SPG AmEx Uses
 

Anyone have any ideas on how to maximize the SPG card to gain more points outside of actual hotel stays?

use it for all of your expenses, open a checking account and use the card to fund it.

I am not sure what you meant , but have you searched/read other threads in the SPG or the AMEX forum? I think this thread should be moved to one of those forums, too.

add two additional cardmembers for 1000 points each:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...00-points.html

This is a VERY bad idea:

- Don't play with AMEX or you will get a Financial Review and risk all accounts closed. Some FTers also received calls from AMEX asking NOT to use AMEX to buy anymore coins. Search and read the horror stories posted on FT.

- Most initial account funding does not take AMEX.

I can testify to this. Just opened SPG personal and biz for 30k each promo. Literally had the cards for 2 weeks now, put 1 order of coins on the personal and 1 order of coins on the biz card and I'm currently under review...

Got the phone call alerting me that my accounts were frozen. Now I have to submit bank statements and pay stubs verifying my financial information. I'm not too concerned as I can cover my credit line many times over with my bank balance alone so hopefully I should be good to go but regardless it's a big pain and inconvenience.

I agree with this ... I used a different card for account funding, not my AMEX.