the Sheraton name will offer the lounge benefit?The benefit is offered at all Sheraton-branded properties, including Sheraton Grand hotels, with the exception of any Luxury Collection property. It is not available at Four Points by Sheraton hotels.
Wiil I still get Club access if I book my stay with points or cash+points?Per Starwood Lurker in post #104, yes.
American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits
Jun 3, 2015, 4:16 pm
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
What is with the recent trend of CC"s offering Free Boingo and then jacking up the annual fee? Are people listing this is a must have perk on surveys? Folks whoever is calling these companies and asking for Boingo, would you please stop? For the love of God, please stop. Boingo is absolute garbage, please keep that out of my sight.
Jun 3, 2015, 4:26 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,445
Exactly. if they had doubled SPG points on dining spend, it might have been worth the extra $30 per year. As is, it's a rate increase with negligible benefit.
Jun 3, 2015, 5:01 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2001
Programs: AA EXP, BA Gold, UA LT-Gold, SPG Plat, HH Dia, Hyatt Dia, MR Gold
Posts: 2,221
Does AMEX think we are that stupid?
When there are other cards out there that offers much better benefits?
Even at $65, I'm not sure if it is worth the $$.
When there are other cards out there that offers much better benefits?
Even at $65, I'm not sure if it is worth the $$.
Jun 3, 2015, 6:00 pm
#49
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,015
Thank you for listening Starwood & Amex. No FTF was sorely needed.
I think the $95 annual fee is a fair exchange for it. Other no FTF cards charge $95 as well (United Explorer, British Airways, Hilton Reserve, IHG, Southwest) so it is competitive. Yes, you can find fee free FTF cards like Capital One but their benefits are lacking and their fraud catches are horrid outside the US and make their card too frustrating to use.
Although the other benefits are worthless to me - I'm happy with the exchange of $30 for no FTF. Kudos!
I think the $95 annual fee is a fair exchange for it. Other no FTF cards charge $95 as well (United Explorer, British Airways, Hilton Reserve, IHG, Southwest) so it is competitive. Yes, you can find fee free FTF cards like Capital One but their benefits are lacking and their fraud catches are horrid outside the US and make their card too frustrating to use.
Although the other benefits are worthless to me - I'm happy with the exchange of $30 for no FTF. Kudos!
Jun 3, 2015, 6:27 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat75, MR Plat, UA Silver, GE/NEXUS
Posts: 177
So I already have the lounge+premium wifi as a plat, so half of the new benefits are worthless to the most frequent SPG customers. Seriously? Lame. Boingo is pretty awful and I already got it "free" with my Amex Plat card. So in short, to not pay FTF, I have to spend ~$1100 overseas just to recoup the AF increase? This is disappointing. Come renewal time, my SPG spend may go to my CSP or TY cards.
Jun 3, 2015, 6:42 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
My card just renewed so I have quite a while before having to make a decision fortunately. Leaning no as of now, will depend how much SPG works for me upcoming as I'm still Platinum and about halfway to renewing that status.
Jun 3, 2015, 7:19 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/NYC/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,133
I agree that no FTF was needed, but not at this price. $65 was where it needed to stay.
The rest of the benefits are garbage that I already have with other cards.
Will there be a lower version of the card?
I'm between a rock and hard place because I'd like to still earn starpoints, but the annual fee is steep for the return.
The rest of the benefits are garbage that I already have with other cards.
Will there be a lower version of the card?
I'm between a rock and hard place because I'd like to still earn starpoints, but the annual fee is steep for the return.
Jun 3, 2015, 7:25 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
What is with the recent trend of CC"s offering Free Boingo and then jacking up the annual fee? Are people listing this is a must have perk on surveys? Folks whoever is calling these companies and asking for Boingo, would you please stop? For the love of God, please stop. Boingo is absolute garbage, please keep that out of my sight.
Thank you for listening Starwood & Amex. No FTF was sorely needed.
