Jun 12, 2015, 7:15 pm
Last edit by: KENNECTED
This thread is for discussion of the new benefits & fee structure announced in June 2015. For general discussion of the SPG Amex, see SPG American Express [Master Thread].
Will the additional cardholders on my Starwood Business Amex account get access to the Sheraton Club lounge? What about guests in additional rooms I'm also paying for?
Will the additional cardholders on my Starwood Business Amex account get access to the Sheraton Club lounge? What about guests in additional rooms I'm also paying for?
"This benefit is for Basic Card Members only on Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations...Sheraton Club lounge access is limited to the eligible Card Member and a guest staying in the same room for the duration of the stay, regardless of how many rooms have been reserved." (See Starwood FAQs.)
Which hotel brands with the Sheraton name will offer the lounge benefit?The benefit is offered at all Sheraton-branded properties, including Sheraton Grand hotels, with the exception of any Luxury Collection property. It is not available at Four Points by Sheraton hotels.
Wiil I still get Club access if I book my stay with points or cash+points?Per Starwood Lurker in post #104, yes.
American Express and Starwood enhance cobrand credit card benefits
Jun 4, 2015, 4:08 pm
#91
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
Count me among those who don't think the extra $30 offsets the lack of forex fees. I must admit I like Amex and their customer service (never had a problem trying to file a claim for damaged items charged to the card, etc.) but I first got this card when it was $45 and we were going to get rid of it next year because it was costly at $65 in order to reduce the number of hotel cards we have. We'll keep Hyatt for the annual free night and Hilton for the gold status the card confers and the free night when we spend $10K per year. We spend maybe $30-40K per year overseas with those two cards and I have been waiting for Starwood to offer this benefit, but not for an extra $30 unless they throw in a free night or maybe 5000 points for renewing like Chase and Citi do. The other main value of this card was using it at Costco and with that going away, I just can't justify the annual fee without tangible benefits (i.e. a free night).
Jun 4, 2015, 6:48 pm
#92
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
Weak. The new benefits don't offset the 50% annual fee increase. Gold and higher members already get Wi-Fi and most frequent travelers have a card with no FTF.
I'm finding less and less value with the SPG program; I suspect I'll be throwing the towel in after this year.
I'm finding less and less value with the SPG program; I suspect I'll be throwing the towel in after this year.
Jun 4, 2015, 6:59 pm
#93
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
My spend @ SPG overseas will offset the fee increase. Maybe SPG is targeting specific customers? I value SPG points above everything else, and am finally glad to feel comfortable using my SPG amex outside the US.
However... I'm none to thrilled about potential overcrowding at sheraton clubs... but the the FX fee is all I ever wanted
However... I'm none to thrilled about potential overcrowding at sheraton clubs... but the the FX fee is all I ever wanted
Jun 4, 2015, 7:25 pm
#94
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,923
I must be in that group; I stay at *W around 45ish nights a year so I make plat with the 5 extra nights and almost all my stays are outside the US. I always felt like an idiot pulling out my AA Citi card to pay for my hotels in Europe but the FTF made it impossible to use the SPG Amex.
Amex has been pretty good to me on the service side and the SPG points are really useful; not sure I will ever use Boingo or whatever, but I will make up the $30 on my next trip.
Amex has been pretty good to me on the service side and the SPG points are really useful; not sure I will ever use Boingo or whatever, but I will make up the $30 on my next trip.
Jun 4, 2015, 8:03 pm
#95
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Programs: Bonvoy LTT, Hyatt Exp, AA 1MM, UA Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 970
I'm going to talk out both sides of my mouth, but I'm disappointed with the card additions relative to the annual fee increase. I like the fact that the FTF's are gone, but I get Boingo via my Amex Plat, and already get premium/club via my Platinum status, so I value the new benefits at $0 (I don't travel enough internationally to make the spend I'd missed out on a consideration).
That said, I'm at almost 40k points earned on my card YTD, and I'm likely to continue even at the extra cost. However, I'm likely going to call and ask for some consideration at renewal time, which I haven't done in years.
That said, I'm at almost 40k points earned on my card YTD, and I'm likely to continue even at the extra cost. However, I'm likely going to call and ask for some consideration at renewal time, which I haven't done in years.
Jun 4, 2015, 10:06 pm
#96
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,101
+1 on Canada. Our cards need the +1 point on SPG stays and the nights/stays credit towards status.
Jun 4, 2015, 11:39 pm
#97
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
IHG is $49 and includes a free night at ANY IHG property. I've used the free night for the Intercontinental Westminster (London, now the Conrad St James) and the Palazzo in Vegas on a weekend.
My Hyatt card is $75/yr, no FTF, and one free Cat 1-4 night/yr. Plus 5 stay/10 credit nights for $40K annual spend.
