It’s back! 20,000 SPG points (25,000 airline miles) with the SPG Amex

Regular as clockwork, American Express has brought back its special November promotion on the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express credit card.

This card usually comes with 10,000 SPG points as a sign-up bonus.  For now, though, it is offering 20,000 SPG points – click here for full details from the Amex website.

20,000 SPG points is a good deal if you redeem for hotel stays at Sheraton, Westin, W, St Regis, Luxury Collection etc.  Read this article from last month to see how I got £370 of value when I cashed in the 20,000 SPG points I got when they ran this promotion last year.

You can also convert 20,000 SPG points into airline miles.  The great news here is that 20,000 is the trigger required to get a 5,000 mile bonus.  Whilst 10,000 SPG only gets you 10,000 airline miles, when you convert 20,000 you get 20,000 airline miles plus 5,000 extra!

Your 20,000 SPG points would therefore get you 25,000 airline miles!  You can convert to Avios, of course, but also to a lot of other airlines – click here for the full list.  There are over 30 airline partners in total.

Now, here are the facts on the card:

• There is a £75 annual fee
• The fee will be refunded pro-rata when you cancel the card
• There are NO restrictions on getting the bonus if you have other Amex cards – anyone can apply
• There is a £30,000 household income requirement
• You need to spend £1,000 in 3 months to trigger the bonus

If you don’t qualify for the current Amex Gold promotion (30,000 Membership Rewards points) then this deal is very much worth a look.  If you have applied for the Amex Gold this week, though, I would give this a miss.  Amex won’t like you applying for two cards in as many days, and this SPG offer will be back next year I’m sure.

It is especially valuable if you want to generate some miles in one of the airline partner programmes apart from Avios.  There aren’t that many easy ways to earn, for example, 25,000 Miles & More, American Airlines or Aeroplan miles from the UK.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (September 2022)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Gold and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

EDIT: Until 25th October 2022, there is an exceptionally generous sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card. You will receive 60,000 Membership Rewards points – double the usual amount – and £200 to spend at Amex Travel. You need to spend £6,000 within six months to earn the bonus.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)