I think the $95 annual fee is a fair exchange for it. Other no FTF cards charge $95 as well (United Explorer, British Airways, Hilton Reserve, IHG, Southwest) so it is competitive. Yes, you can find fee free FTF cards like Capital One but their benefits are lacking and their fraud catches are horrid outside the US and make their card too frustrating to use.
Although the other benefits are worthless to me - I'm happy with the exchange of $30 for no FTF. Kudos!
I think the $95 annual fee is a fair exchange for it. Other no FTF cards charge $95 as well (United Explorer, British Airways, Hilton Reserve, IHG, Southwest) so it is competitive. Yes, you can find fee free FTF cards like Capital One but their benefits are lacking and their fraud catches are horrid outside the US and make their card too frustrating to use.
Although the other benefits are worthless to me - I'm happy with the exchange of $30 for no FTF. Kudos!
My Hyatt card is $75/yr, no FTF, and one free Cat 1-4 night/yr. Plus 5 stay/10 credit nights for $40K annual spend.
Anyone know of other cards that can earn/convert to Starpoints?
Jun 3, 2015, 8:21 pm
#54
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
I'm with the others in this thread who will consider canceling when the annual fee comes due. I have to decide if the two free stay credits is worth $95, because the other "benefits" unfortunately aren't.
Jun 3, 2015, 8:22 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 574
This is frustrating for me, as it's a great card for every day spend, but the benefits are worthless to me. Maybe I should just siwtch to everyday Amex?
Jun 3, 2015, 8:23 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
"Enhance" hahahaha.
Scrambling due to the upcoming Costco defection to Visa, that's all it is.
Scrambling due to the upcoming Costco defection to Visa, that's all it is.
Jun 3, 2015, 8:27 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP - 3.7MM, Bonv LIFETIME Titan, HH Dmd, Hyatt Glob., Priority Clb Dmd, Ntnl Exec El., Sixt PLT
Posts: 1,680
In addition to existing benefits, effective August 11, 2015, SPG Card Members will enjoy the following:
· No Foreign Transaction Fees
· Complimentary, Unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi
· Complimentary Premium In-Room Internet Access
· Access to Sheraton Club Lounges for SPG Amex OPEN Card Members
[email protected]
· No Foreign Transaction Fees
· Complimentary, Unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi
· Complimentary Premium In-Room Internet Access
· Access to Sheraton Club Lounges for SPG Amex OPEN Card Members
[email protected]
Jun 3, 2015, 8:34 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: UA 1K 3 Million/ex-many year GS, AA PLT/2 Mil, AS MVPG, HH Dia, Starwood Life Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,401
Thank you for listening Starwood & Amex. No FTF was sorely needed.
I think the $95 annual fee is a fair exchange for it. Other no FTF cards charge $95 as well (United Explorer, British Airways, Hilton Reserve, IHG, Southwest) so it is competitive. Yes, you can find fee free FTF cards like Capital One but their benefits are lacking and their fraud catches are horrid outside the US and make their card too frustrating to use.
Although the other benefits are worthless to me - I'm happy with the exchange of $30 for no FTF. Kudos!
I think the $95 annual fee is a fair exchange for it. Other no FTF cards charge $95 as well (United Explorer, British Airways, Hilton Reserve, IHG, Southwest) so it is competitive. Yes, you can find fee free FTF cards like Capital One but their benefits are lacking and their fraud catches are horrid outside the US and make their card too frustrating to use.
Although the other benefits are worthless to me - I'm happy with the exchange of $30 for no FTF. Kudos!
Jun 3, 2015, 8:52 pm
#59
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
Jun 3, 2015, 9:52 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Earth ... for now
Programs: UA 2MM * Marriott Ambassador LT Titanium * IHG Diamond Ambassador * Hilton Diamond *
Posts: 1,784
- British Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Southwest
- United Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Korean Air
