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
Aug 16, 2015, 8:49 pm
#346
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
[QUOTE=breakthrough37;25280927]
If you're going to consider those things parallel, you should note that the last two are on higher dollar amounts (Amex spend at the hotel includes taxes).
The incremental value of paying for a Starwood stay with the SPG credit card is 2 Starpoints per dollar.
- 2 base points from SPG for staying at a Starwood property, any method of payment
- 1 bonus point from SPG for elite status
- 1 base point from American Express for spending a dollar
- 1 bonus point from American Express for spending at a Starwood property
Aug 16, 2015, 8:55 pm
#347
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Aug 19, 2015, 1:13 am
#348
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: World
Posts: 1,647
Award nights frequently earn points - 125/250 gold gift or 500 for plat - just don't choose a different amenity on checkin. They also receive night/stay credit. Getting 500 points back on a 3000 point weekend night is a redemption weak spot of mine 
They are ineligible for promotions just as cash & points stays are though.
They are ineligible for promotions just as cash & points stays are though.
Aug 19, 2015, 1:20 am
#349
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: World
Posts: 1,647
Stayed at two Sheraton properties so far since the Aug 11 benefits were supposed to kick in - neither had any idea about the benefits, nor could they see any note on my account (as has been mentioned in this thread).
Anyone hoping to use this benefit should print out a few copies of their "Transform Your International Travels" email from Amex (showing name *and* new benefits) and have one handy for the staff at checkin.
Anyone hoping to use this benefit should print out a few copies of their "Transform Your International Travels" email from Amex (showing name *and* new benefits) and have one handy for the staff at checkin.
Aug 19, 2015, 3:45 am
#350
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Guangzhou
Programs: SPG
Posts: 1,021
Stayed at two Sheraton properties so far since the Aug 11 benefits were supposed to kick in - neither had any idea about the benefits, nor could they see any note on my account (as has been mentioned in this thread).
Anyone hoping to use this benefit should print out a few copies of their "Transform Your International Travels" email from Amex (showing name *and* new benefits) and have one handy for the staff at checkin.
Anyone hoping to use this benefit should print out a few copies of their "Transform Your International Travels" email from Amex (showing name *and* new benefits) and have one handy for the staff at checkin.
We would like to follow up with the two hotels you stayed in regard to the enhance credit card benefits.
Please provide your reservation details to us via the email below.
[email protected]
Best Regards,
Christina Zhou
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Aug 20, 2015, 12:30 pm
#351
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
Charlotte airport allows for 45 minutes of free wifi, but is also a boingo hotspot. After a weather delay pushed my flight back a while, I was able to use my SPG cc # to sign up for a boingo account and extend the free wifi.
Count me as someone happy with the new benefit and already taking advantage of it
Count me as someone happy with the new benefit and already taking advantage of it
Aug 30, 2015, 7:18 am
#352
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 130
Since it was suggested in another thread that I ask here instead, would the newly designated Sheraton Grand hotels (at least, those with lounges) also qualify for complimentary SPG AmEx Business card lounge access? Or does designation as a Sheraton Grand mean that they are now a different type of Starwood property that would not grant such access?
Aug 30, 2015, 10:05 am
#353
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: HH, SPG, BA Exec
Posts: 1
UK SPG AMEX - Why not similar benefits?
Hi Christina/Starwood Lurker III
My first post on this forum - great to see company reps being active here. I have just received a UK version of the SPG AMEX credit card and it saddens me to see that the so called "benefits" of UK card pale in comparison to the US card per the first post. That's why I thought I would post - hoping you can elaborate on what plans SPG has for its UK offering in this regard, if any. Apologies in advance if you have already been asked this.
Now bearing in mind the US is a much larger and much more competitive market than the UK/Europe, let's have a quick comparison of the two cards:
1. Spend bonus - 10k SPG points for GBP1k spend vs. 30k points for USD3k spend. The 10k itself is a great bonus but pales in comparison to the US.
2. Earning rate - No higher earn rate for spending on SPG (either properties or otherwise) - 1 point per GBP spent. What incentive do I have to book using this card when I can earn Amex Membership Rewards and get a higher transfer rate to most other Hotels/Airlines? US card seems to get 2 points per $1 if I am not mistaken.
3. Help towards gaining Elite status - 5nights/2stays is tangible. Essentially this is not a level playing field when you have a supposedly "global" programme yet your US customers are clearly going to accrue points and status at a faster and/or with lower spend.
4. UK cardholders get Gold status when one spends GBP15k (yes folks, 15 thousands pounds). I am 99.95% sure I can get Gold by spending less directly on hotels and I will probably end up with more points if I combine with various promos on offer (such as earning triple points, etc). So this benefit is more or less useless.
5. Free Weekend Night - only for UK cardholders: earn a free weekend night at any Cat 1-4 hotel if you spend GBP25k. The value of this benefit is laughable given the spend required and the fact that I can only redeem at a lower Cat hotel. I would estimate the value of this to be maybe GBP100 at most, something I can easily get from spending the money elsewhere.
