Jun 12, 2014, 11:11 am
Last edit by: CodeAdam10
For discussion of the now expired offer for a 35K signup bonus, see Amex SPG 35,000 business and personal cards-2016 [No referral offers in this thread.]
USA-issued card benefits changed on August 11, 2015. (Announcement & extended discussion at American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits.) The benefits are slightly different for personal and business cards:
Public Links:
- The Annual Fee is $450.
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 3x on restaurants and airfare; 2x on all other purchases.
- Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- FREE NIGHT AWARD: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- COMPLIMENTARY GOLD ELITE STATUS: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card. Earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Other Highlighted Benefits: Priority Pass Select Membership, Global Entry credit, No Foreign Transaction fees.
- $125 Annual Fee (If application received before 03/28/19, $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95)
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 4x at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services & on U.S. purchases for shipping; 2x on all other purchases.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Other related discussion:
USA-issued card benefits changed on August 11, 2015. (Announcement & extended discussion at American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits.) The benefits are slightly different for personal and business cards:
Public Links:
- Personal [Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card]: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/marriott-bonvoy-brilliant
- The Annual Fee is $450.
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 3x on restaurants and airfare; 2x on all other purchases.
- Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- FREE NIGHT AWARD: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- COMPLIMENTARY GOLD ELITE STATUS: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card. Earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Other Highlighted Benefits: Priority Pass Select Membership, Global Entry credit, No Foreign Transaction fees.
- Business [Marriott Bonvoy Business Card]: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...s-credit-card/
- $125 Annual Fee (If application received before 03/28/19, $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95)
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 4x at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services & on U.S. purchases for shipping; 2x on all other purchases.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Discussion of Amex "one bonus per lifetime" policy (personal & business cards)
- Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex Card
- American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits
- How to keep SPG points from expiring after 12 months of account inactivity
- New Card Art for the US Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
SPG American Express [Master Thread]
May 2, 2013, 10:11 pm
#1981
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
Two scenerios - one is that they approve it (they do approve for slightly higher than the credit limit). Second, is you need to pay to make balance negative.
Amex won't let you make the credit limit go negative (i.e pay more than you owe). Even though I pay my card in full every month, the balance is relatively high due to biz spend.
So whenever I need to apply for new credit, I need to pay to make the card balance zero (or even beyond that if there are charges floating). And this is exactly what I did.... a week before statement cycled, I paid the card in full, and then initiated ANOTHER payment via my bank's bill pay. And voila... had negative balance on my card, it reported on my credit report as a zero balance card
Amex won't let you make the credit limit go negative (i.e pay more than you owe). Even though I pay my card in full every month, the balance is relatively high due to biz spend.
So whenever I need to apply for new credit, I need to pay to make the card balance zero (or even beyond that if there are charges floating). And this is exactly what I did.... a week before statement cycled, I paid the card in full, and then initiated ANOTHER payment via my bank's bill pay. And voila... had negative balance on my card, it reported on my credit report as a zero balance card
May 3, 2013, 11:37 am
#1982
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Well option 1 wasn't really an option as the purchase was about 3.5x my credit limit. So I went the negative balance route. That actually took a little effort as my online bill pay only allows a maximum of $10,000 per payment...and caps the total number of payments to a particular vendor to $50,000/day. I called them up but they couldn't help make a larger payment, which I found odd. So in the end I had to make 5 payments a day for a few days...but fortunately each of the payments posted to my Amex account within a business day. The thing I was most surprised about was not getting a phone call from Amex when the actual charge was put through.
In the end, its great you were able to work it out. That many starpoints are worth the hassle.
May 3, 2013, 11:43 am
#1983
Join Date: May 2006
Location: KSNA/KLAX
Programs: IML GOLD, Bonvoy LTPE, WOH Globalist, AAEXPLT
Posts: 645
Congrats for making it thru! I used to push major volume thru Amex, sometimes 6 digits a month but I'm in the process of transitioning to other cards... devaluation sucks 
Well option 1 wasn't really an option as the purchase was about 3.5x my credit limit. So I went the negative balance route. That actually took a little effort as my online bill pay only allows a maximum of $10,000 per payment...and caps the total number of payments to a particular vendor to $50,000/day. I called them up but they couldn't help make a larger payment, which I found odd. So in the end I had to make 5 payments a day for a few days...but fortunately each of the payments posted to my Amex account within a business day. The thing I was most surprised about was not getting a phone call from Amex when the actual charge was put through.
May 4, 2013, 4:13 pm
#1984
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
So, to be clear, you prepaid your card over a few days until your balance was negative at least $100,000 - then ran a $150,000+ charge on the card - all without ever contacting Amex, and they never even called you for suspicious activity? I think if that were me I would almost be disappointed I didn't get a phone call. Amex SHOULD be concerned about a charge that large, even if you did call in advance.
