Starwood American Express card members will receive 2 stays and 5 nights annual elite qualifying credit beginning October 14, 2010 when the new card terms and $65 annual card fee go into effect. Starwood Lurker states on FlyerTalk the new benefit will apply for up to two cards for 4 stays and 10 nights elite credit for the primary card member of a personal and business SPG American Express card.
What is the big deal?
The initial announcement only stated an annual benefit for five nights elite qualifying credit. That actually was not much of a helpful benefit for many SPG card members, like me, who qualify on stays for elite status. In eight years I have always qualified for SPG Platinum elite on Starwood stays and never qualified on nights. You need to average two or more nights on every Starwood Hotel stay to qualify for SPG elite on nights more quickly than stays.
- Starwood Preferred Guest Gold = 10 stays or 25 nights in a calendar year (e.g. 2010, 2011).
- Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum = 25 stays or 50 nights.
SPG American Express card members (2 stays and 5 nights credit)
Reportedly all American Express cardmembers will receive 2 stays and 5 nights elite qualification credit for the 2010 calendar year in October 2010. Subsequent years elite credit stays and nights will be added each February, as long as the credit card account is active and in good standing. In February 2011 SPG American Express cardmembers will receive 2 stays and 5 nights elite credit for the 2011 calendar year.
Starwood Lurker FlyerTalk post (October 6, 2010)
The information I have been given up to now says that this will happen every late February. From that, my understanding is that everyone who is a cardmember as of October 14th will get 2 stays/5 nights this October for 2010 and then 2 stays/5 nights next February to apply toward 2011. Those who have both the business and personal cards would receive twice that.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
SPG Elite Qualification thresholds for SPG American Express card member
Starwood Preferred Guest Gold = 10 stays or 25 nights.
- 8 stays or 20 nights for SPG AMEX card member – Business or Personal
- 6 stays or 15 nights for SPG AMEX Personal and Business Cards member
Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum = 25 stays or 50 nights.
- 23 stays or 45 nights for SPG AMEX card member – Business or Personal
- 21 stays or 40 nights for SPG AMEX Personal and Business Cards member
Another post from Starwood Lurker states, “Any new card members who sign up and are approved for the SPG American Express on or after October 14, 2010 will automatically get credit for 2 stays and 5 nights towards 2010.”
Five elite nights credit was little benefit to this SPG American Express card member, but 2 stays elite credit is a benefit I think will reduce my need for one more stay at an Aloft, Element, or Four Points Hotel in 2010.
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