The "Official" Starwood AmEx Card Thread.... Points OR miles

FarleyIsGod said: Here is a dumb question-
I added the SPG card to my AMEX website - how do I link that to the spg.com website?
Any help would be appreciated. CSR's don't seem to know how to do it.I don't understand the question. The only way you "limk" the AMEX to SPG is by providing your SPG # when you applied for the AMEX, or else a new SPG account was created for you and linked to the CC.

isles1 said: FarleyIsGod said: Here is a dumb question-
I added the SPG card to my AMEX website - how do I link that to the spg.com website?
Any help would be appreciated. CSR's don't seem to know how to do it.I don't understand the question. The only way you "limk" the AMEX to SPG is by providing your SPG # when you applied for the AMEX, or else a new SPG account was created for you and linked to the CC.

Hmmm... well then I suppose my question is how do I access the created account (I did not have a previous SPG account). My welcome packet didn't come with any information.
Gracias.

Ok, here's my situation (I believe it's not that atypical, so hope is I won't be the only beneficiary of the discussion):
1. I have an AMEX SPG card which will be charged $45 annual fee in 2-3 weeks from now.
2. I'd like to avoid the fee and therefore seriously consider converting the card into Hilton HHonors.
(yes, it's a great card, but I have to stay in a hotel on my own dime only once every 3 years or so)
3. Not having the card will prevent me from generating activity on my SPG account.
4. As a result of 2 & 3 the 30K SPG points that I currently have will expire in about 12 months.
5. My wife has an SPG account too.
6. I was told by SPG CSR that points can be transferred between members residing at the same address without any limitations.

Will it be possible to transfer a bunch of points back and forth between the two of us thereby generating activity on both SPG accounts and keeping the points perpetually?

Question: Can I book a stay for someone else? I will not be staying at the hotel or will be there checking in. Is it possible to book a stay for someone else?

silam said: To my knowledge the transferring of points does not count as generating activity. On the otherhand, depending on where you live, a drink at their bar, or picking up something like a tube of travel sized toothpaste from the little shop thingy does count as activity I believe.

One of the nice things about the *wood card for people who do not have a lot of actual stays is that the point activity generated from CC use counts as activity and keeps points alive.

I know that transfer between holders at the same address is very easy. I am not sure if that activity counts.

And Yif-- per the T&Cs a stay you book for someone else does not count as an eligible stay for your account. You need to actually check in with your ID and pay for the stay with your credit card.

(of course like many things YMMV)

I wish there was a way to get from Gold to platinum easily... I have 6 weeks in award stays planned for Europe this summer and need to go as Plat rather than Gold since we'll have kids with us and getting any kind of upgrade because of that is already going to be a challenge.

How long is it taking everyone to get the bonus 10,000 points? I applied for this card back in November and it has been 4 billing statements since and have yet to see the bonus points.

I called last month to inquiry about it and was told it would show up next month. Now here we are next month and all I see is my starpoints from purchases.

b8b said: I wish there was a way to get from Gold to platinum easily... I have 6 weeks in award stays planned for Europe this summer and need to go as Plat rather than Gold since we'll have kids with us and getting any kind of upgrade because of that is already going to be a challenge.

There was a Q1 promo where you only stayed half the nights required to qualify for platinum because of double stay credit. 13 nights instead of 25!!!

krazieman said: Sackajacka said: jiffy said: Has anyone been successful in getting them to waive the fee for year 2 or reduce it back to $30? I recall people were able to waive the $30 successfully last year. I called and tried but no go. I might call back and try again.

I called when I heard the annual fee was going up. I was told by the CSR to call back when billed at renewal -- my spending on the card (daily spender) was high enough that they should waive it if I kepy up at the same level. He seemed to indicate that there was some tiered structure as to your spending and "rating". My impression was that waiving the fee was much more likely the more you actually use the card.

I called today regarding the increase in card fees, but the CSR didn't offer anything.
When I said I would just cancel the card, she said I should look at other AMEX cards then.

I spent over 50k on the card this year.
What sort of threshold do you have to spend to get the fee deductions?

