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-   -   SPG American Express [Master Thread] (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-marriott-bonvoy/720571-spg-american-express-master-thread.html)

TravelinSperry Aug 2, 2018 1:09 am

I just received the following email from SPG Amex:

How You Earn Points with Your Card
When you use your Card, you can earn
  • 6X points for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG and Marriott RewardsŪ hotels1,2
  • 2X points on all other eligible purchases1,2
  • 4X points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping.2 Please note this update only applies to The Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express.
Its hard to read the 4x blurb... are 4x points solely for the Business card or are they for restaurants, gas and wireless, but not shipping? Assuming the latter - this makes the card good at least for SPG hotels, gas, and wireless. Other cards beat them on restaurants... so that's still a no go category.

mia Aug 2, 2018 5:52 am


Originally Posted by TravelinSperry (Post 30038208)
.... 4x points solely for the Business card....

Correct.

N515CR Aug 2, 2018 5:57 am


Originally Posted by TravelinSperry (Post 30038208)
Other cards beat them on restaurants... so that's still a no go category.

Yep, the SPG cards have, for the most part, been relegated to travel-only cards.

christianj Aug 2, 2018 6:24 am

I got the email from AMEX yesterday and was surprised at the 4x for the cell phone bills. My initial thought was that that would be the only spend I would continue to put on the card. Thankfully I saw the comments above and know that it is only for the BUSINESS card. (I only have the personal card.) I reread the email and it really was confusing and almost misleading if you didn't read the details and just skimmed the emails main points. :td: AMEX should NOT have sent this email out to personal cardholders!

After almost wearing the numbers off the card for years it now goes to the sock drawer to join the IHG Chase card there.

Neal Aug 2, 2018 6:43 am


Originally Posted by christianj (Post 30038755)
I got the email from AMEX yesterday and was surprised at the 4x for the cell phone bills. My initial thought was that that would be the only spend I would continue to put on the card. Thankfully I saw the comments above and know that it is only for the BUSINESS card. (I only have the personal card.) I reread the email and it really was confusing and almost misleading if you didn't read the details and just skimmed the emails main points. :td: AMEX should NOT have sent this email out to personal cardholders!

After almost wearing the numbers off the card for years it now goes to the sock drawer to join the IHG Chase card there.

Yes, that email was most confusing indeed. I too, used the SPG Amex for virtually everything. As of 8/1/18 the card is no longer even in my wallet.

36902BRF Aug 2, 2018 10:38 am

Both of my Amex SPG cards have sadly been relegated to my sock drawer. Depending on how the recent changes to Amex Offers plays out and whether I see value in the free night certs will play into my decision next year as to whether keep them or cancel them.

J S Aug 2, 2018 1:11 pm

[Deleted]

kennycrudup Aug 2, 2018 5:11 pm

So, just so I'm clear: the "SPG Personal AmEx Free Award Night" is a very recent thing, right? (I've had this card since 2007 and I'm really hoping I haven't been losing out on a decade's worth of free nights :eek:)

margarita girl Aug 2, 2018 5:24 pm


Originally Posted by kennycrudup (Post 30041333)
So, just so I'm clear: the "SPG Personal AmEx Free Award Night" is a very recent thing, right? (I've had this card since 2007 and I'm really hoping I haven't been losing out on a decade's worth of free nights :eek:)

Correct. Per the email sent out yesterday by Amex:

New Benefits
  • Annual Free Night Award: Card Members whose Card account anniversary dates are on or after August 1 will be eligible to receive their annual Free Night Award (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at a participating hotel. Select hotels have resort fees. 3,4
  • Baggage Insurance Plan.5 Please note this update only applies to The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express.

So it started yesterday. It's the trade off for losing points earnings on the card.



Okto Aug 2, 2018 6:55 pm

Does this Free Night Award count as an elite qualifying night upon redemption?

UA-NYC Aug 2, 2018 6:59 pm


Originally Posted by Okto (Post 30041566)
Does this Free Night Award count as an elite qualifying night upon redemption?

No reason it wouldn't

rove312 Aug 6, 2018 9:26 am

Is anyone here with a statement that closed in early August? Even if the points haven't posted to the SPG account, what does the statement say on points? The better hope, based on what's been said, is that Starpoints are being posted for July charges and Points for August. Or Points at 3x for July and 2x for August. The bad news would be 2x for everything.

abk Aug 6, 2018 9:41 am


Originally Posted by rove312 (Post 30053120)
Is anyone here with a statement that closed in early August? Even if the points haven't posted to the SPG account, what does the statement say on points? The better hope, based on what's been said, is that Starpoints are being posted for July charges and Points for August. Or Points at 3x for July and 2x for August. The bad news would be 2x for everything.

My statement closed on 8/2. The points have not yet posted on my SPG account and I would expect them to today based on history. I just looked at my statement and all my charges prior to August 1 where converted to points as in multiplied by 3. For the two charges on 8/1 it appears that they were multiplied by 2. My quick check came with in 2 points of tying in to their calculations.

Zorak Aug 6, 2018 9:43 am


Originally Posted by rove312 (Post 30053120)
Is anyone here with a statement that closed in early August? Even if the points haven't posted to the SPG account, what does the statement say on points? The better hope, based on what's been said, is that Starpoints are being posted for July charges and Points for August. Or Points at 3x for July and 2x for August. The bad news would be 2x for everything.

My closing date was Aug 02. New balance was $4810.39, of which $113.09 was at a SPG property. I didn't have any charges on this statement that posted after 7/31.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f83204cbb9.png

dw Aug 6, 2018 10:44 am


Originally Posted by abk (Post 30053175)
My statement closed on 8/2. The points have not yet posted on my SPG account and I would expect them to today based on history.

I believe it was reported somewhere that for statements that closed between Aug 1 and Aug 17, there would be a delay in posting the points until on or after Aug 18.


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