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This offer is expired – current offer is up to 25,000 Starpoints
If you follow many travel blogs, you will have noticed a bit of an uptick in this card being mentioned over the last 24 hours. This is due to the fact that American Express is following their somewhat annual schedule of extending a limited-time offer on their best hotel credit cards. Each year around this time, they hike up their traditional offer of 10,000 Starpoints after first purchase and an additional 15,000 Starpoints after spending $5,000 in 6 months to 10,000 Starpoints after first purchase and an additional 20,000 Starpoints after spending $5,000 in 6 months EXPIRED. I wrote recently that it was a good idea to hold off on applying for this card due to the fact that signs pointed to the increased offer coming soon. It is here!
American Express SPG Personal Card – 25,000 Bonus Starpoints –
American Express SPG Business Card – 25,000 Bonus Starpoints –
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Why is this offer a big deal?
The normal offer is a total of 25,000 bonus points after meeting the spending requirement. This limited-time offer is 30,000 EXPIRED bonus points after meeting the same spending requirements. This is an increase of 5,000 points during this limited-time offer.
2) Is 5,000 extra points that big of a deal?
In the whole points and miles world, an increased offer of 5,000 points normally does not raise a ton of interest. I mean, we just had the recent, temporary increase of 10,000 points for the Chase Ink cards. 10,000 extra is a lot better than 5,000, right?
Not necessarily. The reason that this limited-time offer from American Express on their SPG cards is a big deal is that there are no category bonuses with the SPG card. That means you get 1 Starpoint for every $1 spent no matter where it was spent (unless it was SPG hotels). That is very different from the Chase Ink cards where you receive category bonuses, some extremely lucrative such as their 5 points per dollar spent at office supply stores. So it is easier to come by almost every other point besides the SPG card. So, to put it in terms of spend, to get this extra 5,000 Starpoints without the limited-time offer in place, you would need to spend $5,000 to see those 5,000 points. That is a lot of spend to put on a card (unless you are doing manufactured spending). To have a bonus offer that gives you those extra 5,000 points at the same terms as their normal offer is very good.
3) Should I get this card?
A lot depends on what your goals are with travel and such. I find these cards to be some of the best out there due to their flexiblity. I personally value each Starpoint at 2.5 cents. That makes this offer have a value of $750 to me. I value these points so highly because they are so flexibile. Here are some of the reasons I value them so highly:
- You can stay at hotels for free (obviously)
- You can stretch those hotel stays with Cash&Points
- You can get even more nights free with their 5th Night Free
- You can get a whole vacation out of them with their Nights&Flights redemption method
- You can transfer them to airlines and receive bonuses of 5,000 miles with every block of 20,000 points transferred
- You can use them to book flights
- You can use them for gift cards
The Starwood Preferred Guest program is easily the most versatile and flexible awards redemption program out there. Chances are very good that this card would fit what you are looking for. I have held both cards and really love them.
The nice part about this promo is that it runs through September 3rd, so you do not need to decide right now about whether you are going to apply or not. I will be featuring some posts in the coming weeks that will highlight different aspects of the SPG program to show you what you can get with this offer.
4) What are my chances of being accepted?
This is entirely based on your credit report and score. Here are some of the things that may disallow you from receiving the card/welcome bonus:
- A low credit score (anything over 700 would be good)
- Too many high balances on current accounts (shows the issuer that you are living off of your credit, even if that is not really the case)
- You have had the card in the last 12 months. To be eligible for the personal SPG card, you cannot have had it in the last 12 months. Same thing for the business SPG card. If you have the business card, you will be eligible for the personal SPG card (and vice versa)
- You have a total of 4 American Express credit cards (charge cards such as the American Express Platinum card or Premier Rewards Gold are not included in that number). They changed the rules last year that set the limit at 4 credit cards total (that is business and personal combined). See below about being declined if you already have the limit.
- You have had too many recent inquiries on your report
If you have a reasonable credit score and history, you should be okay getting this card. Every person is different and even some of the things I listed above may not be dealbreakers if you can properly explain it to a representative.
5) My decision says they will have to let me know. How can I check on it?
You can read this post to see about check on your application status or just click here to go right now to check it. It is simple and quick!
6) What can I do with this card and the points?
Check back over the next few weeks as I highlight the amazing redemption opportunities of the Starpoints that you will receive as a bonus.
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
