Originally Posted by
TMM1982
You don't need a Starwood CC to transfer Starpoints into miles. And the CC fees are waived the first year. So you get the card, get your Starpoints, and shut it down within a year. Even then, you can transfer your points into miles anytime you want. And if later on you want to get the CC again, you can, and again withe annual fee waived. I believe you can churn the business card but not the personal card.
I had ~6 year gap on the SPG personal card and got the points when I opened it the second time. I just reviewed the personal card T&C for the bonus and it doesn't appear churnable anymore.
The business card appears to be churnable every 12 months.
I'll have to switch to the business card and cancel the personal card when I get to the point where I'm hit with the fee increase. I only use my Starpoints for hotel nights and am just trying to limp to LT Plat at this point. Being able to get 'free'/C&P rooms that count for status has been nice.