Canadian SPG American Express
Apr 29, 2010, 7:18 am
#751
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 106
Just starting to adjust my CC usage now with the new SPG Amex and existing Aerogold.
Seems to me that the best usage would be to use Amex for everything I can other than gas, groceries and drugs which earn 1.5 pts/$ based on the fact that transfers from SPG to AP happen at 1.25pts/$. Where Amex is not accepted use Visa.
Previously AP would not allow transfers from SPG for MBNA purchases - can anyone confirm if there is a similar limitation in regards to Amex pts. earned in SPG?
Excluding the insurance on reward ticket debate, I don't see any meaningful differences in the insurance coverages between the two cards that would push me towards one or the other.
Am I missing something here?
Seems to me that the best usage would be to use Amex for everything I can other than gas, groceries and drugs which earn 1.5 pts/$ based on the fact that transfers from SPG to AP happen at 1.25pts/$. Where Amex is not accepted use Visa.
Previously AP would not allow transfers from SPG for MBNA purchases - can anyone confirm if there is a similar limitation in regards to Amex pts. earned in SPG?
Excluding the insurance on reward ticket debate, I don't see any meaningful differences in the insurance coverages between the two cards that would push me towards one or the other.
Am I missing something here?
Apr 29, 2010, 8:03 am
#752
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Calgary
Programs: A Few
Posts: 2,339
I have done several transfers online from SPG to Aeroplan with no problems. At least 80% of my miles were from MBNA MC usage.
Apr 29, 2010, 7:54 pm
#753
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4
SPG -- AAdvantage miles
Apr 30, 2010, 10:00 am
#754
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Well I had the card for a week, statement closed on the 24th, and then:
Earn +11000 04/27/2010 SPG AX CA 1ST PURCH CNSMR-SPG
Earn +1903 04/27/2010 SPG AX CA BASE SPEND CNSMR
Yay!
Earn +11000 04/27/2010 SPG AX CA 1ST PURCH CNSMR-SPG
Earn +1903 04/27/2010 SPG AX CA BASE SPEND CNSMR
Yay!
May 2, 2010, 7:35 am
#755
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 3
Better currency conversion rates than RBC Avion!?
Thought Id share a little analysis I just conducted on currency conversion rates.
I'm traveling internationally for a while and was concerned about the AMEX conversion method.
Ive compared the rates on both cards for purchases in Argentinean pesos on the same day and it turns out buying on AMEX is 0.4% CHEAPER after conversion.
I will check again using a different currency this week.
Anybody else can confirm or challenge this?
I'm traveling internationally for a while and was concerned about the AMEX conversion method.
Ive compared the rates on both cards for purchases in Argentinean pesos on the same day and it turns out buying on AMEX is 0.4% CHEAPER after conversion.
I will check again using a different currency this week.
Anybody else can confirm or challenge this?
Last edited by mineauo; May 2, 2010 at 1:39 pm Reason: Correction
May 2, 2010, 12:37 pm
#756
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 200
Thought Id share a little analysis I just conducted on currency conversion rates.
I'm traveling internationally for a while and was concerned about the AMEX conversion method of going from local currency to USD +2.5%, then USD to CAN +2.5% versus my RBC Avion which is direct local to CAN +2.5%". If RBC and AMEX use the same conversion rate before fees, you'd expect the purchases to be 2.5% more expensive overall with AMEX.
Ive compared the rates on both cards for purchases in Argentinean pesos on the same day and it turns out buying on AMEX is 0.4% CHEAPER after conversion, not 2.5% more expensive as expected. This means the AMEX currency conversion rates before the fees are significantly better than RBC.
I will check again using a different currency this week.
Given that the SPG points are worth a lot more for me (especially when using Cash+Points deals), I will therefore use AMEX in foreign currency whenever possible.
Anybody else can confirm or challenge this?
I'm traveling internationally for a while and was concerned about the AMEX conversion method of going from local currency to USD +2.5%, then USD to CAN +2.5% versus my RBC Avion which is direct local to CAN +2.5%". If RBC and AMEX use the same conversion rate before fees, you'd expect the purchases to be 2.5% more expensive overall with AMEX.
Ive compared the rates on both cards for purchases in Argentinean pesos on the same day and it turns out buying on AMEX is 0.4% CHEAPER after conversion, not 2.5% more expensive as expected. This means the AMEX currency conversion rates before the fees are significantly better than RBC.
I will check again using a different currency this week.
Given that the SPG points are worth a lot more for me (especially when using Cash+Points deals), I will therefore use AMEX in foreign currency whenever possible.
Anybody else can confirm or challenge this?
Thanks for your analysis, but you don't seem to have read either the disclosure statements that came with your card, the cardholder agreement or previous posts in this thread. You're correct that foreign currencies are converted to USD and then to CAD, but there is only one conversion commission of 2.5%.
May 2, 2010, 1:43 pm
#757
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 3
Thanks for your analysis, but you don't seem to have read either the disclosure statements that came with your card, the cardholder agreement or previous posts in this thread. You're correct that foreign currencies are converted to USD and then to CAD, but there is only one conversion commission of 2.5%.
The fact remains that on this particular day, AMEX was cheaper than RBC. I will conduct the same analysis on Peruvian Sols this week and report the results here
Cheers,
May 3, 2010, 11:26 am
#758
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Programs: SPG member
Posts: 31
Do all Amex close on the 24th? My SPG one does not seem to have closed yet so no SPG points posted yet ... hummm
May 3, 2010, 4:35 pm
#760
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Programs: SPG member
Posts: 31
It would seem that mine might be close around the 20th too. Got the card on the 20th but only started charging on 21st. I have gone over my 1K but still not closed nor any statements. Sweet ... no payment for another month too.
OK. Will just have to be patient.
It is nice to see others here that already got their 11K bonus as well as their SPG points so rapidly.
Going to the Westin next week so that should help with more SPG points!
OK. Will just have to be patient.
It is nice to see others here that already got their 11K bonus as well as their SPG points so rapidly.
Going to the Westin next week so that should help with more SPG points!
May 3, 2010, 8:39 pm
#761
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
My statement closed on the 26th, and the 11,00 bonus points have posted already.
May 7, 2010, 4:49 pm
#762
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 50
Where does one find what their SPG # is? Do I need to call AMEX and ask? I couldn't find the information in my first statement.
Did not have a pre-existing SPG membership on application so (presumably) one will be assigned to me.
Did not have a pre-existing SPG membership on application so (presumably) one will be assigned to me.
May 7, 2010, 5:32 pm
#763
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
May 8, 2010, 7:24 am
#764
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Waterloo, ON, Canada
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 228
As noted in the OP, the current offer (first year free, 11K bonus points) is ends May 31.
Also noted in the OP, the same offer will be extended to Gold and Plat members until March 2011, but hasn't been announced officially yet making some wonder if it is OK to wait.
NEW INFO: This will be announced to Gold and Platinum members "after June".
Also noted in the OP, the same offer will be extended to Gold and Plat members until March 2011, but hasn't been announced officially yet making some wonder if it is OK to wait.
NEW INFO: This will be announced to Gold and Platinum members "after June".
May 12, 2010, 1:46 pm
#765
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
2 GBP purchases on Sunday, conversion rates
Bank rate: 1.52ish
Mastercard: 1.559 (~2.5%)
Amex: 1.585 (~4.5%)
Bank rate: 1.52ish
Mastercard: 1.559 (~2.5%)
Amex: 1.585 (~4.5%)