Originally Posted by
beachfan
I agree with the 2% opportunity cost, but for me, the real opportunity cost would be 30k starwood points, as for the the travel I do, free hotels beats the 2%.
You lose 30k points (with Starwood AMEX) or $600 (with Schwab VISA), but in addition to the double mileage redemption you also get 37.5k BA miles (potentially usable as 75k BA miles if part of a double redemption). These miles may offset the opportunity cost, without taking into consideration the potential doubling of the 100,000 BA mile initial bonus.