My Hyatt card is $75/yr, no FTF, and one free Cat 1-4 night/yr. Plus 5 stay/10 credit nights for $40K annual spend.
The annual fee was already high for what the card offers, and I originally had it when it was $45/year, so this is more than double that.
Bye SPG Amex, maybe I'll give it another shot someday but for now I'll stick to my fido 2% cash back visa for general spend and business centurion for travel and purchase protection spending. 👋🏼
Jun 5, 2015, 6:10 am
#98
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PVG, SFO
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 222
+1, hyatt is a much better program and its credit card.
Jun 5, 2015, 9:49 am
#99
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BNA
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Bonvoy Plat, HHonors Diamond, DL Gold
Posts: 383
I have both the SPG Amex and the Chase Hyatt credit cards and am a member of both hotel loyalty programs. I value Starpoints higher than GP points. The SPG card is my primary card and the Chase Hyatt is my backup. I use the Chase Hyatt card for restaurants, airlines and where Amex isn't accepted.
While one can debate which loyalty program is better for elite recognition and point redemption opportunities, it seems one-sided that Chase brings more to Hyatt than Amex brings to SPG.
While one can debate which loyalty program is better for elite recognition and point redemption opportunities, it seems one-sided that Chase brings more to Hyatt than Amex brings to SPG.
Jun 5, 2015, 10:57 am
#100
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Are you wonked?
The Chase IHG MC annual fee is $49.00/year and you get 1 free night at any IHG property, including ALL Intercontinental hotels!
Marriott is $85.00 and you get an annual free night up to a Category 5 where you can just about squeeze out value.
With the United Explorer you get free bags and I don't know about the others but with most of the others you mentioned, such as the HHonors Reserve, there is an incentive to put more spend on the card, as well.
This kills the personal card for me, but makes it interesting vis a visa the Business Card. As the first year will be free, I can investigate at my leisure for another year.
Finally, I can always keep my SPG account active even if I cut all my ties with SPG by dining or staying at a property, or occasionally transferring AMEX MR points from my no-fee AMEX CLEAR account, even if the point transfer value is not optimum.
The Chase IHG MC annual fee is $49.00/year and you get 1 free night at any IHG property, including ALL Intercontinental hotels!
Marriott is $85.00 and you get an annual free night up to a Category 5 where you can just about squeeze out value.
With the United Explorer you get free bags and I don't know about the others but with most of the others you mentioned, such as the HHonors Reserve, there is an incentive to put more spend on the card, as well.
This kills the personal card for me, but makes it interesting vis a visa the Business Card. As the first year will be free, I can investigate at my leisure for another year.
Finally, I can always keep my SPG account active even if I cut all my ties with SPG by dining or staying at a property, or occasionally transferring AMEX MR points from my no-fee AMEX CLEAR account, even if the point transfer value is not optimum.
I spend multiple thousands minimum at Starwood abroad - so this will easily save me the $30 increase plus I'll earn 2 pts per dollar at those properties. An easy win if you spend > $2,000 abroad.
I don't stay at Marriott - card is meaningless to me.
I have the IHG card but it doesn't have a chip (yet) which makes it somewhat more annoying to use abroad. I assume they'll fix at some point but for the moment it doesn't have it. Further IHG points are valued at about a penny per - whereas I value Starwood at about three cents per. So I'd rather use Starwood where I can.
I agree the United Explorer card is the best. Better than Starwood abroad (except at Starwood hotels). So I'll likely use that for all non-Starwood purchases and United Explorer for everything else.
If you don't travel at Starwoods abroad and spend a goodly sum I can see why you'd hate the increase. Otherwise it's an easy win.
Jun 5, 2015, 11:42 am
#101
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG cards are not meaningless. Any of their cards entitle you to
-credited stays to help achieve status
-free status
-(most importantly) free annual nights
-no FTF
Status/credited status could be seen is an item with no perceived value. But there is a real value to staying at the Intercontinental in Monterey, San Francisco, Rome, NYC, etc for $49/yr.
In fact before today, many of these cards all had more meaning to you than the SPG card, as they had no FTF.
So now these cards have even more meaning than ever...considering they always had no FTF - and they all had free night certs attached to them. Meanwhile our SPG card has no free night cert attached to them. Aka, my SPG card is less valuable, and at $95/yr - it is the least valuable it has ever been - when comparing benefits of the card
-credited stays to help achieve status
-free status
-(most importantly) free annual nights
-no FTF
Status/credited status could be seen is an item with no perceived value. But there is a real value to staying at the Intercontinental in Monterey, San Francisco, Rome, NYC, etc for $49/yr.
In fact before today, many of these cards all had more meaning to you than the SPG card, as they had no FTF.
