Two ways to try to find a referral bonus:

1 - In your Amex account, search for "refer" and you should get a page with all of your cards with potential referral bonuses.

1 - Go to your SPG page and see if there's an Amex referral bonus listed in one of the three boxes at the bottom. Sometimes it disappears when/if you log in, so you might need to log back out.

Called amex and that indeed turned out to be the case, despite the fact that I entered my correct SPG account number in the application. Supposedly no activity hit the new account yet so they say I should be fine w/r/t bonus points and status credits hitting the Starwood account

Mine posted a week later than normal without a call to AMEX

Anyone know what the protocol is for if you get approved for this card without an existing SPG account? AKA will they inform me of my new SPG member number when I receive the card, or will I have to wait a month for points to post before I get my SPG number? I'd like to reserve a hotel room pretty quick here, but obviously that wouldn't make much sense to do without my number...

I don't remember exactly how I got my member number, but I do know that you can request missing stay credit - so if you urgently need to book the room you can book it then add the member number later.

I got a welcome packet in the mail pretty quickly with the new number (even though I had an existing account and had to merge the two accounts), but also, when I called, AmEx was able to see the number. I think SPG, too. So call and ask your number, and then you can set up a SPG dot com account login. Register for the new promo before booking: https://www.spgpromos.com/betterbyth...spgpromosredir.
Bonus for booking online, but bigger bonus for using an iPhone or Android app.

Sorry if this is redundant, but can you guys confirm that, having obtained both a personal and a business SPG Amex, I should expect (1) the signup and initial spend bonuses; and (2) the 2-stay/5-night credit from BOTH cards (e.g. it's not limited to just the first card)?

A few threads suggest this is the case, but I wanted to confirm for sure...

Thanks!

Yes, you are correct on all counts. I got 60,000 points bonus and 10 nights/4 stays.

Here is an interesting situation:

My mother stays with Starwood maybe once or twice a year and has obtained gold for the past 4 years. I added her as an authorized user on my SPG Amex. I spend enough on the card to qualify for the free Gold status. My question is... does this then apply to your authorized users? Or is this just some weird glitch in the system where they just never remove her status.

Anyone out there keeping both the SPG personal and the SPG business cards?

I noticed in the terms and conditions that you earn 5 nights towards status when you apply and the following February of each year after. If I applied today would I get 5 nights for 2012 and then in February get 5 nights for 2013?

Yes, but you don't get the nights when you APPLY - you get them when your account is OPENED. The terms & conditions are perfectly clear:

"Upon opening your Card Account, and by February 15 of each subsequent calendar year it is open, you will receive from Starwood credit for 2 stays toward your Starwood Preferred Guest Elite status and credit for 5 nights toward your Starwood Preferred Guest Elite status. This benefit is limited to one annual 2 stay credit and one annual 5 night Elite status credit per Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card account. You will not receive additional 2 stay or 5 night Elite status credits if you have multiple Card Accounts. Credits and status are subject to terms and conditions of the Starwood Preferred Guest program."

From what I remember, you can receive the bonus from this card more than once so long as it has been more than two years since you last opened an SPG account. Is this (still) accurate? I have an SPG account now (open almost two years), and its coming up on the annual fee and I'm considering closing it. If, at some point in the future, I decide to reopen the account, will I be able to receive the bonus again?

Thanks!

I have both cards but need to ax one.. Which is the best one to ax, the Personal or Business?

From up-thread:

Recently, Amex seems to have made explicit in new offer T&C that the wait for #1 is 1 year these days.