Today, I noticed that the application page for the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card has updated to show a lower minimum spending threshold to receive their traditional 25,000 point bonus! Normally, you would receive 10,000 Starpoints after your first spend and an additional 15,000 points for spending $6,000 in 6 months. Granted, you have less time to meet the spend but if you’re in the market to make a large purchase, this could be a great way to meet the lower spending requirement. The new terms are as follows:
“To be eligible to earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints, you must use The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card to complete $3,000 of eligible spending by the end of your first 3 months of Card Membership, based on the date of your Card approval.”
Review of the SPG Program:
The Amex SPG reward program allows you to transfer your points to dozens of airlines. For every 20,000 points you transfer, Amex will add on an additional 5,000 points free. Starpoints are also redeemable at over 1,000 hotel properties around the world at great rates that will often save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. I would definitely value Starpoints at over 2 cents per point when redeeming for hotels. If you don’t have enough points to book as many hotel nights as you’d like, Starwood also has a great Cash & Points award redemption program.
SPG Airline Transfer Partner Chart
| Frequent Flyer Program | Exchange Ratio (Starpoints:Miles) |
|---|---|
| Aeromexico Club Premier | 1:1 |
| Aeroplan/Air Canada | 1:1 |
| Air Berlin | 1:1 |
| Air China Companion | 1:1 |
| Air New Zealand & Air Points | 65:1 |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | 1:1 |
| Alitalia MilleMiglia | 1:1 |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club | 1:1 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 1:1 |
| Asia Miles | 1:1 |
| Asiana Airlines | 1:1 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1:1 |
| China Eastern Airlines | 1:1 |
| China Southern Airlines’ Sky Pearl Club | 1:1 |
| Delta Air Lines SkyMiles | 1:1 |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:1 |
| Etihad Airways | 1:1 |
| Flying Blue | 1:1 |
| Gol Smiles | 2:1 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 1:1 |
| Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank | 1:1 |
| LAN Airlines LANPASS Kms | 1:1.5 |
| Miles and More | 1:1 |
| Qatar Airways | 1:1 |
| Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan | 1:1 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 |
| Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus | 1:1 |
| US Airways Dividend Miles | 1:1 |
| United Mileage Plus | 2:1 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 |
| Virgin Australia | 1:1 |
Note:
This offer would not be available to those who have previously held the card. The offer is also not available for the business card version.