Get SPG Nights From $46, Airline Miles at 1.82 Cents With the New Starwood Buy Points Bonus
Does it ever make sense to buy points or miles? While it's always better to earn points through credit card spending and sign-up bonuses, the question as to whether buying points makes sense depends on what you're going to do with them. Sometimes there's a buy points/miles promotion that's really tempting once you know how to maximize it. And a new one of those just popped back up for possibly the last time.
Now through July 20, you can buy Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints with a 35% discount. This discount drops the price to 2.28 cents per point vs. TPG's valuation of 2.7 cents per Starpoint. You'll score this 35% discount when you purchase at least 5,000 Starpoints, and you can buy up to 30,000 points per account per calendar year.
Here's how the promotion is structured — points are available for purchase in 500-point increments:
- Buy 500-3,000 Starpoints at 3.5 cents apiece
- Buy 5,000-30,000 Starpoints and save 35% (2.28 cents apiece)
One of the especially good perks of this promotion is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a good rate. 5,000 Starpoints are going to only set you back $114. And by using the right credit card, you can earn up to 6.3% of your purchase back.
Maximizing Starpoints
Hotels: The most obvious use of Starpoints is redeeming them for free nights at Starwood hotels. Some of these redemptions can make a lot of sense. For example, I recently redeemed 2,000 Starpoints for a one-night stay at the Four Points by Sheraton Medellin. If you buy points with this promotion, that'd be just $46 for the weekend night at a Category 1 property.
Experiences and Packages: You can also get good use out of Starpoints by redeeming them for SPG Moments or by transferring them to Marriott for Hotel + Air Packages. You can also stretch your Starpoints further through fifth night free award stays.
Airline Partners: Perhaps our favorite use of Starpoints is transferring them to airlines. SPG's program allows point transfer to numerous carriers at a 1:1 ratio. Purchasing airline miles at 2.28 cents each isn't bad compared to the standard purchase rates airlines charge.
However, it gets even better when you transfer 20,000 Starpoints to an airline, because SPG tacks on an additional 5,000 bonus miles for each increment of 20,000 Starpoints you transfer. That means each 20,000 Starpoints you buy through this promotion could turn into 25,000 airline miles at an effective cost of 1.82 cents per mile.
This is The Points Guy's permanent page about SPG's "buy points" promotions, so you can bookmark it and check back regularly for the latest offer. Keep in mind you may see some reader comments referring to older deals below.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees