Let’s talk about alternatives to the SPG Amex after the massive Marriott devaluation
Apr 18, 2018, 11:36 am
#76
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin
Programs: AA Platinum 4MM; Marriott Titanium; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 324
--woodstock
Apr 18, 2018, 1:03 pm
#77
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
When I had both the SPG Amex and Chase Freedom Unlimited, I put majority of my Non-Anything spending on the Chase FU. Not because I think 1.5 UR point is worth more than 1 SPG point, but I think they are close enough and UR points are easier to use when you also have a Sapphire card or Ink Preferred . Now with the merge, not only SPG earning has been devaluated, UR points usage has actually been boosted. You could transfer the 1.5 UR points (per $ spend) to to 1.5 new Marriott points for the 2:1 transfer to airlines not partnered with UR.
Apr 18, 2018, 1:28 pm
#78
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,131
My bigger question is whether to dump my SPG AMEX and also dump my AAdvantage Aviator card (which I keep for checked bags & priority boarding, though I use said benefits 1-2x per year) and my Hilton Ascend card in favor of AMEX Platinum. None of these is my primary card, and the hotel cards are mainly for the status (though I did get a free weekend night annually with the old Citi Hilton Visa, and will now get one with SPG). With AMEX Platinum, I can use the airline credit for bag fees and/or priority boarding, plus I receive gold status at SPG/Marriott and Hilton. I know I lose the free weekend night, and I already have Chase Sapphire Reserve (so paying two large AFs gives me pause as a light-to-moderate air traveler).
Apr 18, 2018, 1:38 pm
#79
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,179
Like the idea of the Fidelity 2% cash back card for everyday (not category) spend that we now put on the SPG Amex. We put travel and dining on the Sapphire Reserve and hotel spend on the appropriate card.
Have to think if the Starwood card is worth it going forward for the free night or the hotel spend. Seems like it will depend on the categories and associated values but I also like the idea of using the Chase SR for hotel spend at Marriott/Starwood since that will yield 4.5 cents of value when spent on hotels through the UR portal or give me three Hyatt points per dollar (which I tend to value at about 2 Starpoints per dollar).
Have to think if the Starwood card is worth it going forward for the free night or the hotel spend. Seems like it will depend on the categories and associated values but I also like the idea of using the Chase SR for hotel spend at Marriott/Starwood since that will yield 4.5 cents of value when spent on hotels through the UR portal or give me three Hyatt points per dollar (which I tend to value at about 2 Starpoints per dollar).
Apr 18, 2018, 3:46 pm
#80
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 470
After over 25 years with a SPG Amex, I am thinking of the following:
1. Costco cash back Visa for gas (4%) and restaurants/travel (hotels, rental cars, airfare, etc.) (3%) and Costco (2%)
2. New Marriott Visa for 100K bonus and to test using it for Marriott hotel stays and Marriott timeshare maintenance fees (6 points per dollar)
3. Fidelity cash back Visa (2%) for everything else.
I think it is hard to beat the Costco cash back at 4% for gas and 3% for restaurants, hotels, rental cars, and airfare. In fact, I suspect that 3% cash back will be better than 6 points on the Marriott card. But, I am having a hard time going cold turkey after so long. Then, for non-category spend I think it will be hard to beat the 2% cash back.
My only hesitation is that I've started using the Marriott travel certificates and they are an amazing value. As a result, I'm currently debating whether to consider using the Marriott Visa instead of the Fidelity card. Has anyone tried to value Marriott points used for travel certificates? I see $.7 or $.8 for Marriott points. But, I think they may be more valuable when used for travel certificates.
1. Costco cash back Visa for gas (4%) and restaurants/travel (hotels, rental cars, airfare, etc.) (3%) and Costco (2%)
2. New Marriott Visa for 100K bonus and to test using it for Marriott hotel stays and Marriott timeshare maintenance fees (6 points per dollar)
3. Fidelity cash back Visa (2%) for everything else.
I think it is hard to beat the Costco cash back at 4% for gas and 3% for restaurants, hotels, rental cars, and airfare. In fact, I suspect that 3% cash back will be better than 6 points on the Marriott card. But, I am having a hard time going cold turkey after so long. Then, for non-category spend I think it will be hard to beat the 2% cash back.
My only hesitation is that I've started using the Marriott travel certificates and they are an amazing value. As a result, I'm currently debating whether to consider using the Marriott Visa instead of the Fidelity card. Has anyone tried to value Marriott points used for travel certificates? I see $.7 or $.8 for Marriott points. But, I think they may be more valuable when used for travel certificates.
Apr 18, 2018, 4:57 pm
#81
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 6
Apr 18, 2018, 5:54 pm
#83
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
Moving on to one example on the spend side. First class from JFK to Tokyo is 150,000 points on NH vs 140,000 on JAL. Using my math, I would have needed to spend $75,000 on Amex to get 150,000 MR point to pay for this trip to Tokyo on NH. Whereas I would have needed to spend $112,000 on Starwood for the same trip to JAL ($112,000 *.25 transfer bonus = 140,000 points). The math was always bad for Starwood. But now its even worse. I will now have to spend $168,000.
Apr 18, 2018, 6:13 pm
#84
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,941
Apr 18, 2018, 7:18 pm
#85
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 6
Not an issue at all, thankfully. Considering if my wife should open a chase MR card now for the 75K bonus, then I open the new card with the 100K bonus in may when it is ready to roll out. We would have a year to try the new program and decide what route to go. Could drop the MR in a year if not worth it.
