Question
After reading some threads, I impulse-applied for a Starwood Amex before realizing that SPG has a 2:1 ratio for redeeming with United, and it looks like I might end up with United Mileage Plus.
My card has not yet arrived. A few questions:
Can I cancel it before I activate and avoid damage to my credit?
If not, is my best course of action to use it, get the bonus, redeem that bonus, and cancel it?
If I'm probably going to end up with United or BD, what cards should I consider?
Answer
I would just keep it open and change it to a no-annual fee AMEX so you can keep the existing credit line open and bolster your credit score over time.
Some other alternatives are the United Platinum (hefty annual fee, but good mileage accrual) or the Citi PremierePass Elite (you can redeem TY points for United flights and still earn RDM/EQM with them)
If you want a multipurpose card without having to keep track of points and stuff, the Fidelity Investment Rewards card gets you 1.5% cashback on everything.
Answer
Your credit inquiry has already been pulled. Keep the card open for the sign-up bonus, etc. There are Star Alliance partners you can transfer to at a 1:1 ratio, as well.
Answer
starwood = best, except for CO and UA $30
amex MR = has a bunch, including CO ~$100
diners club = only other option with a bunch of transfer partners ~$100
BD = only available with european cards
personally, i think NH, SQ, and AC (amex MR and starwood) are MUCH more valuable than UA miles. you can even get UA upgrades with NH miles.
Answer
personally, i think NH, SQ, and AC (amex MR and starwood) are MUCH more valuable than UA miles. you can even get UA upgrades with NH miles.
Did you say UA upgrades with NH miles? Pardon my ignorance but is that right? What other airline is possible with UA for upgrading?
Answer
yes i did. its correct. and even goes vice versa too.
its called star alliance upgrades, a number of star alliance FFPs offer them for various other alliance airlines.
check the various FFP websites to see which offer which.
also info here (the program started May 2006)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329589
Answer
Keep the credit line with AMEX. You can convert to other cards every six months. (Ask AMEX the exact time.) Upon conversion you will get the current bonus offering for the new card (if you have not received that bonus promotion before).
Some other AMEX cards with good bonuses are:
Hilton Honors AMEX
Delta Platinum AMEX
The Knot (annual spending bonus)
Answer
hilton doesnt compare to starwood in terms of hotel redemption options or airline transfers
only marriott comes close to starwood in terms of earning miles via stays (but not via credit card)
DL is also commonly regarded as having bad award availability, even on skyteam partners
Answer
The Knot (annual spending bonus)
The Nest has more palatable artwork than the Knot, unless you are currentlly engaged to be married :) .
http://www201.americanexpress.com/apply/Fmacfservlet?csi=60/0/b/3/2116102300/207121305410/0/n&from=0&mgmID=undefined
Answer
hilton doesnt compare to starwood in terms of hotel redemption options or airline transfers
only marriott comes close to starwood in terms of earning miles via stays (but not via credit card)
DL is also commonly regarded as having bad award availability, even on skyteam partners
First focus strictly on credit card spending... Consider 6-nights at a Hilton Category 5/6 which is 175,000 points . Assume that you earn 3.5 points per $ on HH AMEX. You will earn the Hilton reward with $50k in spending, excluding any hotel stays.
On Starwood, assume a comparable property is 12,000 points per night and that you get one out of six nights for free. Then one week is 60,000 Starwood points. That is $60k in spending on a Starwood AMEX.
This makes Hilton very competitive.
As for hotel redemption options... There are far more Hilton properties than Starwood. It is not even close.
As for the hotel stays. This is personal preference, but as a Hilton Diamond, I earn 15 points for every $ spent at a Hilton plus 1 airline mile for every $ spent at a Hilton. If I spend $12,000 at Hiltons in one year, I will earn 180,000 Hilton points which is worth six free nights at a Category 5/6 Hilton. In addition, I will earn 12,000 airline miles. With SPG Gold/Platinum I would earn 36,000 points given the same spend. This is equivalent to three nights at a comparable Starwood property (at 12,000 points per night) or one night and 29,000 airline miles ( = 24,000 + 5,000 bonus ). Given this comparison I will take Hilton any day of the week. The Starwood program is easier to understand, but it is not necessarily any better.