All the other minor benefits are more or less the same bar the no FX charges for the US card which can add up to quite a lot if an individual travels overseas.
As I said, I've just become a SPG Amex cardholder and my plan is to cancel the card the moment I spend the required GBP1000 on it and pocket the 10k points. I'm sure the majority are in the same category and I wonder what the data would suggest around the average length of time the UK card is held vs. the US card.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Many thanks.
My first post on this forum - great to see company reps being active here. I have just received a UK version of the SPG AMEX credit card and it saddens me to see that the so called "benefits" of UK card pale in comparison to the US card per the first post. That's why I thought I would post - hoping you can elaborate on what plans SPG has for its UK offering in this regard, if any. Apologies in advance if you have already been asked this.
Now bearing in mind the US is a much larger and much more competitive market than the UK/Europe, let's have a quick comparison of the two cards:
1. Spend bonus - 10k SPG points for GBP1k spend vs. 30k points for USD3k spend. The 10k itself is a great bonus but pales in comparison to the US.
2. Earning rate - No higher earn rate for spending on SPG (either properties or otherwise) - 1 point per GBP spent. What incentive do I have to book using this card when I can earn Amex Membership Rewards and get a higher transfer rate to most other Hotels/Airlines? US card seems to get 2 points per $1 if I am not mistaken.
3. Help towards gaining Elite status - 5nights/2stays is tangible. Essentially this is not a level playing field when you have a supposedly "global" programme yet your US customers are clearly going to accrue points and status at a faster and/or with lower spend.
4. UK cardholders get Gold status when one spends GBP15k (yes folks, 15 thousands pounds). I am 99.95% sure I can get Gold by spending less directly on hotels and I will probably end up with more points if I combine with various promos on offer (such as earning triple points, etc). So this benefit is more or less useless.
5. Free Weekend Night - only for UK cardholders: earn a free weekend night at any Cat 1-4 hotel if you spend GBP25k. The value of this benefit is laughable given the spend required and the fact that I can only redeem at a lower Cat hotel. I would estimate the value of this to be maybe GBP100 at most, something I can easily get from spending the money elsewhere.
All the other minor benefits are more or less the same bar the no FX charges for the US card which can add up to quite a lot if an individual travels overseas.
As I said, I've just become a SPG Amex cardholder and my plan is to cancel the card the moment I spend the required GBP1000 on it and pocket the 10k points. I'm sure the majority are in the same category and I wonder what the data would suggest around the average length of time the UK card is held vs. the US card.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Many thanks.
Aug 30, 2015, 11:28 am
#354
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
We'll need to wait for an official response, but I would guess no since it's being marketed as a completely separate brand (just like Four Points by Sheraton).
Aug 30, 2015, 12:50 pm
#355
Company Representative - Starwood
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG
Posts: 713
Since it was suggested in another thread that I ask here instead, would the newly designated Sheraton Grand hotels (at least, those with lounges) also qualify for complimentary SPG AmEx Business card lounge access? Or does designation as a Sheraton Grand mean that they are now a different type of Starwood property that would not grant such access?
Best Regards,
Cody Hensels
Specialist, Social Media
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Aug 30, 2015, 1:27 pm
#356
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Thanks for the clarification, Cody.
Aug 30, 2015, 1:35 pm
#357
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 130
Thank you for your response on both threads - especially since it is good news!
Sep 1, 2015, 6:18 am
#358
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London, Vancouver, Tokyo, San Francisco, NYC
Posts: 265
US / UK / CA / JP SPG Amex
Now confirming they are dropping forex charge and apply fair rate, I cancelled UK AMEX SPG. 1pt / 1 USD and 1pt / 1GBP is huge difference. Also there is no stay/night credit bonus in UK version. I'll use US AMEX SPG in UK as well.
On the other hand, I'll keep my CAD SPG Amex and JPY SPG Amex for point conversion advantage.
Does anyone do the same?
On the other hand, I'll keep my CAD SPG Amex and JPY SPG Amex for point conversion advantage.
Does anyone do the same?
Sep 1, 2015, 11:25 am
#359
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: UA Premier 1K, Star Alliance Gold, Titanium Elite Marriott, Celebrity Elite, IHG, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 343
Spg american express card
Now confirming they are dropping forex charge and apply fair rate, I cancelled UK AMEX SPG. 1pt / 1 USD and 1pt / 1GBP is huge difference. Also there is no stay/night credit bonus in UK version. I'll use US AMEX SPG in UK as well.
On the other hand, I'll keep my CAD SPG Amex and JPY SPG Amex for point conversion advantage.
Does anyone do the same?
On the other hand, I'll keep my CAD SPG Amex and JPY SPG Amex for point conversion advantage.
Does anyone do the same?
Sep 1, 2015, 12:01 pm
#360
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London, Vancouver, Tokyo, San Francisco, NYC
Posts: 265
By the way for car rent insurance, I always use Diners US regardless of currency / country.
Only using for SPG property (and costco) would not make sense unless bonus night/stay are quite important.