topic Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee! in Credit Cards

Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

CreditJim — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 12:28:00 GMT

The news I think quite a few of us SPG cardholders have been hoping for, I just noticed that Amex are revamping the SPG card with no forex fees, adding worldwide free Boingo hotspots and in-room free premium internet at SPG properties (although most will already get that anyway).

Excellent news, glad to be able to use my favorite card on my travels now too.

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

jsucool76 — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 12:29:25 GMT

about time. I've never understood how a card for an international hotel chain could charge a ftf

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

CreditJim — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 12:30:42 GMT

Changes coming August 11th: http://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/consumer-starwood-preferred-guest/index.html

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

SMDLiquid — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:18:03 GMT

They dropped the FTF but the annual fee went up $30.00! Thats a bummer

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

CreditJim — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:28:45 GMT

@SMDLiquid wrote:
They dropped the FTF but the annual fee went up $30.00! Thats a bummer

Just saw that. That does suck, the relatively low AF is one of the reasons I loved this card so much, especially as the only real benefit I get from it is earning SPG points. My Plat status covers the other perks the card gives. But I'll still keep and use it for almost all my spend.

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

SMDLiquid — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:32:21 GMT

The annual of fee of $65.00 made the card worth it for me but now tha the annual fee will be $95.00 I am not sure anymore. The additions are just not worth the $30.00 increase. They should of included automatic gold status

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

TitaniumCash — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 16:59:58 GMT

In that case, I will most likely cancel the card. Still a nice card as starwood points are valuable, but I just don't use it enough.

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

jsucool76 — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 17:19:49 GMT

the AF is going up to pay for the free boingo wifi and free WiFi at every hotel

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

mongstradamus — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 18:28:31 GMT

I have actually been thinking about picking up this card for non catergory spending, seems like amex is increasing AF but dropping Forex fees on some of their cards. PRG also did the same thing earlier i believe. I will have to see how this all plays out if everbody is going to drop the card now.

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 18:40:41 GMT

Yea, PRG dropped it as well and increased AF by $20. At least they added $100 in airline credits and 2x points on restaurants which more than make up for it.

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

longtime_lurker — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 19:38:00 GMT

Now I'm curious if the Surpass will go up to $95 to match Citi's Reserve.

If it does, hopefully it a) removes FTF and B) introduces another benefit.

Hmm...

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

red259 — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 19:45:30 GMT

@CreditJim wrote:
The news I think quite a few of us SPG cardholders have been hoping for, I just noticed that Amex are revamping the SPG card with no forex fees, adding worldwide free Boingo hotspots and in-room free premium internet at SPG properties (although most will already get that anyway).

Excellent news, glad to be able to use my favorite card on my travels now too.

Yes, I saw unconfirmed rumors about these changes a few weeks back, but didn't post it because there was no official confirmation. Now that we have something official I must say it is about time the spg got rid of the FTF. It was the most ridiculous fee to have on a credit card that is designed to be used iat a hotel chain with locations around the world. Now people may actually use this card on their international stays!

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

CreditJim — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 21:20:35 GMT

@red259 wrote:
@CreditJim wrote:
The news I think quite a few of us SPG cardholders have been hoping for, I just noticed that Amex are revamping the SPG card with no forex fees, adding worldwide free Boingo hotspots and in-room free premium internet at SPG properties (although most will already get that anyway).

Excellent news, glad to be able to use my favorite card on my travels now too.
Yes, I saw unconfirmed rumors about these changes a few weeks back, but didn't post it because there was no official confirmation. Now that we have something official I must say it is about time the spg got rid of the FTF. It was the most ridiculous fee to have on a credit card that is designed to be used iat a hotel chain with locations around the world. Now people may actually use this card on their international stays!

Exactly, I normally use my SPG card for all spending except Freedom / Discover categories and I've just got back from a month long trip overseas where I didn't spend a single cent on my SPG card because most of my other cards don't have a FTF. It sucks about the AF increase but I'll be keeping both of mine. The business version with no charge for additional users is still good, saves me a lot giving them to my employees vs having a biz Plat and having to pay for each employee card.

Re: Amex SPG dropping forex fee!

red259 — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 21:26:53 GMT

@CreditJim wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@CreditJim wrote:
The news I think quite a few of us SPG cardholders have been hoping for, I just noticed that Amex are revamping the SPG card with no forex fees, adding worldwide free Boingo hotspots and in-room free premium internet at SPG properties (although most will already get that anyway).

Excellent news, glad to be able to use my favorite card on my travels now too.
Yes, I saw unconfirmed rumors about these changes a few weeks back, but didn't post it because there was no official confirmation. Now that we have something official I must say it is about time the spg got rid of the FTF. It was the most ridiculous fee to have on a credit card that is designed to be used iat a hotel chain with locations around the world. Now people may actually use this card on their international stays!
Exactly, I normally use my SPG card for all spending except Freedom / Discover categories and I've just got back from a month long trip overseas where I didn't spend a single cent on my SPG card because most of my other cards don't have a FTF. It sucks about the AF increase but I'll be keeping both of mine. The business version with no charge for additional users is still good, saves me a lot giving them to my employees vs having a biz Plat and having to pay for each employee card.

The biz version is better and they just added lounge access to it as well. I'm not happy about the AF increase, although my AF is due to hit this month so if I get a decent retention offer I will have another year to decide if I want to pay the higher AF.I want to pick up the business version and cancel the personal card eventually, but since I have like 34k overall credit with amex (with a recent increase of 10k) I am a bit reluctant to pull the trigger on the business app. Also, I am waiting for th 30k signup offer to come around.

Starwood (SPG) AMEX has eliminated FTF & hiked annual fee!

WLRK11 — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 05:22:26 GMT

Looks like AMEX and Starwood *finally* eliminated foreign transaction fees (FTFs), but the hiked the annual fee from $65 to $95! Boingo Wi-Fi is also free for cardholders. Do you think the the annual fee increase is justified?

Re: Starwood (SPG) AMEX has eliminated FTF & hiked annual fee!

pennccrn — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 00:45:55 GMT

Yeah, I'm just not sure about the AF increase I really, really like this card - I usually use it as my go-to card. Since my AF got charged back in April, I think I should be good until next April. I guess I'll see if I get any use out of it this next year to make on AF hike is worth it.

On another note, this is my only AmEx card but its also my highest limit card, so I'm reluctant in closing it. Should I think about opening another (AmEx or other issuer) non-fee card just in case I have to close this one down?

Thanks, everybody!

Re: Starwood (SPG) AMEX has eliminated FTF & hiked annual fee!

DigitalArk — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 07:22:30 GMT

I am currently paying Boingo Mobile, which costs $7.95/mo. Getting this card is totally worth it for me.

I was just approved w/ 10K limit few hours ago! Happy!! I can't wait to receive my card!!

Re: Starwood (SPG) AMEX has eliminated FTF & hiked annual fee!

noobody — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 08:04:45 GMT

just got my replacement card, it is so pretty