I am SPG platinum and I recently got engaged and my fiancé is not platinum SPG so I though to merge our accounts for our upcoming trip for 21 nights throughout: San Fran, Los Angeles, London, Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris. And that way we can use my 60K and her 40K more fruitfully and also contribute to maintaining my platinum status.

Experience:

First we tried to transfer via the SPG website and it seemed to go through. But she got a message later.

Message from SPG:
Thank you for your recent request to transfer Starpoints from your Starwood Preferred Guest Account.

We are unable to fulfill your request to transfer Starpoints at this time. Transfers between two Starwood Preferred Guest accounts require both members to reside at the same residential address. The addresses on these accounts do not match.

To complete this transaction, we require proof of residency--in the form of one of the documents listed below--to be sent to us showing the residential address for the member who's account does not list your shared residence. Transfers between two Starwood Preferred Guest accounts require both members to reside at the same residential address.

Please note that any changes to the residential addresses will need to be supported by one (or more) of the documents listed below.

Requested documentation must be received within 10 business days from the sent date on this email. If not received within this time period the original transfer request will be considered null and void and a new request will need to be created.

Please fax one (or more as needed) of the below documents to the Starwood Preferred Guest Program Services department at 519-633-3658 or you may scan your documents and email to us at [email protected].

1. Drivers License
2. Utility Bill
3. Household bill (must have name and address listed)
4. Voter's registration

Please be sure to list your full name, Starwood Preferred Guest account number and Ref # on the fax.

If you did not initiate this request, please immediately email [email protected].

We thank you for your continued loyalty to the Starwood Preferred Guest program.


So we ended up having to show proof that she lived in the same city and after that it was pretty instantaneous.

My suggestion

Prior to the transfer, change the address at least one month before transferring and then they do not check it. My mistake was that she never changed her SPG address once we moved in since she never even uses SPG she just had the credit card.

Good Luck.