In the end, its great you were able to work it out. That many starpoints are worth the hassle.
In the end, its great you were able to work it out. That many starpoints are worth the hassle.
May 4, 2013, 4:15 pm
#1985
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
Thanks. I've been diversifying my spend a bit over the last year or so (added a Chase Ink Bold) but honestly I haven't found anything that works better for my needs than the SPG Amex. I'd be happy to hear what you've transitioned to.
May 5, 2013, 3:18 pm
#1986
Join Date: May 2006
Location: KSNA/KLAX
Programs: IML GOLD, Bonvoy LTPE, WOH Globalist, AAEXPLT
Posts: 645
In the past, my spendings were almost exclusively on the SPG Amex card. However my loyalty dropped with the march devaluation, and many of the SPG hotels I visit giving themselves "category upgrades" often times with no apparent improvement in service or amenities. In addition to spg amex, this is what I have:
Capital one Spark Card - 2% cash back, but 1.3% after tax (need to pay 33% of cash back to uncle sam).
Chase united airlines explorer - >30k bonus 1 mile per dollar. spent to the bonus limit and idled this card.
Chase united airlines club (1.5 miles per dollar). And here, is where most of my spendings go.
I'm still putting enough to get around 250k starpoints a year because there is still some benefit to spg amex but its a small amount compared to the other cards. From a business perspective, you'd get in trouble if you expense a week in Maui (whereas in Shanghai its just fine) so might as well use Starpoints for that haha.
Capital one Spark Card - 2% cash back, but 1.3% after tax (need to pay 33% of cash back to uncle sam).
Chase united airlines explorer - >30k bonus 1 mile per dollar. spent to the bonus limit and idled this card.
Chase united airlines club (1.5 miles per dollar). And here, is where most of my spendings go.
I'm still putting enough to get around 250k starpoints a year because there is still some benefit to spg amex but its a small amount compared to the other cards. From a business perspective, you'd get in trouble if you expense a week in Maui (whereas in Shanghai its just fine) so might as well use Starpoints for that haha.
May 6, 2013, 11:40 am
#1987
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Programs: Military Space-A, UA Plat, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,248
May 6, 2013, 3:30 pm
#1988
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,410
It's a business card. Cash back with respect to business (not personal) activity that's deductible either yields taxable income or an offset to the business deduction.
May 6, 2013, 5:31 pm
#1989
Join Date: May 2006
Location: KSNA/KLAX
Programs: IML GOLD, Bonvoy LTPE, WOH Globalist, AAEXPLT
Posts: 645
Yup.... if you pay an expense with a business card and the expense is 2% less (due to cash back), your profit is higher, and this needs to be reported on your statements.
But if it were fringe benefits (giving free hotel rooms + flying me places on award ticket = vacation), its generally not a requirement to report this. I don't think a client needs to think about reporting to the tax authority that they are getting "wined and dined" although with this government, you'd never know
But if it were fringe benefits (giving free hotel rooms + flying me places on award ticket = vacation), its generally not a requirement to report this. I don't think a client needs to think about reporting to the tax authority that they are getting "wined and dined" although with this government, you'd never know
May 6, 2013, 5:52 pm
#1990
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Yup.... if you pay an expense with a business card and the expense is 2% less (due to cash back), your profit is higher, and this needs to be reported on your statements.
But if it were fringe benefits (giving free hotel rooms + flying me places on award ticket = vacation), its generally not a requirement to report this. I don't think a client needs to think about reporting to the tax authority that they are getting "wined and dined" although with this government, you'd never know
But if it were fringe benefits (giving free hotel rooms + flying me places on award ticket = vacation), its generally not a requirement to report this. I don't think a client needs to think about reporting to the tax authority that they are getting "wined and dined" although with this government, you'd never know
[The] IRS has not pursued a tax enforcement program with respect to promotional benefits such as frequent flyer miles.
Consistent with prior practice, the IRS will not assert that any taxpayer has understated his federal tax liability by reason of the receipt or personal use of frequent flyer miles or other in-kind promotional benefits attributable to the taxpayer’s business or official travel. Any future guidance on the taxability of these benefits will be applied prospectively.
This relief does not apply to travel or other promotional benefits that are converted to cash, to compensation that is paid in the form of travel or other promotional benefits, or in other circumstances where these benefits are used for tax avoidance purposes.
For business rewards credit cards, this policy give mileage and hotel bonus points credit cards an edge over cash rebate credit cards.
May 6, 2013, 6:53 pm
#1991
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Exactly correct (at least in the USA). In 2002, the IRS issued Announcement 2002-18 (which you can view at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/a-02-18.pdf). This announcement is still IRS policy:
[The] IRS has not pursued a tax enforcement program with respect to promotional benefits such as frequent flyer miles.
