Should I Get the SPG Amex or Marriott Rewards Premier Card?
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
TPG reader Colin sent me a tweet to ask about a few limited-time credit card offers:
"Which sign-up bonus do you like better, 35,000 Starpoints or 80,000 Marriott Rewards points?"
Credit card sign-up bonuses come and go, and a great way to boost your loyalty accounts is to make sure you jump on the top offers while they're available. In the last month or so, Starwood and Marriott have come out with highly valuable, limited-time offers for their co-branded cards. I think both of them are worth a look, but if I have to pick one, the choice is clear.
The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express is offering a bonus of 35,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, while the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card is offering bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, plus 7,500 points when you add an authorized user and make a purchase in the first three months. Clearly, 87,500 is a lot more than 35,000, but it's important to remember that points are not created equal.
After meeting the minimum spending requirements on the SPG Amex, you'd have at least 38,000 Starpoints. I list those points at 2.5 cents apiece in my most recent monthly valuations, which gives you an impressive total value of $950. Meanwhile, meeting the requirements on the Marriott Rewards card would net you at least 90,500 points. I list those points at 0.7 cents apiece, so the bonus is worth about $634. That's also a solid value, but clearly I'd prefer the Starpoints.
You also have to factor in how these bonuses compare to what's been available in the past. The Marriott Premier offer is strong, but we saw a similar bonus as recently as last summer. There's no guarantee that this card will offer 80,000 points again in the future, but at least there's some precedent. On the other hand, the SPG Amex offer is the best we've ever seen. Of course, there's also no guarantee that a better offer won't appear down the line, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
In a bubble I think the SPG Amex bonus offers better value, but your decision of which card to apply for may depend on your travel plans. If you have a Marriott award stay in mind, or if you're thinking of booking a Hotel + Air package to earn the Southwest Companion Pass, then the Premier card could be a better fit.
Some readers have asked whether earning Starpoints and Marriott Rewards should be a priority because of the impending acquisition. However, with this week's accepted bid from Anbang, there's now a fairly good chance that these two loyalty programs won't be combined, so I think there's no more or less incentive than there would be otherwise.
For more on maximizing these two cards and their respective bonuses, check out these posts:
- How to Use 35,000 Points from the SPG Amex Card
- 5 Ways to Use 80,000 Points from the Marriott Rewards Premier Card
- Starwood Accepts Anbang's Bid for Acquisition
If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.