35K SPG AMEX and 35K SPG Business AMEX Bonus Offers

There are 35K SPG AMEX and 35K SPG Business AMEX signup bonus offers now, the best signup bonus these cards have ever offered. The normal signup bonus for each of these cards is 25,000 Starpoints, and each year (usually around September) there's a higher 30K signup bonus. Until now there hasn't been a 35K signup bonus as a public offer.

Here are the offer details, followed by what you should know when deciding whether to apply or not for these cards.

35,000 SPG AMEX

Earn 35,000 bonus Starpoints after making $3000 in purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Earn 2 Starpoints per dollar on eligible purchases charged to your card at participating Starwood properties
SPG Elite stay credit: 2 stays and 5 nights
Boingo AMEX Preferred Plan: complimentary access to Boingo land-based Wi-Fi (not in-flight WiFi)
No foreign transaction fees
Complimentary Premium Internet at Starwood hotels (which Gold and Platinum SPG elites also receive)
No annual fee the first year; thereafter $95 per year
Offer ends 3/30/16

35,000 SPG Business AMEX

Earn 35,000 bonus Starpoints after making $5000 in purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Earn 2 Starpoints per dollar on eligible purchases charged to your card at participating Starwood properties
SPG Elite stay credit: 2 stays and 5 nights
Complimentary Sheraton Club Lounge access
Boingo AMEX Preferred Plan: complimentary access to Boingo land-based Wi-Fi (not in-flight WiFi)
No foreign transaction fees
Complimentary Premium Internet at Starwood hotels (which Gold and Platinum SPG elites also receive)
No annual fee the first year; thereafter $95 per year
Offer ends 3/30/16

FAQ

35K Doesn't Seem Like a Big Bonus; What's So Great About Starpoints?

As I mentioned, the normal signup bonus for each of these cards is 25,000 Starpoints, with a higher 30K offer typically available once a year. That seems low compared with other signup bonuses, but it's due in part to the fact that Starpoints are worth more than other miles and points:

SPG Starpoints can transfer to over 30 airline partners (see SPG Airline Partners: Transfer Starwood Points to Miles)
Transfer in increments of 20,000 Starpoints and you'll earn a 25% transfer bonus. So for example, if you transfer 40,000 Starpoints to Lufthansa Miles & More, you'll receive 50,000 Miles & More miles.

Because of this, I value Starpoints highly and would never even think of using them for hotel redemptions–they're far too valuable for that, plus Starwood hotels are rarely the leaders in their respective markets. Instead, I've used them to top up our Miles & More accounts to redeem for Lufthansa First Class, since no other transferable points currency transfers to Lufthansa Miles & More.

Some of my clients with much larger Starpoints balances have also used them to transfer to Asia Miles & More to get early access to Cathay Pacific First Class award space, since space opens to Asia Miles even before it does to British Airways Executive Club, let alone AAdvantage.

I've Previously Had the SPG AMEX; Am I Eligible for the 35K SPG Business AMEX?

Yes, if you've had the personal SPG AMEX but never had the SPG Business AMEX, you're eligible for the SPG Business AMEX.

Can I Get the Bonus Again If I Previously Had the Same SPG AMEX Card?

No, not per the terms, which clearly state: “Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product.” Keep in mind that AMEX signup bonuses are now once in a lifetime, including for business cards. See AMEX Business Card Signup Bonuses Once in a Lifetime

What About the Marriott Acquisition of Starwood–Will Starpoints Become Marriott Points?

We don't know the answer to this yet. In most hotel acquisitions the target's (so in this case, Starwood's) loyalty program is converted to the acquirer's loyalty program, so the most likely outcome is that the Starwood Preferred Guest program will be folded into Marriott Rewards and Starpoints will be converted to Marriott Rewards points.

That said, the SPG program is a favorite of many business travelers, who see Marriott's program as less rewarding than Starwood's, and Marriott could alienate many of them by converting Starpoints to Marriott Rewards points. Also see Marriott Acquires Starwood: 4 Reasons to Be Pessimistic.

Are you planning to apply for the 35K SPG AMEX or 35K SPG Business AMEX?

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