Cut off date for Deval
 

Does anyone know what will happen to spend placed on the card after the July statement cuts but before August 1? Since Starpoints will not exist when the August statement cuts, I can imagine different scenarios. One would be that transactions before August 1 will receive 3 points per dollar. Another would be that they would only receive 2 points per dollar. My plan is to immediately stop spending on the card when the deval hits. Hence, we need to plan accordingly. Also, would the points be based on transaction date or post date?
Thanks!

I think Amex or Starwood Lurker already said you'll get 3x on July purchases even if the statement prints later.

Current bonus is now 75k (until 6/27) which is pretty incredible for a no AF card.

Why is that SPG hotel's authorizations on AMEX do not show up as pending expenses?
I'm currently traveling around in Korea and China and have noticed that my stays at SPG hotels tend not to show up as pending. But the authorizations do go through. I've called AMEX and they've confirmed "all is good" for my upcoming stays. Just curious if it's a hotel issue or just AMEX not posting online pending stays lately as I have not seen any while I've been traveling around. Only the final change posts a few days later.

Amex does this for all foriegn purchases, The Auth comes thru and if you set up an acct alert you'll get a text or email with a expected amount. About 4 days later it posts with a final amount. They don't show as pending but the available credit decreases.

Ok.. I thought the changes coming for the SPG AMEX were a good thing to some degree. But I'm confused why it's being said that Starpoints will not exist...

According to AMEX: (https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...eferred-guest/)

• before August 1: 2 Starpoints will be given for SPG stays, 1 point for all other eligible purchases
• August 1: 6 "points" are earned for SPG stays; 2 points for all other eligible purchases

My strategy lately is to earn as many points now as all points will be 3x on August 1. What's not to like about that? Am I missing something?

You're right, before Aug it's fine. The issue is that after August, the earn rate you quoted "2 pts for all other purchases." means .66 current SPG point or .66 airline mile on transfers (I think it's .82 mile if get the transfer bonus, so still below 1). So, it's the non-bonused spend to airline transfers that's the issue. I cancelled my card last week.

edit: just a note here, I am not looking at the free room each year, etc. I was just commenting above about the earn rate for this card.
edit 2: what you are doing currently as far as getting as many SPG points prior to August is a good idea. I would do that, but have too much spend on other cards and I'm at 200 starpoints currently, so I can't manage it.

points.com purchase
 

Does anyone know if buying points on points.com would count towards minimum spend for the new card? Say not only starpoints but any kind of point?

If the terms of the bonus say any kind of spend, I don't see why not. I don't see that as something like a cash advance, which would be excluded.

Does anyone know how the credit cards transition to the new points?
Like it is all purchases prior to Aug 1st still count as 3x despite my statement end date is post Aug 1st? or will it earn 2x.

I cant seem to get a straight answer on this. TPG is saying it earns 2x. some ppl say it earns 3x.

Does the new SPG (Marriott) AMEX come with any up front points? If not, it won't be very competitive with virtually every other travel card. However, I haven't seen any bonus mentioned anywhere.

I assume there's no good reason to keep an old SPG Amex card, if I have a new SPG Amex biz card and want to apply for the new SPG Luxury card, since it's a free night for essentially $150 -- I'll def burn the $300 credit at SPG hotels. Should I try and do this before Aug1?

Hello! I am actually now an Infrequent Flyer due to life circumstances, it happens... I received the announcement of the SPG program changes, just now have time to take a deeper look. I have 48,500 SPG points from AMEX card, always kept them for potential airline transfer needs. Due to limited traveling currently, seems it is perhaps time to let go of the points before end of July. Before I do that (likely Amazon gift cards), was wondering if anyone knew of gift card redemption changes effective 8/1... Thank you very much, in advance! p.s. other suggestions welcome :)

Has anyone gotten the 30% rebate yet on purchases at SPG/Marriott properties using the SPG Business card? Stayed in earlier June and still no credit for me. Usually AMEX statement credits are very quick.

Actually, I don't think you'd lose anything by holding on to them. You'll end up with 145.5 K Marriott points after the conversion in Aug and you can still transfer them to airlines (actually more airlines than currently) with the 25% transfer bonus opportunity still intact. I don't know anything about gift cards (is it a 1 cent per point value?), but if that is the rate you can do better. I would only go the gift card route if you know you definitely won't use them on flights or hotels.