Highest 35k SPG Bonus Ends Next Week!

The Starwood Preferred Guest personal and business credit cards from American Express come with 35,000 bonus Starpoints for spending $5,000 and $8,000 respectively in the first six months of card membership. These offers end this coming Wednesday, April 5, 2017.

Credit card links have been removed from posts and added to the menu bar at the top of every page of MileValue under the heading Top Travel Credit Cards.

The normal sign up bonus is 25,000 points per card.

The Best Four Airline Transfer Partners of SPG Starpoints

Let's run through the best airline transfer options while the Starwood Preferred Guest personal and business credit cards from American Express come with 35,000 bonus Starpoints for spending $5,000 and $8,000 respectively in the first six months of cardmembership.

5 SPG Hotels That Are Cheaper This Month

Last month, Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott announced category changes for their hotels. Marriott hotels on average got more expensive, but there were actually more SPG hotels that dropped in price than increased.

Which is Better? The 35k SPG or 75k Hilton Offers?

Last week the Hilton no annual fee credit card increased its sign up bonus to 75,000 points and the Starwood Preferred Guest personal and business cards increased their sign up bonuses to 35,000 points.

Credit card links have been removed from posts and added to the menu bar at the top of every page of MileValue under the heading Top Travel Credit Cards.

So which offer is better?

I use Hilton points for free hotel nights at not-fancy hotels--categories 1, 2, and 3 (out of 10.) I use SPG points for free hotel nights, to transfer to airline

ENDS TODAY: SPG Points 50% Off, Lowest Price Ever!

Until today (December 31, 2016), you can buy up to 30,000 Starpoints with up to a 50% discount on the normal purchase price.

The discounts are targeted. To see your discount, sign into your SPG account at this link. I was offered the maximum, 50%, discount on purchases of 5,000 or more Starpoints, and I bought 20,000.

Starpoints are normally sold in increments of 500 points for 3.5 cents per point. Getting a 50% discount brings the price down to 1.75 cents per Starpoint.

January 6 is Last Day for SPG to Virgin America Transfers

Starwood Preferred Guest and Virgin America Elevate are ending their partnership on January 6, 2017, making that the last day that you can transfer SPG points to Virgin America Points.
Why does this matter?
In April of this year, Starwood Preferred Guest added Virgin America Elevate as a 1:1 transfer partner.

How to Turn 18,667 SPG Points Into 31,250 United Miles

Through November 31, 2016, United MileagePlus is offering a transfer bonus when you move points over from a hotel loyalty program.

Transfer from most chain hotels earn a 25% bonus
Transfers from Club Carlson earn a 40% bonus
Transfers from Choice Privileges earn a 50% bonus

Since Marriott bought Starwood, one of the benefits the company has announced to members of both loyalty programs is the ability to transfer reward points between accounts.

How & Why to Transfer Starpoints Between Accounts for Free

Most airline miles charge exorbitant fees to transfer miles from one person's account to another's. For instance, United is currently charging $82.50 to transfer 5,000 miles from one account to another, which is more than the 5,000 United miles are even worth!

However, SPG Starpoints can be freely transferred from one SPG account to another as long as both accounts have had the same address on file for 30 days.

Buy Avios for 1.45 Cents through Starpoint Sale & Avios Transfer Bonus

Until July 5, 2016, you can transfer 20,000 Starpoints to 33,750 British Airways Avios. The normal rate is 20,000 points to 25,000 Avios, but Avios is running a 35% bonus on transferring hotel points.

The only hotel-point transfer option with a decent rate is Starpoints.

 

If you don't have Starpoints, you can buy them right now for 2.45 cents each. The best number to buy would be 20,000 for $490 to maximize this promotion, since Starwood gives a bonus for every 20,000 Starpoints transferred to airlines.

Second Cheapest Starpoints Ever (2.45 Cents)

Until July 1, 2016, Starwoodis offering a 30% discount on the normal purchase price of SPG points.

Starpoints are normally sold in increments of 500 points for 3.5 cents per point. With 30% off, the price drops to 2.45 cents each.

The deal applies to all purchases of 5,000 points.

This is the second cheapest I’ve ever seen Starpoints sold, behind last month's 2.275 cents price that was only open to SPG credit card holders.