SPG rox -- a quick question
May 20, 2012, 2:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: United Plat, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, National Exec Elite
Posts: 108
SPG rox -- a quick question
Although I am not a veteran in this miles and points earning business, but slowly learning so much about all these programs.
Hands down, I can tell SPG points return is simply incredible. No other points or miles program in the market gives you even close to 1/2 the value of the SPG points. One has to be really stupid to waste SPG points by converting into miles etc. Does anybody disagree?
Regardless, my question is -- besides the 30k bonus offers via personal and business card, has anybody ever seen a better offer?
Thanks!
Hands down, I can tell SPG points return is simply incredible. No other points or miles program in the market gives you even close to 1/2 the value of the SPG points. One has to be really stupid to waste SPG points by converting into miles etc. Does anybody disagree?
Regardless, my question is -- besides the 30k bonus offers via personal and business card, has anybody ever seen a better offer?
Thanks!
May 20, 2012, 2:20 pm
#2
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
Programs: Yes!
Posts: 15,512
May 20, 2012, 2:26 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
Although I am not a veteran in this miles and points earning business, but slowly learning so much about all these programs.
Hands down, I can tell SPG points return is simply incredible. No other points or miles program in the market gives you even close to 1/2 the value of the SPG points. One has to be really stupid to waste SPG points by converting into miles etc. Does anybody disagree?
Regardless, my question is -- besides the 30k bonus offers via personal and business card, has anybody ever seen a better offer?
Thanks!
Hands down, I can tell SPG points return is simply incredible. No other points or miles program in the market gives you even close to 1/2 the value of the SPG points. One has to be really stupid to waste SPG points by converting into miles etc. Does anybody disagree?
Regardless, my question is -- besides the 30k bonus offers via personal and business card, has anybody ever seen a better offer?
Thanks!
I actually see little value in actual Points only redemptions. I can't get myself to pay 20k points for the higher-end properties. I have a formula I use to determine the value of points. I take the points and divide by 35 to get the value I place on them. So, 20k points / 35 = $571. If I can get the room for less than $571 then I pay rather than use points.
As an example, the W Hong Kong can be had for $339 after taxes, yet their point redemption is 20k points per night. Since I value the points at $571, I would always pay when I stay at this property.
This formula also holds true for C + P for me. If a hotel is 8000 + $150, I use (8000/35) = $228 + $150 = $378. If the room is under $378 then I pay, otherwise I use C + P.
If you value SPG points higher or lower you can use a different divisor.
May 20, 2012, 4:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
I guess I'm an idiot then. Two months ago I transferred 65k Starpoints into US Airways and got 120k US Air miles in return. Then used that 120k to book two tickets to Japan which would have cost $1400 each.
May 21, 2012, 6:47 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
I also don't see value in converting SPG points to anything. I do see quite a bit of value in their miles + rooms program where you get 50k airline miles and 5 nights (or something like that). Also, I love Cash + Points.
I actually see little value in actual Points only redemptions. I can't get myself to pay 20k points for the higher-end properties. I have a formula I use to determine the value of points. I take the points and divide by 35 to get the value I place on them. So, 20k points / 35 = $571. If I can get the room for less than $571 then I pay rather than use points.
As an example, the W Hong Kong can be had for $339 after taxes, yet their point redemption is 20k points per night. Since I value the points at $571, I would always pay when I stay at this property.
This formula also holds true for C + P for me. If a hotel is 8000 + $150, I use (8000/35) = $228 + $150 = $378. If the room is under $378 then I pay, otherwise I use C + P.
If you value SPG points higher or lower you can use a different divisor.
I actually see little value in actual Points only redemptions. I can't get myself to pay 20k points for the higher-end properties. I have a formula I use to determine the value of points. I take the points and divide by 35 to get the value I place on them. So, 20k points / 35 = $571. If I can get the room for less than $571 then I pay rather than use points.
As an example, the W Hong Kong can be had for $339 after taxes, yet their point redemption is 20k points per night. Since I value the points at $571, I would always pay when I stay at this property.
This formula also holds true for C + P for me. If a hotel is 8000 + $150, I use (8000/35) = $228 + $150 = $378. If the room is under $378 then I pay, otherwise I use C + P.
If you value SPG points higher or lower you can use a different divisor.
As for trading for other points, I agree with the OP. I do not see the value in that. In fact, I just traded points from two other loyalty programs into SPG points, as I feel there is more value doing it that way.
As always, YMMV.
Cheers,
May 21, 2012, 10:24 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: United Plat, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, National Exec Elite
Posts: 108
I also don't see value in converting SPG points to anything. I do see quite a bit of value in their miles + rooms program where you get 50k airline miles and 5 nights (or something like that). Also, I love Cash + Points.
I actually see little value in actual Points only redemptions. I can't get myself to pay 20k points for the higher-end properties. I have a formula I use to determine the value of points. I take the points and divide by 35 to get the value I place on them. So, 20k points / 35 = $571. If I can get the room for less than $571 then I pay rather than use points.
As an example, the W Hong Kong can be had for $339 after taxes, yet their point redemption is 20k points per night. Since I value the points at $571, I would always pay when I stay at this property.
This formula also holds true for C + P for me. If a hotel is 8000 + $150, I use (8000/35) = $228 + $150 = $378. If the room is under $378 then I pay, otherwise I use C + P.
If you value SPG points higher or lower you can use a different divisor.
I actually see little value in actual Points only redemptions. I can't get myself to pay 20k points for the higher-end properties. I have a formula I use to determine the value of points. I take the points and divide by 35 to get the value I place on them. So, 20k points / 35 = $571. If I can get the room for less than $571 then I pay rather than use points.
As an example, the W Hong Kong can be had for $339 after taxes, yet their point redemption is 20k points per night. Since I value the points at $571, I would always pay when I stay at this property.
This formula also holds true for C + P for me. If a hotel is 8000 + $150, I use (8000/35) = $228 + $150 = $378. If the room is under $378 then I pay, otherwise I use C + P.
If you value SPG points higher or lower you can use a different divisor.
-- thanks for much!Also, thanks everybody for chiming in. Agree with all -- it depends on what people value more. For me, C+P is just an amazing deal. This year, I plan to rake up few hundred thousand SPG points from my business stays at the Sheraton properties.
Instead of using SPG card, I use Chase Sapphire Preferred card for all my business travel expenses, as it give 2x the $ spent. I am planning to diversify this strategy a bit by using AMEX Premiere Rewards Gold card (Daraius from MillionMileSecrets) for Airfare (3x points) and rest still keep in Chase Sapphire for the time being. WISH -- Chase Ultimate Rewards points had a 1:1 conversion to SPG ;-). But if SPG points value so much, just doing all the expenses in SPG may not be all that bad an idea -- well until & unless I redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points (already have 100k+ pts from this year), I can't talk about the value proposition.
Does anybody have a similar math for Chase Ultimate Rewards points, as whimike did for SPG?
Thanks!