Starwood should have gone with TD which was courting Starwood for this card who suggested an annual fee of $99 for new card holders and first year with a NO FEE for current MBNA card holders as long as they switched within 6 months...

Does the fact that Aeroplan was upset about people being able to transfer SPG points earned on the NO FEE MBNA master card into Aeroplan points have anything to do with it? In essence people were able to earn Aeroplan miles via a NO FEE credit card where Aeroplan has exclusive card agreements with Amex and CIBC who charge their card holders $120 annual fees?

It sure makes "sense" and "safe" for Starwood to go with AMEX as any SPG points earned that are now transferred to Aeroplan via SPG redemption can be tracked back to a Aeroplan credit card partner "Amex" who has paid millions of dollars for the rights to do so.

Thanks Starwood for putting your members interests first