So now these cards have even more meaning than ever...considering they always had no FTF - and they all had free night certs attached to them. Meanwhile our SPG card has no free night cert attached to them. Aka, my SPG card is less valuable, and at $95/yr - it is the least valuable it has ever been - when comparing benefits of the card
I may be wonked - but not because I am OK with this change
I spend multiple thousands minimum at Starwood abroad - so this will easily save me the $30 increase plus I'll earn 2 pts per dollar at those properties. An easy win if you spend > $2,000 abroad.
I don't stay at Marriott - card is meaningless to me.
I have the IHG card but it doesn't have a chip (yet) which makes it somewhat more annoying to use abroad. I assume they'll fix at some point but for the moment it doesn't have it. Further IHG points are valued at about a penny per - whereas I value Starwood at about three cents per. So I'd rather use Starwood where I can.
I agree the United Explorer card is the best. Better than Starwood abroad (except at Starwood hotels). So I'll likely use that for all non-Starwood purchases and United Explorer for everything else.
If you don't travel at Starwoods abroad and spend a goodly sum I can see why you'd hate the increase. Otherwise it's an easy win.
I spend multiple thousands minimum at Starwood abroad - so this will easily save me the $30 increase plus I'll earn 2 pts per dollar at those properties. An easy win if you spend > $2,000 abroad.
I don't stay at Marriott - card is meaningless to me.
I have the IHG card but it doesn't have a chip (yet) which makes it somewhat more annoying to use abroad. I assume they'll fix at some point but for the moment it doesn't have it. Further IHG points are valued at about a penny per - whereas I value Starwood at about three cents per. So I'd rather use Starwood where I can.
I agree the United Explorer card is the best. Better than Starwood abroad (except at Starwood hotels). So I'll likely use that for all non-Starwood purchases and United Explorer for everything else.
If you don't travel at Starwoods abroad and spend a goodly sum I can see why you'd hate the increase. Otherwise it's an easy win.
Jun 5, 2015, 12:20 pm
#102
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG cards are not meaningless. Any of their cards entitle you to
-credited stays to help achieve status
-free status
-(most importantly) free annual nights
-no FTF
Status/credited status could be seen is an item with no perceived value. But there is a real value to staying at the Intercontinental in Monterey, San Francisco, Rome, NYC, etc for $49/yr.
In fact before today, many of these cards all had more meaning to you than the SPG card, as they had no FTF.
So now these cards have even more meaning than ever...considering they always had no FTF - and they all had free night certs attached to them. Meanwhile our SPG card has no free night cert attached to them. Aka, my SPG card is less valuable, and at $95/yr - it is the least valuable it has ever been - when comparing benefits of the card
-credited stays to help achieve status
-free status
-(most importantly) free annual nights
-no FTF
Status/credited status could be seen is an item with no perceived value. But there is a real value to staying at the Intercontinental in Monterey, San Francisco, Rome, NYC, etc for $49/yr.
In fact before today, many of these cards all had more meaning to you than the SPG card, as they had no FTF.
So now these cards have even more meaning than ever...considering they always had no FTF - and they all had free night certs attached to them. Meanwhile our SPG card has no free night cert attached to them. Aka, my SPG card is less valuable, and at $95/yr - it is the least valuable it has ever been - when comparing benefits of the card
Jun 5, 2015, 1:58 pm
#103
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 828
And do you still get Club access if the room is booked with points or cash+points?
Jun 5, 2015, 2:52 pm
#104
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
The benefit is extended to the primary cardholder only.
"This benefit is for Basic Card Members only on Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations...Sheraton Club lounge access is limited to the eligible Card Member and a guest staying in the same room for the duration of the stay, regardless of how many rooms have been reserved."
http://www.americanexpress.com/us/co...uest/faqs.html
Yes.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
"This benefit is for Basic Card Members only on Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations...Sheraton Club lounge access is limited to the eligible Card Member and a guest staying in the same room for the duration of the stay, regardless of how many rooms have been reserved."
http://www.americanexpress.com/us/co...uest/faqs.html
And do you still get Club access if the room is booked with points or cash+points?
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jun 5, 2015, 2:58 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 828
The benefit is extended to the primary cardholder only.
"This benefit is for Basic Card Members only on Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations...Sheraton Club lounge access is limited to the eligible Card Member and a guest staying in the same room for the duration of the stay, regardless of how many rooms have been reserved."
http://www.americanexpress.com/us/co...uest/faqs.html
Yes.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
"This benefit is for Basic Card Members only on Starpoint Eligible Rate reservations...Sheraton Club lounge access is limited to the eligible Card Member and a guest staying in the same room for the duration of the stay, regardless of how many rooms have been reserved."
http://www.americanexpress.com/us/co...uest/faqs.html
Yes.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]