At 1 SPG = 3 MR, what are the arbitrage opportunities?
Sep 23, 2016, 7:53 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,965
At 1 SPG = 3 MR, what are the arbitrage opportunities?
Now that we know 1 SPG = 3 MR, what are the opportunities when it comes to promotions, redemptions and bonuses?
For example, it seems SPG has a better promotion than MR this quarter for frequent travellers...
For example, it seems SPG has a better promotion than MR this quarter for frequent travellers...
Sep 23, 2016, 8:34 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA EXP, AA LT Gold, SPG Plat 75
Posts: 890
Currently 80k SPG points = 100k AA miles. Now 80k = 240k Marriott.
235k Marriott = 5 nights at a Category 1-5 Marriott + 120k AA miles
Edit: it's actually slightly better for United miles too at 132k miles.
235k Marriott = 5 nights at a Category 1-5 Marriott + 120k AA miles
Edit: it's actually slightly better for United miles too at 132k miles.
Sep 23, 2016, 8:41 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
With the information in that thread provided by 3Cforme, it appears that indeed our transfer ratio from SPG:UA MileagePlus has improved.
For example, transferring 8,000 SPG Starpoints to Marriott Rewards results in 24,000 Marriott Rewards points. 24,000 Marriott Rewards points will convert to 10,000 UA MileagePlus miles. Therefore, the effective transfer ratio of SPG:UA in this transfer is 1:1.25 instead of the traditional 2:1.
Transferring 18,667 SPG Starpoints to Marriott Rewards results in 56,001 Marriott Rewards points. 56,000 Marriott Rewards points will convert to 25,000 UA MileagePlus miles. Therefore, the effective transfer ratio of SPG:UA in this transfer is 1:1.34 instead of the traditional 2:1.
Sorry if this appears to be a cross post, but the moderators re-opened the thread above to allow me to post the corrected information.
Last edited by controller1; Sep 23, 2016 at 9:18 am Reason: Note about re-opened thread.
Sep 23, 2016, 8:42 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
I kick myself for an SPG to AA transfer during a promotion. Would have gotten free nights on top with Marriot
Sep 23, 2016, 12:06 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 13
now they enforce that 5 night vacation packages are only available to timeshare owners, so its 90k SPG=270k Marriott=7 nights 1-5+132/120
Sep 23, 2016, 12:56 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
So now SPG Amex will give 3 Marriott Points per $ spent on everyday purchase? I think that's huge. Nothing else will give the equivalent value of 3 MR points on a $ on non-bonus category items.
Sep 23, 2016, 1:05 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
if they have already cut out SPG timeshare owner transfers, they will certainly pay attention to those with ultra high business spend on amex. SPG sees what is coming in each month from amex.
do not assume anything will not change. and this is all temporary, however long it lasts.
do not assume anything will not change. and this is all temporary, however long it lasts.
Sep 23, 2016, 2:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
Well said. These folks know about arbitrage and, even if not, bulletin boards will rapidly educate them.
Last edited by luckypierre; Sep 23, 2016 at 2:30 pm Reason: Removed malformed quote
Sep 23, 2016, 3:19 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
if they have already cut out SPG timeshare owner transfers, they will certainly pay attention to those with ultra high business spend on amex. SPG sees what is coming in each month from amex.
do not assume anything will not change. and this is all temporary, however long it lasts.
do not assume anything will not change. and this is all temporary, however long it lasts.
Sep 23, 2016, 6:49 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Given the 3:1 conversion, I don't even mind Cat 8, 9, or Tiers 1-3 redemptions for places where I'll need to be anyway.
Sep 23, 2016, 8:48 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: BKK
Programs: BRK-B
Posts: 580
Sadly, I have to go from Marriott to SPG as Marriott does not convert to Thai Airways.
Sep 24, 2016, 12:00 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: AA LTP 2MM, Marriott/SPG Rabid Plat w/Ambassador, HHonors Gold
Posts: 696
The other consideration here is how lifetime status will be handled in the combined program. MR Lifetime status currently has a point requirement. Will they just convert over every Starpoint you've ever earned at 3:1 for this calculation in the new program, or will they look at your current balance in each program separately? If the latter, there may be benefits to converting or not converting that need to be taken into account as well.
Sep 24, 2016, 1:07 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
The other consideration here is how lifetime status will be handled in the combined program. MR Lifetime status currently has a point requirement. Will they just convert over every Starpoint you've ever earned at 3:1 for this calculation in the new program, or will they look at your current balance in each program separately? If the latter, there may be benefits to converting or not converting that need to be taken into account as well.
Sep 24, 2016, 1:12 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG-Plat, Hilton-Diamond, Club Carlson-Silver, Cathay-Diamond, Virgin-Gold
Posts: 2,183
Where am I going wrong?
Sep 24, 2016, 4:15 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 367
Is it travel packages? -- https://www.marriott.com/rewards/usepoints/morepack.mi
Last edited by st.exupery; Sep 24, 2016 at 4:34 am