Do I Keep the SPG or the C1 Venture?
Apr 23, 2011 | 11:20 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,567
Well, my point is, what works for you doesn't work for everyone.
I don't think SPG annual fee is worth it (for me)! Reason: I have a Diners Club already, and now that it's an MC (for a number of years now), I can use it "everywhere", while there are some signficant places where I can't use Amex, so I'd always have to be looking for something else from SPG.
Furthermore, I want to collect points in a variety of hotel programs, SPG not among them (because I don't do any reimbursed travel, and SPG is typically outside my personal budget). Diners will let me transfer to lots of hotel programs, but SPG being a hotel card obviously won't transfer to any other hotel program.
And some of the airilnes I want to be to transfer to include UA, which SPG supports at a poor transfer rate, so making up for Diners not supporting UA with SPG wouldn't make sense.
So 1:1 from a card I can use to partners that SPG can't is worth more to me than steady 1:1.25. And SPG doesn't solve any additional problems for me that Diners Club doesn't do about as well.
But, of course, for several years now, no one who didn't have a Diners Club (US/Canada) already has been able to apply for one. So it's not an option for anyone looking for a card right this second.
But I do agree with matching the card to your program usage. In my case, I do do mostly 1-night stays (because I'm so used to promos which give me oodles of bonus points or miles per stay, which can only be maxed out by hotel hopping). And I have been active in Priority Club for years.
I don't think SPG annual fee is worth it (for me)! Reason: I have a Diners Club already, and now that it's an MC (for a number of years now), I can use it "everywhere", while there are some signficant places where I can't use Amex, so I'd always have to be looking for something else from SPG.
Furthermore, I want to collect points in a variety of hotel programs, SPG not among them (because I don't do any reimbursed travel, and SPG is typically outside my personal budget). Diners will let me transfer to lots of hotel programs, but SPG being a hotel card obviously won't transfer to any other hotel program.
And some of the airilnes I want to be to transfer to include UA, which SPG supports at a poor transfer rate, so making up for Diners not supporting UA with SPG wouldn't make sense.
So 1:1 from a card I can use to partners that SPG can't is worth more to me than steady 1:1.25. And SPG doesn't solve any additional problems for me that Diners Club doesn't do about as well.
But, of course, for several years now, no one who didn't have a Diners Club (US/Canada) already has been able to apply for one. So it's not an option for anyone looking for a card right this second.
But I do agree with matching the card to your program usage. In my case, I do do mostly 1-night stays (because I'm so used to promos which give me oodles of bonus points or miles per stay, which can only be maxed out by hotel hopping). And I have been active in Priority Club for years.
Apr 23, 2011 | 11:23 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,567
Apr 24, 2011 | 10:32 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 26,113
I've got enough ways to collect miles into the "mainline" airlines, I want an even more fleixble card (multiple airlines, including ones I may only ever use once like Icelandair, and multiple hotel and motel programs).
Then there's the "always, alwaya, always primary" rental car collision coverage. Some people keep the card for that and that only.
Finally, many people get 10k "retntion" bonus almost every year. That more than pays for the annual fee if you make good use of those 10K points. (10k DC points certainly piad for more than one night of that $150++ BW stay.)
If all you use your card for then, is one or more ailrines that SPG transfer 1:1.25, then maybe it's best for you. But if you want a card that transfers to a variety of hotels, there are several options (DC, AMEX MR, maybe someday Sapphire*?), but SPG isn't among them.
(And I've found that, at least on domestic trips, depending on the destination, I need points help with hotel stays much more than airline fares, and surprisingly often enough in "rural" situations where the "big" hotel brands don't even have a presence.)
*You would think that Sapphire should be able to transfer to all the hotel programs that Chase has cards for, but then you'd also think that Sapphire should be able to transfer to all the airline programs that Chase has cards for...
Apr 25, 2011 | 2:23 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 217
looks like even the NYTimes has an opinion on this... http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/04/24...raccredit.html
Apr 25, 2011 | 4:55 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 321
Another thing to consider is if either, or both, will offer you a retention bonus
May 3, 2011 | 8:41 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,422
One pretty useful card is the Costco Amex, free with membership, offering cashback.:
2% travel
3% restaurants
3-4% on gas.
1% otherwise