Jun 12, 2014, 11:11 am
Last edit by: CodeAdam10
For discussion of the now expired offer for a 35K signup bonus, see Amex SPG 35,000 business and personal cards-2016 [No referral offers in this thread.]
USA-issued card benefits changed on August 11, 2015. (Announcement & extended discussion at American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits.) The benefits are slightly different for personal and business cards:
Public Links:
- The Annual Fee is $450.
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 3x on restaurants and airfare; 2x on all other purchases.
- Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- FREE NIGHT AWARD: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- COMPLIMENTARY GOLD ELITE STATUS: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card. Earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Other Highlighted Benefits: Priority Pass Select Membership, Global Entry credit, No Foreign Transaction fees.
- $125 Annual Fee (If application received before 03/28/19, $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95)
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 4x at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services & on U.S. purchases for shipping; 2x on all other purchases.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Other related discussion:
USA-issued card benefits changed on August 11, 2015. (Announcement & extended discussion at American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits.) The benefits are slightly different for personal and business cards:
Public Links:
- Personal [Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card]: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/marriott-bonvoy-brilliant
- The Annual Fee is $450.
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 3x on restaurants and airfare; 2x on all other purchases.
- Enjoy up to $300 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- FREE NIGHT AWARD: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- COMPLIMENTARY GOLD ELITE STATUS: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card. Earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Other Highlighted Benefits: Priority Pass Select Membership, Global Entry credit, No Foreign Transaction fees.
- Business [Marriott Bonvoy Business Card]: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...s-credit-card/
- $125 Annual Fee (If application received before 03/28/19, $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95)
- Earn 6x at Marriott properties; 4x at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services & on U.S. purchases for shipping; 2x on all other purchases.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
- Complimentary Silver Elite Status
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Discussion of Amex "one bonus per lifetime" policy (personal & business cards)
- Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex Card
- American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits
- How to keep SPG points from expiring after 12 months of account inactivity
- New Card Art for the US Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
SPG American Express [Master Thread]
Jul 14, 2011, 6:26 pm
#1336
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jul 14, 2011, 6:29 pm
#1337
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Amex Platinum, BA Amex PP, SPG Gold
Posts: 127
By the end of this trip I will have 49 nights, which I will have earnt since March this year. It is unlikely that I will have any further travel for a while.
Is there any flexibility on the 50 nights? Do SPG have any goodwill on upgrading customers to Platinum?
Kind regards
Jul 14, 2011, 6:35 pm
#1338
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jul 15, 2011, 5:16 pm
#1339
Original Member, Ambassador: OneWorld Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Programs: AA ExecPlat & 3MM; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,015
Thanks for the very quick response William, that clarifies my position.
By the end of this trip I will have 49 nights, which I will have earnt since March this year. It is unlikely that I will have any further travel for a while.
Is there any flexibility on the 50 nights? Do SPG have any goodwill on upgrading customers to Platinum?
Kind regards
By the end of this trip I will have 49 nights, which I will have earnt since March this year. It is unlikely that I will have any further travel for a while.
Is there any flexibility on the 50 nights? Do SPG have any goodwill on upgrading customers to Platinum?
Kind regards
that he once extended a stay an extra night and didn't tell the hotel that he left a day early to make platinum.
Jul 16, 2011, 12:00 pm
#1340
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: AA (1MM), Marriott (LT Gold)
Posts: 1,766
Do the bonus 2 stays / 5 nights by having a Starwood AMEX get "confiscated" if a customer cancels their credit card mid-calendar-year?
When my annual fee comes due in a month, I expect to have 9 YTD stays (including the 2 stays from the AMEX). My decision to keep the card might be impacted if I know that after cancelling the card I will only have 7 YTD stays rather than 9.
When my annual fee comes due in a month, I expect to have 9 YTD stays (including the 2 stays from the AMEX). My decision to keep the card might be impacted if I know that after cancelling the card I will only have 7 YTD stays rather than 9.
Jul 16, 2011, 3:20 pm
#1341
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 104
The first post on this thread shows the annual fee was $30 in 2004. Now in 2011 it is $65. What are the consequences to closing the card to avoid the fee besides not being able to charge anything on it? I have over $50,000 in spending this year. I would still have the miles at Starwood and I would need to ensure I keep them active every 12 months so they don't disappear. Any other downsides?
Jul 16, 2011, 4:03 pm
#1342
Original Member, Ambassador: OneWorld Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Programs: AA ExecPlat & 3MM; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,015
The first post on this thread shows the annual fee was $30 in 2004. Now in 2011 it is $65. What are the consequences to closing the card to avoid the fee besides not being able to charge anything on it? I have over $50,000 in spending this year. I would still have the miles at Starwood and I would need to ensure I keep them active every 12 months so they don't disappear. Any other downsides?
Jul 17, 2011, 7:18 am
#1343
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 104
Thanks for the info. I feel like I already have too many miles already, far more than I can use with Starwood, Continental, AA, BA, etc. So, in my situation, I was planning on doing more spending with my competing straight 2% cash back card, and thus cancelling the Starwood unless they gave me a strong incentive to stay. I dont like having to close cards, but I feel that charging me such a high fee is like asking or prodding me to leave. I could always reopen the Starwood card later if I need it, right?
Jul 17, 2011, 10:48 pm
#1344
Original Member, Ambassador: OneWorld Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Programs: AA ExecPlat & 3MM; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,015
Thanks for the info. I feel like I already have too many miles already, far more than I can use with Starwood, Continental, AA, BA, etc. So, in my situation, I was planning on doing more spending with my competing straight 2% cash back card, and thus cancelling the Starwood unless they gave me a strong incentive to stay. I dont like having to close cards, but I feel that charging me such a high fee is like asking or prodding me to leave. I could always reopen the Starwood card later if I need it, right?
