Marriott/SPG Merger Finalized - Instant Status Match

[Anonymous]

I am slightly debating transferring some of my MR hoard to SPG.  150kmrs=50k spg, paired with my 40kspg, 90k spg points transferred to mariott is 270k points, and is enough for a 7 nite stay at a cat 1 -5 hotel and 120k rapid rewards and an instant southwest companion pass.  This also opened up the path for Amtrak folks to get more points.  They may not be the best redemption, but for the others that don't fly much (or travel at the last minute) its certainly an incentive. (I know saver fares can be pretty cheap but many routes don't have these for very long).  80k mariott points from their consumer or business card w/ potential match to 100k, thats almost a grand in train travel.

That is kinda bogus though that the status from spg to mariott is better than mariott to spg.  Something tells me that the SPG card may not offer a point bonus for some time.

[jsucool76]

SPG card doesn't offer a point bonus, but it now earns (technically) 3 marriott points per dollar on general spend. So it has a better earning scheme than even the marriott cards do.

[ndjim75]

I am slightly debating transferring some of my MR hoard to SPG.  150kmrs=50k spg, paired with my 40kspg, 90k spg points transferred to mariott is 270k points, and is enough for a 7 nite stay at a cat 1 -5 hotel and 120k rapid rewards and an instant southwest companion pass.  

jfriend,

Your post got me thinking about finally having a way to get that elusive Southwest Companion Pass. But if I am reading the Southwest Companion Pass terms correctly, Transferring points over from Marriott does not count towards Companion Pass Status. See terms below from Southwest. Am I wrong??

*Companion Pass Qualifying Points are earned from your revenue flights booked through Southwest Airlines, your points earned by making purchases with a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card, and your base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners. Purchased points and points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment, tier bonuses, flight bonuses, and partner bonuses (excluding points bonuses earned on the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase) do not count toward Companion Pass.

Or

Would this transferr from Marriott Rewards be considered base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners and therefore count towards Companion Pass?

I am new to this travel rewards game and trying to learn how to maximize my points.

Thanks for the help!

[jsucool76]

I'm about 97% sure that Marriott transfers count for companion passes.

[hardworkrebuilding]

I think the match is great.  I have seen several posts about the uneven/tilted match ( SPG Gold 25 days vs Marriott Gold 50 days ).  This is actually not disproportionate at all. I stay at both.  I am Platinum Premier with Marriot and Gold with SPG (now platinum!).  I can tell you, both companies treat both their Platinum and Gold members well.  To be honest, I'm treated with more upgrades and perks as an SPG Gold than I am as Marriott Platinum Premier.  It is more difficult (at least more expensive) to achieve the higher status with SPG than Marriott.  Therefore, I believe (as well as the Marriott execs, apparently) that the match is appropriate even with the different qualifying days.

Me personally, knowing the strengths of both programs, I'm excited about the match.  The 3:1 (MR to SPG) transfer ratio is spot on.  Earning is still separate between the two companies.

[plastic_man]

So , in my case , I have the Marriott card , Ritz and SPG from AMEX . 

It  makes no sense to keep using my Marriott and Ritz cards . I'll just use SPG for everyday spending and transfer points to Marriott if needed .

Or AM I missing something ?

[jsucool76]

SPG will be your highest earner of marriott points on general spend. Even restaurant spend.

[wasCB14]

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@plastic_man wrote:

So , in my case , I have the Marriott card , Ritz and SPG from AMEX . 

It  makes no sense to keep using my Marriott and Ritz cards . I'll just use SPG for everyday spending and transfer points to Marriott if needed .

Or AM I missing something ?

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From the perspective of earning points, SPG Amex is the way to go.

But are you dependent on Marriott or Ritz card spending to maintain your elite status?

[plastic_man]

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@plastic_man wrote:

So , in my case , I have the Marriott card , Ritz and SPG from AMEX . 

It  makes no sense to keep using my Marriott and Ritz cards . I'll just use SPG for everyday spending and transfer points to Marriott if needed .

Or AM I missing something ?

---

From the perspective of earning points, SPG Amex is the way to go.

But are you dependent on Marriott or Ritz card spending to maintain your elite status?

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I just need to spend $10k on Ritz to keep Gold . But after that it makes more sense to just use the SPG .

Or I can get SPG gold through AMEX platinum and subsequently get Marriott Gold with the merger . ( But I will probably cancel amex platinum anyway by the middle of next year , so I still need to spend $10k w/ the Ritz card )  

[jsucool76]

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@plastic_man wrote:

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@plastic_man wrote:

So , in my case , I have the Marriott card , Ritz and SPG from AMEX . 

It  makes no sense to keep using my Marriott and Ritz cards . I'll just use SPG for everyday spending and transfer points to Marriott if needed .

Or AM I missing something ?

---

From the perspective of earning points, SPG Amex is the way to go.

But are you dependent on Marriott or Ritz card spending to maintain your elite status?

---

I just need to spend $10k on Ritz to keep Gold . But after that it makes more sense to just use the SPG .

Or I can get SPG gold through AMEX platinum and subsequently get Marriott Gold with the merger . ( But I will probably cancel amex platinum anyway by the middle of next year , so I still need to spend $10k w/ the Ritz card )  

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I was gonna cancel my amex plat, but they gave me a $200 statement credit to keep it, so I did. haha. $50 annual fee after the airline credit. Worth it. That's one centurion lounge visit.