Some travelers like the upgrades offered by Starwood and the ability to transfer points to miles. However, I have no need for additional airline miles. I also receive frequent upgrades at the W=A, Conrad Hotels, etc.
I agree with you on the dearth of Delta SkySaver reward tickets. It is painful.
Answer
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7253507&postcount=108
note in that link, and elsewhere, i do not claim to know anything about >
-cheapest hotel awards
-fastest to earn hotel awards
Answer
Midnight, it probably doesn't change the outcome, but...
If I spend $12,000 ... With SPG I would earn 24,000 points given the same spend. This is equivalent to two nights at a comparable Starwood property (at 12,000 points per night) or one night and 12,000 airline miles.
You should earn 48,000 points. Two base points per dollar, one elite bonus point (Gold or Platinum), and one additional point for booking online using Air Miles Mart...
http://airmilesmart.com/index.asp
Answer
Midnight, it probably doesn't change the outcome, but...
You should earn 48,000 points. Two base points per dollar, one elite bonus point (Gold or Platinum), and one additional point for booking online using Air Miles Mart...
http://airmilesmart.com/index.asp
Thanks MIA. My second comparison was focused on hotel spending only, not including using the affinity cards. If you consider Hilton stays on a Hilton AMEX vs. SPG stays on an SPG AMEX, I think that Hilton still wins in terms of the rewards earned per $ spent. (Actually I think that Hilton comes out further ahead).
However, Hilton is not perfect...
1. IMHO some Hilton category 5 hotels are only category 5 due to demand. The quality of the hotel is inconsistent.
2. IMHO Westin, W, and St. Regis have pretty consistently quality compared to Hilton properties
3. Some travelers report that the upgrade program at Starwood is superior to Hilton
The bottom line is that Hilton AMEX is a very competitive rewards card (especially with 5 pts per $ at restaurants). It cannot be dismissed by an SPG is better than HH argument. If the traveler needs breadth of locations and wants to earn hotel stays rather than airline miles, then HH AMEX may be a better choice than SPG AMEX.
Answer
The only sense in which I think SPG is superior to HHonors, or even Priority Club, is conversion to airline miles.
...second comparison was focused on hotel spending only, not including using the affinity cards.
My calculation of four Starpoints per dollar also excludes credit card usage. Staying at a Starwood property and paying with the SPG Credit Card would earn another two points per dollar, six total. $12,000 should generate 72,000 total points, plus 500 points per stay Platinum amenity, if applicable.
Another important difference is that $10,000 annual spend at Hilton Guarantees Diamond status, but does not guarantee anything at Starwood.
Answer
The only sense in which I think SPG is superior to HHonors, or even Priority Club, is conversion to airline miles.
My calculation of four Starpoints per dollar also excludes credit card usage. Staying at a Starwood property and paying with the SPG Credit Card would earn another two points per dollar, six total. $12,000 should generate 72,000 total points, plus 500 points per stay Platinum amenity, if applicable.
Another important difference is that $10,000 annual spend at Hilton Guarantees Diamond status, but does not guarantee anything at Starwood.
Thanks for the correction. I updated my post. The AMEX Hilton card gives 500 points per stay booked on hilton.com, plus you can opt for points over perks as a bonus.
I 100% agree with you that the air miles conversion is the big reason to choose SPG, i.e. if you need the air miles. Personally, I do not need the miles, so I prefer Hilton. Also there are more Hilton properties than SPG.
My point to the original poster is that HH AMEX is a worthwhile card to consider.
Answer
please review my linked posts for detailed MAXIMUM POTENTIAL earning comparison..
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7468067&postcount=11
miles >
marriott - 4 or 5.5 per dollar with credit card and platinum (13+1 / 2.5 or 3.5)
starwood - 6.25 per dollar with credit card and gold (3+2 * 1.25)
so marriott is actually competitive, as opposed to the others. but starwood is still better.