Jul 17, 2011, 11:31 pm
#1345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,037
I got an offer for the ability to refer a friend to a 30K card today.
New card member has to make:
-One purchase to get 10K points.
-$4500 in purchases within 3 months to get 20K more points.
No annual fee the first year.
Not quite as good as last year's offer, but still pretty good.
I get 5K for referring. Last month, I would get 10K, but the new cardmember would only get 25K total. So they basically still put out 35K for a new card account, but shifted the breakdown.
Fine with me - more chances for the 5K.
If anyone would like a referral . . .
New card member has to make:
-One purchase to get 10K points.
-$4500 in purchases within 3 months to get 20K more points.
No annual fee the first year.
Not quite as good as last year's offer, but still pretty good.
I get 5K for referring. Last month, I would get 10K, but the new cardmember would only get 25K total. So they basically still put out 35K for a new card account, but shifted the breakdown.
Fine with me - more chances for the 5K.
If anyone would like a referral . . .
Jul 18, 2011, 5:12 pm
#1346
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Earth ... for now
Programs: UA 2MM * Marriott Ambassador LT Titanium * IHG Diamond Ambassador * Hilton Diamond *
Posts: 1,787
Is Amex Starwood still worth it?
Amex Starwood:
- if only used at Starwood properties: 2 points per $ spent
- exchange fee that they charge, 2.7%, outside the U.S.
- no points on exchange fees charged for Starwood properties stays
- increasing yearly fee
- no Starpoints earned on award stays
A bunch of other credit cards:
- points or cash back, to be accumulated toward free hotel stays
- no exchange fee
- no yearly fee
- Starpoints earned on stays paid with card points or cash back $
The Amex card might be worth it for domestic Starwood charges, but too costly for hotels stays abroad.
- if only used at Starwood properties: 2 points per $ spent
- exchange fee that they charge, 2.7%, outside the U.S.
- no points on exchange fees charged for Starwood properties stays
- increasing yearly fee
- no Starpoints earned on award stays
A bunch of other credit cards:
- points or cash back, to be accumulated toward free hotel stays
- no exchange fee
- no yearly fee
- Starpoints earned on stays paid with card points or cash back $
The Amex card might be worth it for domestic Starwood charges, but too costly for hotels stays abroad.
Jul 18, 2011, 5:30 pm
#1347
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 10
Question
I was wondering if anyone could help with a question I have.
Last year I signed up for the spg amex when they had the 30k
sign up bonus. When I signed up I gave them my wife's spg #.
It took a couple of calls to get them to credit her my points. I didn't
have a account back then and didn't realize the importance of
having my own. And I was new to the whole point collecting
then. Anyway I have received the referral and would like to
sign my wife up for the spg amex card just out with the 10k/20k
signup bonus. My question is should I use my spg account number
with her cc application (no bonus on this account) or should I
use her spg account which did receive a signup bonus last year.
Last names are the same as is the address. Thank you in advance
for the help.
Last year I signed up for the spg amex when they had the 30k
sign up bonus. When I signed up I gave them my wife's spg #.
It took a couple of calls to get them to credit her my points. I didn't
have a account back then and didn't realize the importance of
having my own. And I was new to the whole point collecting
then. Anyway I have received the referral and would like to
sign my wife up for the spg amex card just out with the 10k/20k
signup bonus. My question is should I use my spg account number
with her cc application (no bonus on this account) or should I
use her spg account which did receive a signup bonus last year.
Last names are the same as is the address. Thank you in advance
for the help.
Jul 18, 2011, 6:05 pm
#1348
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
Amex Starwood:
- if only used at Starwood properties: 2 points per $ spent
- exchange fee that they charge, 2.7%, outside the U.S.
- no points on exchange fees charged for Starwood properties stays
- increasing yearly fee
- no Starpoints earned on award stays
A bunch of other credit cards:
- points or cash back, to be accumulated toward free hotel stays
- no exchange fee
- no yearly fee
- Starpoints earned on stays paid with card points or cash back $
The Amex card might be worth it for domestic Starwood charges, but too costly for hotels stays abroad.
- if only used at Starwood properties: 2 points per $ spent
- exchange fee that they charge, 2.7%, outside the U.S.
- no points on exchange fees charged for Starwood properties stays
- increasing yearly fee
- no Starpoints earned on award stays
A bunch of other credit cards:
- points or cash back, to be accumulated toward free hotel stays
- no exchange fee
- no yearly fee
- Starpoints earned on stays paid with card points or cash back $
The Amex card might be worth it for domestic Starwood charges, but too costly for hotels stays abroad.
Jul 18, 2011, 7:57 pm
#1349
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Earth ... for now
Programs: UA 2MM * Marriott Ambassador LT Titanium * IHG Diamond Ambassador * Hilton Diamond *
Posts: 1,787
Amex abroad: It's over!
For me, yes it's still worth it. I always reach for it over my 2% cashback on everything card. However, it's not good for use overseas and some places don't take American Express. For those times I go with the CB card. Otherwise, 1 SPG/$1 is more valuable than any other point/CB/reward offered elsewhere. To me at least.
Jul 18, 2011, 8:32 pm
#1350
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
I will travel abroad next week, will have 5 stays at Starwood properties, and, for the first time in many years, I will not use my Amex card. I will keep it for my domestic stays until the end of the yearly cycle and, at that time, I will calculate if the yearly fee is worth the points that I accumulated domestically.