At 1 SPG = 3 MR, what are the arbitrage opportunities?
 

Now that we know 1 SPG = 3 MR, what are the opportunities when it comes to promotions, redemptions and bonuses?

For example, it seems SPG has a better promotion than MR this quarter for frequent travellers...

Currently 80k SPG points = 100k AA miles. Now 80k = 240k Marriott.

235k Marriott = 5 nights at a Category 1-5 Marriott + 120k AA miles

Edit: it's actually slightly better for United miles too at 132k miles.

Well, it appears I was premature in asking the moderators to close the thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...fer-ratio.html and instead should have done more research and corrected the posting.

With the information in that thread provided by 3Cforme, it appears that indeed our transfer ratio from SPG:UA MileagePlus has improved.

For example, transferring 8,000 SPG Starpoints to Marriott Rewards results in 24,000 Marriott Rewards points. 24,000 Marriott Rewards points will convert to 10,000 UA MileagePlus miles. Therefore, the effective transfer ratio of SPG:UA in this transfer is 1:1.25 instead of the traditional 2:1.

Transferring 18,667 SPG Starpoints to Marriott Rewards results in 56,001 Marriott Rewards points. 56,000 Marriott Rewards points will convert to 25,000 UA MileagePlus miles. Therefore, the effective transfer ratio of SPG:UA in this transfer is 1:1.34 instead of the traditional 2:1.

Sorry if this appears to be a cross post, but the moderators re-opened the thread above to allow me to post the corrected information.

I kick myself for an SPG to AA transfer during a promotion. Would have gotten free nights on top with Marriot

now they enforce that 5 night vacation packages are only available to timeshare owners, so its 90k SPG=270k Marriott=7 nights 1-5+132/120

So now SPG Amex will give 3 Marriott Points per $ spent on everyday purchase? I think that's huge. Nothing else will give the equivalent value of 3 MR points on a $ on non-bonus category items.

if they have already cut out SPG timeshare owner transfers, they will certainly pay attention to those with ultra high business spend on amex. SPG sees what is coming in each month from amex.

do not assume anything will not change. and this is all temporary, however long it lasts.

Well said. These folks know about arbitrage and, even if not, bulletin boards will rapidly educate them.

Indeed. That's why I say this is fun while the fun lasts. "Apres moi, le deluge" comes to mind. :o

On the SPG Points I plan to exhaust before 2018, for the FF portion, I think this represents an excellent way to redeem, especially for UA.

Given the 3:1 conversion, I don't even mind Cat 8, 9, or Tiers 1-3 redemptions for places where I'll need to be anyway.

Sadly, I have to go from Marriott to SPG as Marriott does not convert to Thai Airways.

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.

It is my understanding that the free nights are for timeshare owners only and it is enforced. So we got the same rate we'd get today.

It can't be current balance, that makes no sense. Imagine someone who earned 1,000,000 Starpoints but used them on airfare and free stays. You're suggesting MR would calculate him at 0? Absurd. Assuming MR keeps the points requirement they will do something as you suggest like total points earned converted at some ratio (3:1 or similar).

I am no doubt missing something obvious but all I can find is 7 night Cat 1-5 plus 120k but it doesnt mention AA being a transfer partner for a total of 270k MR.

Where am I going wrong?

I'm new to Marriott (I have SPG) -- currently "Silver" -- could you show me where to find that redemption? So far all I've found is 3:1 MR:AA on the AA website.

Is it travel packages? -- https://www.marriott.com/rewards/usepoints/morepack.mi