The Brand New Amex SPG Luxury Credit Card Link Is Live!

As promised several months ago, the brand new Amex SPG Luxury credit card is here. This card brings the SPG card portfolio into the premium hotel credit card market with things like a big sign-up bonus, big hotel credit, elite status, free night award, and, of course, a huge annual fee to go along with it all.

The Brand New Amex SPG Luxury Credit Card Link Is Live

Link: New Amex SPG Luxury Credit Card

We pretty much had heard of most of the rumors of this card before the launch date but one that did not pan out was the sign-up bonus. Doctor of Credit told of a rumor that it would come with a 125,000 point bonus (equivalent to 41,666 Starpoints before the merger). While we may see something like that at some point, right now the offer is 100,000 bonus points.

That isn’t a terrible offer, especially since many people are going to want this card for its perks and benefits more than the sign-up bonus. So, let’s look at those benefits and details!

• 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
• Earn 6X points on SPG and Marriott purchases
• Earn 3X points at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases
• $300 annual statement credit for purchases at SPG or Marriott hotels
• Free night award each card anniversary (good for hotels up to a 50,000 point redemption level)
• Complimentary Gold elite status (earn Platinum Elite after making $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year)
• No foreign transaction fee
• $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck
• Priority Pass Select Membership – unlimited lounge visits for cardholder and up to two guests each visit (must activate membership)
• Annual Fee: $450

Amex SPG Luxury Credit Card Analysis

This is a card you get for one big reason – you stay at SPG or Marriott properties many times in a year. This card does not offer an increase on points earned for spending at SPG and Marriott properties (over the personal and business versions that only cost $95) and the bonus category of restaurants and flights is not that appealing either at 3X points (for example, many people have the Chase Sapphire Reserve that also gives 3X points on dining and all travel).

The big draw to get and keep this card is being able to take advantage of perks like $300 annual credit for SPG and Marriott purchases, annual free night and complimentary Gold status. That $300 credit drops the effective annual fee to $150 which means you are getting Gold status and a free night for that annual fee cost.

Free Night

The annual free night allows you to redeem for up to 50,000 points on an award night. That puts it at a standard Category 6 redemption. Coming next year, off-peak Category 7 will be at 50,000 points so I imagine that will be bookable with this as well. Category 7 is the current highest category (with category 8 coming next year) so that opens up a lot of potential value in this free night.

Elite Status/Credits

Like other Marriott cards before, you will get 15 elite night credits each year. This does not stack (for 2019) with other cards’ elite night credits so if you have another Marriott card that gives it to you, this will not be anything special.

But, the Gold status is something that may interest some people. It is not like SPG Gold from the past so don’t expect that. It will require 25 elite nights to gain but comes free with this card. If you want Platinum Elite (requiring 50 nights), you can obtain that by spending $75,000 in a calendar year, or you can use the 15 elite nights gained with the card and stay another 35 nights.

The Clock Is Ticking!

From the card’s terms and details:

Effective 8/26, welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton Rewards^® Credit Card from JP Morgan in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired The Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards^®Premier Credit Card from Chase, or The Marriott Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a welcome or upgrade offer for The Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards^® Premier Credit Card from Chase, or The Marriott Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.

That’s right – starting in just 3 days, you will be unable to get this card if you have had the Ritz card in the last 30 days, a Marriott card in the last 90 days or a Marriott welcome/upgrade offer on those same cards in the last 24 months.

If you would fall into one of those categories, these next 3 days will be your one shot (at least for a while) at grabbing the Amex SPG Luxury card.