AMEX SPG [UK] - Opinions wanted plus signup bonus question
May 6, 2017, 6:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
AMEX SPG [UK] - Opinions wanted plus signup bonus question
There's not a great deal on the interwebz about this card and some of the info is contradictory. For example, the HFP website (Head For Points) currently says that this card offers a signup bonus of 10K points if you rack up £1000 spend in the first 3 months. However, I can't find anything on the official Amex UK site about this, even in the FAQ.
Is there anyone on FT that is actively using or has used this card? The discussion in the last article devoted to it on HFP seems to be rather derisory (it's certainly a poor relation of the US version) and many are suggesting that it's about to be canned due to the MR merger. I was considering it as it seems like a good way to pick up Starpoints, which are so damned hard to acquire.
So if anyone from the UK can chip in on their thoughts regarding this card, and/or the signup bonus question above, that would be appreciated.
Is there anyone on FT that is actively using or has used this card? The discussion in the last article devoted to it on HFP seems to be rather derisory (it's certainly a poor relation of the US version) and many are suggesting that it's about to be canned due to the MR merger. I was considering it as it seems like a good way to pick up Starpoints, which are so damned hard to acquire.
So if anyone from the UK can chip in on their thoughts regarding this card, and/or the signup bonus question above, that would be appreciated.
May 6, 2017, 7:06 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 175
The card is still here https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/c...redit-card/cm/
The signup bonus is quite decent if you need to top up miles, or want to transfer to Marriott points.
It also offers double points for spend at SPG & Marriott hotels, but only until November this year.
The other perks are not really worth it, SPG Gold for spending £15k is a joke when you can get it for free with the Plat card. The Free Night award requires £25k spend and is only valid on the weekend at Category 1-4 properties.
The signup bonus is quite decent if you need to top up miles, or want to transfer to Marriott points.
It also offers double points for spend at SPG & Marriott hotels, but only until November this year.
The other perks are not really worth it, SPG Gold for spending £15k is a joke when you can get it for free with the Plat card. The Free Night award requires £25k spend and is only valid on the weekend at Category 1-4 properties.
May 6, 2017, 7:20 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Maybe my eyesight is bad but I still can't find any reference to the signup bonus on that page?
Agree with you that the other offers are useless. It's only the initial signup bonus that looked interesting (i.e. the one I can't find any confirmation of!).
Agree with you that the other offers are useless. It's only the initial signup bonus that looked interesting (i.e. the one I can't find any confirmation of!).
May 6, 2017, 7:27 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Earn a 10,000 Starpoints ® bonus, enough for up to three complimentary nights.
Enjoy a Welcome bonus of 10,000 Starpoints, enough for up to three complimentary nights, when you spend £1,000 in your first three months of Cardmembership.
May 6, 2017, 7:47 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
I don't see that - I must be being served a different version of the page.
I took screenshots and this is what I get.
http://imgur.com/Fu4Walh
http://imgur.com/7hafEWA
I took screenshots and this is what I get.
http://imgur.com/Fu4Walh
http://imgur.com/7hafEWA
May 6, 2017, 7:55 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Well, I solved it.
Those screenshots posted above were viewed in the Chrome browser (on OS X).
When I load it in Safari it shows the info about the Welcome Bonus. Weirdly, Chrome seems to have stripped out the lines mentioning the welcome bonus and kept the other stuff!
Those screenshots posted above were viewed in the Chrome browser (on OS X).
When I load it in Safari it shows the info about the Welcome Bonus. Weirdly, Chrome seems to have stripped out the lines mentioning the welcome bonus and kept the other stuff!
May 8, 2017, 5:25 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ether
Programs: Some, not all.
Posts: 1,595
The first image has the header "Refer Friends. Get Rewarded" and then goes one to say "You'll receive 5,000 starpoints for each friend approved"...
Not sure how you'd get to that page unless you were logged into your Amex account and already had the SPG card.
For me the card's value is earning SPG points which are an easily convertible currency to Marriott or a variety of airline programs.
Not sure how you'd get to that page unless you were logged into your Amex account and already had the SPG card.
For me the card's value is earning SPG points which are an easily convertible currency to Marriott or a variety of airline programs.
May 8, 2017, 6:49 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
The first image has the header "Refer Friends. Get Rewarded" and then goes one to say "You'll receive 5,000 starpoints for each friend approved"...
Not sure how you'd get to that page unless you were logged into your Amex account and already had the SPG card.
For me the card's value is earning SPG points which are an easily convertible currency to Marriott or a variety of airline programs.
Not sure how you'd get to that page unless you were logged into your Amex account and already had the SPG card.
For me the card's value is earning SPG points which are an easily convertible currency to Marriott or a variety of airline programs.
I've now got the SPG card anyway and your final point about Starpoints as a useful and flexible currency was also what swung it for me. Time to rack up that £1K spend now!
May 8, 2017, 10:09 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1k, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 231
I didn't understand that either. I was logged into the site via my Amex Plat at the time but the page rendering is totally bizarre.
I've now got the SPG card anyway and your final point about Starpoints as a useful and flexible currency was also what swung it for me. Time to rack up that £1K spend now!
I've now got the SPG card anyway and your final point about Starpoints as a useful and flexible currency was also what swung it for me. Time to rack up that £1K spend now!