1x MSing, SPG, Marriott, and American Express
 

Well folks, now that SPG and Marriott are 1 we can now MS 3x Marriott points from our couches via giftcardmall/giftcards.com via a cash back portal.

Now the real question is, is it worth it vs earning 1.5 UR or MR?

90000 Starpoints-->270k Marriott points-->Nights and Flights Cat 1-5

will earn you 132k United/120k Other airline points + a 7 night certificate at a Cat 1-5.

I'm having a hard time valuing Marriott points. Yes they aren't worth much, but the prospect of earning 3 per $1 spent is interesting.

Lets say I take TPG point valuations at face:

If 1 UR is worth $0.021, 1.5 UR is worth $0.0315
If 1 MR is worth $0.019, 1.5 MR is worth $0.0285
If 1 SPG becomes 3 Marriott points, and Marriott points are worth $0.007, 3 Marriott points are worth $0.021
1 SPG point alone is worth $0.025

But the reality is, after $90,000 in spend you can receive the following:
UR: $90000 spend on FU becomes 135,000 [insert UR transfer partner]
MR: $90000 spend on EDP becomes +-135,000 [insert MR transfer partner]
SPG: $90000 spend on SPG Amex becomes 270,000 Marriott points which becomes 132,000 United, 120,000 other (potential to earn SW Companion pass) plus a 7 night stay
SPG: $90000 --> 110,000 airline miles except UA which would be 52,500 miles

What are your all thoughts?

The nights and flights package would be the only good value here, or to top off a Marriott account for a big award. Otherwise just doing 2% cash is best MS.

Even if you only use 3-4 of the nights in the package, that's still better than just getting UR/MR points and transferring to miles only.

2% cash is most definitely not best for MS.

I doubt this option will be alive for too long. Prob be dead in next 6 months.

It is if you do this with lower cost GCs at the mall and in high volume per trip.

generating 90k MS with other methods is excruciatingly slow.

SPG MS might be worth it if you're going to get the SW companion pass.

You can do pretty well if you make a hotel best rate guarantee claim and pay for the hotel room with points earned from a 2% card. The out of pocket cost gets even lower when you take into account the points earned from the stay.

Generally, I can't be bothered to MS for 1x, and the volume you're discussing would be a .... ton of work to liquidate via MOs.

using the amex spg card for MS.....

hmmm, this is some groundbreaking, weird wild stuff. wow, you guys think of everything.

now, before you go out and do that $90m in your example, perhaps consider:

a. do you have any spend history that has been built over time to make anything near this level of spend anything but a red alog flag?
b. can you pass an Amex FR?
c. do you have several avenues to liquidate volume like this?
d. do you have the cash flow to float this money for a while in case you get shut down by a MO source/s or a liquidation avenue dies overnight (which is usually how they die)?
e. do you have a redemption in mind?
f. do you trust Marriott? if you do, take a look at their category moves the past several years- particularly what is left in Cat 1-5
g. do you get the feeling Marriott is taking a carrot and stick approach to this merger? ie: we are getting the carrot now. stick to follow (imo- kinda a leopard and changing it's spots thing) ........

There are a 5 night packages that I planned on using in Jan for SW CP. I hope it is available in January.

5 Nights + 50,000 Miles or Points for 165,000 Marriott Points
5 Nights + 70,000 Miles or Points for 185,000 Marriott Points
5 Nights + 100,000 Miles or Points for 215,000 Marriott Points
5 Nights + 120,000 Miles or Points for 235,000 Marriott Points

5 night packages are not available unless you are a timeshare owner. This is being enforced now.

The 7 night package is a good deal too, even if you only stay 4-5 nights.

The alternative is to send 90k SPG points to an airline and get 110k miles with the transfer bonuses. Here you're getting 120k+ miles AND free nights.

It's just an up front cost of MSing 90k and giving up, for example, a $1100 profit at 2% casback, or some other rewards. This type of deal requires a specific hotel redemption in mind and the travel commitment. It would be much better if they just gave out 5 or 6 free-night certificates to be spread around as we see fit.

Talking about which cards to ms is asking for trouble, shutdowns, eyes on accounts etc.

You ought to be able to decide which ones to do without headlines.

All of the headline topics that stay on the top of the first page are doomed,

Even for elite members?

Boo. I was looking forward for this deal. Wanted a 5 Night Cat 6. Plus 132K UA Miles and burn all my MR. guess will have to keep spending on the Chase Marriott to hit the 7 night :(