My Starwood Lifetime Gold and Platinum Status Update
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
The email just arrived: I've qualified for lifetime Starwood Preferred Guest gold status, woohoo!
I've been an SPG Platinum for four years now, but I was given lifetime Gold status by staying over 250 eligible nights and qualifying for elite benefits for five years. While I travel a lot these days, I haven't yet achieved lifetime or million miler status in any one airline or hotel program, so this is a bit of a novelty.
Lifetime status is one of the new SPG program enhancements rolled out in February. A lifetime of Gold status will confer the following benefits:
-3 Starpoints per dollar spent at Starwood properties
-Room upgrades at check-in when available
-4:00pm late checkout
-And the choice of one of three complimentary amenities from the following:
1) 250 points (125 at aloft, Four Points and Element)
or
2) High speed internet access for the entire stay
or
3) A complimentary beverage at the restaurant/bar- not in room. Max value of $15 USD/Euro
This isn't really that impressive, because I am currently a 50-night SPG Platinum (trucking towards hitting 75 nights so I can get YOUR24 check-in privileges) and even if I didn't have elite status, I would get free Starwood Gold just for being an Amex Platinum cardholder. However, I still think it's cool to know that I'll always be treated decently at Starwood hotels, even if the day comes where I don't have top-tier (it pains me to write those words).
What I am really looking forward to is Lifetime Platinum status, which comes with 10 years of Platinum and 500 nights. I've only got 243 nights and 6 more years of Platinum status to go, which should be a piece of cake as long as Starwood keeps their program competitive and delivers on the new benefits they recently launched.
[card card-name='Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card – Bonus Point Offer' card-id='22145660' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.