SPG American Express [Master Thread]
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#1291
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: Southwest A List, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, National Emerald Exec.
Posts: 362

How fast do "First Purchase Points" post?
I need 'em bad!
I need 'em bad!

#1293
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: hyatt
Posts: 203
should i grab the 25k bonus, or wait for a better one later?

#1294
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: AA LT Gold, Marriott Titanium, United Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,871

#1295
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Gold, AMEX MR & SPG, United, AA, Delta
Posts: 60

#1296
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 394
I know this is a very basic question, and I have searched but would welcome some reassurance: am I right to think that if I close my SPG Amex, the bonus points I received when I opened it won't disappear (unlike, say, Amex membership rewards)?

#1298
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,064
IMHO it's a 10k+15k bonus, and shouldn't be though of a straight 25k bonus unless $15000 spending is something you do in your sleep.
Remember, if you don't achieve $15000 spending within 6 months, all you get is the 10k bonus.
And I can imagine that almost anything in the future would likely be better than just a 10k bonus!
I can also imagine that most offers in the future would be at least a bit "easier" than requiring at least $2500 spend/month on the card.
And in fact, there is alreayd a current targeted offer that's 30k and far less spend requirement. You just have to wait to see if either (a) you're targeted, or (b) an open offer closer to that comes along.
Remember, if you don't achieve $15000 spending within 6 months, all you get is the 10k bonus.
And I can imagine that almost anything in the future would likely be better than just a 10k bonus!
I can also imagine that most offers in the future would be at least a bit "easier" than requiring at least $2500 spend/month on the card.
And in fact, there is alreayd a current targeted offer that's 30k and far less spend requirement. You just have to wait to see if either (a) you're targeted, or (b) an open offer closer to that comes along.

#1299
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,849
aye, i'd wait out a better offer. look at what's already come along with most airlines and a few hotels this year. i would think it's only a matter of time before a nice bonus comes up with no more than a $3k spend.

#1300
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
My wife has the DL Skymiles card and we were wondering if she switched it over to SPG AMEX, would she get the bonus miles?

#1301
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: AA LT Gold, Marriott Titanium, United Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,871

#1302
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,064
They are only given if apply for the new card "from scratch".
If you want to try to "consolidate" the two cards later (ie, transfer the credit history and maybe some credit limit from the older card to the new card and then cancel the old card), you can try that. But you have to do it in that order if you want a bonus from the new card.
Keep in mind that the whole point of bonuses is to attract customers who would otherwise not sign up for the card. If you are asking to convert a card, you are demostrating that you would apply anyway, and so no bonus.
The fact that by applying "from scratch" you can apply and get a bonus even though you intended to get the card anyway is a "loophole" (from the standpoint of the bank). They can't read your mind. But they can (and do) design the bonus as an incentive for new accounts, not as in incentive for converted accounts.

#1303
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Gold, AMEX MR & SPG, United, AA, Delta
Posts: 60
sdsearch thanks you for all the details. I find your responses very helpful. After thinking long and hard I have decided to have SPG Amex.
Do (good) deals on SPG AMEX show up often? I saw 10K+15K deal but saw last year it was 30K points with 3K spending.
Do (good) deals on SPG AMEX show up often? I saw 10K+15K deal but saw last year it was 30K points with 3K spending.
Last edited by hellomms; Jun 22, 11 at 11:42 am Reason: thanking sdsearch

#1304
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: UAPlat; *Gold; Hyatt Diam; SPG Plat; PWP goddess
Posts: 16,476


#1305
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
That's what I thought too. She applied, but was denied for too many inquires (her credit score according to quizzle is 759) so we converted her skymiles card over and lo and behold, she got the 10 welcome points. It's been about 6 weeks and we've spent close to 12k on the cards, so we'll see if she gets the 15k bonus points too. I'm quite hopeful, but you never know.
If someone wants a referral, PM me and I'll give you 5k bonus points!
If someone wants a referral, PM me and I'll give you 5k bonus points!
Universally (ie, at every bank), bonus miles/points/whatever are never given for asking to convert an existing card into a new card.
They are only given if apply for the new card "from scratch".
If you want to try to "consolidate" the two cards later (ie, transfer the credit history and maybe some credit limit from the older card to the new card and then cancel the old card), you can try that. But you have to do it in that order if you want a bonus from the new card.
Keep in mind that the whole point of bonuses is to attract customers who would otherwise not sign up for the card. If you are asking to convert a card, you are demostrating that you would apply anyway, and so no bonus.
The fact that by applying "from scratch" you can apply and get a bonus even though you intended to get the card anyway is a "loophole" (from the standpoint of the bank). They can't read your mind. But they can (and do) design the bonus as an incentive for new accounts, not as in incentive for converted accounts.
They are only given if apply for the new card "from scratch".
If you want to try to "consolidate" the two cards later (ie, transfer the credit history and maybe some credit limit from the older card to the new card and then cancel the old card), you can try that. But you have to do it in that order if you want a bonus from the new card.
Keep in mind that the whole point of bonuses is to attract customers who would otherwise not sign up for the card. If you are asking to convert a card, you are demostrating that you would apply anyway, and so no bonus.
The fact that by applying "from scratch" you can apply and get a bonus even though you intended to get the card anyway is a "loophole" (from the standpoint of the bank). They can't read your mind. But they can (and do) design the bonus as an incentive for new accounts, not as in incentive for converted accounts.
