When Will AmEx Stop Issuing SPG Cards?
Aug 8, 2016, 11:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
When Will AmEx Stop Issuing SPG Cards?
I am considering applying for an AmEx SPG business card, and looking for a bump in the signup bonus, having missed the boat a few months back.
Anyone care to hazard a guess regarding the future of AmEx SPG cards? Other mergers may suggest that the cards could still be available once the merger is complete, but there are conflicting analyses. Last year around this time, they announced a bump in the signup bonus from 25K to 30K starpoints, but IIRC the merger wasn't public knowledge at that point.
I found the following excerpt from the above-linked article to be of interest:
Anyone care to hazard a guess regarding the future of AmEx SPG cards? Other mergers may suggest that the cards could still be available once the merger is complete, but there are conflicting analyses. Last year around this time, they announced a bump in the signup bonus from 25K to 30K starpoints, but IIRC the merger wasn't public knowledge at that point.
I found the following excerpt from the above-linked article to be of interest:
Originally Posted by Barclays analyst Mark DeVries
American Express/Starwood co-brand termination would be a worst case scenario: If Marriott exercises a change of control termination clause (typical in co-brand contracts but uncertain in this case), we estimate that American Express would see a near-immediate ~4.5% reduction in earnings, similar to the Costco (COST) termination. Additionally, the negative headlines around losing yet another major co-brand partner would likely put pressure on the stock to a greater magnitude than the ultimate EPS impact.
Starwood’s SPG program likely to be consolidated onto the Marriot Rewards platform…: The Marriott rewards scheme better incentivizes revenue generating spend for the hotel chain (bookings, etc) relative to non-revenue generating credit card spend (outside hotel properties). Additionally, we find that Starwood’s SPG program is more costly to fund than Marriott Rewards. Each of these factors, in conjunction with the fact that running parallel offerings is unwieldy and expensive, leads us to believe that a consolidation of rewards programs would be an inevitable outcome of a Marriott/Starwood merger…
Starwood’s SPG program likely to be consolidated onto the Marriot Rewards platform…: The Marriott rewards scheme better incentivizes revenue generating spend for the hotel chain (bookings, etc) relative to non-revenue generating credit card spend (outside hotel properties). Additionally, we find that Starwood’s SPG program is more costly to fund than Marriott Rewards. Each of these factors, in conjunction with the fact that running parallel offerings is unwieldy and expensive, leads us to believe that a consolidation of rewards programs would be an inevitable outcome of a Marriott/Starwood merger…
Aug 8, 2016, 12:08 pm
#2
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
My guess is that this card will be issued until the loyalty programs are combined, which should not be earlier than the beginning of 2018.
...we don’t anticipate launching a newly combined program until 2018. This means SPG will continue to run separately until then. ...
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Aug 8, 2016, 8:17 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
I am considering applying for an AmEx SPG business card, and looking for a bump in the signup bonus, having missed the boat a few months back.
[...]
Last year around this time, they announced a bump in the signup bonus from 25K to 30K starpoints, but IIRC the merger wasn't public knowledge at that point.
[...]
Last year around this time, they announced a bump in the signup bonus from 25K to 30K starpoints, but IIRC the merger wasn't public knowledge at that point.
Anyhow, what we don't know is whether the bump in the signup bonus this past spring was a rescheduling (and that it won't happen again until next spring), or an extra (and it will happen again this fall), or the last one ever (and it won't ever happen again).
A very simple guess as to how long they'll keep issuing the SPG cards: However long the SPG program continues as is (before it's folded into the Marriott program). In other words, the two programs are likely to combined into one eventually, and at that point either the SPG Amex will turn into a Marriott Amex or it'll disappear entirely. There can't be an SPG Amex once there is no SPG.
But that's quite a ways away.
However, like I said, how long they keep issuing the cards and when if ever they'll again bump up the signup bonus may or may not be related questions, since no one knows why they did one in the spring this year after always doing it only in the fall in previous years.
I too, missed the 35k offer this spring because it came out after I was already committed to signup bonus spend on other cards (and I don't MS). But I don't see the point of guessing when the next better-than-normal offer could be, just try to be ready for it if/when it ever happens again.
Aug 14, 2016, 6:31 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 845
Should I get the business SPG with just the 25k bonus? I have $10k legit spending in next 2 months from my business. Can't do any Chase cards because of 5/24. Already got bonus for AMEX PRG, Business Gold, Surpass, Spark business, Citi HHonors. Hate to leave $10k SPG points on the table, but also don't want to waste $10k spending without a bonus.
Any other cards I'm missing? My wife can also get the SPG business.
Any other cards I'm missing? My wife can also get the SPG business.
Aug 15, 2016, 10:47 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 322
Should I get the business SPG with just the 25k bonus? I have $10k legit spending in next 2 months from my business. Can't do any Chase cards because of 5/24. Already got bonus for AMEX PRG, Business Gold, Surpass, Spark business, Citi HHonors. Hate to leave $10k SPG points on the table, but also don't want to waste $10k spending without a bonus.
Any other cards I'm missing? My wife can also get the SPG business.
Any other cards I'm missing? My wife can also get the SPG business.
Aug 18, 2016, 4:40 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
The bonus may be increased in September. Might be worth it to wait a few weeks.
Aug 26, 2016, 8:10 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
There is a thread on another forum which gives a detailed account of how one applicant was getting 30K offers.
I opened a new SPG account with a new email in an incognito browser window but only got the 25K offer.
I opened a new SPG account with a new email in an incognito browser window but only got the 25K offer.
Last edited by zippy the pinhead; Aug 26, 2016 at 8:26 am
Aug 27, 2016, 2:27 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
The bonus may be increased in September. Might be worth it to wait a few weeks.
Aug 27, 2016, 2:31 pm
#9
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
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2014 offer ran May 30 - June 30: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...expired-8.html
2016 offer ran March 3 - March 30: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...6-expired.html
2016 offer ran March 3 - March 30: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...6-expired.html
Aug 27, 2016, 6:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
2014 offer ran May 30 - June 30: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...expired-8.html
2016 offer ran March 3 - March 30: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...6-expired.html
2016 offer ran March 3 - March 30: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...6-expired.html
Sep 10, 2016, 11:47 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
Doctor of Credit updated his post regarding the expected uptick in the signup bonus. Supposedly it will increase on 9/21.
Sep 12, 2016, 2:14 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 322
Doctor of Credit updated his post regarding the expected uptick in the signup bonus. Supposedly it will increase on 9/21.
Sep 22, 2016, 12:09 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
Well, they changed the signup bonus from points to free nights, which I personally have no interest in.
Sep 22, 2016, 12:23 pm
#14
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Sep 22, 2016, 12:33 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF
Programs: UA, VX, QF, EY, VA
Posts: 756
RIP, SPG & Starwood, and the best credit card on the market. :/