Just a Week Left to Earn up to 35k Starpoints With the Starwood Amex
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available – View the current offers here.
Since mid-February, the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express have been offering elevated welcome offers. Instead of the standard 25,000-point offer, the personal and business cards are currently running bonuses that can net you up to 35,000 Starpoints. You only have a week left to apply before the elevated offer expires, though.
With the personal Starwood Amex, you'll earn 25,000 Starpoints when you spend $3,000 in the first three months and an extra 10,000 points when you spend an additional $2,000 in the first six months. With the business card, you'll get 25,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months, and another 10,000 points after spending an additional $3,000 in the first six months. Both cards have a $95 annual fee that's waived the first year, and neither charges foreign transaction fees. Plus, you'll earn 2x points on Marriott and Starwood purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Based on TPG's valuations, 35,000 Starpoints are worth $945, and the extra 10,000 points you'll earn over the standard welcome bonus are worth $270. And there are plenty of great ways to redeem Starpoints, from using them to book an award stay at an SPG (or Marriott) hotel to transferring them to one of 35 airline partners to locking in a VIP experience through SPG Moments.
The Starwood Amex and the Starwood business Amex could also make sense if you're working toward SPG elite status, since each gives you 2 stay and 5 night credits toward the status requirements. Plus, now that Marriott has acquired Starwood, once you earn status in one hotel program, you can match it to the other.
Bottom Line
Starpoints are the most valuable loyalty currency according to TPG's latest calculations, and these welcome offers can get you 10,000 points more than the standard credit card bonus. Now's a great time to apply if you're interested in either the personal or business version — make sure to do so by April 5 to be eligible for the 35k offer!
Are you planning to apply for either of these cards to earn the elevated bonus?
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app