FlyerTalk Forums - SPG American Express [Master Thread]

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Quote:

Originally Posted by UA-NYC (Post 24866973)

I believe it...the card has fallen behind others. I'm benching it on my Europe trip next week for my SPG stays, just not willing to pay the 3% when I can get double points with other cards fee-free.

I suppose it's possible - but adding two benefits (Boingo and no foreign fees) of SPG Platinum with it's $450 annual fee to Starwood Amex is interesting since the SPG annual fee is $65. Maybe this means the fee will go up to $95 like the other higher end cards (like Reserve Hilton, BA and United Explorer).

Plus at some point (already imo) I don't find much worthy in the way of Amex Plat and this will further degrade it for those that do. I suppose though others find $250 worth of value someplace (since they basically give you back $200 in air/travel credits).

Quote:

Originally Posted by UA-NYC (Post 24866973)

I believe it...the card has fallen behind others. I'm benching it on my Europe trip next week for my SPG stays, just not willing to pay the 3% when I can get double points with other cards fee-free.

I checked my SPG Amex card number on Boingo, but it showed it as ineligible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by username (Post 24581441)

I have had the SPG Amex for 15+ years. I think the main purposes are:

1 - use at Costco Now, with Costco leaving AMEX,

I use Visa and MC to buy Costco cash cards online all the time. It's possible that you will still be able to use AMEX online @ Costco and you can buy cash cards using your SPG Amex

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackE (Post 24869378)

I checked my SPG Amex card number on Boingo, but it showed it as ineligible.

The boingo benefit is for Amex Platinum cards only. It is solely a rumor that this benefit will be extended to the Starwood Amex.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelinSperry (Post 24869307)

I suppose though others find $250 worth of value someplace (since they basically give you back $200 in air/travel credits).

I find the value between FHR and the Delta and Cent lounges, but it's certainly not as valuable as it used to be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelinSperry (Post 24869307)

If AMEX wants these new benefits and a higher fee on AMEX SPG, they should offer it as a new card, Starwood Plus or whatever. I'd rather pay $65 and keep what I have.

0% FX fee is not that useful, because I still need to carry a 0% FX Visa abroad due to widespread lack of AMEX acceptance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrgg (Post 24906472)

I agree. I would consider AF $95 for:

3x points on spg
2x points on flights and/or restaurants
1x point on everything else.

Annual free night certificate
Spend $40k get SPG platinum

One can dream right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotrbfme (Post 24906766)

The desire to earn SPG platinum via CC has come up before. Someone from Starwood was quoted as saying, "Over my dead body."

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrgg (Post 24906808)

The desire to earn SPG platinum via CC has come up before. Someone from Starwood was quoted as saying, "Over my dead body."

Yeah, anyways it is relatively easy to obtain it the regular way.

However at least increasing the earning values would be good.

According to Doctor of Credit:

No foreign transaction fees (currently 2.7%)
Premium in room internet at all SPG hotels
Boingo internet access for up to four devices
Annual fee of $95 (currently $65)

I personally hate boingo. It consumes 300x your device battery, steals all your personal information for marketing purposes and it never works...

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotrbfme (Post 24908304)

... boingo. It consumes 300x your device battery,

Not if you use their service without their software. Discussion HERE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotrbfme (Post 24908304)

According to Doctor of Credit:

No foreign transaction fees (currently 2.7%)
Premium in room internet at all SPG hotels
Boingo internet access for up to four devices
Annual fee of $95 (currently $65)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrgg (Post 24906472)

Assuming my guess was correct (and Doctor of Credit's info) if you are a Platinum and already receive Premium in-room Internet access and never use Boingo - you would need to spend at least $1,112 USD abroad to justify the increase in the annual fee. Not everyone who uses this card travels abroad so it'll be interesting to see if they cancel.

As for me (Platinum) - $1,112 is easy to attain solely at SPG hotels abroad and so ultimately I'll make out with the foreign transaction fee waived. But the increase lessens the impact it'll have since Amex is rarely accepted outside Starwoods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotrbfme (Post 24906766)

Sure would be nice. But as others have said, Platinum off spend appears to be a non-starter. An annual free night certificate would certainly be nice though...for that I wouldn't complain about a $95 annual fee.

The official announcement is here. The benefits are slightly different for personal and business cards:

PERSONAL: http://www.americanexpress.com/us/co...est/index.html
BUSINESS: http://www.americanexpress.com/us/co...est/index.html

Read carefully the internet access terms:

Quote:

Premium on-property Internet Access

For Basic Card Members only on Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations at SPG Participating Hotels. Exclusions of Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations might include rooms booked through a group rate as part of an event and the SPG Member does not directly pay the SPG Participating Hotel for such room; through a tour operator; or through an online travel channel or third party channel (such as expedia.com, hotwire.com, priceline.com, orbitz.com, booking.com, Travelocity.com, ctrip.com, or elong.com.) A full description of Starpoint Eligible Rates and SPG Participating Hotels can be found at www.spg.com/terms. The SPG Member account number must be provided at the time of reservation and/or check-in. Premium Internet access is limited to one room per eligible Card Member per Stay regardless of how many rooms have been reserved. No incremental benefit will be provided at SPG® Participating Hotels that offer complimentary in-room Internet access to all guests. SPG Participating Hotels that have mandatory resort charges that include Internet access will provide a replacement benefit, to be determined at each SPG Participating Hotel’s discretion.

Basic Cardmember is American Expresspeak for the primary cardholder. This means that, in principle, a spouse, child or anyone travelling with a supplementary card will not be eligible for this benefit.

Also review the FAQ page:

http://www.americanexpress.com/us/co...uest/faqs.html

Quote:

“Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations” mean reservations that are booked through SPG channels, including spg.com, the SPG app, or calls directly to hotels that participate in the SPG program. If you book through a third party (such as Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz), or as part of a group rate, you would not get the benefit. You must provide your SPG account number at the time of reservation or check-in to take advantage of this benefit during your stay.

Quote:

Q4: Is the annual fee increasing?

A: Yes, as of August 11th, the new annual fee will be $95.

Q11: What if I also have the SPG Business Credit Card?

A: The annual fee increase applies to both the SPG Credit Card and the SPG Business Credit Card. To learn more about the SPG Business Credit Card and to visit the FAQs, please visit www.open.com/starwood.

So I have a dormant business, but I like the new benefits of the OPEN card (specifically the club lounge option). Do you have to prove a going concern to be able to get this card?

Thanks!

Does anyone know if you meet the $30k spend for gold status and cancel later in the year, do you get to keep the gold status for the rest of the year? Thanks.