Our review on Amex SPG Card has been updated as the following.
American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card (personal)
American Express Starwood Preferred Guest BUSINESS Card
The Math
As Marriott points are normally valued at less than 1 cent per point (0.75 cpp in our book), this card is decent for general spending. Based on our value, this card returns 1.5% travel rewards and will be outshined by a 2% cashback card (such as Citi Double Cash or Fidelity Visa). However, if you points valuation is higher or if you know how to maximize points value (especially when transferred to frequent flyer miles), you might still find this card better than 2% cashback cards. In addition, 6x points at Marriott portfolio hotels (and 4x dining, gas, wireless and shipping on the business version) may be another reason to spend on this card, because 4.5% travel rewards hold up well to the competition, especially considering the versatility and the large number of transfer partners of Marriott points.
Even if you don't plan to spend much on the card, you might still want to keep it after the first year thanks to the annual free night capped at 35,000 points level, as well as the 15 night credits towards elite status. Actually, this is one of the few cards that you may want to pay annual fees happily but keep it in the drawer.
The Conclusion
The August 2018 revamp makes Amex SPG less attractive for general spending. We only recommend the card for 6x bonus category (and 4x on the business version) spending, and the annual 35K-point free night makes it a keeper after the first year.
© 2018 DrCreditCard.net All rights reserved.
American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card (personal)
- Annual Fee: 1st year free and $95 thereafter
- Signup Bonus: 75,000 points after spending $3,000 within 3 months of new account opening. The bonus is not available if you have or had this card before. As of 8/26/18, the bonus is not available if you have or have had Chase Marriott Rewards Card, Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Card, Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Card, or JP Morgan Ritz-Carlton Card in the last 30 days. Historical best bonus: 35,000 Starpoints (=105,000 Marriott points) in 2016 and 2017.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 6x Marriott portfolio hotels, and 2x everywhere else.
- Best Use of Marriott points: (1) You may redeem points for hotel stays or upgrades at over 6,500 Marriott portfolio hotels worldwide, including Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, EDITION, W Hotels, Marriott, Renaissance, Delta, Gaylord, Autograph Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels, Courtyard, AC Hotels, Fairfield, SpringHill Suites, Protea, Moxy, Four Points, element, aloft, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Marriott Executive Apartments, and Marriott Vacation Club. (2) You may transfer points into airline miles of 30+ frequent flyer programs, mostly at 3:1 ratio. If you transfer 60,000 points in a bulk you will get 5,000 miles as a bonus (60K points = 25 miles). Please see our review on Marriott vs. Membership Rewards vs. Ultimate Rewards vs. ThankYou vs. Club Rewards for details of the programs that allow frequent flyer miles transfer. (3) You may also redeem points for Marriott Hotel+Air Travel Packages - you exchange a certain number of Marriott points for a certain number of frequent flyer miles plus a 7-night certificate for a Marriott portfolio hotel at a certain redemption level. Generally, the new Travel Packages represent devaluation from the old Travel Packages before August 2018 - you will still save some points when use this option, but in our opinion most of the time the saving is not big enough for the hassle of finding a single hotel to stay seven nights in a row.
- Marriott Benefits: (1) An annual free night at any Marriott portfolio hotels with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less upon each cardmember anniversary after you renew the card (the e-certificate expires 12 months after issuance). (2) Complimentary Marriott Silver Elite status, the fourth tier status in the combined Marriott loyalty program effective August 2018, which doesn't offer much. (3) Upgrade to Marriott Gold Elite status, the third tier status, after you spend at least $30,000 ($35,000 coming 2019) in a calendar year. Marriott Gold, normally achieved by staying at least 25 nights per year, is still nothing much. (4) Coming 2019, 15 night credits toward elite status each calendar year. (5) Free premium internet access at Marriott portfolio hotels.
- Other Benefits: (1) Waived foreign transaction fees, with an embedded EMV chip. (2) Amex Offers - you receive savings in form of statement credit or earn bonus points on select merchants when using your Amex card; you need to manually add an offer to your Amex card to be eligible for savings or bonus, and unlike other savings/bonus programs, you don't need to shop through a certain portal. (3) ShopRunner membership for free 2-day shipping with select merchants. (4) Entertainment Access including American Express Presale, American Express Preferred Seating, and Premium Access (dining access).
- History: The old Amex SPG Card had been extremely popular among frequent travelers due to its generous rewards earning capability. With the final stage of merger between Marriott and SPG loyalty programs in August 2018, Amex revamped this card to align with Chase Marriott Premier Plus Visa with similar rewards and perks. Compared to the old card, the new card returns 33% less points for general spending, from 3x Marriott points to 2x, and gains useful features such as the annual 35K-point free night as a compensating act.
American Express Starwood Preferred Guest BUSINESS Card
- The business version shares most of the features with the personal card including the annual fees.
- Signup Bonus: 100,000 points after spending $5,000 within 3 months of new account opening. The bonus is not available if you have or had this card before. As of 8/26/18, the bonus is not available if you have or have had Chase Marriott Rewards Business Card or Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Business Card in the last 30 days, or if you have or have had Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Card or Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Card in the last 90 days, or if you have received a signup bonus in the last 24 months on Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Card or Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Card. Historical Best Bonus of this card: 35,000 Starpoints (=105,000 Marriott points) in 2016 and 2017.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 6x Marriott portfolio hotels, 4x U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. wireless services, and U.S. shipping services, and 2x everywhere else.
- The business version also offers complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi plan, which is not available on the personal card.
The Math
As Marriott points are normally valued at less than 1 cent per point (0.75 cpp in our book), this card is decent for general spending. Based on our value, this card returns 1.5% travel rewards and will be outshined by a 2% cashback card (such as Citi Double Cash or Fidelity Visa). However, if you points valuation is higher or if you know how to maximize points value (especially when transferred to frequent flyer miles), you might still find this card better than 2% cashback cards. In addition, 6x points at Marriott portfolio hotels (and 4x dining, gas, wireless and shipping on the business version) may be another reason to spend on this card, because 4.5% travel rewards hold up well to the competition, especially considering the versatility and the large number of transfer partners of Marriott points.
Even if you don't plan to spend much on the card, you might still want to keep it after the first year thanks to the annual free night capped at 35,000 points level, as well as the 15 night credits towards elite status. Actually, this is one of the few cards that you may want to pay annual fees happily but keep it in the drawer.
The Conclusion
The August 2018 revamp makes Amex SPG less attractive for general spending. We only recommend the card for 6x bonus category (and 4x on the business version) spending, and the annual 35K-point free night makes it a keeper after the first year.
© 2018 DrCreditCard.net All rights reserved.
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