Reasons to renew SPG Business?
May 24, 2018, 7:35 am
#31
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
The pool of Ultimate Rewards transfer partners is significantly smaller than SPG's partners. UR transfers lack the 5K bonus/20K so the effective earn rate on everyday unbonused spend has been superior compared to CSR (though not CFU). CSR has other advantages of course.
Most airline branded cards have poor everyday unbonused earn rates in comparison to this current card (factoring the 5K bonus), though there are other benefits and initial bonuses.
Each person's goals and plans differ so any of the above are viable components of a travel rewards earning plan. And many of us would have all of the above. In any case, maybe this helps you understand why such folks would have obtained the card and now wondering whether to keep.
(Should go without saying but the above reference the current card and program)
May 24, 2018, 10:32 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,879
May 24, 2018, 6:42 pm
#34
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR/PHL/BWI
Posts: 4,412
If you don't understand why people got the card who don't stay at SPG properties a lot, then you weren't really familiar with what the differences have been among the options you mentioned.
The pool of Ultimate Rewards transfer partners is significantly smaller than SPG's partners. UR transfers lack the 5K bonus/20K so the effective earn rate on everyday unbonused spend has been superior compared to CSR (though not CFU). CSR has other advantages of course.
Most airline branded cards have poor everyday unbonused earn rates in comparison to this current card (factoring the 5K bonus), though there are other benefits and initial bonuses.
Each person's goals and plans differ so any of the above are viable components of a travel rewards earning plan. And many of us would have all of the above. In any case, maybe this helps you understand why such folks would have obtained the card and now wondering whether to keep.
(Should go without saying but the above reference the current card and program)
The pool of Ultimate Rewards transfer partners is significantly smaller than SPG's partners. UR transfers lack the 5K bonus/20K so the effective earn rate on everyday unbonused spend has been superior compared to CSR (though not CFU). CSR has other advantages of course.
Most airline branded cards have poor everyday unbonused earn rates in comparison to this current card (factoring the 5K bonus), though there are other benefits and initial bonuses.
Each person's goals and plans differ so any of the above are viable components of a travel rewards earning plan. And many of us would have all of the above. In any case, maybe this helps you understand why such folks would have obtained the card and now wondering whether to keep.
(Should go without saying but the above reference the current card and program)
IMO, even with the 25% bonus, transferring SPG points to airlines is not a good move. I'd rather xfer my AmEx MR points to airlines and use the alliance to book on the airlines we desire. There are so many ways to book the reward flights. I'd rather keep the SPG points for the best use or values.
Of course your point valuations can differ. Then we differ. YMMV.