Jun 28, 2018, 2:47 pm
Last edit by: RedSun
Existing and new SPG cards as of August 1 2018
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card (Legacy SPG AMEX Card) $95 fee
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card (Legacy SPG AMEX Business Card) $95 fee ($125 starting from 3/28/2019)
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card (Legacy SPG AMEX Card) $95 fee
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other eligible purchases.
- 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status, with an opportunity to earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status after making $35,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- 15 Nights Elite Credit (Non Stackable)
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card (Legacy SPG AMEX Business Card) $95 fee ($125 starting from 3/28/2019)
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 4X points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other eligible purchases.
- 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- Additional Free Night after $60K spend
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status, with an opportunity to earn Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status after making $35,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- 15 Nights Elite Credit (Non Stackable)
- 6X Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- 3X Marriott Bonvoy points at at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- 2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other eligible purchases.
- $300 MARRIOTT BONVOY STATEMENT CREDIT each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- COMPLIMENTARY GOLD ELITE STATUS with your Card. Earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year
New and refreshed Amex SPG/Bonvoy cards - August 2018 & February 2019
Jul 14, 2018, 5:47 pm
#121
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
I wonder if they will do retention (or, like this, pre-retention) offers in the future? I suppose I should be glad that we got ours in time to do the spend before the 1 August earnings devaluation. Not so sure in the future it will be worth accepting this offer, when spend will be earning 2 Marriott points per dollar.
Jul 14, 2018, 6:44 pm
#122
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Okay, so we're sitting here with
So what is my play here? The hotel certificate would be of value, but it seems as if we would have to pay two more AFs before getting one in July 2019. One of those AFs would be mitigated by the $100 credit, but if that credit doesn't show up before 11 August, then we would have to pay the AF and wait for it. Given how far off all of this is -- the hotel cert, in particular -- my temptation is just to wait until first week of August and cancel the card then, whether credit has posted (found money!) or not (since from a spending standpoint, it's now a useless card).
Or would I be cutting off my nose to spite my face, since the eventual $100 credit does make it possible to hold card at no real cost for one more year.?
- an AF that just posted (11 July)
- an offer through August something of $50 credit for $1500 spend and/or $100 credit for $3000 spend (i.e., another $50 for a second $1500). By the end of the weekend we will have hit the $3000 spend. Flies in the ointment are (a) that no $50 credit posted when we passed $1500 a month ago; (b) a 3 July e-mail from Amex/SPG showing that we were registered in the program and had $0 progress through 13 June; and (c) formal language in the offer that says credit(s) will post 8-12 weeks after August end data. Slight possible mitigations to above include (i) just called in and CSR could see our spend on program that conformed to the $ with our calculations; and (ii) CSR said that credit could post when spend hits $3,000.
So what is my play here? The hotel certificate would be of value, but it seems as if we would have to pay two more AFs before getting one in July 2019. One of those AFs would be mitigated by the $100 credit, but if that credit doesn't show up before 11 August, then we would have to pay the AF and wait for it. Given how far off all of this is -- the hotel cert, in particular -- my temptation is just to wait until first week of August and cancel the card then, whether credit has posted (found money!) or not (since from a spending standpoint, it's now a useless card).
Or would I be cutting off my nose to spite my face, since the eventual $100 credit does make it possible to hold card at no real cost for one more year.?
For you, it's up to you, but it does sound like cancelling the card would be more pique than anything. I guess you could try for a retention offer with regard to the annual fee, perhaps calling between August 1-11 when the new program rules are (theoretically) fully in place but the paid AF is also theoretically still refundable. Amex seems to have cracked down somewhat on retention offers, but I suspect they may also be desperate to placate angry SPG cardholders. And/or they may just offer you a bonus to upgrade to the luxury card.
Jul 15, 2018, 12:40 am
#123
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
I got a similar but less lucrative offer for $100 back after $5K spend up to two times. Have hit the spend and no credit, though the T&Cs likewise suggest it may not post until the spend period is over. It may end up requiring chasing the credit, but I'm not too worried about it since I also got a "here's what you've spent so far" email which gives me further comfort that it's a real offer that is in fact logged somewhere in Amex's systems.
For you, it's up to you, but it does sound like cancelling the card would be more pique than anything. I guess you could try for a retention offer with regard to the annual fee, perhaps calling between August 1-11 when the new program rules are (theoretically) fully in place but the paid AF is also theoretically still refundable. Amex seems to have cracked down somewhat on retention offers, but I suspect they may also be desperate to placate angry SPG cardholders. And/or they may just offer you a bonus to upgrade to the luxury card.
For you, it's up to you, but it does sound like cancelling the card would be more pique than anything. I guess you could try for a retention offer with regard to the annual fee, perhaps calling between August 1-11 when the new program rules are (theoretically) fully in place but the paid AF is also theoretically still refundable. Amex seems to have cracked down somewhat on retention offers, but I suspect they may also be desperate to placate angry SPG cardholders. And/or they may just offer you a bonus to upgrade to the luxury card.
