topic Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card in Credit Cards

Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

drboxing — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 13:30:10 GMT

Just wondering if anyone upgraded from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury Card.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

K-in-Boston — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 13:32:00 GMT

I did yesterday morning. No upgrade offer available and I called to double-check first, but there have been some reports of offers.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

drboxing — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 13:40:54 GMT

Thanks

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:04:08 GMT

I was thinking about it, but currently I am only being offered 15K after spending $1K. That wouldn't even cover one night at most hotels.

My card anniversary is in March so I might do what someone on the form suggested and upgrade after I get my free night certificate. Maybe then I will also be offered a better upgrade offer.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

Loquat — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:12:43 GMT

I see the button on my personal SPG to upgrade but my wife doesn't have the option on hers. I don't know what triggers the option to request the upgrade but she doesn't have it.

I even tried via the DoC link to request an upgrade on her card and it says that her card isn't eligible. She's had her SPG for many years and I've had mine for less than 2. She puts far more spend through her card than I do and she never carries a balance. Interesting that she doesn't have the option *yet*.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

SomewhereIn505 — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:10:34 GMT

AmEx wanted to expand my membership, not pre-approve me.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

K-in-Boston — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:21:59 GMT

Could be worse; I'm pre-approved for the vanilla SPG card again but obviously ineligible for the bonus. That's just cruel!

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

SomewhereIn505 — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 12:23:42 GMT

@SomewhereIn505 wrote:
AmEx wanted to expand my membership, not pre-approve me.

Amex changed its tune and now I’m preapproved. Not going after it since SPG is not my preferred hotel. I stayed at one once and wasn’t impressed.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

K-in-Boston — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 12:47:20 GMT

@SomewhereIn505 as the largest hotel chain in the world*, Marriott now operates over 6500 properties. It would be a shame to judge the entire portfolio of 30 brands by a single stay!

* By rooms. Choice and Wyndham both have more properties; Choice barely and Wyndham substantially, but they only have about half of the number of rooms as Marriott. I think one 1298 room Marriott is a lot more impressive than a bunch of 50-room Interstate-exit in the middle of nowhere Econo Lodge, Super 8 and Days Inn locations.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 18:24:05 GMT

For the people who've had both, which card has broader international acceptance (specifically Japan), SPG or Hilton Honors? I see HH has a 100K SUB, while SPG is only 75K. Also seems from a brief search, SPG/Marrott doesn't have as many properties to choose from. At least on Amex travel. Obviously the SUB isn't going to cover my entire stay, but 3-4 nights would be a nice break on the price. Thinking about replacing my Delta Gold with something else more useful to me.

Thanks

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

simplynoir — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 18:38:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
For the people who've had both, which card has broader international acceptance (specifically Japan), SPG or Hilton Honors? I see HH has a 100K SUB, while SPG is only 75K. Also seems from a brief search, SPG/Marrott doesn't have as many properties to choose from. At least on Amex travel. Obviously the SUB isn't going to cover my entire stay, but 3-4 nights would be a nice break on the price. Thinking about replacing my Delta Gold with something else more useful to me.
Thanks

Hilton from the searching on their hotel website has 14 hotels in Japan, Marriott has 43. If you get one of these cards it might just be better to book directly with them to give yourself more options.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

ridgebackpilot — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 19:44:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
For the people who've had both, which card has broader international acceptance (specifically Japan), SPG or Hilton Honors? I see HH has a 100K SUB, while SPG is only 75K. Also seems from a brief search, SPG/Marrott doesn't have as many properties to choose from. At least on Amex travel. Obviously the SUB isn't going to cover my entire stay, but 3-4 nights would be a nice break on the price. Thinking about replacing my Delta Gold with something else more useful to me.
Thanks

Definitely depends on where you're traveling overseas. In many countries, Hilton has more properties but Marriott has plenty of overseas properties as well.

I've used my points and paid for stays with my AMEX Hilton and Chase Marriott cards all over the world. That's why I obtained the new AMEX SPG Luxury card last week; I can certainly use the 100K SUB!

Both chains include high-end properties such as Conrad (Hilton) and Ritz Carlton & Regis (Marriott). Those properties can often be booked at very reasonable reward redemption rates; I recently booked the Conrad Hong Kong and had a terrific stay. Frequently the standards of service in Hilton and Marriott hotels overseas far exceed that of their U.S. properties...

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 22:42:13 GMT

Marriott points are worth significantly more than Hilton points.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

K-in-Boston — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 01:04:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Marriott points are worth significantly more than Hilton points.

+1000

Just as an example to compare 120,000 points from each program converted to airline miles:

120k Hilton would get you 12,000 United, 12,000 Delta, and only 6,000 with Air France/KLM.

120k Marriott would get you 55,000 United, 50,000 Delta or 50,000 Air France/KLM miles!!!

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

NRB525 — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 01:39:50 GMT

I was expecting to wait until after at least March 2019, to manage my 5/24 plans.

I was worried about how to salvage my relatively low APR of 11.99%.

I was considering closing the SPG.

I was hoping for a possible upgrade offer.

This is simply awesome... no HP, full SUB of 100k points, as if a new SUB, keeps the APR, transitions to a higher annual reward.

Limited Time offer expires Oct 31 2018 for me. You don't need to ask me twice. Took me all of 2 minutes to click through to accept.

#HappyDance

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:27:23 GMT

I did. I didn’t want a HP so I just did the upgrade offer instead of applying for a new card. I got the measly 15,000 point offer but points are points and I’ll take them. I figured with the new room upgrade and the 300 credit its worth it.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

K-in-Boston — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:30:32 GMT

FWIW, 8 days later we still haven't received our new cards.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:40:03 GMT

I know they have new rules regarding bonuses. I’m curious about the upgrade offers? Can you do two upgrade offers and get the bonus? I’m just curious because I have the Marriott card and seen an upgrade offer in my inbox just now. Smh!

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

wasCB14 — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 18:49:28 GMT

I got the upgrade offer, too.

Same terms. 100k, $5k, 3 months, 10/31 expiration.

I might pursue it. I do have a lot of off-category spend coming up. OTOH, I don't really need a lot more hotel points.

I just was mostly keeping SPG for retention and the annual night. I already get the Gold status from Amex Platinum. I might just keep it for a year or two.

I'm on mobile and can't read a thread as efficiently as on a desktop...but can the $300 credit be used for a basic room rate and taxes? Or just for upgrades, food, and other extras?

I'm sure others might get more value from this than I would.

With my CFU and BBP taking most off-category spend, it's very unlikely I'd spend $75k for Platinum status.

Re: Anyone upgrade from Amex SPG to SPG Luxury card

K-in-Boston — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 19:15:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I know they have new rules regarding bonuses. I’m curious about the upgrade offers? Can you do two upgrade offers and get the bonus? I’m just curious because I have the Marriott card and seen an upgrade offer in my inbox just now. Smh!

Hmmmmm the wording says you wouldn't get the welcome offer if you have (or had) one of the cards excluded from the offer, but I haven't read anything about upgrade offers. I can't answer that one for sure, but I would think that targeted upgrade offers should be okay. I'd clarify with the lender first.