I was able to get the fee waived. Told the CSR that I had spoken to a rep several months ago when the fee raise was announced who told me to call when I was charged and request the credit. It sounded like it was an automated computer decision from her response -- "let me see if I can do that.... pause... ok sir, I was able to remove that fee for you..."

Was also able to have APR lowered from prime +9.99 to prime +7.99 variable. I know, no one here ever carries a balance, but it can't hurt to lower the rates. This process was exactly the same as the first request.

As a data point, my annual spending was just over $40k.

After the sign up bonus for 10k points, is there any other ways to get bonus starpoints besides spending 15k over 6 months?

Does buying lunch or soda at these hotels still count towards a stay?

Instant approval. Can't wait to get this card and start using it!

Do most people use this for the actual hotels or air? I'm not sure which I'll use it for most just yet.

Here is a question for you guys:

Do they still offer the 15k extra points for 15k spent in 6 mos?

I am forgetting if I saw this offer on the AMEX site as I signed up for this, but I've seen it around the internet. I'm hoping I still do get this. If I don't, do you think if I call AMEX they'll honor it?

jacobstusa said: Here is a question for you guys:

Do they still offer the 15k extra points for 15k spent in 6 mos?

I am forgetting if I saw this offer on the AMEX site as I signed up for this, but I've seen it around the internet. I'm hoping I still do get this. If I don't, do you think if I call AMEX they'll honor it?

I think so. I'm putting my tuition on it next semester. I signed up through the promo link that stated it, so I'll fax it in if they deny

cyberkost said: YiFeng said: How long is it taking everyone to get the bonus 10,000 points? I applied for this card back in November and it has been 4 billing statements since and have yet to see the bonus points.

I called last month to inquiry about it and was told it would show up next month. Now here we are next month and all I see is my starpoints from purchases.

yes, they have become very sluggish posting the bonus points. It's usually full 12 weeks mentioned in T&C + 1 months "delay". In your case it sound the points will post when the current billing period closes (i.e., on the day your next statement is cut).

They take their miserable time, im on my 4th month... this is completely the opposite of my Citi AA cards... terrible!

Hello,

I read all 18 pages and hope I didn't miss anything. I'm new to the world of frequent flier mile redemption. Is there some sort of site or online calculator that helps determine one's best choice for say a flight from San Francisco to Miami? Or does one pretty much have to visit each and every rewards program/site to determine the best/cheapest choice?

Thanks!

Gotcha, thanks.

Same answer when looking at First Class too from San Fran to Miami?

Lastly, I was planning on just going US Air unless anyone has a recommendation to go w/ one of the others?

Thanks again!

Hey, cool, thanks!


I appreciate all the info and hope that it helps others as well.

hmmm am i missing something here? i can earn one point per dollar with my SPG AMEX OR one point per dollar with my platinum AMEX. it takes 3 MR AMEX points to convert into ONE SPG point. SPG points can easily be redeemed at about 3%; i.e. 10,000 points to get one night in a $300 4/5 star hotel. MR points seem to only be redeemable at about 1% for merchandise or whatever (i am SURE there is a more effective way of using MR points - but i'm not aware of it).

bottom line it just seems like the SPG points are way more valuable. i am considering dumping my personal/biz gold/platinum AMEX cards that cost me over $500 a year in fees and just going with the SPG. thoughts? am i missing something? thanks!

I signed up for the SPG and SPG Biz AMEX cards last year and received both 10k bonuses. Both cards were up for renewal and I didn't want to pay the fee.

I called the SPG AMEX customer service, talked to a retention specialist and was offered a $10 statement credit to keep the card. She could see that I hadn't used the card in quite a while (I only used it for the first purchase last year) and said that she could've offered a higher credit if I had used the card more. The other option she gave me was to convert to the AMEX Blue card with no fee...and I accepted that. I have been using my Skymiles Platinum AMEX card for my everyday purchases for quite a while and don't plan on changing that.

I then called the SPG Biz AMEX customer service, talked to a retention specialist and was offered a $25 statement credit to keep the card. I haven't used this card in a quite a while either (only used for first purchase last year) and basically said I don't plan to use it (after the credit was offered). I chose to go ahead and close it.

Just thought I'd provide a couple data points for other people in the same situation.