Highest Sign-Up Bonus Ever on SPG Amex Cards!
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Opening new credit cards to take advantage of sign-up bonuses and limited-time offers is a great way to build up your account balances and unlock valuable award redemptions. Every once in a while, issuers sweeten the pot even more, and today, two of the best cards on the market have announced increased sign-up bonuses the likes of which I've never seen. From now until March 30, you can earn a sign-up bonus of 35,000 Starpoints after $3,000 in purchases on the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and 35,000 Starpoints after $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months on the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express.
Many of these card benefits were just added last year, and both cards also offer 2 stays and 5 nights of credit toward SPG elite status. You'll also enjoy automatic access to the Sheraton Club with the SPG Business Amex, but only when you book a rate that is eligible to earn Starpoints.
Is It Worth It?
Starpoints regularly top TPG's monthly valuations, coming in at 2.5 cents apiece in the most recent version. That makes the sign-up bonus on these cards worth a whopping $875. While the cards are great for stays at Starwood properties, earning 2 points per dollar spent, they are also a compelling choice for non-bonus category spending, as a return of 2.5% on every purchase, every day is quite lucrative.
You can then redeem Starpoints at any Starwood property, including the newly added Design Hotels. I'd recommend taking advantage of some of the awesome award redemptions I wrote about last year, though you could also get some great value at the low end of the category spectrum. The program also offers a Cash and Points option, which can be quite valuable as well. Here are some examples of SPG award stays booked by the TPG team over the last couple of years:
- St. Regis Punta Mita
- Equinox Resort & Spa
- Westin Paris - Vendôme
- St. Regis Princeville
In addition to hotel stays, you can also redeem your Starpoints for Nights & Flights packages or you can transfer your points directly to one of 35 airline partners (Aegean was the most recent addition). For every 20,000 Starpoints you transfer, you'll get an extra 5,000 airline miles, so if you earn the sign-up bonus and spend just a bit more to hit the 40,000-point mark, you can convert those Starpoints to 50,000 airline miles.
The usual sign-up bonus on these cards is 25,000 Starpoints, though you'll typically see 30,000-point offers come out every August. However, this is the first time that I've ever seen the bonus jump this high, so if you've been considering applying for one of these cards, this is a great time to pull the trigger! Just be aware that American Express has some of the tightest restrictions on personal card sign-up bonuses out there. These were added back in 2014 and generally allow you to earn a sign-up bonus once in your lifetime on each card.
Here's the specific language from the application page for the SPG Amex:
"Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product."
However, business credit cards are treated as separate products, so if you've had (or currently have) the personal version and you're a small business owner (including if you're self-employed), you can apply for the SPG Business Amex and still earn the increased bonus. You can only earn the sign-up bonus on the business version if you haven't had the card before, as per Amex's recently updated terms and conditions.
Bottom Line
This is an incredible opportunity to snag a very rewarding card with the most valuable sign-up bonus in recent memory. This offer may be in response to fear among SPG loyalists related to the upcoming Marriott-Starwood merger. While Marriott's CEO and VP of Loyalty have indicated that there's nothing to be nervous about, you could see this enhanced sign-up bonus as a carrot to engender additional loyalty. Either way, if you've been eying one (or both) of these cards, be sure to apply before March 30!
For more information on the card and the SPG program, check out the following posts:
- Starting 2016 Off Strong With Starwood Preferred Guest
- Using Starpoints to Book a Suite at W, St. Regis and Other SPG Hotels
- The Award Traveler's Guide to Starwood Preferred Guest
- One Year of Earning and Burning with the SPG Amex
- 9 SPG Properties that Make for Awesome Award Redemptions
Will you be signing up for one of these cards to earn the increased sign-up bonus?
TPG featured card
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| 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.