I spend $4k per mo on average. Not sure whether you consider it low usage... but I would assume not. And I was targeted for the offer.

Although my usage does dip when I travel Internationally (since Amex is not as widely accepted abroad). For the past 30 days that has been the case. Unless they looked at the very recent spend in my case, can't see why I'd be targeted. Still, I have been loyal for many years - so perhaps it's a loyalty target. I'll take it :)

Thanks for the info.

My minimum monthly usage is $6K per month but I haven't seen any type of targeted offer.

I received bonus offers for both my personal and business SPG Amex. The personal card is a 5,000 point bonus for spending at least 5k by December 31 (sent out on 10/6/16). Signing up was straightforward. The business offer is for 5,000 or 10,000 points if you spend at least 5 or 10k by Dec 15. For many weeks I would click the link and not be able to confirm registration (e-mailed offers were sent on 8/11/16 and 9/12/16, with the second e-mail commenting on "technical difficulties" for folks enrolling in this offer). I even called Amex, and they were no help. I tried again this week and it stated I was already registered. So now I don't know when or if I'm meeting the spending threshold?! Will probably need to call.

Posted in Wrong thread

Is there a reconsideration number for the SPG card? Just applied and got a pending message.

I called 800 641 2400, and got it approved. I had a fraud alert on my credit report, so that's why it went into pending. They are rushing out the card.

Is there anyway to get platinum from spend on this card?

No.

I have both the personal and business versions of this card. Each card entitles me to 5 elite qualifying nights and 2 stays.

Do these benefits stack (i.e. am I entitled to 10 elite qualifying nights?)

I got 4 stays and 10 Nights.

How to figure out Year To Date spend?
 

I am confused on the calculation of Year To Date spend on the SPG cards.

There are 3 different numbers -

1) I added up all the points transferred from AMEX to SPG from January till now - that should be all the spend up to the latest statement, and not including the upcoming statement.

2) The above number does not match what the AMEX Chat Rep told me. The chat rep said this is up to the latest statement, not including the current cycle spending. If so, it should match what the sum of all the points shown on SPG as from AMEX, but it does not!

3) The above number ALSO does not match what AMEX website told me when I chose the display of Jan 1 2016 Year To Date.
I understand the website number includes the unbilled charges for the current cycle that the statement has not closed yet.
When I subtract the current cycle, the outcome does NOT match either 1) or 2).

Furthermore, they are not by a few hundreds but a few Thousands. So exactly which number is the correct answer? I think I would err on the lowest one and make sure I reach the $30K threshold to keep my SPG Gold now it translates to Marriott Gold.

Not sure why you are adding up all those numbers since a YTD number is shown on each Amex statement. These numbers are shown on the last page (prior to the boilerplate pages) under the heading SPG Starpoints Earned. Remember to only take the number listed as Points Earned for Eligible Spend since the total transferred will include the bonus Starpoints earned by staying at Starwood properties. The Points Earned for Eligible Spend (awarded at a rate of 1 Starpoint/$1) should indicate how close you are to reaching the $30,000 threshold for achieving/maintaining SPG Gold status.

That is exactly I did to count the number from AMEX online. I used the RAW NUMBERS, meaning the itemized charges on each statement cycle, minus the credits received from the AMEX Offers.

But it does not agree with what the chat rep told me. Nor the number shown when you choose Jan 1st 2016 Year To Date from the Statement and Activity screen on AMEX online, even after subtracting the unbilled number on the current cycle.

There is no paid stay on SPG property this year, so there is no bonus points on the points transferred to SPG. All of them are 1pt per $1 spend.

I mean, being an ex accounting professional in previous life (CPA), I do remember how to do reconciliation. LOL. Hence I am troubled by WHY these number dont add up, literally.

Did you adjust for transactions made in 2015 but transferred in January?

I do not think these should be subtracted. They are treated more like payments than returns.

If you have a Business card you may have received a bonus in 2016 for 5,000 or 10,000 points.

I'm also "going for Gold" via spend. First off, the AMEX offer credits did not earn Starpoints on my last statement so it appears they should be subtracted.

Second, at the very bottom of "SPG Points Earned" portion of my statement it says:

"Your qualifying Year-to-Date spending on your Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is $xx.00.To qualify for Starwood Gold Preferred Guest® Status, you need to have $30,000 in qualified spend by December 31st."

That is what I will go by.

Also, my "points earned for eligible spend this year" is six points more than "qualifying Year-to-Date spending". Just my most recent statement gave me 2 pts more than eligible spend. I don't know why but I'm not a CPA so I don't feel a professional obligation to reconcile.