@K-in-Boston wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Thank you - and then what benefit does linking all my rewards accounts have? So I can transfer AMEX points to those? Do I get any benefit if I stay at a hotel, like a Hilton, that my rewards number is linked to the AMEX card?
If you don't already have Gold status, you should click through the links in your Amex acount to add your Starwood and Hilton accounts. Linking Marriott to Starwood will then give you Gold status throughout the entire Marriott/Ritz-Carlton/Starwood portfolio. An important note about hotels, though. If you book through Amex for the MR point multiplier rather than directly through the hotel websites, they may or may not honor your status at checkin.
AMEX travel, like most travel sites, should allow you to enter all your loyalty program numbers and pass those through with the reservation.
There is also the option to contact the hotel after booking to ensure they have your loyalty info.
TPG article: Most major hotel chains — including Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and IHG — won’t award points or honor elite benefits when you’ve booked your stay with an online travel agency or booking portal.
@K-in-Boston wrote:TPG article: Most major hotel chains — including Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and IHG — won’t award points or honor elite benefits when you’ve booked your stay with an online travel agency or booking portal.
Yeah, kinda crappy, but I've seen this firsthand. I imagine the travel portal may be banking that loyalty bonus for themselves. Amex passes some of that on to you in the form of 2X MR points.
5X for Platinum now, but for me that doesn't outweigh the guaranteed combination of Marriott lounge access, breakfast for family, free enhanced wifi, and Marriott points. Plus it's prepaid and I generally like the flexibility to cancel if something comes up. Using the SPG card to pay more than recoups the MR points.