You can buy SPG Starpoints at 50% off, if targeted. If you are, you could buy up to 30,000 Starpoints at 50% off, for $525 instead of $1050, which is buying them at 1.75 cents per point. That's a great deal if you need some more Starpoints to transfer to a frequent flyer account for a first class or business class award, since transfers of 20,000 Starpoints give you an additional 5000 frequent flyer miles. That means you're buying miles at 1.4 cents per mile, an excellent deal, especially for hard to earn miles such as Lufthansa Miles & More miles, ANA miles, JAL miles, etc.
Here are the offer details:
- Go to the Buy Starpoints Link and input your name, SPG number and email address to see your targeted offer
- Offer valid through December 31, 2016
- Purchased Starpoints do not count toward elite status
- May buy a maximum of 30,000 Starpoints per calendar year
Other Offers
Keep in mind that most SPG members are NOT targeted for the 50% off offer; if you are, count yourself lucky. 50% is the highest offer; here are the other offers, and the effective rate at which you'd be buying Starpoints:
- 50% Off: 1.75 cents per point
- 35% Off: 2.275 cents per point
- 30% Off: 2.45 cents per point
- 25% Off: 2.625 cents per point
Analysis
In my quick survey of 10 SPG accounts only one account had the 50% off offer, one had the 35% off offer, and the majority had the 30% off offer, with a couple only getting the 25% off offer. If you have an immediate need for Starpoints and were planning to purchase some points anyway, of course some discount is better than none.
But if you're merely looking to opportunistically acquire Starpoints for an as yet unidentified redemption, I would only purchase Starpoints if you received the 50% off offer, which is genuinely a good deal, given the 1.4 cents per mile rate taking into account the 25% transfer bonus when transferring Starpoints 1:1 to many airline partners.
FAQ
Who's Getting Targeted for the 50% Off Offer?
Unclear, but from other data points, it seems there's a random element to it, since this Reddit reader reported receiving the 50% offer after just signing up for an SPG account, yet the client account that received the 50% off deal is a Starwood Platinum elite.
Why are Starpoints so Expensive? What's So Special About Them?
Starpoints are the best hotel loyalty points for a reason: they can transfer 1:1 to many airline frequent flyer programs (most hotel programs have poor transfer ratios to frequent flyer programs), and transfers in increments of 20,000 points earn a 25% bonus. This makes Starpoints especially valuable for topping up frequent flyer programs that are otherwise difficult for most U.S.-based flyers to earn significant miles in, such as Lufthansa Miles & More, ANA, Japan Airlines, etc. Also see SPG Airline Partners: Transfer Starwood Points to Miles
Is There Tax Applied When Buying SPG Points?
No, there's no tax applied.
When Will the Purchased Starpoints Be in My SPG Account?
Per the terms, Starpoints will be credited withn 24 hours or purchase.
How Long Does It Take for SPG Transfers to Airlines?
See typical transfer times at SPG Transfer Times to Airlines.
When do Starpoints Expire?
Starpoints expire if there's been no activity in your SPG account over the past 12 months. But it's easy to keep points alive; see Keep Starwood Points From Expiring?
Do I Earn Bonus Miles if Buying Starpoints with an SPG AMEX?
Yes; per the FAQ: “If you use the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express to purchase Starpoints, you will earn additional Starpoints for the dollars you charge on the card.” You'll earn 2X points instead of the usual 1 point per dollar spent.
When Will Starpoints Earned by Using an SPG AMEX Post to My Account?
Per the terms, “Starpoints earned by using your Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express will post to your Starwood Preferred Guest account 6-12 weeks after the end of each month.”
If My Spouse or Partner Received the 50% Offer and I Didn't, Can I Buy Then Transfer Points to My Account?
Yes; you can transfer Starpoints to other household members that are at your same address (must be a physical address, not a P.O. Box) who have shared the same address with you for at least the 30 days prior to requesting the transfer.
Did you receive an offer to buy SPG points at 50% off? If not, what was your targeted offer?
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