Why I Am Passing on the SPG Luxury Card – Should You Too?

Marriott just told me this credit only applies to Ritz-Carlton or St, Regis. I believe they mistook the $100 credit for the $300 credit. Anyone else can confirm or rebuke this?

October 31, 2018, I applied for the 100,000-point Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card with $450 annual fee and 50k points each anniversary. The AMEX representative reviewed the terms and conditions with me and looked at my past records and stated I would be eligible. I told him I had had the Chase VISA Marriott Rewards Premier 80k points in Jun 2016 and AMEX SPG in July 2015 and the Chase Marriott Rewards® Premier Business credit card 80k in August 2015. I was told I am eligible because I have not had the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card which has a $450 annual fee. I applied online and was approved instantly (there was no warning message during my application I was not eligible). A called AMEX a couple of weeks after I received my card and they assured me again if I spent 5K in 3 months I would receive 100,000 Marriott points. I called AMEX after approximately 75 days and AMEX confirmed I had met the $5K spending requirements and would receive the 100,000 bonus points in a couple of weeks. A month passed so I called AMEX for a status. I was rudely told I have a “Welcome offer history” and would not explain any details. I spoke to a supervisor and they stated AMEX can deny for any reason and this is what they exercised. I was told it could be because I abused points or took points and cancelled the card. I told her I have always try to follow the rules and even called in ahead of time to ask AMEX if I was eligible.
I asked appeal and asked for their corporate office address and process to appeal. A few minutes later I called AMEX again in hopes to speak to a more courteous supervisor. I spoke to another supervisor Matt. He was very nice and could not figure out why I was declined either but could only speculate. The only thing he could think of is AMEX and Chase have recently got together on the Marriott/SPG merger and are trying to root out churners. He went on to say this is a new policy only in the past couple of months and AMEX is trying to work out the details on how to stop churners. He stated he would file a case on my behalf but stated he has never seen one overturned. He agreed I did everything right. This is contrary to what I have read about AMEX “warning” users if they are not eligible. The same thing happened to me back in Sep 2016 when I applied for the AMEX Delta Gold SkyMiles card 50k for $2k spend. Only “after” I spent the $2k was I told the limit is once per lifetime and never received the bonus. Any ideas what options I have in this case?

You really missed the value here. The annual fee is $450, but you get $300 back when charging anything at Marriott or Starwood. That leaves $150 for a 50k ‘free’ night stay plus the Priority Pass free airport lounge access for the cardholder and two guests. I will keep this card just for those two benefits.

Does anyone know if additional cards on the same account get priority pass access like AmEx Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve do? I have the Chase Marriott card which I use quite a bit, but if this comes with priority pass access for additional cards on the account, I may go with it vs the plat or CSR card to save the $175/yr.

Ok, that was my instinct too. What if I was staying at a Homewood Suites for 3 months? Would the Hilton Card you had mentioned be more beneficial than CSR in that case?

Question for the points gurus: I will be staying at a Residence Inn by Marriott for 3 months for work. This property only earns 5 SPG points/$ instead of the typical 10 points/ $ for most of their properties. Does it behoove me to get this card to maximize my earnings and free stays with a chance at Platinum Ambassador status? I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, am I better off using that instead since I’m already paying a hefty annual fee and it has higher point valuations?

As someone who doesn’t stay in hotels very often unless at others’ expense (company travel), I was still considering this card for the targeted 125k offer I got. Aren’t the SPG points still valuable as an airline transfer? That’s the only way I see myself using them.

To add to Mark’s comment the biggest difference is that the Aspire has an $450 AF while the Ascend has an $95 AF. The Aspire is definitely a keeper esp for hard core Hilton users. I also have both cards. I also believe Aspire is better than the new Luxury SPG card

I’m a newbie here and to the points world in gerneral. I’ve been a dedicated user of the Amex SPG Preferred for years and used it as my everyday spend card. However, I’m concerned with the points devaluation since the Marriot merger. I did receive a Luxury upgrade offer for 100k points.

So basically I’m looking for a good hotel card that will give me good status within the hotel’s system and is good for everyday spend. I’ve had the CFU suggested to me for everyday spend, but I’d lose hotel status.

I currently have the CSR which I use for travel and dining.

Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Good feedback Mark and crew. I’ve been talked out of this Marriott offer. For some people, including myself, the status is the key since business spending is very high. I have it with Hilton (and only took $40k to get Diamond, their top tier) and Southwest Airlines ($110k spend for a companion pass). Since Marriott is out, what other travel cards allow you to get to their highest elite level/tier?

I agree, and WAS going to pass…then I found a 100k upgrade offer for my personal SPG. No effect on 5/24, so I took it. Immediately approved. May not be a long term keeper (Ritz-Carlton may work better) but we shall see. Cheers.

