@Anonymous wrote:Who plans on cancelling their SPG card due to the combination of programs? I myself will strongly consider it when my year is up in March.
For me it's going to depend on what happens to the card and its current earning power (1 Marriott point on "all other purchases" isn't likely to cut it for me, particularly if the rewards become revenue-based), what the new Amex and Chase cards offer (and whether a new Chase card is subject to 5/24), and whether the card goes to Chase or stays with Amex. The transferability is a big one for me (both to partners and between family members - Starpoints are uncapped, Marriott only lets you transfer a set amount per year to a family member). And what happens with the Gold/Plat50/Plat75 tiers, and how one can earn higher elite status through spend will play a massive role in whether I continue with Marriott/Starwood as the cornerstone of my rewards strategy.
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@Anonymous And what happens with the Gold/Plat50/Plat75 tiers, and how one can earn higher elite status through spend will play a massive role in whether I continue with Marriott/Starwood as the cornerstone of my rewards strategy.I have never heard of anyone using Marriott as the cornerstone of their rewards strategy until reading your post just now. I think you need to revisit your entire strategy. My advice would be to base your rewards strategy on MR, UR, airline miles, or cash back. Hotel points just don't cut it.
Over the past year or so, I’ve cashed out about 500,000 Marriott points at an average of about 2.6 cents each. The majority of that was earned using the SPG card with 3 points per dollar (6 for revenue stays) which is effectively 7.8% back, airfare spend I got 5 points per dollar via Amex Plat which is effectively 13% back, and the rest I got 1 or 2 points via URs for 2.6 to 5.2% back. Plus there’s the Freedom spend that was 13% back and lots of Amex Offers, too. I do amass URs and MRs - they get dumped into Marriott.
We almost always travel as a family of four so First Class long hauls aren’t really viable for big miles redemption value and I’d rather do more trips in E+ than save up for the big First flights. If I can do better than 8+% back on average for my spend, please let me know how. If and when the gravy train ends, I will need to revisit my strategy.
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@Anonymous And what happens with the Gold/Plat50/Plat75 tiers, and how one can earn higher elite status through spend will play a massive role in whether I continue with Marriott/Starwood as the cornerstone of my rewards strategy.I have never heard of anyone using Marriott as the cornerstone of their rewards strategy until reading your post just now. I think you need to revisit your entire strategy. My advice would be to base your rewards strategy on MR, UR, airline miles, or cash back. Hotel points just don't cut it.
Over the past year or so, I’ve cashed out about 500,000 Marriott points at an average of about 2.6 cents each. The majority of that was earned using the SPG card with 3 points per dollar (6 for revenue stays) which is effectively 7.8% back, airfare spend I got 5 points per dollar via Amex Plat which is effectively 13% back, and the rest I got 1 or 2 points via URs for 2.6 to 5.2% back. Plus there’s the Freedom spend that was 13% back and lots of Amex Offers, too. I do amass URs and MRs - they get dumped into Marriott.
We almost always travel as a family of four so First Class long hauls aren’t really viable for big miles redemption value and I’d rather do more trips in E+ than save up for the big First flights. If I can do better than 8+% back on average for my spend, please let me know how. If and when the gravy train ends, I will need to revisit my strategy.
I'm curious are you a road warrior and that is how you have all these points or are you just having everyone in the family signing up for credit cards?
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