Better to add card to account or create a new account?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 134
Better to add card to account or create a new account?
I am building points as quick as possible right now to use on my honeymoon next summer. The question I have is, should I add my fiance' as an additional card on my SPG Amex or have her create her own card for the sign-up bonus? She will not be charging any hotels or travel expenses throughout the year and probably only spends 500 - 1000 per month on the card. If she starts her own account I will have her create her own SPG account and then can I transfer her points to me before the honeymoon?
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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Originally Posted by pwdump
The question I have is, should I add my fiance' as an additional card on my SPG Amex or have her create her own card for the sign-up bonus? She will not be charging any hotels or travel expenses throughout the year and probably only spends 500 - 1000 per month on the card.
If she starts her own account I will have her create her own SPG account and then can I transfer her points to me before the honeymoon?
#3
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYC
Programs: Marriott LTP - Aeroplan 50K
Posts: 676
Sorry to hijack this thread somewhat but I have a similar dilemma that I hope someone can help me with...
Normally, my wife and I travel together and I simply use our MBNA MasterCard SPG card (with our SPG number) and it credits our account appropriately.
The question is, "If she travels alone, and I use the card to book the room with our account number, will we still get the points ?"
Thanks for any insight anyone can lend,
Cheers,
Singlepoint
Normally, my wife and I travel together and I simply use our MBNA MasterCard SPG card (with our SPG number) and it credits our account appropriately.
The question is, "If she travels alone, and I use the card to book the room with our account number, will we still get the points ?"
Thanks for any insight anyone can lend,
Cheers,
Singlepoint
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 134
Alright.....
So it sounds like the best option is just to get her an additional card on my account and earn points in my SPG account for her spending.
No real benefit for her to apply on her own, right? Note: she does not have an SPG account now, so I could just sign her up with my address.
No real benefit for her to apply on her own, right? Note: she does not have an SPG account now, so I could just sign her up with my address.
#5
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Originally Posted by pwdump
No real benefit for her to apply on her own, right?
2. Bonus points for first 10 or so Starwood stays
3. Her spend won't take away from your credit line, so you can spend more and earn more points
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: SPG, Continental, USAir, United, AA, Delta
Posts: 26
I seem to remember at one point there was a referral bonus if you recommend the SPG Amex to someone else. Does this no longer exist? Or was it something targeted?
#7
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: AA 1MM
Posts: 178
One disadvantage to separate card is additional cost--but it is only $35/year. I believe that another card on your account is free.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Starwood Gold, USAir CP
Posts: 112
I think there's still a current promotion where the card is fee-free for the first year, so it'd be no cost either way (and you could always close the card and transfer her points to your account after the free year if you didn't think it was worth the $)
#9
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Oakland, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold
Posts: 89
Originally Posted by miAAflyer
One disadvantage to separate card is additional cost--but it is only $35/year. I believe that another card on your account is free.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 134
I just decided to have her open her own account for the initial bonus. Then, after the points posted and before the first free year is over, cancel hers and add an additional card to mine. That way I transfer her points to my SPG account and all further points will be posted there.
#11
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
Originally Posted by jeffshih
It was free for me to add my wife to my SPG Amex -- it's just another card with the same credit card number but a different name on it. . .
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Oakland, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold
Posts: 89
Originally Posted by AZ Travels the World
are you sure the numbers are the same?
Edited: brain was not in sync with fingers when typing earlier...
Last edited by shibang; Jul 31, 2005 at 8:23 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by jeffshih
You're right, the last two digits are the same. I hadn't even noticed until this morning when I went to compare the two.
Given that you too say that AZ Travels the World is right, do you mean to say that that last two digits of your Amex are different from that on the other card?
My experience is the same as AZ Travels the World in that the cards have a a very slightly different card number (eg, two different digits at the end).