Apr 18, 2018, 8:41 pm
#86
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
Apr 18, 2018, 9:20 pm
#87
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: DL DM, UA MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 97
The main downside to partner redemptions is the inability to waitlist. While I know many on here are frustrated by waitlists, I've had several instances where the waitlist cleared immediately or within a few days. My assumption is this a way for carriers to keep inventory to themselves without having to release it to partners.
Apr 19, 2018, 8:04 am
#88
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: MAR Lifetime Platinum, Delta Plat., IHG Spire Amb., Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 311
1)Let's assume I want to keep platinum and I have a lot of card spend. What's the best card strategy?
If I understand the new scheme correctly, I get 15 nights credit by having the SPG AMEX. Then if I have the Marriott Visa Premier, I get one night credit per $3,000 spend. That would seem to make the path to 50 nights much easier than it would seem at first glance. For former SPG folks, they've made platinum harder by moving from 25 stays to 50 nights, but if you have a lot of card spend, I think you can easily make it via cards.
2) Here's another question: I understand they said SPG people can still qualify for 2019 under the old 25 stay scheme. But once they merge them August, do my Marriott stays count toward that for 2019. In other words, assume on August 1, 2018 a person has 20 SPG stays and 30 Marriott stays. Are they then platinum in the combined program for 2019 on that basis?
Any thoughts on these two points are much appreciated.
If I understand the new scheme correctly, I get 15 nights credit by having the SPG AMEX. Then if I have the Marriott Visa Premier, I get one night credit per $3,000 spend. That would seem to make the path to 50 nights much easier than it would seem at first glance. For former SPG folks, they've made platinum harder by moving from 25 stays to 50 nights, but if you have a lot of card spend, I think you can easily make it via cards.
2) Here's another question: I understand they said SPG people can still qualify for 2019 under the old 25 stay scheme. But once they merge them August, do my Marriott stays count toward that for 2019. In other words, assume on August 1, 2018 a person has 20 SPG stays and 30 Marriott stays. Are they then platinum in the combined program for 2019 on that basis?
Any thoughts on these two points are much appreciated.
Apr 19, 2018, 8:33 am
#89
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Programs: AA 2MM Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,349
Interesting.. we had big spend in our small business and put it into cards with hotel benefits. For the longest time we hit the HH Surpass card, getting Diamond status and enough points at 3x for normal spend that $15K spend was an award night most anywhere. Then HH devaluation and we started to move to SPG where $15K spend on the SPG Amex was a award night in .. a lot of places. Then the SPG-MR union and $15K spend on the same SPG Amex was a night at most MR hotels.
Now I expect the devaluation combined with a) loss of lounge access via SPG Business card and b) reduced Gold benefits that I otherwise get from Amex Plat will send me to put all normal spend on Citi Double Cash, where $15K spend gives me $300 to spend on a room of some sort. I do collect Chase points via mostly dining spend and have a fair amount to use, perhaps for the occasional good redemption at Hyatt. But the game seems mostly over for me. Had a good run, though...
Now I expect the devaluation combined with a) loss of lounge access via SPG Business card and b) reduced Gold benefits that I otherwise get from Amex Plat will send me to put all normal spend on Citi Double Cash, where $15K spend gives me $300 to spend on a room of some sort. I do collect Chase points via mostly dining spend and have a fair amount to use, perhaps for the occasional good redemption at Hyatt. But the game seems mostly over for me. Had a good run, though...
But the the game is pretty much over for me too with all the devaluation of the loyalty programs. I’ve about had it with all this frequent bullsh*t! 😬
Apr 19, 2018, 10:26 am
#90
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: MAR Lifetime Platinum, Delta Plat., IHG Spire Amb., Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 311
Anyone?
1)Let's assume I want to keep platinum and I have a lot of card spend. What's the best card strategy?
If I understand the new scheme correctly, I get 15 nights credit by having the SPG AMEX. Then if I have the Marriott Visa Premier, I get one night credit per $3,000 spend. That would seem to make the path to 50 nights much easier than it would seem at first glance. For former SPG folks, they've made platinum harder by moving from 25 stays to 50 nights, but if you have a lot of card spend, I think you can easily make it via cards.
2) Here's another question: I understand they said SPG people can still qualify for 2019 under the old 25 stay scheme. But once they merge them August, do my Marriott stays count toward that for 2019. In other words, assume on August 1, 2018 a person has 20 SPG stays and 30 Marriott stays. Are they then platinum in the combined program for 2019 on that basis?
Any thoughts on these two points are much appreciated.
If I understand the new scheme correctly, I get 15 nights credit by having the SPG AMEX. Then if I have the Marriott Visa Premier, I get one night credit per $3,000 spend. That would seem to make the path to 50 nights much easier than it would seem at first glance. For former SPG folks, they've made platinum harder by moving from 25 stays to 50 nights, but if you have a lot of card spend, I think you can easily make it via cards.
2) Here's another question: I understand they said SPG people can still qualify for 2019 under the old 25 stay scheme. But once they merge them August, do my Marriott stays count toward that for 2019. In other words, assume on August 1, 2018 a person has 20 SPG stays and 30 Marriott stays. Are they then platinum in the combined program for 2019 on that basis?
Any thoughts on these two points are much appreciated.