Have you read this thread from Miles Buzz? (Lots of good ideas . . . )

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003544.html

Kathy, I think the 10k bonus is a targeted though it was offered to my wife who hardly travels. I think the offer letter is still around the house somewhere, if you like, when i get back home, i'll check into the deal and see if there is a # that you can call to get this deal.




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Regards,

Al

Singlemalt--Much thanks for the info.

A year or so ago I signed up for the Delta AmEx. It had 10k bonus miles for signup and the $100 fee waived for the first year. Cancelled the card before the year was up...

I currently carry:

United MP Visa ($60 fee rather than $100 due to status, I think)

Starwood AmEx -- fee waived first year, $35 thereafter, and lots of Starwood bonuses -- PLUS YOU CAN REDEEM FOR FF MILES WITH MOST AIRLINES AT 1.25 MILES/$$ with the 5k bonus for transferring 20k points. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
http://www25.americanexpress.com/car...095139226/20/n

Goldpoints Visa (as noted above, .75 miles/$, no annual fee, and 5k goldpoints bonus for signup) -- www.goldpoints.com, but signup for gold rewards at radisson (www.radisson.com) first.

Applied for this card yesterday:
HHonors VISA Signature Card, 10,000 bonus, Silver status, 2 points per $1. or 3 points per $1 at Hiltons. I printed the offer page for backup proof of 10,000 point bonus, just in case!
http://www.hhonorscard.com/apply.cgi?

Paul what's their deal for purchases in foreign currencies?

GoldPoints Rewards credit card is from MBNA, so no extra "transactions in foreign currency" fee added by the bank beyond 1% charged by VISA.

gleff -- Not that it makes much difference, but the annual fee (after the first year) for this card is $30, not $35.

Here's how to get this offer (Gold SkyMiles credit card from AmEx, 10,000 bonus miles and first year free):

Call 1-800-235-3476. The code in the left bottom corner of the special application form is FF7 T06DG18097, the code in the right bottom corner is SOCT DJ8M1.

I've heard a lot of positive buzz about the Starwood AmEx, but I have one concern that has never been addressed amid all this (seemingly deserved) hype.

According to the Starwood website:

"1) ...You will be considered an "Active Member" so long as you have earned Starpoints as a result of activities at participating Starwood Properties during the previous twelve months. Starpoints resulting from transfers or earnings from other programs do not count toward active status

...

7)In the event you do not remain an Active Member (as defined above) your membership account will be closed and all Starpoints forfeited."

See: http://www.starwood.com/preferredgue...onditions.html
for more details.

Therefore, unlike programs like HiltonHHonors, you must actually *stay* at a Starwood property to keep your points alive.
Is there anyone out there who has had the Starwood AmEx for more than one year, has not stayed at a property in 12 months or longer, and *still* has an active account?

On a similar note, has any Starwood cardholder ever had their account closed because they had NOT stayed at a property in 12 months?

I'd hate to end up with an card that could only safely be used to earn and transfer for 10 - 10 1/2 months. Of course, I'd regret it even more if I failed to transfer and lost all my points! Yikes!

Thanks,

Rob "CutStyle"

The SPG Amex is awesome! I'm an idiot for keeping an Amex Plat all these years when I could easily have pocketed the $300/yr in costs, received a 20% bonus, and also had more choices!!!

Sadly, I also even had the SPG/Sheraton card but rarely used it! We all make mistakes - but especially me it woiuld appear!

Rob, I've been a Starwood Amex cardholder since 8/00, never stayed or ate at any of their properties, use the card EVERY month for EVERYTHING, and HOPE my points are active.
ALL my points (except the mininum transfer thru Clickrewards, 1000?) have come from using that card.
Hope this answers your question. Anne

How long do I have to wait after switching my Delta AmEx to Starwood until I reapply for Delta w/ the 10k bonus/1st yr fee waived?

[Edited to add p.s.: Eugene, thanks for sharing the info above. It was good to meet you @ DCA in Oct. when Randy came through on the "Come Fly With Me" US run.]


[This message has been edited by gleff (edited 01-11-2002).]

Based on anecdotal evidence posted on this Board, it varies. I can't point out to specific threads, but I recall that some people reported getting this promo several times (with intervals of anything between 3 months and a year), and some reported getting no miles the second time around. As always, your mileage may vary...

On another matter, I sent you an e-mail.