Maximizing AMEX Platinum + Starwood Gold for MR + Starwood points

[gen-specific]

Hey guys and gals, these AMEX Platinum perks are a CONFUSING first world problem.

I want to get a bunch of Membership Rewards points and Starwood points. 

If I book an SPG property through amextravel.com with my AMEX Platinum, spending $1,000, how many points do I get?

My guess:

5000 MR because of the 5x Membership Rewards points on AMEXTravel

3000 Starwood points because of the Starwood Preferred Guest Gold status (Already signed up and linked it to my Amex Platinum)

Is this accurate?

[K-in-Boston]

Booking through Amex Travel you would get 5000 MRs, which can be converted to 1666 Starpoints. You do not receive elite benefits or points when booking hotels through a 3rd party. Almost always better to book hotels directly with the hotel (Amex Fine Hotels program would be an exception).

[Peteyglad]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:
Booking through Amex Travel you would get 5000 MRs, which can be converted to 1666 Starpoints. You do not receive elite benefits or points when booking hotels through a 3rd party. Almost always better to book hotels directly with the hotel (Amex Fine Hotels program would be an exception).

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This is the way I understand it as well. 

[gen-specific]

Ah, got it yes. I tested it out yesterday and this is accurate

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@K-in-Boston wrote:
Booking through Amex Travel you would get 5000 MRs, which can be converted to 1666 Starpoints. You do not receive elite benefits or points when booking hotels through a 3rd party. Almost always better to book hotels directly with the hotel (Amex Fine Hotels program would be an exception).

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Amex Membership rewards seem like they kind of suck for transferring too, because of some fees.

So yes, with Amex Platinum I am earning .33 Starwood points per Membership Rewards, but with 5x on Amextravel I effectively get 1.65 Starwoods

Whereas with booking straight through starwood with preferred gold status I get 3 Starwood points

Question: what if I paid with the SPG card with Preferred Gold status? Would I be getting 3 gold points + 2 normal Starwood points per dollar?

[gen-specific]

Hello

I have an SPG Amex which advertises 2 points per dollar on SPG bookings

I also have Starwood Gold through my AMEX Platinum membership which advertises 3 points per dollar on SPG Bookings and purchases

Do I get 5 points per dollar on SPG bookings?

[K-in-Boston]

The only fees that apply would be the federal excise tax charges on conversion to airline miles. That’s a law, not an Amex charge, and it’s VERY minimal.

With Gold status, you receive 3 Starpoints for every dollar spent no matter what card you pay with. With Marriott properties, it will depend on which property you stay at and which charges accrue points. With the SPG card, you receive 2 Starpoints per dollar spent at Starwood/Marriott/Ritz-Carlton properties. So yes, you would receive a total of 5 Starpoints per dollar spent at Starwood properties, through July 31st. On August 1st this all changes completely.

[Anonymous]

Based on points valuations I would rank the way to purchase the hotel the following way with a $1000 booking:

(Using the points guy valuations)

1. SPG card with SPG Gold   5k SPG points ~ $135 value

2. Amex Platinum booking directly with SPG site    1k Amex MR and 3000 SPG points  ~ $98 value

3. Amex Platinum on Amex Portal    5k Amex MR ~ $85

The only reason I would book directly on the Amex portal is if the hotel is part of the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program which will give you benefits worth more than the extra $50 you would get from the SPG card. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. 

[quarius]

Wouldn't it be better to just book through the hotels.com deal?

Use Cap1 Venture get 10x points and get free day after 10 days from hotels.com? This adds up to 20% discount. 

Or if you stay at hotels alot per year, the pay for 3 days get one free with Citi Prestige is good but you need to use it alot cause of $450 annual fee.

[Anonymous]

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@quarius wrote:

Wouldn't it be better to just book through the hotels.com deal?

Use Cap1 Venture get 10x points and get free day after 10 days from hotels.com? This adds up to 20% discount. 

Or if you stay at hotels alot per year, the pay for 3 days get one free with Citi Prestige is good but you need to use it alot cause of $450 annual fee.

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Both options are good also if he has the cards. The better option than both of those would be to pick up the Hilton Aspire. Hilton bookings from May 1- August 31 with the Aspire card get 44x points or ~26% back. The Aspire has a $450 AF too but the SUB and benefits are significantly better than the Prestige. This only makes sense if op is interested in Hilton instead of SPG though. 

[quarius]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@quarius wrote:

Wouldn't it be better to just book through the hotels.com deal?

Use Cap1 Venture get 10x points and get free day after 10 days from hotels.com? This adds up to 20% discount. 

Or if you stay at hotels alot per year, the pay for 3 days get one free with Citi Prestige is good but you need to use it alot cause of $450 annual fee.

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Both options are good also if he has the cards. The better option than both of those would be to pick up the Hilton Aspire. Hilton bookings from May 1- August 31 with the Aspire card get 44x points or ~26% back. The Aspire has a $450 AF too but the SUB and benefits are significantly better than the Prestige. This only makes sense if op is interested in Hilton instead of SPG though. 

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Interesting never new about the Hilton Aspire, may have to apply for it. I like to use sheritan because they offer free dog stays at there hotels with no fees and they have them at the places I like to go visit.