Jul 16, 2018, 11:27 am
#124
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 153
Because my SPG card is the last AMEX card I have with my grandfathered "member since" date for credit reporting (AMEX changed this a few years ago; it used to be their policy to open any new account with the "member since" date for credit reporting purposes), I tried to product change it today to the Everyday card so my credit score wouldn't go down. The CS rep said this card is ineligible for this. Anyone done this successfully?
Jul 16, 2018, 11:32 am
#125
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Because my SPG card is the last AMEX card I have with my grandfathered "member since" date for credit reporting (AMEX changed this a few years ago; it used to be their policy to open any new account with the "member since" date for credit reporting purposes), I tried to product change it today to the Everyday card so my credit score wouldn't go down. The CS rep said this card is ineligible for this. Anyone done this successfully?
I'm in the same situation and will keep the SPG card for credit score purposes since it's one of my oldest accounts. The free night should cover the annual fee IMO.
Jul 16, 2018, 4:55 pm
#126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
Because my SPG card is the last AMEX card I have with my grandfathered "member since" date for credit reporting (AMEX changed this a few years ago; it used to be their policy to open any new account with the "member since" date for credit reporting purposes), I tried to product change it today to the Everyday card so my credit score wouldn't go down. The CS rep said this card is ineligible for this. Anyone done this successfully?
Jul 17, 2018, 12:33 pm
#127
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
Should I close my current SPG card in the hope of being eligible for the sign up bonus of the refreshed cards ?
For new accounts, will they give the free-night certificate upon approval ?
For new accounts, will they give the free-night certificate upon approval ?
Jul 17, 2018, 12:50 pm
#128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,792
I saw that my anniversary just hit and grandfathered $65 AF hit my account (biz). Time to call and express my unhappiness about missing out on the first anniversary night by only 2 weeks...
Jul 19, 2018, 7:32 pm
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
No only will there not be a new personal SPG card (other than new "luxury" card), the current SPG card may be discontinued for new applications very soon perhaps. Amex supposedly doesn't have right to "market" a "normal cost" personal card in the new program, which is what the current personal SPG card is, and by some interpretations the new program is starting in just a couple weeks.
Meanwhile, there's a very good chance that the new business card is going to treated just as a refresh of the existing SPG business card, and "lifetime" rules will disallow anyone who's had the SPG business card in the past 7 years or so from getting a signup bonus on the new business card.
Jul 22, 2018, 4:30 pm
#131
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
Which current SPG card? Personal or business?
No only will there not be a new personal SPG card (other than new "luxury" card), the current SPG card may be discontinued for new applications very soon perhaps. Amex supposedly doesn't have right to "market" a "normal cost" personal card in the new program, which is what the current personal SPG card is, and by some interpretations the new program is starting in just a couple weeks.
No only will there not be a new personal SPG card (other than new "luxury" card), the current SPG card may be discontinued for new applications very soon perhaps. Amex supposedly doesn't have right to "market" a "normal cost" personal card in the new program, which is what the current personal SPG card is, and by some interpretations the new program is starting in just a couple weeks.
Based on what we’ve known until recently, my assumption was that the SPG Personal Amex would no longer be open to new applicants as of sometime soon. That’s because Chase has the rights to issuing the mass consumer and premium consumer cards. Logically that means the card would continue being honored for existing cardmembers, though eventually would no longer be allowed to accept new applicants.
Apparently that’s not the case. Amex has confirmed to me that the SPG Amex Consumer Card will continue to be issued after August 1, and that there will be a “very rich sign-up bonus on the card in the coming weeks.”
This is surprising to me. Looking back at the initial announcement from last December, there was nothing explicitly stating that the agreements were exclusive, though I think it was logical enough to infer that, especially based on similar situations we’ve seen with other agreements. That’s not happening after all, and I’m quite happy about that, as it means more choices for us.
Apparently that’s not the case. Amex has confirmed to me that the SPG Amex Consumer Card will continue to be issued after August 1, and that there will be a “very rich sign-up bonus on the card in the coming weeks.”
This is surprising to me. Looking back at the initial announcement from last December, there was nothing explicitly stating that the agreements were exclusive, though I think it was logical enough to infer that, especially based on similar situations we’ve seen with other agreements. That’s not happening after all, and I’m quite happy about that, as it means more choices for us.
Jul 23, 2018, 10:56 am
#132
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 544
I read somewhere a while back that the new SPG luxury card won't be available (or maybe won't offer a sign up bonus?) to people who have the existing Ritz Carlton card. Do we know for sure about this? I have the Ritz card, and will be ready to meet spend on a new card in the next few months, and was planning on jumping on the SPG Luxury card if the sign up bonus was good. But maybe I shouldn't expect to be eligible? Thanks for any insights!
Jul 23, 2018, 5:04 pm
#133
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 50
Annual fee just posted on my SPG Card. CSR confirmed that reward night would not kick in until end of July 2019. No real details on upgrade path to Luxury Card. Offered retention of $75 with $2,000 spend. Contemplating shifting over to Hilton properties.
Jul 23, 2018, 6:08 pm
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
In one sense, a card issued in August that says "Starwood" on it is not yet branded for the new program, even more so if it still says "Starwood Preferred Guest" on it..