Consistent with prior practice, the IRS will not assert that any taxpayer has understated his federal tax liability by reason of the receipt or personal use of frequent flyer miles or other in-kind promotional benefits attributable to the taxpayer’s business or official travel. Any future guidance on the taxability of these benefits will be applied prospectively.
This relief does not apply to travel or other promotional benefits that are converted to cash, to compensation that is paid in the form of travel or other promotional benefits, or in other circumstances where these benefits are used for tax avoidance purposes.
For business rewards credit cards, this policy give mileage and hotel bonus points credit cards an edge over cash rebate credit cards.
[The] IRS has not pursued a tax enforcement program with respect to promotional benefits such as frequent flyer miles.
Consistent with prior practice, the IRS will not assert that any taxpayer has understated his federal tax liability by reason of the receipt or personal use of frequent flyer miles or other in-kind promotional benefits attributable to the taxpayer’s business or official travel. Any future guidance on the taxability of these benefits will be applied prospectively.
This relief does not apply to travel or other promotional benefits that are converted to cash, to compensation that is paid in the form of travel or other promotional benefits, or in other circumstances where these benefits are used for tax avoidance purposes.
For business rewards credit cards, this policy give mileage and hotel bonus points credit cards an edge over cash rebate credit cards.
Also, the phrase "attributable to the taxpayer’s business or official travel" makes me wonder if the IRS might try to limit this guidance to BIS miles only.
May 7, 2013, 2:34 am
#1992
Join Date: May 2006
Location: KSNA/KLAX
Programs: IML GOLD, Bonvoy LTPE, WOH Globalist, AAEXPLT
Posts: 645
This makes me wonder how the IRS would view a currency like UR - which may be readily converted to cash, but which most of us here use for travel through transfer to loyalty programs. The phrase "This relief does not apply to travel or other promotional benefits that are converted to cash" would put the taxpayer in an odd situation where they may have to report some of their points (if they get cash back) but not others (which were transferred to UA, for example). Most obviously, it makes me wonder how the IRS would treat a UR statement credit used toward a travel purchase. Is a statement credit "converted to cash"?
Also, the phrase "attributable to the taxpayer’s business or official travel" makes me wonder if the IRS might try to limit this guidance to BIS miles only.
Also, the phrase "attributable to the taxpayer’s business or official travel" makes me wonder if the IRS might try to limit this guidance to BIS miles only.
On the subject of UR from a business perspective, its much better to redeem it for gift cards than cash
So YMMV depending on what position you are swiping your cards from. For me, 2% cash back card = 1.3% net cash back, which is not as good as the 1.5-2 cents that each starpoint is worth, or even the 1.5 miles (worth 2-2.5 cents) that a United Chase Visa gives.
May 7, 2013, 5:08 am
#1993
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
The valuation issue still applies to all miles and points regardless of how they were earned. It does not apply to the receipt of a cash rebate - obviously.
May 7, 2013, 8:37 am
#1994
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: All of 'em
Posts: 438
If I cancel the AMEX card, do I lost the 2 stays / 5 nights credit that I received with it?
Or once it's in my SPG account, it can't be clawed back?
Or once it's in my SPG account, it can't be clawed back?
May 8, 2013, 5:54 pm
#1995
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 64
Anyone come across this wording:
“If you are identified as a current American Express® Cardmember, you may not be eligible for this welcome bonus offer."
Anyone have success/failure stories in getting the bonus after being an Amex cardmember (I'm sure the SPG card is not the first Amex Card for most of us).
Thanks!
“If you are identified as a current American Express® Cardmember, you may not be eligible for this welcome bonus offer."
Anyone have success/failure stories in getting the bonus after being an Amex cardmember (I'm sure the SPG card is not the first Amex Card for most of us).
Thanks!
Response (Praveen Shrivastava) 04/30/2013 10:28 PM
Dear Michael,
Please refer to my earlier email of 01/29/13.
I wish to inform you that our research team has completed its investigation.
As per their research, you have been identified as an existing Cardmember so were redirected to the offer available to existing Cardmembers.
Our Compliance Team has confirmed that your experience did communicate the 10,000 First Purchase Bonus offer (even if you originally viewed the Prospect offer and are complaining because this is not the offer you eventually applied for). Therefore, they are not able to honor your claim.
As per their research, you were eligible for POID AB80:0001. Under this offer you were eligible for 10,000 bonus StarPoints on making the first purchase. These bonus points have already been transferred to your account on 06/10/12. As such, no further action is required.
I hope you find this information useful. If there is any other way we may be of assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Praveen Shrivastava
Email Servicing Team
American Express Interactive Services
Oh well. Looks like I will be canceling the card.