There are already reports of targeted emails for this card with 125K sign up bonus. That is still low in my opinion because it is very clear that Marriott is using the SPG merger as a guise to strip the value of their points. Look at their new Travel Package rates, new category map, new Moments rates, etc.

I think within a year this card will have a 150K offer with a statement credit of $100. Of course, if you have Marriott cards with Chase you need to act before the 26th of August which needs to be in your consideration.

The American Express Hilton Honors Business card offer of 125K points and $100 statement credit for 3K spend is a better option at this time in my opinion. Historic high rate with statement credit and lower spend amount. Access through doing a dummy reservation on the Hilton site.

I have seen reports that the 75K spend gets Plat Elite which is the same as the 50 night SPG Plat status. The Luxury card according to TPG comes with SPG Gold Status/Marriott New Gold Elite, the spend gets to the same Plat Level as 50 nights. I realize I can use spend to get to Hyatt Globalist as well. At least with Hyatt the upgrade certs are more useful and transparent.

I do have a question though. While I completely agree with you regarding the lackluster appeal of this SPG Luxury card, how else to effectively accumulate Marriott points? I have the Ritz, SPG Biz, and Regular Marriott. You mentioned that you get better value putting travel on the CSR. But if your goal is trying to get Marriott points, how is that better? I do love Marriott properties, especially here in Asia, and do recognize that a property that costs 25,000 points, technically used to cost $8,333 in spend , and assuming if you put regular spend on this card at 2:1, then it will now cost you $12,500. Is that the best route? Because if you book through CSR portal, you won’t get your Platinum Elite benefits honored right?

Thanks in advance for the clarification, I’m still seeing how I can best do this and make the best of Marriott while i still have Platinum Elite status.

I agree with your decision. I am also not going to apply for this card unless the SUB is increased dramatically and even then it will be a one and done. From what I am seeing on My Fico and other sites very few people are applying.

The AF is NOT offset by the free night. You only get it 8-12 weeks after anniversary, which means paying two AFs. So many out there either wishfully thinking it will credit sooner or are uninformed about the T&C of this horrible card, which after the disappointing signup bonus is on par with the Korean Air premium card as biggest turd sandwich of the year. Get the SPG biz instead if you haven’t already. 100k no AF first year.

What exactly is Marriott “Platinum” status that you earn with a $75k spend? Is is
Platinum Elite, Platinum Premier Elite or Platinum Premier Elite with ambassador? If a 75k spend only gets “Platinum Elite”, that’s the equivalent of SPG Gold, and gets you very little. The article just says “don’t do this” next to the 75k spend and status upgrade, however does not say why.

The way I see it for $450.00 the card should offer more but I like that I can get to Plat status on 75K in charges. Although many of my stays will be at Hyatt and others now I think I will still use SPG/Marriott so for me the Plat status at the 75K is worth it. The signup bonus is not much that is agreed.

I feel the same way…however…the part I’m still on the fence about is what you mentioned about it being difficult to accumulate a lot of Marriott points. I agree, which is why it could make sense to get annual night certificates instead. If I add the SPG Luxury card to my portfolio, then I’d end up with 4 annual night certificates each year. While Hilton + Hyatt are my favorite loyalty programs, Marriott actually has more attractive properties to my eyes now.

If you want 100K Marriot Monopoly Money you may as well get the business card instead. Marriot is being such a damned cheapskate on these cards that they just gutted themselves out of the market. Put a 150K sign up bonus on it and you have a product that will last for two years or so. If they offered at least some decent earning rates, you might have a winner. As it stands they have a wiener instead.

I agree. The SPG business card is actually more interesting to me. Unfortunately, I would only use the card to meet the bonus requirements. The bonus and free night for a $95 fee is interesting.

I was on the fence but now agree with your analysis and will forgot it this time. Between my wife and myself we already have a total of 6 spg and Marriott cards,which will each get a 35,000 room. Nice for some 2-3 day quickie staycations in Florida. I’ m already taking a reward certificate in Maui next month, another certicate booked next summer, and another yet unused new category 5 certicate probably to st. Kitts. My Marriott points are about shot. It was good while it lasted. Thanks for the advice.

Mark, I appreciate your contrarian views sometimes, but having even a modest stable of the world’s largest airline, AA, &
hotel chain, Marriott, are really pretty important if you do very much travel! Not saying you absolutely can’t get by without either but they can also sure be helpful & save time rather than booking them thru other channrls.

I also think, though, that earning Marriott points thru non-bonus spend on their, or AA’s, cc is not a great value proposition. And that loops us right back to cc sign-up bonuses.

Have you seen anything on if product changes to the luxury card will be possible in the future from the old SPG card?

Completely agree. Also this is an Amex card, so the once per lifetime rule is in effect, and the bonus will almost certainly be higher. Given how hard it is to get chase’s Marriott cards because of 5/24, I think most people will find themselves meeting the qualification rules for this card at some point when the bonus is much better than 100k.