Updates to both the personal and business Starwood Preferred credit cards from American Express went into effect on August 1. The one-time Starpoints conversion in SPG loyalty member accounts and the updates to Elite status will occur along with the broader Marriott loyalty program updates on August 18.
On August 1, the following updates were made to SPG Amex Cards:
How You Earn Points with Your Card
When you use your card you can earn:
- 6X points for each dollar of eligible purchases at participating SPG and Marriott Rewards hotels
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
- 4X points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping. (this update only applies to The Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express)
New Benefits
Annual Free Night Award: Card Members whose Card account anniversary dates are on or after August 1 will be eligible to receive their annual Free Night Award (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at a participating hotel. Select hotels will have resort fees.
Baggage Insurance Plan: Changes only apply to The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express. For more information on this update, go here.
On August 18, we can expect to see these updates in our loyalty member account:
In a one-time conversion, Starpoints will convert to points at a 1:3 ratio (one Starpoint will convert to three Marriott points). For example, 1,000 Starpoints will become 3,000 Marriott points. SPG will also make corresponding changes to the number of points required for redemptions.
SPG will introduce a new Silver Elite status that will be recognized at participating SPG and Marriott Rewards hotels. As a card member, you will be eligible to receive complimentary Silver Elite status. If you have a status level higher than Silver Elite status, your SPG Status will be converted to the respective new Marriott loyalty program status level.
American Express also warns us that as part of these updates, there may be delays posting points to your loyalty member account.
I know I need to move along with these changes but I’m still wishing this merger never happened. Oh well, still need to stay informed!
Please confirm if I Am understanding this correctly. If I spend $1000. For a SPG/ Marriott property I will earn 6,000 points. When these points transfer later this month 1:3 I will then have 18,000 points?
That would be nice, but I think the following cautionary note suggests that this won’t actually happen: “… there may be delays posting points to your loyalty member account.”
Priscilla, Can’t confirm how all this will play out. If you have specific questions about a property or spend on your cards, you might want to contact SPG or Marriott directly.
It hardly matters once the card hits my sock drawer :)
I hear ya, Dan :)