At 1 SPG = 3 MR, what are the arbitrage opportunities?
Sep 28, 2016, 11:44 pm
#61
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 237
For me the travel packages are where it's at. I bought two 7 night travel packages (cat 1-5) for 540,000 MR pts (180,000 SPG) and received 264,000 UA miles Plus two rooms for seven nights at any cat 1-5 marriott.
That's a transfer rate of 1:1.46 SPG to UA plus i have the free hotel nights. Great deal for me as I live in the midwest and United provides me some great travel options.
That's a transfer rate of 1:1.46 SPG to UA plus i have the free hotel nights. Great deal for me as I live in the midwest and United provides me some great travel options.
Sep 29, 2016, 4:15 am
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Sep 29, 2016, 4:19 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Depends if you have a specific routing in mind...DL also has a much more variable award chart (for flights on DL metal), which usually is less ideal. But DL is also a higher quality airline than AA at the moment.
Sep 29, 2016, 7:26 pm
#65
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco area
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott T
Posts: 455
Hotel Cert
For the hotel part of the certificate, does it have to be used all at once, or can it split into 2 stays to 2 different same category hotels, e.g. 4 days at X, 3 days at Y
Sep 29, 2016, 7:27 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,971
Because for people like me who earn all the reward from credit card spent, now I could earn from SPG Amex and transfers 1 to 3 to use Travel Package for close to $1 to 1.5 miles with 7 nights of free hotel on everyday non category purchases. How many credit card will let you get 1.5 airline miles/$ with free hotel stays before the merge? 
None that I know of.
Last year I spent 100K on RC card but it was not enough points to buy one travel package. This year I am definitely switching to SPG Amex...and get me 300K MR points for the packages. I will lost Plat for 2018 but who knows what will happen to the programs in 2018 anyway.
None that I know of.Last year I spent 100K on RC card but it was not enough points to buy one travel package. This year I am definitely switching to SPG Amex...and get me 300K MR points for the packages. I will lost Plat for 2018 but who knows what will happen to the programs in 2018 anyway.
The credit card spending is a huge arbitrage opportunity. One has to be foolish to use the MR Visa on anything other than Marriott stays or airline (since it comes with great benefits). So, SPG AMEX is definitely the way to go on other spending. I wonder how long it will take before they change that.
Sep 29, 2016, 9:04 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 376
I just wanted to pre-empt a devaluation in the 7 night package by doing a transfer sooner rather than later.
Sep 29, 2016, 9:39 pm
#68
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Sep 29, 2016, 9:52 pm
#69
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 8
Noobie here. Does SPG Amex care if you MS on this card or was it just the Amex Platinum that was clawed back from some? Has anyone ever mentioned any repercussions of MS on this SPG card? Thx.
Sep 29, 2016, 10:05 pm
#70
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
Welcome to FT, UltimateRewards!
I've never heard of any issues regarding MS on the Amex card, but FT has a dedicated forum on the subject, so you might want to check it out.
I've never heard of any issues regarding MS on the Amex card, but FT has a dedicated forum on the subject, so you might want to check it out.
Sep 30, 2016, 12:25 am
#71
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Programs: Hyatt Global, Marriot Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,282
The other consideration here is how lifetime status will be handled in the combined program. MR Lifetime status currently has a point requirement. Will they just convert over every Starpoint you've ever earned at 3:1 for this calculation in the new program, or will they look at your current balance in each program separately? If the latter, there may be benefits to converting or not converting that need to be taken into account as well.